Paxman Camping Part #3!!

So we woke up Wednesday morning after a good sleep and had some breakfast. The plan was we were going horse back riding. We had it all lined up. We were to be there by 9:45am. So we got an early start! It was going to be a smoking hot day. So I had my girls all wear a hat and I brought some water too. They were super excited to go. We heard some commotion outside and we came out of the cabin and saw Abbi chasing a chicken. Keira was happily screaming at the chickens. Then Abbi caught one. She was so proud of herself. So funny. Brianna wanted to hold it but Abbi let it go too soon. Brianna reached out and grabbed a big handful of tail feathers. Seriously, the funniest thing I've seen. We were laughing so hard!!

Abbi with the chicken that she caught!

Away we went. It was only a couple miles from our cabin. We were going to Mountain Meadows. We got there and signed some papers and met our guides. Then they took us out to the horses. By this time my girls were starting to have second thoughts. I kept telling them that they'd have so much fun. They got each of my girls on their horses, and adjusted their stirrups and they were ready.

My 3 girls getting all ready on their horses.

My girls and Megan and Tiffani!

Just before we took off!

Then I got on my horse and we were ready to go. We started walking and the horses were trying to figure out who wanted to be first. So there was a bit of confusion to start with. Including some crying girls!! Ha ha!! The guides were awesome and we were all calling out encouragement to all of them. Then they were all just fine. Abbi's horse was very insistent on being in the front. So it would start trotting if another horse came too close! That scared her at first, and then she loved it! Silly girl! Brianna's horse was super slow and way in the back. We finally told her to give it a good kick to catch up to us. It took her a few tries but the horse finally trotted up to us! Cadence was a happy camper in the middle of us all!

Just as we were starting.

Cute Brianna, just as she caught up to us!

The scenery was so pretty!

Brent and Megan coming up behind us!

Cool picture of us going through the trees!

Going up a hill. There's Cadence and Abbi!

At one point of the ride we were on top of a big hill. We were getting ready to ride down a real steep part. All the girls were a little nervous. Then we heard some cows and here comes a cattle drive, heading right for us. So we moved to the side to let them pass. Then Brianna's horse turned and took off with the cows. She was trying everything to turn it around. A cowboy helped her come back to us. Our horses were being stubborn and wouldn't move! Ha ha! It was a little chaotic there for a minute.

At the top of the big hill waiting for the cows to pass. Brianna watching, just before her horse took off!

Abbi sitting and waiting for the cows too!

Cadence and one of the guides.

There goes the cows!

Then we started going down. We had to lean back, it was pretty steep. Everyone did so good. We kept on going and made it to the half way mark. It was a cool look out point over the land. It was so hot out. So we all had a water break too. We gave our horses one too. Cadence's horse thought it was funny to dance around in the water. We were all laughing!

Smiles from Cadence! So cute!

Cool picture of Tiffani, Brent and one of the guides at the top of the hill. This was where we turned around and headed back!

Brianna!

Abbi!

My three cutie pies!!

Proof that I was there! Ha ha!

Cool picture from the top!

We headed back. We were about 20 minutes away from the end, and that's when I was in agony and just dying to get out of the saddle. Seriously, my knees and butt were killing me! Ha ha! It's been way too long since I've been in the saddle for that long. Plus it was mega hot!

Heading back home.

But we made it! Yeah! The girls' horses headed straight for the water trough. It was cute to see them all sitting on their horses around the trough. They weren't sure what to do but the guides told them it was OK. It was a really fun ride and we are so glad we went. It wasn't super cheap, but I think it was worth the money. The girls still talk about their horse ride. They were so proud of themselves that they rode the horses all by themselves. I was pretty proud of them too!

The horses made a bee line for the water!

It was a long ride, but we had so much fun!

Me and my girls! We did it!

Here's the whole group! Tiffani did awesome. There's no way I could ride a horse when I was pregnant!

We went back to the cabin and everyone was done. It was about 1:30pm. My mom had stayed at the cabin with DJ and Keira. We got there and Keira was having a nap. We were all over heated. We got some cold water for drinks and I was trying to get the girls to eat something. They nibbled, but weren't really hungry. Abbi kept complaining that her head hurt. I gave her a cold cloth to put on her head, then she disappeared. I went and found her sound asleep on the floor in our room. Poor girl was exhausted. She slept for just over an hour.

Abbi sound asleep on the floor!

The rest of us all had a little rest too. Then around 3pm, we decided to go to Waterton to Emerald Bay again, just so we could jump in. That was the plan. So we stopped at the store first to get a slurpee. Then we went to Waterton. We got there and that's what we did. We all took turns going out on Megan's paddle board and jumping in. That's the only way I could do it. It was super refreshing. I jumped in about 3 times. So nice!! The kids had a blast swimming around in the cold water. We only stayed for just over an hour.

DJ ready to go cool down in the water!

The kids playing in the lake!

Cadence floating on her tube!

Aunt Megan and Brianna coming back on the paddle board!

Uncle Brent and Cadence going out for a ride!

Coming back in. They both jumped in a few times!

Abbi and Aunt Megan coming back!

Then we headed back to the cabin so I could make supper. It was my turn to make supper. It was our last night at the cabin. We had a super fun time! All my kids went to bed so good that night. They were all so tired. Even Abbi, who had a nap!

