"Ma & Pa" did you say....Our Pioneer Trek!!!!

So Memorial Day weekend as we were on our coastal trip with the Anderson Family Josh got a phone call from the stake presidency asking if we were busy the last weekend of July. He wanted to know if Josh & I would be a "Pa & Ma" for our stake pioneer trek. Josh said that we'd talk about it and get back to him. Well as much talking went on...we got feedback from the members in the car and decided that this was an opportunity for us that may not be possible at a later time. So....we went a total of 17 miles by handcart. We had our own handcart, 3 dutch ovens to do all of our cooking our bucket full of our personal stuff & we were off. We slept under the stars for 2 nights, dinner & breakfast were really great. Lunch was lite. My mom helped me make some skirts and bonnets & an apron which I made the mistake of making a white one & didn't bring an extra. It was brown by Saturday. We left on a Thursday and came back Saturday. We had an awesome family. Our "children" were really great. They were such troopers and the boys were such MEN. We were really impressed. We feel so blessed to have been able to participate in such a wonderful program. Our stake put a lot of planning into making this as real as possible for the youth. We were able to watch 17 miracles on Friday night after our long day.

**One fun highlight, because our handcart was the first one when it came time to cross the river, they loaded our handcart up and put it on this dinky little raft and pulled it across the river (this was on day 1 let me remind you). Well, all the boys jumped off except for Josh who was holding the handcart steady. So...as the raft starts to be pulled across the river I see our handcart start to tip over backwards I'm freaking out because it is FULLY loaded. I'm thinking what???? We are going to have wet clothes & wet sleeping bags oh and I borrowed 2 out of the 3 dutch ovens...lots of thoughts right?! Well, just in time one of our "sons" jumped back on to help out their "Pa"...what a great son. He didn't have dish duty that night. =)

Whatever your opinion is about pioneer treks bottom line they are a good thing, why is it really so bad for us to go out and suffer for a few days to try to understand or get a tiny glimpse of what the early pioneers did? Why do people feel like we need to shelter our youth? Our youth are so strong. We feel so blessed to live where we do & to be able to be around such valiant young women & young men.

Here is our after picture. We were dirty!!!

Blanket for Shelby

Dave & Sarah (Josh's cousin & wife) had their first baby. A baby girl. So I thought that I would put my sewing skills to work & make baby Shelby a blanket & 2 burp cloths. With the help of my mother coaching me along the blanket & burp cloths came out perfect.

Wilkins Family Summer Vacation at the Beach House!!!

For the Wilkins Family Vacation this summer my parents rented a beach house in Newport Beach for the week of July 4th. We had a blast & were able to create lots of fun loving family memories.

We had slumber parties. Tommy & Josh slept well haha. Tommy wanted to see what its like to be Mrs. Josh Anderson he pushed me out of the way. It's great Tommy right?! =)

We played in the sand.

We buried the kiddos in the sand & then took a nap. JUST KIDDING!!!!

We ate lots of deliciousness beyond the parents backs.

We buried Uncle Thomas in the sand & jumped all over him.

We watched fire works.

Grandpa & some of the grand-kids.

Grandma played with the kids. We had a great trip. Thanks mom & dad for a fun trip & the forever lasting memories.

Week in Arizona

We decided to take a week and head to Arizona to enjoy being around family and do some local things that we've been wanting to get off our "adventure list". First on the list was to hike Humphreys Peak in Flagstaff, Arizona. Since we've already hiked the tallest mountain in California & the continental United States (Mt. Whitney May/June 2010) we thought we should hike the tallest mountain in Arizona. So standing at 12,637 feet we climbed to the very top. Humphreys Peak is known for having high winds. While we were hiking Josh's father & brother checked the weather & it said there were 70mph winds while we were hiking. Because it was so windy it made it hard to hike. We were being carried in every direction.

The tallest point is where we will be standing about 4.5 hours later.

It was a little scary, hearing every noise and hearing trees falling. It didn't help that just before leaving the trail head there is a sign saying Caution: warning cougars (so I had to keep close tabs on Josh) & bears.

