Tree Hunting

Every year I pack the gear (ropes, saw and tarps) into the rig and head into the hi country looking for a Christmas tree. When Ivana and I were first dating she accompanied me into the 8000 foot level of Mirror Lake pass where we looked for sub alpine fir and got the rig stuck once we stopped. We sunk 2 feet down into the snow. I figured we get it out once the snow melted (sometime around the end of May) but we managed to dig, push and pull and get it out with the help of a group of snowmobilers.

She went with me once or twice more and then kids. Well once L was old enough (10 months old or so) I started dragging him out on our annual tree hunt. Around 4 years ago I found a really nice stash of White Fir at the 7000 foot level of a local pass. There are some beautiful trees back in there. As the years have gone on and as I have shown the cache of trees to a couple of friends, who it seems have shown it to a couple of friends...... well the draw is getting picked over and we are having to go further and further back up the draw to find the good trees.



This year we were over a half mile back up the draw. I may have to find a new tree stash come summer. We dragged John G and his boy Gabby up the mountain with us and cut a few trees. One for John one for us and one for a friend's family. Dragging two trees through scrub and brush with an almost 4 year old on your shoulders is WORK. I am going to have to work on his hiking. He will walk a bit but when he decides it is time for a ride he is pretty adamant about not walking.



Somehow I left the house without the camera, and so the photos from up the mountain were shot on my cell phone. The kids have fun, but sometimes aren't as careful as they need to be about not getting wet. It seems like every year they start to get cold (and whiney) just about as we get back to the car.... so it works out ok. Next year mom and J are coming for sure. (You hear that Ivana.... you are coming!)



We tied the trees to the top of John's old blazer and drove home. As always the trees are a little too tall and needed a little trimming. Gabby & L were super excited!



I cut the tree a bit shorter and jammed it in the tree stand. Then the kids attacked! They both were involved in dressing out the tree with lights and ornaments. Sometimes they actually were taking stuff off faster than putting it on, but hey that is what happens when you dress a tree with a 1 year old.





They have been pretty good about staying out of the tree.... well ok. The tree turned out nice, maybe not quite as full as last years, but still pretty. We were at Wally World last year after Christmas and they had a super sale on lights. Like $0.60 a box so we bough ten or twelve. We dressed the tree out in colored lights this year instead of white. Ivana says she liked the the white better ;)



I played around with the exposure time on the camera and got some decent tree pics. Ivana took a million pictures of the house all decorated for Christmas which you can see on her various social media sites.



Merry Christmas!

Getting caught up.

This post series will span a couple 3-4 months of activities.

Somehow a lot of our activities resolve around fishing ;) !

In early September little L and I went with Jon S and his crew up on Big Elk Creek looking for Kokanee. Last year we caught a passel of nice fish, this year though we saw a few, we didn't catch any. They weren't there in anywhere near the numbers of last year. According to what I heard they ran earlier this year.



Though we didn't catch any fish we had a lot of fun. We hiked (well I hike and L rides on my shoulders) played with flowers, poked at rocks, looked at trees and performed other activities that a 3.5 year old likes to do when meandering through the woods.



The following week L started school. He is now going to pre-school. He likes to ham it up for the camera.





A couple of weeks later he and I headed up Palisades creek late in the fall with a big storm approaching. We caught a number of fish on hopper patterns, and he landed the most of them, before the big storm moved in and knocked half of the leaves in the canyon into the creek. This seemed to turn the fishing off a bit.



As the weather got colder in early October, L, grandpa, TaterTot, and I headed up to a secret stretch of river where we usually find some 5 lb trout in abundance. We saw a few fish but couldn't convince any of them to rise.







In mid November we got our first big storm, not our first snow which always seems to come in late September or early October, but our first real depth (some of which is still in the yard).



I took J and L out to sled and ski. J played for a bit then fell down and got cold. I am not sure if he has decided that he likes snow or not.





L dug the skis he got for Christmas last year and insisted that I strap them on him. He trekked around the neighborhood for a bit. He is better on them and I am tempted to get him some down hill gear, but will most likely wait another year.

Family Fishing Outing

So for the last Monday evening (family home evening) outing of September I cajoled Ivana into taking the kids out on the river with me. The weather was turning and forecasts of impeding snow on Wednesday convinced me that we needed to get out before the weather got nasty.



We loaded up the dibbuns and headed for the Snake near our house. The hike in was a little adventurous, but once we got there L and I fished while J and mom watched. Actually J ate rocks...... don't ask me why but he tried to put every pebble in the river in his mouth.




L an I waded out onto a little island and cast hoppers all over the riffle, but we didn't get any bites. We worked a few areas with L directing where he wanted to go and I packing him around the river on my shoulders. He is definitely getting to the point where he is almost too big to lug around on my shoulders. He has grown a bit the last couple of months. Plan is to take him on a raft fishing trip this coming weekend with Grandpa.

We weren't finding any fish, so in the end we turned it into a photo session. Was a fun outing. I think even Ivana enjoyed it once she got past the hassle of actaully getting to the river ;)

Ivana lugging J to the river

The boys

J wanted to fish

Catching up on Blogging

This post will grow as I add a bunch of content to it, trying to catch up with the last very hectic month of our lives.

A bit over a month ago we put J & L down for the evening and stuffed them in our bed while we went about watching TV, chores and what not. A bit later when I checked on them, I found J had crawled over to L and was now sleeping by his big brother's side and holding his hand.



See more pictures here.

