17 July 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 461
Endia, Natalie goofing off on river trip
Monte
This week is the river trip. I had so much fun, and I had an amazing adventure. I was a skipper in charge of a raft for the first time. It was such a neat experience for me, and it helped me see that even though I had responsibilities that I could make, which might seem scary, and worrisome, but enjoyable.
Thank you, Dad, for bringing us on the river trip. It is an important tradition in our family, and it will go down in history as one of the most fun activities we have done as a family.
It helps me see the joy in life, and it also helps me accept responsibility in my life.
Christian and Vanessa on river trip
Vanessa
Last week Isaac and I went to West Yellowstone. We stayed at Rebecca and Keric’s cabin for a couple days. We went down to the lake and played. London also taught us yoga, and it was super hard to sit on the paddle board. Some people fell off a couple times but for the most part it was a lot of fun.
This week was really fun because we went on the river trip. This Saturday we also did M&M wars. I with Quinn and Alex. Quin would always do rock until it was a tie then he would change it, but he just always did rock, and me and Alex would win. We let him win a couple of times and he got a few M&M's.
Arriving at Stonefly campsite
London
Every year I think the river trip is the highlight, so last year was hard not having one. I guess I was just extra ready to go again this year. I wasn't involved with a ton of the preparation since I live down in Provo, but when I came up to the house, I was reminded of how much work it is to go on the river.
I'm so grateful for Dad and for all the planning and hard work he puts in. All the kids at home really amazed me by the efforts they made both preparing for the trip and while we were on it.
Vanessa was on my raft, and she just amazed me by her willingness to have fun and to work hard. I knew that I could tell her to backpaddle or paddle as hard as she could, and she always kicked it into gear right away! She also was with me when I got thrown off the raft and stuck under it and between a rock, and she was a champ getting right back into it.
London and Alex after “hat challenge”
Alex was so cheerful and helpful the whole time. I could tell he was kind of nervous about Red Creek Rapid (Class III), but he never let that dampen his mood, and he ended up having a lot of fun riding down with Ashton.
Kai was also a really hard worker, and he's always a bit goofy, which is much needed when things get tiring. He just seemed happy to be there and helped remind me what a fun time I had when I was his age.
None of the other kids were with me on my raft, but I had so much fun with them at camp and in the many water fights we had on the river.
Dad, Veidi, and Alex at Stonefly
One of the highlights for me was rafting Red Creek Rapid. We were scouting it out like we normally do, on the left side where it is easier, but this year we thought the right side of the river looked like it was actually manageable for our rafts, since the water was a little lower.
Dad was a little hesitant but also thought it could be done, so Ashton and I scouted it out a little lower to be sure we thought we could make it without flipping.
As we were getting ready to shoot it, one of the guides in a nearby boat started telling us we needed to go on the left side. When we told him we were going to try the right, he told us we would lose our boat. He said that he had been rafting it for a dozen years and had only done the right side a couple of times.
Endia and Isaac on Red Creek rapid
When we told him we'd already rafted Red Creek several times on the left, he seemed to think it was maybe possible and let us follow down after him to see the path we should take.
We decided to go for it, even though he kind of freaked us out. His advice to not hug the right was helpful, and we shot it perfectly! It was crazy and there was a ton of water, but I had so much fun!
It was such a feeling of accomplishment as we came out of the rapid and saw him watching us on the side. Two young adults on homemade rafts coming through the right side of Red Creek! It was awesome!
Checking out Stonefly campsite
Isaac
This week we went on the river trip, and I really loved it. I was put with Christian on the first day and it was super fun. When we went on the rapids, we didn't see a couple of rocks and we slid on them. Thankfully we didn't flip. The rapids on the first day were all really fun, and my favorite one but also the scariest one was called “Mother-In-Law.”
The next day I was put with Endia, and it was super fun. She pulled a couple pranks on me, and I fell into the water. As I was getting ready to jump in for “little bombs” (floatable Hi-Chew candies that Dad shoots out over the water with a slingshot), she pushed me into the water and I fell in backwards.
Family loading truck for river trip
Later on, we were on pretty still water, I went to grab my water bottle which was hooked onto a bungee, and as I went to unhook it both Endia's and my water bottle fell into the water.
When we got to the campsite, we unpacked all of our stuff and ate dinner and went to sleep. The final day I was with Gloria, and it was really fun. We had water fights and we got in the water and swam after a lot of little bombs. I was really glad that we were able to go on the river trip, it was super fun, and I can't wait for the next one.
Right as I realized it, I shouted out that I lost my water bottle. As I jumped into the water my swimsuit got snagged on one of the eyeholes and I was hanging on the side of my raft while the water bottles were floating away. Thankfully Christian got in and retrieved them and I got back on the boat.
Kai and Gloria on river trip
We also went on Red Creek Rapid. It was really scary, but everyone did really well and no one fell in. Later that day, Dad told me I was going to ride on his single raft while he went on a double raft for the first time. I really liked it. It was kind of hard but super fun.