We got up in the morning and started packing things up. We were out of there around 10am. I stopped in Cardston to get some groceries and then headed back to the trailer. We got there and I unpacked and got things put away. I was absolutely exhausted. So done! I had to lay down a few times. Then Lisa and her kids showed up. They were camping beside us for a few nights. So that will be another post!

Paxman Camping Part 2!

I went to bed that night with a really sore back. So sore, that it would start spasming on me. It was very painful. DJ woke me up in the middle of the night for a snack. I had to walk down the long, steep stairs. I slipped at the top and fell, but I was hanging onto the bannister. It yanked me and I felt my back pop. I stood up and it felt wonderful. Really funny, but it adjusted my back! Perfect!

So I woke up feeling really good in the morning. Richard had gotten up early and went back home to go to work. We had breakfast and the kids were playing around. Cam and Kim were packing up all their stuff because they were taking off that morning. Steve and Stacey and their kids met us at 10:30 and we took off for Waterton.

We went to Emerald Bay and set up for a picnic. My kids were excited to play in the water. Oh, except for DJ. He was being super stubborn and wouldn't get out of the truck. The heat really is hard on him. I make sure he always has a hat on, but it was really hot outside. I finally got him out of the truck, but he wouldn't sit at the table with us because it was too hot. So I found a spot under a tree, but then it was too rocky. So I got his booster seat out and he sat there and ate his lunch. Sheesh, crazy kid!

Everyone getting ready to eat our picnic!

DJ sitting under the tree in his booster seat eating his lunch. Silly boy!

After we ate lunch all the kids got their swimsuits on and went swimming in the lake. Stewarts brought a really cool tube that all my kids had so much fun on with Mikah and Shaylee. It was a really hot day, so they had fun splashing in the cold lake!

Mikah and Shaylee with my four kids floating on their big tube!

We decided to go into Waterton after that. We went and parked by the splash park and then walked over to Big Scoop for some yummy ice cream. I got all my kids 1 scoop in a waffle cone. They were huge. But surprisingly they ate it all up! We just sat around and enjoyed our ice cream.

Eating our yummy ice cream cones!

DJ was really enjoying his ice cream!

Then I walked back to the spray park with my kids and Mikah and Shaylee. The others went walking around the shops. The kids had fun running through the water. We just watched them for a bit. Then we got everyone dressed and drove up to Red Rock Canyon.

We were going to do a hike but all the kids were complaining that it was way too hot. So we decided to go down into the canyon and hike in the water. It was a great decision. It was a great way to do a hike and stay cool at the same time. My kids had an absolute blast. It was so much fun!

All the kids on the hike. So cute!

My kids and I on the hike at Red Rock Canyon!

Abbi and DJ walking through the water.

Walking through a deeper part. Brrrrr, it was cold!

Love these kids!

They were being super brave, but you can tell it's cold by looking at their faces!

We even found a natural little water slide that the kids all tried. It was so fun to watch them! Some were even brave enough to duck their heads under the water. Crazy! My feet were starting to go numb at this point! Ha ha!We hiked a little bit further and then decided to turn around and head back.

Brianna at the bottom of the water slide!

Cadence going down the slide!

Abbi's turn to go down. She went down a lot!

DJ going down. He was a little nervous and not too sure if he wanted to go.

But he did it! Yeah!

DJ was getting tired and was starting to trip and fall everywhere and was getting upset. So I hung onto his hand and we were helping each other. Then I ended up slipping and landing right on my butt in the water! Ha ha! I'm sure it looked hilarious. DJ wasn't too amused! But we made it back. We were all soaking wet. It was a fun hike. We had some snacks by the vehicles and then headed back to the cabin.

My camo boy!! Can you see him?!

A picture with my kids just before we turned around to head back!

Stacey and Steve were making supper this time. Tiffani and I decided to get together some fun games for minute to win it. So we were preparing that so we could do it after supper. We had a yummy supper of spaghetti and then we cleaned up to get ready for the games.

We divided everyone up into 4 teams. My kids were super excited to be apart of the games. We made sure that they were all on a different team. It worked out perfect. We had 8 different minute to win it games to play. It was a blast. So funny! We were all laughing. It was fun times!

Brent and Chase had to make the cups fall off the table with the air from the balloon. I believe they had to do 12 cups.

Mom, Stacey, Shaylee and Mikah had to pull out the Kleenex with one hand. So funny!

Uncle Steve stuffed DJ's shirt and shorts with balloons. DJ loved it! Ha ha!

Cadence unwrapping her ribbon! This is just before she crashed into the badminton net!

Tiffani, Megan and Mikah unwrapping their ribbon too!

After everyone left, we started a fire for my kids. They really wanted to sit by the fire. We didn't have any marsh mellows to roast but we did have some starbursts. So we roasted and ate those! It was beautiful out so we took a picture with me and my kids!

Roasting their starbursts!!

My 4 crazy, awesome kids with me!! If you look closely you can see Chief Mountain in the background!

I moved all our stuff to the downstairs bedroom. I thought it would be cooler, which it was. It was way too hot up in the loft. The kids went to bed so much easier. Then I came out and played a bunch of games with Brent, Tiff, mom and Megan. Megan had come up after work and was staying the night because she had Wed off.