We're getting close!

WE MADE IT. Now if we just don't blow away.

We made it to the top & didn't blow away. However, my hat sadly blew off of my head and I sadly watched it blow up high above the mountains till it just disappeared. Let's just say I was pretty sad.

Jennifer & Josh back at the trail head (no hat). We made it back down the mountain by 1:15pm.


Next stop: Meteor Crater
This place is popular because a really long time ago a meteor came and made a huge hole in the ground. So we wanted to check it out.

That's a big hole....we were glad that we went, it was informative but we think it was just a tourist trap.



Next up: Hiking in Sedona with Angie, Risa & Rockwell (her son), Dawn & her two little girls. Josh carried Saylor & Dawn carried Sicily & Jennifer went.

Saylor, Josh & Jennifer in front of Vultee Arch in Sedona

The beautiful red rock.


Next up: bon fire down in the lower field.

Of course our trip wouldn't be complete without going shooting!

Angie, Shawn, Risa & Rockwell, & Jennifer eating at the haunted hamburger in Jerome.

Rockwell, Jennifer & Josh in front of the Haunted Hamburger.

Bowling

Brandon, Craig (Josh's cousin), Jillian (Craig's wife), Josh & Jennifer. We went bowling & enjoyed hanging out with Craig. Josh & I went to school at BYU-I with Craig. It was fun to meet his lovely wife & spend time with the both of them.

Hyatt at Gainey Ranch

Josh & Aaron playing volleyball in the pool.

Josh, Kolby, Aaron, Saylor, Shawn, Angie, Camden & Brandon playing in the pool.

Soaking up some vitamin D Angie, Jennifer & Katie


Last stop: Go see the play Les Miserables

Mom Anderson got tickets to Les Miserables. I was excited to go see the play because Josh had seen it when he was younger. It was a fun date night. We went with Mom & Dad Anderson, Sunshine, Angie & Shawn & Josh & myself.

It was a great way to end a fun week.

Again....Costal trip with the Anderson Family

Back in January, Josh & I went on a trip up the coast. When we told Josh's family about it they wanted to do the fun trip. So Memorial Day weekend we did a repeat. Our first stop Solvang. The small Danish town. Since Josh's family has a strong Danish line it was a perfect stop.

Jennifer, Josh , Dad & Mom Anderson

Of course we had to stop and get some treats from the Danish Bakery


Next stop, spend the night at the Madonna Inn

Josh at the Madonna Inn

Our bathroom we stayed in the room that was called "What's Left" so it was all the extra materials were used here as you can see that there is no real pattern. The room flooring looked the same as the walls here in the bathroom, just carpet though. This was our 2nd time staying here, it was a fun place.


Next stop Hearst Castle where we all took at tour.

Mom Anderson, Jennifer, Sunshine & Angela

Josh & Jennifer at the pier that Mr. Hearst had put in for his materials that had to be shipped in.

Josh & Jennifer at the pool getting ready to start our tour.

Our tour took us through the guest house, the gardens outside...

We saw a few places where Mr. Hearst's guest were entertained & what they could do while visiting the Hearst Ranch. The picture above is the ONLY bathroom that people are allowed to use inside the Castle, the only access was on our tour. Guess who got to go to the bathroom inside Hearst castle?? I did...I just couldn't hold it. It was a nice older bathroom.

Every detail from floor to ceiling is amazing.

The Neptune pool (indoor pool).

Next stop: DETOUR

Because of the land slide, it has covered & destroyed a couple parts of hwy 1, so we were able to make it all the way up the coast. We could only go to a certain point. We turned around and headed up to Monterrey up the 5 freeway.


Next stop: Elephant Seal's

Josh, Shawn & Angela

Dad Anderson, Josh & Shawn

Josh & Jennifer

Last stop, Julia Pfeiffer State Park

Dad & Mom Anderson

It was a great trip and we were able to see a lot of beautiful views of the great outdoors. Can't wait for our next adventure.