When we got to the campsite, we unpacked all of our stuff and ate dinner and went to sleep. The final day I was with Gloria, and it was really fun. We had water fights and we got in the water and swam after a lot of little bombs. I was really glad that we were able to go on the river trip, it was super fun, and I can't wait for the next one.
Dad cliff jumping
Endia
This river trip was really amazing! I had so much fun rafting with Veidi, Isaac, and Vanessa. Some of the highlights for me:
Destroying Ashton (and his clan) in a water fight! He might claim that he won, but I never paddled away from a fight, and I definitely know he can’t say the same. He may have gotten people wet, but I accept running away as a surrender!
Rafting the rapids with Veidi and Isaac. Isaac was so brave and went down the Red Creek Rapid with me!
I love how the rapids get water all over our boats and makes you feel like you are really a part of the river.
Family in tent at Cow Pie camp
Knocking people off my raft. If you raft with me, just expect it!
Natalie’s return to the river! It has been a really long time since I have been on a river trip with Natalie (the last time she went I was on my mission). It was so much fun!
Seeing the eagles and beavers. There were a couple of eagles on the cliffs when we stopped and went cliff jumping, and Vanessa pointed out the head of a beaver swimming past us, and then it made a huge splash into the water.
Cliff jumping! Enough said!
Oh, and I got my first speeding ticket…
Gloria and Monte in truck
Gloria
This week I really enjoyed going on the river trip because I was a skipper this year. I was really nervous, because I have only gone on one river trip before. When we got to the dam, we got the rafts ready.
In the meantime, we waited a few hours for the others who were taking the cars to the end. When they came back, there were a few things we could not do without stuff Dad had. When it was time to get in the water, I had Kai as my Gilligan for the first day. I really did enjoy having him on my raft.
Family at Cow Pie campsite
The second day I had Veidi on my raft. In the middle of the day, Veidi and I were having a tough time, and it was hard to paddle. Then I got a bloody nose and I had to wait till it stopped because I did not drink a lot of water.
Then Dad came and helped me. He helped clean my face and he pinched my nose until it stopped bleeding. Then he had Veidi switch to another raft, so he could raft with me. Dad taught me a lot while he was with me.
On the last day we went cliff jumping. I was really scared to jump even on the smallest one, and I got so freaked out, but Dad made each of us jump at least once.
Dad and Gloria on river trip
Alex
This was the week of the river trip! It was my first time, so I was really excited, but before we left, we had to do a lot of preparation. I was with Monte the first day, then London, and finally Christian. It was really hard to keep the raft moving for the first day.
And on the first day we unexpectedly met with the rapid "Mother-In-Law"! It was really scary but fun too. It took a lot of listening and obeying your skipper, but we all did really well in the end.
Then after that day we went on another big rapid called "Red Creek"! For me it was more fun than scary (probably because I was on the back of Ashtons raft). Then the last day was very relaxing. I loved it all...except for all of the work!
Family cliff jumping on river trip
Veidi
This was my first time going on a river trip, and it was really scary at first. The first day was really hard, because we had to unpack all of the stuff and it took really long. My skipper was Endia. She was really fun, and she helped me understand a lot of the things I needed to know.
The next day Gloria was my skipper, and we got behind and it took a while to get caught up. When we got caught up, I was with Endia so Dad could help Gloria. We had lots of wars and me and Endia won a lot of them.
Monte and Kai on river trip
The last day Monte was my skipper, and we went cliff jumping. I went on the highest, then the lowest, and then the middle one.
When Dad was throwing “little bombs,” I jumped in to get one of them. Then Ashton tried to push me and Monte off the raft, but he could not push me in, I was holding on so tight! I am so glad I had Monte, Gloria, and Endia as my skippers.
Veidi and Alex at Stonefly campsite
Caleb
We had transfers last night, and it looks like I'm gonna be here in Cunco for another six weeks! Neither of us got transferred, so we'll both he here continuing to work!
We had interviews this week with President Jorgensen. I got to talk with him for a few minutes. I also said goodbye to some pretty cool missionaries that just finished their missions. Everything here is pretty calm. We're just trying to work, be patient, and learn how to best help our friends progress.
Family at Cow Pie campsite
Braden
Over the last few months, I’ve been pretty excited about the newest Marvel movie that has been scheduled to come out—Thor: Love & Thunder. It’s been a while since Marvel has released something that I’ve really enjoyed, and I thought that this movie might be one of them.
We scheduled a date night to go with Brooke’s sister and her husband this week. I was very disappointed with this movie. As we were leaving, all of us agreed that it was a big letdown.
London training newbies
A few nights later we went to a nearby park to have a picnic dinner and then go on a walk. There’s plenty of beautiful scenic places to go here in North Carolina that are really close to where we live. It’s one of the things we love about living here.
Then yesterday we got invited to spend the afternoon swimming at the lake. A family in our ward has a lake house and a dock where we went to have lunch and cool off in the water. Ellie was hesitant at first, but when she finally got in the water, she didn’t want to get out.
Kai on family river trip