Pickleville Playhouse and Bear Lake

After our team camp, Colton & I packed our bags and headed to Bear Lake for a few days of fun. The Collins family was there with their new toy--the Prowler--when we got up there to meet John & Marti. Cody and Sheri came up with the kids and Michael brought his kids up too.

Monday morning Cody, CMac Jr., Colton, John, and I got in 9 on the Bear Lake golf course and then we packed up everyone and took to the beach. Everyone was pretty bombed after the fun in the sun, but when we got back to the cabin we discovered some baby ducks that had somehow got deserted by their mother in the window well. Animal Rights activist Colton McFarland quickly came to the rescue and the kids put them in a Barbie toting Rubbermaid bin until we could set them free in the canal. After that, we took an evening 4 wheeler ride over to Skeeter Flats in Laketown and got chased down in reverse by a retard driver in a flaming red Ford who almost ran us off the road when he was going forward too!

Tuesday we took a REALLY long ride on the 4 wheelers to Hardware Ranch and then to the Rafter S Ranch up Monte Cristo. It was a little over 70 miles round trip but was beautiful and worth it. We saw deer, a cow elk, and tons of hummingbirds at the ranch. We packed sandwiches and drinks and ate up at the old cabin. Jeannie had given us some fresh tomatoes that we doused in salt and pepper and they disappeared in a hurry too. Let me confess that I have a secret fantasy about living on a ranch...I would've loved to live up there when that operation was at its prime & I love hearing the stories and looking at the pictures from those days. We didn't get to spend as much time there as we would've like because we had to hurry home so that we could catch a quick shower and head to the Pickleville Playhouse for dinner and a show.

Now I was a little worried about what Colton would think about the whole Pickle experience. I've forced him to watch a few classic musicals like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Oklahoma and he wasn't real enthused about either of them--although he can belt out a pretty terrific rendition of Bless Your Beautiful Hide! And it also was $30/person to go. But it was well worth it. The dutch oven dinner was great (and big) and the show was amazing. The villain and his female accomplice were AWESOME! The show was funny and the local actors/actresses are all so talented. Some lines worth repeating: "Not until pigs freeze over" and "Yo say!" After the show, I confessed to Colton that I wish I could do something like that. He laughed and said, "I hate to break it to you, but you could never do that." Ah, come on...just cuz I can't sing?

Wednesday afternoon, we hit the golf course again in what is undoubtedly the worst golfing outing of my short career. I've never been so ticked off in my entire life. It was horrible. Perhaps I was still too focused on the fact that I would never be able to be a star in a Pickleville Playhouse production...We decided to hit up the Bear Pizza for dinner and then we took a driving tour of the new cabins that are popping up all over the area. It sure makes me realize how much money other people have and how little I have. Yuck. But someday, right?

Thursday, we wasted half the day trying to decide if we wanted to go home or not. In the end, we ended up coming back to good old Ogden and Friday afternoon we hit up the lake with Jake, otherwise known as Mr. Moomba. You see, Coach Cookus bought a boat this summer and has been entertaining guests daily on his new toy. Once again, some people have money, some people do not. I'm glad I have friends that do so I can play with them!

We capped off the weekend by having a great dinner at the Cookus residence provided by Mom and Dad Cookus and then with the opening night of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo.

I love rodeos, but I must say that this one was terrible. They rolled half of the contestants and after the 20 minutes it took the Ogio riders to set up their ramps, they announced that they, in fact, would NOT be performing so they spent another 20 hauling their crap out of the arena. The highlight of the evening was Cody Ohl--even though he broke the barrier and they had to add 5. Oh, and the Outlaw--if you want to consider that a highlight rather than a lowlight.

But all this summer fun will end soon, so I've gotta get it in while I still can!

SLACKER!

Yes, I know that I have been annoying all (all 2 of you) loyal blog readers of mine because I haven't posted for an entire month plus. But here you go...

I've been incredibly busy the last month trying to cram in as much excitement as I possibly can before my yearly death sentence occurs aka double days begins and my life is over (for the 9th time--13 if you count the ones I endured as a player!).

