Today we set up a treasure hunt and invited another family to join us. My family loves treasure adventures! They started many years back, one year Jed was getting tires for his Jeep for Christmas, and we couldn't very easily wrap them, so we decided to set up a treasure hunt for them. I remember hiding a clue in the pond at the South Gate Golf Course. All we had was a rope, a water bottle and Brad found a tire iron in the back of the rig and so we tied it on, and gave it a throw into the center of the pond, hoping the iron would keep it out in the middle of the lake. Then we hid clues, ending at Don and Cheryl's house in Winchester Hills backyard where we hid the tires. It was so fun, the tradition has continued. Then we got invited to do a road rally treasure hunt with the Stuart family one October, and we found new clues like running ads in the newspaper with clues, calling a pay phone with a clue, and hiding a key to a car, with the next clue inside the car. Oh, we have learned of lots of cool hiding secrets!
So Brad and I invited another family a few days back, but we didn't find time to set up the clues until late last night. So early this morning, I pulled the covers off, and made Brad go help me set the clues. It wasn't our best treasure hunt, but we sure packed fun adventures in! We started at our house, and planned a train ride at the Tonaquint park for the 3 yr old in the Brienholt family. Wow. When we got to the park, it was packed!
Then we went for a hike to a flag that Kevin and Ann Hansen have built, we have heard about but never taken the time to go on. Wow! They did a great job and lined the entire path with rocks on both sides! It climbs about a mile up the side of the mountain, ending at a monument with a flag mounted on the top! There are darling little rocks along the way with painted thoughts to encourage you to keep going! It was super and the view from the top is awesome!
Our next stop was lunch at a park, and then we went to the Sand Hollow Golf Course where we did the Wee course (a 9 hole little course of short drives which was perfect!) They were so kind and didn't even charge us to go do that! My older kids loved it! I got paired with Marlee Brienholt who had never golfed before, so I got to help her try to figure it out a bit. In the old days, I went golfing quite often with Debbie Harr, and we used to play that the score was how many balls you found. I came out 4 balls ahead so I won! haha
My older kids were loving that, but time was getting short, these winter days are just not very long!
Then we headed to Sand Hollow Lake for a canoe. I love a peaceful paddle across the glass! I know it is stressful for those worried about tipping. I just am not!
Jakob is so amazing! He turned 12 yesterday! We hoped to start the day doing baptisms for the dead, but learned last night that the Bishop still could not print his recommend, now he has to be ordained before the computer system will let him print it! Darn! So, we didn't get to start by doing baptisms. We will have to wait until after Sunday church when he is ordained! I am so grateful to have most of our family gathered for the next couple of days! Only Chandler's family will be gone, they decided they needed to head home tonight after spending the last several days with the Nelson's. We miss them.
Cute little Stephen is such a joy to all of us! He jumped in the canoe with Jakob I believe, not sure. He is always happy to be a part of everything going on!
Sophia was my boat partner. She is 8 years old right now and such a joy! She is a good helper most of the time. Sometimes she has an opinion about something and will just not listen to anything else. I loved having her in my boat today. She did great on the hike, and was hungry after lunch because she wouldn't listen and come eat. Oh consequences. I didn't give in and let her have candy just because she missed lunch time. Sometimes it is important to listen to others around us, and not always insist on being right! Please!We ended the night shooting and having a bon fire (brickettes) and roasting hot dogs and marshmellows. Sam found a place for us to go out in Warner Valley someplace. He was so cute helping load the guns for the littlest people to shoot. He is such a great helper! I didn't get any photos of the shooting time, the sun was gone quickly and we roasted in the dark. What a night! Everyone went home tired at the end! I love my family! They are such great adventurers! I am so grateful to be on their team! I hope we can always be a healthy, communicating team! I know it takes effort, but family is team work!