Salt Creek and Cousins

We had an amazing time at Salt creek with our Nelson cousins this summer. The weather was beautiful and the company was even better. The cousins played so well together and so did the adults. Mikes family has been going camping there for over 20 years every summer. It's been 7 years since we have all been there together again.  We have many fond memories of Salt creek throughout the years.
                              
Some of the memories we all remember and laughed about often are;

When Kate and Andrea tried to make the family play the "I love you because...." game. Let's just say that backfired a little bit and we have never played since.

The time dad dumped a bag of sawdust in the fire and burned off his eyebrows and lashes.

The many times Beth fell in the tide pools while trying to get a closer look at some sea life.

Every time dad tries to back up the tent trailer.

When Kayla was one and told everyone who sat in her seat that it was "my b***h"(bench)

The many times it rained and poured and we sat underneath "tent city" miserable and cranky

The many boy friends who slept in the "boy friend tent".

Karen's outdoor kitchen that put us all to shame.

When dad got the car stuck and it shot gravel into Jaime's crotch while he helped push dad out.

The times we ate dinner at 9pm because we had to wait for the dutch oven food to cook all the way.

Adventure grandpa!

The camping pillowcases mom made all the grandkids except for Kate's kids.

Late night talks at the camp fire with awesome brothers and sisters.

The raccoons opening our coolers and drinking our pop.

Riding the ferry across the Puget sound.


Then.......

 

 

Now...........
                                    

                                       

B.Y.U. Bound

As our family drove the 14 hours to Utah to drop Kayla off at college, there was always the looming thought of saying goodbye to our first born. It just seems so unnatural to raise a kid for 18 years and then just drop them off in another state and say "see you later".
  The first day we checked in to the dorm we drove all around campus. The excitement was palpable. The campus was beautiful and everyone was so nice. Lots of moms and dads were moving their kids in.  As we walked through the campus, we laughed at the fact that everyone we walked by smiled and said"hi"to us.
                                     
The first two room mates we met were darling. Amy is a swimmer for BYU and has prosthetic legs. She was so outgoing and smiley. Jaycee won Miss. Syracuse last year and is competing this year to be Miss Utah. She was very laid back and friendly.

 Kayla's roomie that bunked in her room didn't make it until the next day.  I was so proud of Kayla for staying the night there without her roommate there yet. Her name is Regan and she is so darling. Kayla and her have a lot in common and they even look like they could be sisters. Regan will be leaving on a mission in January.

All of these girls live in Utah so they go home a lot. I told them to take care of Kayla because she tends to get very home sick. They were all very kind and cute with Kayla. They are going to have a blast! Our family took them out to dinner one day to get to know them. I asked them a million questions about them and their families. It made me feel better to know a little bit about the girls Kayla will be living with.

We got her dorm put together and shopped for all the last minute needs. Mike's way of coping was to post minute by minute updates on facebook. My way of coping was to buy anything and everything Kayla needed. Maybe even some things she didn't really need, but it made me feel better to know she had everything possible that she may need.

 

                                     

 

 

At the B.Y.U bookstore we found these awesome Star Wars posters. So of course, we had to have them for Kayla's room.

                                    

Everyone in our family got BYU gear except for Mike. Being a life long Husky fan, he couldn't bring himself to buy anything because he knew he wouldn't wear it. He still will support Kayla in attending BYU, he just won't wear the gear.

 

 

Kayla spent the next couple days doing freshman orientation with her room mates. The college took the traditional Y picture in the stadium with all the freshman.

When we said our goodbyes on Saturday night there was not a dry eye left in our family. It was so hard to leave our baby girl and know that she is on her own now. The ride home from Utah was weird. Of course the kids were thrilled to have the extra space in the car.

 

 Since then,Kayla has been attending all the B.Y.U football games. She loves the school spirit and the crazy fans. The last game they went to, they spent 6 hours in line before the game. Her other room mate Reagan spent the whole night in line. The line went clear around the whole stadium.

 This is a before and during the downpour they had at the first game. They actually had to postpone the game for a couple hours because the weather got so bad. We watched the game on T.V. it was fun knowing Kayla was there.

This is such an exciting time of life for Kayla. Everything and everyone is new and exciting. We on the other hand feel like someone is always missing from our home. As much as we miss having Kayla around, there is no other place I would rather have her be. She will learn so much about herself. She will gain a stronger testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ as she studies and learns on her own. I am so proud of her and the person she is becoming.