Palisade, Round Three...

After two years of too-cool temperatures, the annual Palisade trip was moved from the week of Grandpa's birthday in June to Scott's birthday in July.  It was a good decision, the temperatures were perfect for daytime swimming and cooling off for sleeping at night.  This year Jeremy and Emily's family came along for the fun.  When Grace was the only one in her preschool class who hadn't been camping and sat around a campfire, I think the pressure was on to finally take on the challenge of camping with kids.  As Emily as often stated, she is "not an outdoor kind of girl," but discovered it's one of the things you do because "the kids love it so much."
Many of the activities remained the same...

Kayaking...

When just paddling around in the water got too boring, the guys decided to add some variety by trying to stand up in the kayak.  Although not very successful, it was entertaining to watch.

Asher gave Grandpa a pull while Oakley was the motor (his face in the water, blowing bubbles, and making motor sounds) giving him a push in the kayak.

Four-wheeling...
 
"Anyone wanna take me for a ride?"

Golfing...

Playing in the Water...

A swim out to the floating dock

Grandpa held the grand kids at bay with his water squirter

Catching minnows

Craft Projects for the kids...

Making visors

Asher models his final project- worn rap-star style

 Decorating cooking aprons

I just love the look on Asher's face in this picture.  Not so flattering of me, but I love the look on his face, "Yep, that's my Mom and we're making an apron together."

Sitting around the Campfire...

 Enjoying s'mores

And a few things that were added to the week at Palisade that were new...

Having the cousins there to wrestle with

Grandpa's new tent that fit on the back of his truck.  Oakley and Dad got to sleep there this year.

Celebrating Scott's birthday with fruit pizza and SPARKLERS

A trip to the Manti Temple

...which had to include rolling down the gigantic hill.

Turning the hamburger joint in Ephraim into a DISCO as the kids demonstrated their best dance moves to the music they selected to play on the juke box.

Oakley wanting to push Juliet in her stroller and keep her entertained at all times.  The smile says it all, he loves babies!

The big tent being completely blown over and destroyed in a sudden storm.  Thankfully Juliet had been retrieved from her crib just minutes before.

The trailer getting a flat tire on the drive home.  Thankfully Grandpa and Dad had us on the road again in no time.

The old, the new- it was all fun at Palisade!

Memorable Asher quotes from the week:
We had been talking for weeks about our trip to Palisade and had the boys all excited about it.  The first night there, Asher turns to me and asks, "Is this Palisade?"  In my most enthusiastic voice, I say, "Yes!  This is it!  We're at Palisade!"  Asher's response, "I thought Palisade was a ship."  The poor child thought we were going on a cruise and Palisade was the name of our ship.  Thankfully he's only three- his mind went from a week of cruising to a week of camping without a hitch.  Had I thought I was going on a cruise and found out it was actually camping, I would have needed to be sedated I would have been so hysterical.

The beach was right across a small road from our campsite.  When we were setting up our chairs and things for a day of swimming and playing in the water, I noticed Asher didn't have his life jacket on.  I told him to go back and get his life jacket off of the bench.  After he'd been gone for too long, Grandma went over to see what he was doing.  She found him in the trailer and when he saw her he raised his hands in a questioning gesture and asked, "What's a bench?"