Then on the First of July L and I ran up to NoTellum Creek to catch some Cutthroats.... only the creek was pretty blown out from a thunderstorm the night previous. We didn't catch any fish but we still had fun.



Some pics of the trip.

The next day was Ivana's Birthday! We surprised her with cake and guarana. J also learned how to climb up the drawers in the fridge to get at the good stuff.

Beautiful Wonderful Wife!



More birthday photos!

Next came the 4th of July. We went into IF in the morning and entered J in the cute baby contest. Where his charming ways and winning smile got him into the top 5. We returned home, took a nap and then headed to Menan for the fire work show. I bought L a boffo sword which he sheathed on his back in true claymore fashion.

Beautiful, no?

More from the 4th of July here.

The 8th found us driving down to Ogden for a family reunion where we camped at Cherry Hills, went to Lagoon on the 9th and Cherry Hills water park on the 10th, and the Air Force Museum on the 11th. L loved anything that allowed him to steer. J most likely was thinking... "Hey I want to do that!"



More Lagoon pics.
Cherry Hills photos.

Henry's Lake

Shortly after the memorial day opener reports began to circulate that the fishing was off the hook, that the fishes were stacked up right off the bank, and that the crowds were as thick as the midges. Now while this type of fishing doesn't really appeal to me, and I rarely fish stillwater, I thought L might have some fun hooking into some big hybrids.

Sawtell above the Lake

We got up early, though not as early as I had set the alarm clock for and climbed into the car. The drive up passed quickly. We stopped at Trout Hunter for some flies and some directions, as I haven't fished the lake since I was like 14. And even though we had directions, I still managed to get lost. ;)



Despite not arriving at exactly where we had planned we still found a spot with fish cruising 10 feet off of the bank. I would cast out the midge and egg combo wait for a hit and then hand the rod over to L.

Hardcore fishing partner

We fought 4 fish. Nice and powerful, but we never managed to land one. They were experts at spitting the hook. L was adamant about catching something. He would cast his spinning rod and slowly reel it in, though we never got anything on the spinning gear, only on the fly rod, he often cried "I have a fish!" I think just to keep things exciting.

Once the fishing died down he ran up and down the bank trying to get away from the thick clouds of midges. They didn't bite but were so thick it was hard to breathe. He played for a bit with flowers, dirt and bugs, generally having a good time and entertaining himself as only a 3 year old can.

The fishing died down early in the afternoon, and so we drove around the lake and headed home. Great trip.

Memorial Day Weekend

For Memorial Day I was supposed to take crew rafting on the headwaters of the Salmon, but the crew backed out and I spent Saturday working in the yard instead.

Mommy likes to take self portraits to entertain herself in the car

When Monday swung around we decided we needed a break and discussed heading over the mountain into Jackson for some swimming at the rec center, but last time we went little J got very cold (he was only a couple of months old at the time) so for Memorial day we decided instead to go to Downata Hotsprings, by Downey.

Crew at the spray park

It was great. The weather was in the 60s but that doesn't really matter when there are hundreds of thousands of gallons of steamy hot water ranging from 90 to 100 degrees. The pool was hot and relaxing, the water slides fun, and the spray park just perfect for 3 year old L, and 9 month old J.

Mommy and little J

After a bit of discussion I even got L to run down the Dragon Slide (water slide) behind me. He wore his life jacket and did great though he said it was "scary". Mom loved the slides and screamed the whole way down the "black hole" slide.

Hanging out at the pool (some random guy in the background ;) )

The pool was very relaxing, somehow watching the kids while soaking in hot water still relieves stress and I left with all of the kinks in my muscles worked out. Little J fell asleep at about 4 p.m. after soaking and playing for about 3 hours. So I sat in the water with him and he slept soundly for an hour or so.

L borrowed a little raft from one of the other swimming families and had a blast kicking around in it, so much that when they left I had to buy him a little float tube, even though he had a life jacket on and was swimming around the pool pretty well. He took swim lessons a while back, but is now a little afraid of water. We will have to put him in swim lessons again.





Also thought to reflect on my two little boys a little bit here.

I was watching L play outside the other day. He does well by himself but so loves to play with other children. I was feeling a little sad for him as he was playing by himself, riding his tricycle around the basketball court, swinging and sliding on his swing-set, and adventuring in the yard. I couldn't but help feel a great swell of love for him. He has been such a joy, so full of life, and energy.

L at the spray park

He is such a hoot to do things with, he loves to help Daddy work, and fix things. He always grabs the tools to work on my cars and other projects. We are starting on his hotrod (mini 32 Ford roadster powered by a power scooter axle) this week and he is very excited. I am also excited to take him fishing, camping and hiking more this summer.

I remember the day he was born, purple with the umbilical cord twice around his neck. The worry I felt at that moment, and the great feeling of peace I later felt that all would be well as I retreated and counseled with the Lord in prayer, pleading for the well being of my newborn son, and all has turned out well.

Little J is such a content little boy. He is adventurous and happy. He lives to smile and laugh, and loves to be tickled. He grabs your hands and places them on his ticklish spots. He plays hide and seek with Daddy, and laughs and laughs every time he finds Daddy. His smile is infectious with three little teeth poking out on the bottom (and soon one to poke through on the top).




He has been such a sweet little boy. He seems very musical and beats out rhythms and sings in his own little way. He now crawls and pulls himself up on everything and is trying to walk as soon as possible. He is just a happy baby.



I am truly blessed with my two little ones, and they bring me such joy. Every day is a new adventure and a blessing.