We're in Deep Creek

Every year around the 24th of July Norman's family goes to Flaming Gorge for a family camping trip. We went this year which was a lot of fun! We left on Thursday after work and after me being motion sick for most of the way and then us getting lost we finally got to camp. Because Norman is all grown up and married and stuff this year we even got our very own camp site (I think they mostly wanted to keep the newlyweds far far away from camp...go figure!) Most years Norman would throw a sleeping bag in his car and a tent and go. This year because he was bringing 3 girls with him (yes...the dogs count as girls) it was a bit different. The car was packed FULL!!!! We brought all sorts of food and an air mattress and a fence for the babies and lots of blankets and several changes of clothes and dutch ovens and dutch oven stuff...well...you get the picture. Oh...and when I first heard about this I swear he said there was flush toilets. Nope! It was an outhouse! I was soooooo nervous. The first night we got there it was dark by the time we had camp set up and were getting ready for bed. I have this thing about bending over big dark holes that you can't see in to. The first night I was DUMB and I only brought a lantern rather than a flashlight. Try as I might I couldn't see down into the black abyss. Yes yes...I know...ewwwww...gross.....why would I look down there? It's simple really. What if there is something down there that jumps up and bites my bum!!!! This is serious people!!! Norman couldn't quit laughing when I told him my fear and I was a little shocked that he wasn't worried about it. He said it was gross down there and what would live there...my reply....very icky and scary creatures...they'd have to be to live in that crap. Next time you use an outhouse you will think of the scary things that could live down there too.

On Friday morning I got up early thanks to a needed visit to the possible outhouse monster. Once I build up the courage for that my heart is racing and there is no going back to bed for me. I was up before everyone else both days...why...because of my bladder...grrrr!!! Most mornings if nature calls I can take care of it and crawl right back in bed and snuggle next to Norman and be just fine. His alarm will go off and I happily kick him out of bed and take it all to myself! When you're in nature and it calls, it's a MUCH louder ring and I just can't go back to bed. Anyways, so we did bring the babies with us this time and Chloe found a T-Bone steak that someone had thrown out the night before. Oh...I've never seen such a happy dog!! When she found it you would have thought she struck gold. The thing was as big as her. She immediately went into hide this quick mode. Oh wow! It was soooo funny to see her running around with that thing. Don't worry, Sophie ended up with the leftovers (remember...the steak was as big as Chloe...she couldn't eat it all) and then they both got rib bones which they loved. The dogs were a major hit with the kids. I was told several times that "the puppies love me!" by the most adorable kids ever. We finally ended up putting the dogs in a lawn chair and telling the kids the doggies were sleeping. Kids are not stupid though, and even though the dogs will stay, there is no command for "keep your eyes shut and pretend like you're sleeping." There were still lots of kisses given to the doggies even in the chair. Notice how happy they are even with doggie slobber.

Norman was much more active than me. I found a chair and didn't really part with it the whole trip. Norman went for a couple of hikes and was up wandering a lot more. It was so fun to spend time with family though. I would generally just sit and talk to well...anyone...LOL! I was telling one of the nieces that I liked her Tinkerbell shirt and I was wondering if I could have it. She told me that once she out grew it that maybe then it would be ok. Her older sister looked very skeptically at me and said "that's not going to fit you." I just don't know why she thought that a T-shirt from a 3 year old would not fit me...I mean come on. I asked if I could just wear it on my arm and she said "ummm...no." LOL! Poor kids...they are finding out how crazy their new aunt Julie really is. Norman was such a help with cooking! We did a dutch oven dinner and he was moving the ovens everywhere for me.

The crazies of Elwood Cemetary

Ok, so I have to tell you about what my parents have been up to. They go to the cemetery well...every day. One time they were there they noticed that Jami's little solar powered glowing hummingbird was missing. They wondered if the raccoons took it. The lights are really shiny and poor raccoons just can't resist the shine. It was still light so they decided they'd go back after dark and see if they could see it glowing down in the gorge or anywhere in the cemetery. You know it's a small town when you can wander around the cemetery after dark. Most places won't let you and you get turned into the cops really fast. I told her that if they caught them that they were on their own, but I'd come and post bail. I also warned them that saying that they were looking for a glowing hummingbird would probably not go over well unless the cops knew exactly what they were talking about. That was kind of funny, but the best story is with the Voles. There are voles (they're like mice) running rampant in Elwood. It's actually really really bad this year. Most people have a few hundred in their yards tearing up their lawns. Our two dogs LOVE to eat them so my parents haven't had a problem with them, but the cemetery is getting hit with them. There was a newer grave and it had a TON of vole holes running through it. It was upsetting to my mom so my dad put the hose down the vole hole and turned it on. There were voles popping out and running and MY MOM (yes....my mother!!) was stomping on them. Once she almost fell on her butt because she was running after one and stepped to far forward as she stepped on it. It squished and was slick and she almost went down. My dad was laughing his guts out. Oh...if you get this story from them...get my dad's version. My mom's is funny, but my dad tells it well.

It makes me laugh because they take a bucket out and water Jami's flowers and the grass over her grave. My dad even brought out fertilizer. The cemetery is green, but over Jami's it's really really green. I told my mom that if people don't know that they have been taking such great care of her plot that people might wonder if her plot is so green because Jami really was so full of well...shit...yes...ok...I cussed. I'm just here to tell you people, it's only because of the extra care my parent's are giving to her plot. Just had to make that clear.