14 Jul 2024
VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 564
Monte and Isaac on family river trip
This week was the river trip! It was crazy fun! I had Gloria on the first day, and we went down Mother-In-Law Rapid again together. It wasn't as scary as last year, but it definitely was still pretty spooky.
The days went by pretty fast, which was pretty good, and the even better news was that I didn't get burned! I mean, I got a little red on my shoulders and arms, but hardly noticeable,
I had a great time on Red Creek Rapid with Monte, and the cliff jumping on the last day was also really fun. I jumped off of the highest one again.
Family picture before river trip
I also really enjoyed the Silent Mile. Its cool to see all of the nature, and what everything sounds like when we aren't there making everything crazy loud.
We also set a new record at packing up everything and putting it into the trailer—less than an hour! I had a great time, and I am pretty excited for the 5th Ward young mens river trip coming up in a couple weeks.
Packing the night before the river trip
While we were preparing to go on the river trip, we packed everything the evening before we left. Most of the adult children slept at our house so we would leave first thing in the morning for Flaming George. Jen and Selvin came over in the morning before we left.
We borrowed the Ashton’s passenger van (thank you Ashton family!) and we all rode in the van except for Dad, who drove the rental truck with all our rafts and gear. I brought my crocheting stuff to keep me occupied for a while, and then I took a nap until we got there.
London and Ashton in van
At the boat ramp just below Flaming Gorge Dam, we all helped unload the truck and then we each helped get our rafts ready to go. My skipper for the first day was Monte—I was a Gilligan.
It was fun going down all the rapids with Monte. When we were going down the river, Monte was standing on the front of our raft facing backwards. Suddenly we bumped a small rock and he lost his balance and fell backward into the water! It was so funny that we were all laughing—even Monte.
Getting ready to launch on the river trip
The first night, we got to camp unpacked the rafts, and set up camp. Then we had dinner. Afterwards, Jen, me, and Gloria played Uno. It was fun. Then we got tired and got ready for bed. We talked for a little while and then went to sleep.
Gloria was my skipper for the second day. This day was Red Creek Rapid, the one Class III rapid on the trip. I had to go down with her, and we were both so scared. When we got to the rapid, we parked our raft and waited for our turn to go.
Family at Stonefly Camp
When it was our turn, I did not want to go down. When we were trying to line up for the rapid, we kept bumping into rocks. Dad said that he saw me panic and just start paddling the wrong way, and Gloria was so scared she wasn’t giving any directions, so we went down the main part of Red Creek Rapid backward! I was in shock and I was so terrifying! But we survived.
After Red Creek Rapid, we kept going down the river until we got to camp. We unpacked again, and ate and played games before going to bed. Even though it was a rough day, I was okay and everyone else was okay too.
Cougar and Endia cliff jumping
On the last day, London was my skipper. She was so much fun! We did cliff jumping. I only jumped one time because the water was so cold.
Then we did the Silent Mile. I loved it because I could see and hear nature and its beauty. It made me realize that humans can be incredibly loud, and it is not fair to the animals living there, because they are trying to live in their peaceful homes and environment.
View on the Silent Mile
I like to think that just showing respect to them by being quiet makes them happy when we are not always loud.
When we got to our exit we packed up and got in the van. We stopped at McDonalds on the way back home. When we got home, we unpacked and got washed up. I had a fun time. even though there were hard moments!
Packing up at the end of the river trip
This week has been so crazy and so much fun. Early in the week, we went as a group to the theater late Tuesday night and watched Quiet Place: Day One. I felt like that one had more suspense than the other two.
Usually Riley is the one who gets scared more, but I was the one this time who kept getting scared during the whole movie!
Family river trip
The river trip was also this week. I had so much fun this time. I enjoyed getting to know Selvin, Jen, and Cougar.
On our second day, I had to go down Red Creek Rapid with Veidi, and I was more terrified than I had ever been going down. We ended up going backward, and Veidi and I were in so much shock and so scared that we were going to flip.
Family river trip
On the last day, we went cliff jumping. I was so scared to do it, but Dad kept encouraging me, so I went off of one of the lower jumps. Afterward, I felt good that I had tried something that was hard for me.
I enjoyed doing the Silent Mile because it helped me to reflect on what I have done that was a challenge to me on the river, like going down Red Creek and jumping a little higher on the cliff.
Rafts beached at Cow Pie Camp
The first river trip of the year has come! It was really cool having Selvin, Cougar, and Jen come with us this year. Like always, I had an amazing time with the family. I skippered on the Swayback once more.
At one point on the trip, I was standing, and Veidi was on my raft. We hit a rock in the shallows, and I almost recovered, but Veidi’s frantic moving unfortunately caused my downfall. It was really funny, and a good memory.
Children standing on rafts
On the other side of things, I was on a raft with Isaac, and I was pushing our raft through some shallow water, and when I went to get back on the raft, the raft rotated, causing it to come in behind me.
My feet got trapped under the tube, and I got pulled down into the water. It scraped up my knees, and I had to twist to get out from under hurting me even more. I took some Ibuprofen, and then we went on our way.
I went down Red Creek Rapid with Isaac this year, and we did a really good job. Also, cliff jumping was as fun as always. I can’t wait to go on the next river trip with the Spanish ward young men!
Monte and Isaac on Red Creek Rapid
Dad, Monte, Gloria, Isaac, and Veidi all went on the river trip this week—the family river trip, not to be confused with the 5th Ward river trip that is coming up. They all went with a bunch of the adults such as, Endia, Cougar, Selvin, Jen, Caleb, London, and Ashton.
