Oh man, What a trip!

Just got back from the Jorgensen Family Camp Out 2011. We had a smaller group this year. Things did not go according to plan. Or did they? Who's plan? Mine, or someone who knows better? I think it was the second. I'll explain later. I LOVED being out doors. It was peaceful, and stressful, and I had a great time!

We were camped near Capitol Reef, in Fish lake National Forest. We've never been there before, and it was really beautiful. All of the 4 wheeling trails were new to us. It rained 3 different times while we were there. And while we tried to see the park on two different occasions...(Capitol Reef), we never made it there.

The girls love to crawl into bed with me in the mornings. In our trailer :)
Where we were camped, we found this little cabin, and another teepee in the woods near by. Most likely made by some boy scouts or something. Who really knows.
Ready for our first big ride. We had (18) 4 wheelers along on this ride. Most of which had a couple of riders. It was a great group!



Stopping half way for a snack!
And getting ready to move on out.

Our home away from home.
Fun around camp! Twirly fliers. Even the adults LOVED them :)
So many machines....and so little time! Bwaaaahaahaa!

Movie Night. A night under the stars, like the drive in. The big screen, surround speakers, the works! We watched movies two different nights. An old retro "I Love Lucy" movie about living in a trailer and collecting rocks. It was hillarious!! Loved it :) And another night geared more towards the kids with a showing of Megamind!

Then it was FRIDAY! Oh, a day I would kind of like to forget all together. But in some ways, we were so very very blessed! Chris and I had discussed the fact that since we were only camped about 45 minutes from Capitol Reef, that we would go and see it. We talked several others into coming with us. So 3 cars set out for a great adventure. We were just 4 miles from the park when our truck broke down. The Serpentine Belt broke! Oh man, I was trying to look calm, but I've gotta say, I was kinda freaking out!!! Who has money for costly truck repairs, while on vacation? Out in the middle of no where! Would it have to be towed? How much would it cost? Could we fix it ourselves? A couple of the boys, including Chris, went into town to retrieve the new belt. While the rest of us, walked behind the hotel we had barely pulled off the road into, and sat in some chairs in the shade to wait.
The boys worked to put the new belt on. But when starting the truck, realized that one of the Idler Pullies had gone out. The bearings were gone, and it had froze. So we got in the remaining 2 vehicles and were dropped off at a place where we could eat some IceCream while waiting for the boys to come back yet again with another part. Come to find out, the nearest town with that part, was a long 50 mile drive down some canyons, etc... So they didn't come back right away. They wouldn't be back for more than a couple of hours.

While at the restaurant, Bree lost her 2nd baby tooth! Forget the fact that we had packed lunches to take into the park. They were in a cooler in the truck down the road. We all ordered some lunch. And the tooth fell out while taking a bite of her grilled cheese. Oh man, she almost swallowed it. But we were able to retrieve the little tiny tooth and save it for the tooth fairy :) I had thought to bring 1 diaper and I had my camera around my neck. Which I'm glad for, so that I could document the loosing of Bree's tooth!



We finally decided that we couldn't sit in our cars and wait for the next 3 hours, so the last car was piled full, and we were taken back to camp. While 2 guys stayed stranded in town, to meet up with Chris and Roy, when they returned with the parts.
Well, poor planning.....I had no way to get in touch with Chris! I wanted to know if they had gotten the part. If they could fix it themselves. If we were going to need to leave the truck, or if it would have to be towed. The girls and I were at camp, but Chris had the keys, so we were locked out of our own trailer. I only had 1 diaper for Elle. I couldn't relax. Lois gave me a magazine, and I placed my camp chair where I could see the road, and read articles to keep my mind busy. It seemed like forever!! Please, just let our truck come driving up the road!! Please let them have fixed it for a minimal cost. I was in the dark. No cell reception, and no way to know what was going on. But Chris, Roy, and especially his brother Mark can fix anything! Mark is so good at restoring vehicles, motorcycles, and is really a good mechanic. And sure enough, I looked up, and here came our truck!!!! I was so relieved. I was being strong for everyone else, but I couldn't wait to get into the trailer, so I could have a good cry :) But I was most of all impressed by Chris' wonderful family. Some of them had spent all day shuttling us in different directions, driving Chris to a far off town for truck parts, and wasting a perfectly good day working on our truck. And not one person said anything negative, or complained even once! I think I was feeling so worried, and trying to act like I was fine. But I was so very grateful for each and every one of them!!! And the reason I mentioned earlier that it might have been someone else's plan for us that day, is because if we wouldn't have broken down on Friday, with tons of family around, when stores were open, ..... we might have broken down today. On a Sunday, alone, on the freeway, pulling our trailer home, with 2 little girls, and no stores open, or the best brother Mark, our personal mechanic! YIKES! Can you imagine. I'm so not worthy. But he blesses me anyway!!! I am eternally grateful that we didn't get to see Capitol Reef, and that I was able to drive home safely today :) Count your many blessings name them one by one!!!
I'm not sure how, but my little one loves to fall asleep on the 4 wheeler. In fact, we went on a long ride, and I think Chris held her on that 4 wheeler for over an hour while she slept. Amazing. We went all over the place. Crazy bumps, and she slept through it all :)
Our special Camp Fire! A copper tube full of holes, with a garden hose inside, and you get some amazing colors in your camp fire! Just don't roast your marshmellow's over it :) I counted....and one night we had a huge circle of 30 around the fire. Different conversations going. Time to talk to one another.

Saturday! Games, prizes for the kids, and a Potluck lunch!





Ok. One more try. There was a road right around the corner from our camp. It is the only access to Capital Reef in the top part of the park. We drove the wheelers down there, to see Cathedral Valley. And when we got to the Park entrance, I got really excited!
And then we saw it.... the sign. No 4 wheelers allowed. It's a National Park! So here we are. At the sign, but we went no further :) We have teased about the fact that we had unofficially been banned from seeing the park this trip. We came all this way, and on 2 different days, were denied. But that's ok. We had a lot of fun. Plans changed. And now we have a reason to go back again! It really is a beautiful place :) Oh man, What a trip!