So I’m way behind in blog posts and am determined to catch up.  So I bring you ‘the other stuff’ that happened this summer.

We went to the school carnival and go our faces painted. The lady who did my girl’s faces lives in my ward and is available for parties- she is AMAZING.

We went to the Children’s Discovery Museum during our first track break (you know- three whole weeks into the start of the new school year).






DEMON CHILDREN!

We went to Logan and had a birthday lunch in the park and then went on a hike with my sister and her husband and my mom.

From olympic park musem 10910

My girls loved the tire swing- if you look close you can see Han Fei in the background on the swings…


Then we convinced her to get on…


There were football and baseball games going on at the park while we were there- both of which were fascinating to Han Fei. She charmed her way into this practice long enough for a picture and a couple of swings of the bat.

Then we went for a hike. The girls found this wall of leaves to hide behind and try to scare us.

Megan and Grandma

Backstory for the following picture. Corinne is the worst picture taker in the family- as far as being the subject of said picture. Her eyes always seem to be closed or half open and she’s got a goofy look on her face. Hannah is that person in my immediate family. We were teasing the both of them and I thought it’d be fun for them to have an awkward picture together- I got this one on the first shot.

Both eyes have their eyes open, both are smiling naturally… this was the first take too!

We also went camping with the ward. As the Activity chairperson for the ward what is the easiest campout for everyone else is the hardest for me. We provided dinner and breakfast as well as fireside entertainment. I kept thinking we were going to get rained out- but we managed not too!

Han Fei had never been camping before and was excited for the experience. She LOVED playing with the fire and sleeping in a tent. She had a great time! (whew!)

She’s really become like the ‘fun aunt’ who lives with us.

Here is Steve dressed up as the crazy Grandma for our skit.

The kids played in the stream that ran through camp endlessly.

Including riding down the river

Annika walked around with this hat on for most of Saturday morning- I didn’t know why she was doing it- but I thought it was cute.

I’m going to apologize in advance- this is the mother of all posts- SUPER long and it’s not only wordy it’s picture heavy.  If you’re really not that interested here is the short version- we went camping in August to Crater Lake and Redwood National Forest.  We saw a pretty lake and big trees and had fun.  Feel free to scroll past the rest and just tell me how cute my kids are (just trust me- they’re cute- you don’t even have to look at the pictures).

So for our summer vacation this year we decided to explore Northern California and Southern Oregon a bit. We wanted to see the Giant Redwoods since neither of us had seen them but thought it was too far to drive in one day. So we figured out about 8 hours from our house was Crater Lake in Oregon- which neither of us had even heard of- but looked cool. So we piled our kids in the car, loaded up the trailer and away we went at 4am. (Doesn’t that sound simple and easy? Unfortunately to do that takes about 5 days of preparation). We left Han Fei at home since she started school the day we left.

It’s fun to drive through parts of the country we haven’t seen before and I was surprised at how dry Oregon was. Of course it was Eastern Oregon. When we got to our campsite the first thing we did was set up camp…

and dig in the dirt.

and we’re so super talented we can do both with our eyes closed (and in our pjs)…

We got a super fancy new tent this summer hoping that it would a. keep us dryer and b. the zipper would last longer than two summers. This is the first time setting it up-

Here is Megan helping-

oh wait- HERE is Megan helping-

Then we had my kids FAVORITE camp food for dinner.

and Annika the model

Recipe: 1 package of hot dogs, 1 package of crescent rolls. Wrap roll around hot dog and put on stick- then cook over fire until the roll is done. Dip in mustard and ketchup. (You’re welcome for that gourmet tip).

The next day we set out to explore crater lake. It’s an old volcano that has filled with water basically. We spent one day exploring it- which was perfect. We had enough time to see most everything and not get bored or feel rushed.  It’s the deepest lake in the US, the second deepest in  North America and the ninth deepest in the world.  it stays a pretty consistent 55 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface- which is pretty dang cold…

Our first stop was at a waterfall and because the National Park Service newspaper told us to we were on the lookout for Monkey Flowers.  It wasn’t a very long look since the hillside of our first stop was covered in them.

Then we saw the Pinnacles which have some really cool scientific explanation that I could have told you in August- but now I’ve forgotten. But they looked Alien.

Cute picture of my girls and a better picture of the Pinnacles- but also a cool water bottle tip. Megan actually ‘invented’ this. These are the girls water bottles that I’d purchased for school lunches and they came with small D clips on them. Megan was carrying hers around one day hooked onto an elastic headband- and it hit me how perfect that would be for hiking! Much better than bum water from two years ago!

(Bum Water and holy crap Cori is TINY!)

While on the Pinnacle hike we hiked to the edge of the park! Woo! We found a broken sign and Ashley and Annika tried to fix it.

There is a lake around here somewhere right? I know I keep saying there is but I’m like 10,000 words long with no pictures to prove that. Here is a glimpse (with the Three Amigos). Notice how blue it is? It’s supposed to be pretty dang clean and drinkable. I tasted some and it tasted like bottled water to me.

Here is another view- see that white stuff? SNOW!

Oh look! I was there too!

We saw some other overlooks and then decided we should head down to the lake. There is only one access point and it’s 1.2 miles of switchbacks down to the edge…. which means it’s another 1.2 miles of switchbacks up to the top. It’s a pretty intimidating hike. But we went on down (spoiler alert!) all made it back up.