I didn’t go cause there weren’t enough total seats on the rafts. Because I was scheduled to go with the young men, Dad asked if I would mind staying home for the family trip, and I agreed.
Endia and Cougar looking at Owen’s photo
I stayed home with Mom, Troy, Quinn, Joanna, and Owen. Mom had work for most of the days during the river trip, so we basically didn’t have any parent for half the week.
I remember that on the last day Mom had work, and she asked us to all go downstairs so I could keep better track of everyone. She turned on some of the computers so we could play some video games while she was gone.
Quinn and Joanna wanted to watch Turning Red so I turned it on for them. Troy and I played some Minecraft, and then we switched to a game on Roblox that Troy wanted me to play. It was a pretty fun game, it was called Zombie Uprising.
Kai and Owen (the photo they saw)
Taking care of Owen for a week was somewhat tiring, but it was really fun! Just being able to snuggle him and play with him all week was amazing! I love babysitting him!
I’m really grateful for this week, cause it helped me learn more about being a parent, and I know that that’s a very important skill to learn when you’re young.
London and Jen on rapids
This week Ellie learned how to play Jenga. We found the game in her closet and she asked what it was, so I pulled it out and taught her. I was surprised at how good she was, considering it was her first time playing, and she’s only four years old.
We made it far enough that I was struggling when it was my turn—ha ha. We have played it every day since, and it’s been fun to get to have a special game for just me and her.
Brooke and Ellie playing Jenga
This week, Troy and I went down to Salt Lake to watch the Utah Jazz summer league game. It was so crazy! It came down to the wire. It went to overtime, and luckily the Jazz won.
Going to downtown to Salt Lake is one of my favorite things to do. It is such a fun time, and especially going to the Jazz games is awesome.
Gloria resting at Cow Pie Camp
Later in the week we went on the river trip. Each year this is definitely a highlight.
On the last day, Selvin and I got to be on the same raft and it was hilarious being with him, especially because I don’t know a lot of Spanish, and he doen’t know much English. "Nada mucho" is my new favorite Spanish phrase, which doesn’t really make sense in Spanish, but was my attempt to say “nothing much.”
We were definitely victorious in our water fight battles against the other rafts in what seems like an annual tradition now—the brave battle on the last morning when we are near the end of the trip. It was so fun!
Bathtime at Cow Pie Camp
The family went on a river trip, but I am not old enough yet. Kai stayed home too, because the boy's are doing another river trip with the 5th Ward. I was so excited because it was me, Kai, Quinn, Joanna, and Mom and it was so much fun.
When the Olders left on the trip, Itzel came over. She had a game that could turn into three different games. First, it was a bean bag toss, then it was a disc throwing, and last it turned into a bolo throwing game. They were all fun to play.
We went to get sugar cereal at the store. This is Mom’s tradition for everyone who stays home from a river trip. I got Fruity Pebbles.
Endia and Cougar scouting Red Creek
Afterwards, we had to take care of the dogs, and It was kind of hard because it was just me, Kai, and Mom taking care of the dogs.
Then me, Itzel, Quinn, and Joanna played the scaring game where we would be in the basement and try to look for a glove in the dark. Everyone else would try to scare me off. Then we got chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. It was so delicious.
When the river trip people came back, we didn't have to do much as much putting away as usual, because the young men’s river trip is coming up in a couple weeks. That meant that we didn't have to raise the rafts in the garage, or put away all the river tubs. Instead, everything just stays in the back yard for a couple weeks.
Selvin and Caleb on river trip
The river trip! I missed the river so much over the past couple years! It’s been three years since my last trip in 2021! It's definitely an iconic family tradition that I love so much.
It always takes a lot of preparation, however, but this year I had the blessing of not having to worry too much about it, now that all the kids that are still at home have their turn of doing all the heavy lifting and preparations!
Caleb doing a back fall off his raft
Like always, we had a lot of water fights, alliances, and trading. We also had a few campfires, thanks to London, which we haven’t done much in the past.
We also went cliff jumping, ran rapids, ate river trip food, and made fun memories. All these aspects that make up this amazing tradition. Thanks, Dad for always leading out and doing so much preparation to make something so fun!
Dad on river trip with Aura’s picture
Several months ago, Aura let us know that she wanted to come on the river trip this year. I was a little surprised, for two reasons.
First, I remembered her only river trip five years ago. She had the “privilege” of being on the trip with the scariest midnight lightening storm I’ve even been in.
Aura on the family river trip (2019)
She loves to tell the story of my panic when I thought all our metal ammo cans—in a circle right outside the tent—might draw lightening right to us. So I woke everyone up and sent them outside.
As we were scrambling through the dark to move the ammo cans farther down the beach, Aura and I collided and fell over. She always used to say that when she saw the fear in my eyes, she knew she should really be worried.
After that experience, I think Aura felt like one river trip was enough for her!
Aura and London cliff jumping (2019)
The second reason I was surprised at her desire to go this year was because of how sick Aura was. Even a couple months ago, I knew this trip might be difficult for her, but I guessed that Aura wanted to do a couple daring things, knowing that time was running out.
In the end, Aura was not able to come with us this year—her health had deteriorated more rapidly than we guessed, and she was barely able to get out of bed by the time we left on the river trip.
Dad’s raft with Aura’s license plate
I still wanted to find a way to take her with us, so I removed my normal license plate, “Ducky 2,” and replaced it with the plate Aura had used on her raft five years ago—”Coo Coo.”
I also took a small framed picture of Aura with me, and while we were on the river, I occasionally took pictures of us with her photo, and sent those pictures back to Aura.
Aura, you were with with us in spirit, even if you couldn’t be with us in person. We missed you!
Aura rafting on the Green River (2019)