Mother Daughter Weekend and Camping

May is generally packed with activities and this May is no different. Last weekend we went to the Marmon Valley Mother Daughter Weekend. I took Jenna and Sarah for a weekend of horseback riding, camp food, sleeping in bunks, petting animals, hayride, rock wall, and more! Shelly, Grace and Regan also went. Grace is Jenna's friend and Regan is Sarah's friend. So it worked out perfectly! It was similar to Skyview Ranch where we went with the 4th - 6th graders. Both places are Christian ranches. We even had devotion time here at Marmon valley. It was a wonderful time together.

Our beds

 On Friday night there was a barn dance. Jenna already knew many of the dances since she went to Pioneer day in 3rd grade. Sarah had fun dancing but didn't know the steps. Who doesn't love barn dances?

Chuck Wagon Breakfast

 We also had smores and saw the animals. Marmon Valley has this gorgeous peacock. I can't describe how beautiful the blue coloring is on the peacock. It is a wonder.

A beautiful peacock

 On Saturday we had a chuck wagon breakfast. Meaning they took us on a hayride out to get breakfast. We had hashbrowns mixed with peppers and onions, eggs mixed with bacon, and toast over a campfire. Yum!!

Then we went on our first horse ride. All the girls brushed their horses down and saddled them (with help!). Jenna rode on Rosie, Sarah on Faye and I had Scarlet. Rosie's stall was right next to Scarlet.  The horseback riding was beautiful through trails and over a stream. And we rode for over an hour.

Jenna on Rosie

 Next was lunch and back on the horses again. We rode from 1 -2:30 this time and even galloped a little bit. For the second ride Sarah was given a new horse: Topaz. Faye kept wandering off and eating grass. So they gave Sarah an old Grandma horse (that's what they called her) so she would be able to handle it better. Sarah cried to be losing Faye but loved the old Grandma horse.

Sarah on Faye

Along the trail

 After our second horse ride we went on a hayride. Sarah covered herself in hay. She probably still has hay in her hair....

The hayride

 Then we went rock climbing. Jenna and Regan were pros! They were up at the top in no time. I actually really like rock climbing too but it was for the kids only. Bummer!

Rock wall

 I highly recommend the Mother Daughter Weekend at Marmon Valley. We had such a great time, the weather was perfect, and I got to spend some quality time with my girls!

For mothers day every year I take each of the kids on a date. This year both Jenna and Matthew chose Starbucks. So I took them to Starbucks for a frappucino and a treat. Sarah chose Tim Hortons. While at Tim Hortons I found this amazing treat! This is a chocolate hazelnut donut filled with nutella. SHUT UP! Oh yes... It was amazing.

Where have you been all my life hazelnut donut?

 Jenna had her final strings performance of the year. She did really well and is enjoying playing the viola. Next year she is also going to join the band. Erik does not want me to steer her in any direction but I told her she probably should play saxophone since it is the coolest instrument.

Jenna's final strings concert

 This weekend we went on our first camping trip of the season to Alum Creek State Park. We had a beautiful spot right next to the camper beach. The kids were COVERED in SAND! Yes they still played in the sand and water even though it was rainy and yucky outside and the water was freezing. Apparently they don't care.

Alum Creek

Hiding in our camper

 The most unfortunate part was that it rained so much we could not build a fire.  So we ate our hot dogs and brats by cooking them in our camper toaster oven. And we didn't get smores. GAH! What is a camping trip without smores??

Puddles around our fire ring

Things are adding up with our new house. We have to fix several issues the sellers are not willing to fix. Thus Erik has put us into "poor mode" again. He told me I need to buy less chicken (we have chicken a lot) because it is expensive. Yikes! Hopefully we can get renters soon or we will have to start eating ramen noodles. It better never come to that!