So we usually go on beach vacations. I kept trying to explain to my kids that both places we were going to HAD beaches- but that the water wouldn’t be very warm. We got to the bottom and they changed into swimsuits…

and then they believed me.  (55 degrees remember?)

I told Steve I’d give him anything he wanted if he went all the way under… apparently that power is completely irresistible.
Before

during

after

Then Steve told the girls he’d get them ice cream if they went all the way in.
Ashley was all over that.


The other girls did it too- I just don’t have pictures.
BRRR!

Cool picture- this fisherman was hand feeding these little chipmunks at the dock. Apparently the lake is overstocked and so there is free fishing- if you drive to Oregon and hike down to the lake… and back up.

The next morning we packed up and headed to the Redwoods. It took us longer to get there then we were anticipating- but it was a much prettier drive than to Crater Lake.

Our first hike the next morning we went to a place I keep calling Fern Gully but is actually called Fern Canyon. I think we could have played and explored there all day and the kids would have been happy. It’s a slot canyon that has a small stream running down the middle and ferns covering the sides of the canyon. It was hard to get good pictures in there- so sorry for the picture quality in advance.

There were also downed trees that the kids were climbing all over.




This is the wall of the canyon

After that adventure we went to find some big trees.

And we did.

It’s hard to do the size of the trees justice but we tried!

I wanted to do one thing on this vacation and that was to find some tide pools at low tide and see a starfish.
I got my wish.

and then the camera battery died.

But we did find tide pools at two different spots and saw multiple different colors of starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, crabs and even a huge intact fish skeleton that had been picked clean by birds. (hey- it was cool!)

We had a great trip and saw a ton even if it was really quick. I love family trips!

So I’ve had a crappy week or so.  I hate it when people say that and don’t say why- but that’s just the premise for the rest of the story.  So I’ve been wallowing a bit and wondering why I don’t feel like I’m getting any answers and why nothing seems to be going okay or better or whatever…. anyway- I was driving down the freeway and well, wallowing when I came up to a super slow car and was sort of boxed in- anyway the license plate on the car was a personalized one that said, ‘its okay’.   I know it’s dumb. But for just a minute I felt peace.

Han Fei has moved seamlessly into our family. We’re having a blast.  We’ve decided (Steve and I and Han Fei) that she’s going to stay here at least a few months.  We’ll take it a few months at a time and go from there.  Lucky you!  You’ll get more Han Fei stories.  Lucky us we get to experience her first hand.

We needed a new tent for our upcoming camping trip and Steve was set on a particular sort and it turned out we needed to go to Cabella’s to get it. We took Han Fei (who’s never been camping) along for the trip.

Hunting was a fascinating topic. She was a bit appalled that so many people in Utah hunt.

The moose was a new animal for her-

But she got cozy with this one really quick.

She’d also never seen a sleeping bag before. We’re taking her camping for our ward campout next week… I hope she doesn’t hate it too much. I kept explaining camping and she kept asking if it was fun for me. (yes it is).

Fish however were a completely different story. She’s from a coastal city. Also they get their fish from the market LIVE. She has to kill them in her kitchen. Talk about fresh! This one seemed to like her.

Our other new experience this week? Horsebackriding. (another first).

I think she liked it.

In other news Han Fei is ready to become a Mormon. Mostly because she’s got the no alcohol, no smoking, no tea (for real), no coffee thing nailed. I told her there’s a bit more to it then that.

Onto the jealously….

Han Fei can cook (my dreams are coming true!)

Saturday for lunch (and dinner and then on Sunday) we had Chinese dumplings… you know them as potstickers. I just may have and authentic Chinese recipe tutorial for you coming up (including video on how to roll the dough).

The list of foods Han Fei now enjoys since coming to stay with us:
sweet potato fries (her: ‘are these good for you?’  Me: ‘they were before they were deep fat fried’)
Pasta Salad (okay- not so bad)
Popovers with butter and powdered sugar… mmmm
Bread- Lots and Lots of bread.
Ranch Dressing- I’m not letting her put ketchup on almost anything- I introduced her to ranch dressing today as an alternative.  Now she loves it.
Pasta- but how can you go wrong with pasta?
Snickers.  Oops.
Tomatoes fresh from the garden (but really how can you not enjoy that?)

I claim no responsibility for bacon and sausage- that was purely UCLA cafeteria.

Saturday we’re having BLT’s on homemade bread with tomatoes straight from the garden- I’m excited for her reaction.

We went to  see How to Train Your Dragon yesterday and once again Han Fei was wildly impressed with how nice people are here. I had a punch pass with three punches left on it and was asking about how to buy three more tickets without purchasing an entire ten punch pass since this is the last week of summer movie camp.  A woman behind me offered two of her punches that they weren’t going to be using and a woman next to me offered one.  We didn’t have to buy any additional tickets at all.  She has been repeatedly impressed with the niceness of people.  Everyone who meets her is super nice- which doesn’t surprise me- they should be.  But she is so genuinely grateful for everything.  It makes it fun to do things for her.

I’m enjoying Han Fei’s gift of seeing my country and culture through new eyes.  She’s full of questions about all sorts of things and how things are done and people’s relationships and I’m finding myself explaining things that I’ve never had to explain before.  I told her I’m willing to classify things into subcultures:  Our family culture, Mormon culture, Utah culture, United States culture.   It is making me think of things and the ‘why’ behind the things we do more deeply.  I’m thoroughly enjoying this gift of a fresh look at my mundane life.