Camping with the Holy Ghost

We went camping Sunday night July 4th where the kids had monday off school.  Jim had to work so it was just the kids and I.  They had been wanting to go camping all summer and we had just been to busy.  So I took them for a quick one night camping trip.  We went up Yankee Meadow but with it being a holiday most people already being there through the weekend we had a hard time finding a spot.  We ended up camping just off the road and started to get camp set up before it got to dark.  I did not feel good about the location we were camping in because our tent was just off the road as you come around a corner. The whole time setting up the tent I keep thinking this really is not the best place.  If someone can't make that turn they will run right into us, but we really have no other options and the kids were so excited I pushed they aside and set up camp.

Once camp was set we went on a little hike where Zip (our dog) got into some water.  The look on the kids face when he ran by them and shook was priceless.

After out little hike it was time to start a fire, tell stories and enjoy some smores!!!!

 Trey was our professional Smore Maker!

Every time a vehicle would come down the road I would hold my breath and I still felt uneasy about our location.    I continued to keep my feelings to myself and did not want to upset the kids.  We were having such a great time.  We ended up going to bed about 1:00 AM and after we said our prayers and quieted down I could hear someone crying.  I rolled over and asked Aspyn what was wrong.  Through her tears she said "mom I really don't think we are sup-post to camp here."  I began to cry because I knew she was right.  I had ignored the feeling I was having the whole time, but it took the spirit of a child to make me listen.  We had been learning about the Holy Ghost in Primary that month and the boys (who had started crying also) said "Mom I think the holy ghost is telling us something here and we need to listen."  We quickly packed up camp and headed down the mountain back home.  We had a great time while we were there, but we also had a great learning experience about the Holy Ghost and how he can help us in all aspects of our lives.  We discussed how when we hear those promptings we need to obey.  Need less to say when we did get home they all wanted to sleep with Mom just to be safe, and of course mom didn't mind.  All in all it was a camping trip I will never forget and I don't think they will either.

July 4th

Well we decided to head to Kanosh / Fillmore this year for the 4th of July.  It is always so good to go home and see so many friends I have not seen for awhile.  We went to the Parade, had a BBQ at uncle Trav's, Played around with the cousins, watched Megan play powder puff football (no fair they got to tackle), and Trey got invited to play in a baseball game so he and I went to that.  We ended the night watching the fireworks then headed for home.  It was a long but fun filled day.

FiShLaKe

Well every year we have the Kesler Family Reunion at Fish Lake Utah and it is so fun to get together.  We rent the same cabins year after year and there is getting to be quite the crew of us. Jim was not able to go again this year and we missed him not being there.  I had to work so we headed out as soon as I got off work Friday and stayed the weekend.  We had a great time and look forward to it again next year.

Eastons Birthday was Friday so we celebrated up there with birthday cake.  He loved serving the cake to everyone.

We played with play dough

Bubbles

Pam & Lloyd do a fish pond every year that is a huge hit.

We played games (Sock Head)

Went Fishing

And just hung out.  Great Times!!

C-Ya Next Year!!!

Lovely Lake Tahoe

Well each year we go on a family vacation and we try to go somewhere new.  This year we went to Lake Tahoe.  We had a great time and enjoyed many different activities.  The water was still to cold to play in and we got into snow on some of our hikes, but other than that we had a great time.  The drive out there is so boring and we only saw 2 things the entire way.  One Jim was way excited about a desert sheep and the other not so excited about a cop and yes he did get a ticket. 
***Enjoy the pictures***

Of course we loved the pool and hot tub!

The whole family enjoyed playing tennis and racquetball.

We saw a Cowboy Show that was very funny.  We were laughing the entire time!

Ridge Loved the Train and when it blew the whistle this was his priceless face.

We toured a mine.

Virgina City - NV (So Fun!)

A Day for Dad!

***Picture Overload***

Well let me just start off saying that Jim is not into wrestling.  He does not enjoy sitting at a meet all day long to watch the boys wrestle for maybe a few minutes (coming from a family of wrestling I on the other love it).  When I first told him I was going to sign the boys up for wrestling he said you are not, so since then he has come a long way and is a more supportive of them.  With the meets being on Saturdays it keeps our weekends tied up all season.  We had a break in wrestling last weekend and the kids and I decided it would be fun to surprise dad and plan a fun day for him.  We told him we were going  stay home and clean the house.  I secretly got lunches, camo-packs, and everything we needed loaded in the car then Trey and Easton ran a (cheesy) note in to Dad. It said:

  We don't want to work. We are ready to play,
  So grab a jacket.  Today is family day.

  Moms got everything packed & we're ready to go.
  We're hoping for good weather.  We don't want it to snow.
  
  Wear some good shoes we may do some walking.
  And its hard to hear a dead man talking.


  So climb aboard and have on good socks.
  Cuz' everyone knows the JENSE FAMILY ROCKS!

We started our day at Virgin.  It was fun for the kids to feed the animals carrots and get some good photos.

Ridge & Aspyn

Easton & Aspyn

Aspyn

"Hold Em Up"

Yee Haw!!!

Ridge

Then we headed into Zions and spent the day hiking and climbing.  We had a ball, but it was packed.  We avoided to people and did not go on any trial we just blazed our own.  The kids loved it.

It is so beautiful there!

Ridge & Aspyn keep looking in the holes trying to see if something was in there.

Easton Climbing

Jim Climbing.

The Family Zion National Park 2010

Being Silly!

Trey Climbing.

After lunch and some hiking around Zions were headed to Grafton, Utah.  Trey has been learning about ghost towns at schools and has been wanting to visit one for sometime.  The kids had a lot of fun reading and exploring the little town of Grafton.

Ridge

Jim & Easton

Trey










All in all it was a fun day as a family and we just want to say thanks Dad for putting up with the long wrestling season and being a good sport.  We love you and appreciate all you do for us!!!!!!