So let's see...where do I begin? Colton's brother Shay got married on June 28th at his honey bun's family ranch, so on June 22nd, I I took off to Jerome to help the Swan family prepare for the reception that was to be held at their house on July 4. Colton & I spent lots of hours painting, mowing, watering, fertilizing, decorating, taking cats to the vet, and whatever else was required of us. Marti kept telling me how jealous my mom would be if she knew the things I was doing at her house and not at my own mother's. She's probably really right--I did a lot of work in the two weeks that I spent at their house that I have never done for my own parents and I probably owe them for that for sure...

On Friday, we all took off to Shay and Christi's place--better known as Boener Ranch. We went to the Cobb's house for the rehearsal and then went to the Weiser country club for dinner. The next morning, John, Curt, Colton, Jason, and I got in 9 holes at 6am before we went to breakfast at the bowling alley in Homedale & then we all got ready for the actual ceremony and once again headed back to Weiser.

The wedding at the Cobb ranch was beautiful. It was the perfect setting for Shay and Christi--mountains, trees, and horses. And a mechanical bull. Yes, that is correct. And I rode it. For eight seconds (at least). And my wrist is still killing me today. But it was a blast--I'm just very disappointed in my photographer (Colton) because he failed to take a picture both times I was on that thing. Colton was the best man so he had to give a speech and he did a terrific job. He got pretty emotional--which he NEVER does--and talked about how Shay was his hero & that everything he's ever done in life was because Shay had done it too. It was so sweet. He actually made everyone cry and some people thought he was even going to propose to me. Yeah, right...come on people, that is so not his style. But the wedding was great, the reception was a blast, and the hospitality was awesome too!

After the wedding and reception was all over, we went back to the Swan's house and attempted to finish up the last-minute details for the reception/family reunion that was held at their house on the 4th of July. Colton had to go back to work for the week, so E'lise and I were the only ones who stuck around. I was also doing a volleyball camp at Minico High School (Bradie & the squeaky cheese & Emi and Jack's fireworks) for the first three days of the week with Steph, so my Swan job working hours were mainly from 4 til 10pm those days. So I left the shopping to Marti and E'lise and I finished up some painting, thistle pulling, and Christmas light wrapping. Then Biff, Colton, Double D, Shay & Christi, and the Slacks rolled into town just in time for the fun. (Although let me give credit where the credit is due--Heather was running all over town in Utah picking up last minute items to bring to Idaho for Marti.) And I was happy to help, so I don't want people to think I feel picked on.

The reception was Friday night--complete with 85 pounds of smoked pork, millions of desserts, and fireworks. It turned out perfect. The Swan and McFarland guests stayed the night and took part in the Shodeo on Saturday morning. We played all sorts of games in the arena--water relays, wheelbarrow races, carrying the egg in the spoon, goat tying, ribbon pulling, a dummy roping, and everything else you could possibly think of. We played volleyball, had water balloon fights, and even played a game called "Dress the Grandpas" where we dressed all of the grandpas in women's clothing and then had a fashion show. It was a blast!

The Swan and McFarland families are huge! And they are so close to one another. It was so much fun to be a part of that and to spend the two weeks that I did with my second family. I love them all.

A few highlights that will forever remain engraven in my mind:

1. Heather being told that a family friend named their son after Shay and her reply of , "So what'd they name him?"

2. The non-flying dust particles that are buried beneath the flying ones.

3. The massages that I coerced the little girls to give me so that, in turn, I would play games with them.

4. Biff's lack of knot-tying skills for me and Shad in the 3 legged race.

5. Chunky. Rest in peace.

6. The 6 pack. Hitting your boyfriend's cousin's wife in the face is not the best way to get the family to like you. But I hope that the Swan family will invite me to play volleyball again at some point.

7. John telling me that painting the shed was like polishing a turd.

8. Jason Hancock providing the food and me providing the shelter.

Needless to say, it was a great time & a fun part of my summer.