Monday, July 19, 2010

The Great Outdoors!


TENTIN IT!
This past weekend Jake had a baseball tournament in Montpeiler. It was his last one of the year and my parents BEGGED me to go, so I decided I would.  I know what your thinking, Kourtney Schow... camping, sleeping in a tent, going DAYS without getting ready... at least thats what my friend Robyn said. "Uhh.. I can't even really like picture you doing that.. its not you, so why are you going?" Hahaha. Well I might seem to be pretty high matience but when it comes down to it I really am not! I love that sort of thing and I am so glad I went.  It was so much fun.  Aside from the whole having to sleep in a tent, in a sleeping bag on the floor situation, to all the bugs and campsight kreepers, we had alot and I mean ALOT of good laughs and those are the moments which made it all worth it in the end!


It all started Thursday morning at 5:30 AM. We left my house and headed up to Montpeiler because Jakes first game was at 9, but he had to be there at 8... so the WHOLE family got to be there at 8.. I literally rolled out of bed and into the truck and slept the whole way there.  When we got there we dropped Jake off and went to look for our campsight.  We finally found it and when we pulled in the camp owners were all just chillin at a picnic table, smokin cigarettes and drinkin coffee.. I thought to myself great, this is a really classy place! Hahaa.  My dad went into the office and was in there foooorrrEVER.. finally he came out and said, "We can't check in til after 1" we went to check out our little area anyways and it was nice, there was no one even in there so I am not sure WHY we had to wait, but those camp owners were jerks anyways... and literally everytime we saw them they were smoking and drinking coffee, it was ridiculous! The whole campsight was PACKED and I mean packed, and might I add not with old, retired people just enjoying life, NO it was little kids, little boys to say the least. Hahah Angie wouldn't even let me go to the pool because.. well little boys.. will be boys! hahaah
We went to Jakes first game and they won! It was soo freaking hott I thought I was going to die.  I hadn't had the chance to change out of my sweats since the drive up, so I was sweatin bullets.
Next we decided to go back and see if we could put our stuff in our sight because we didnt want all of our food to go rotten, or the ice to melt in the coolers.
The people let us, so then the real fun began... putting up the tent!


Hahahah, let me just say that we barely bought this tent and havent set it up ONCE, so it was all new to us... my dad, Angie and I, all are VERY stubborn and think we know everything, and we each had a different idea on how we should set it up... once we came to an agreement the tent looked great and it really was fun!  It was really big, it had like two seperate rooms one for Jake and I and one for my dad and Angie. 

Dad and Angie brought it upon themselves to buy a double size air mattress, for some added luxory comfort. And they let me and Jake... sleep on the floor! Hahah our sleeping bags are really comfy though so it wasn't even bad, I didn't get cold once. I actually would wake up in the middle of the night sweating.. haha it was gross.  My dad got really into cooking while we were there and he cooked us steak one night.  Angie brought along some salads and tons of goodies and of course other families staying there did dutch oven... haha thats usually where I was cause I dont really like steak, but it was cute how my dad put in an effort :) 

The next morning we had pancakes, they were awesome.. and the bugs enjoyed them too.. haha.

hahah i kept it fashionable in the dirt dont even worry :)

We had more games, and they were hot hot HOTTTT, in between games we sat and hungout with the Winmills and little Gracie wouldn't leave my side! Haa she wanted her hair like mine she wanted to wear matching clothes she wanted to go EVERY WHERE I went haha it was cute. After awhile we got bored and then went and explored the town.  We found this little coffee shop that had the grossest coffees EVER, we went to Kings (it was like the only store like that they had, they didn't even have a walmart! haha) we went to a little thrift store and to a hunting shop for my dad.  We had fun, but Jake was a little bored.. hahaha


One of the days we went to the ice caves, the time it took to get there should have been 20 minutes.  But of course my dad made one stupid wrong turn and it ended up taking us 2 hours! That was probably the most fun of it all though, we laughed so hard and had so much fun that we couldn't really even bother to be mad at him! Aside from the fact we thought we were going to end up being like one of those families in a scary movie, with weirdos shooting arrows at our tires and eating us for dinner hahah
The ice caves were really cool.  It was freezing, but due to the hot weather the coldness felt good :) we crawled on in there with my dad leading us, with his flashlight and it was soo awesome what we saw.












Its so crazy to think that with how hott it is outside, there can still be snow and ice and stuff.


Later that day we went to Bear Lake! Jake and I had fun playin in the sand and running around in the river.  There was SOO many people there it was ridiculous. Even at like 7 at night it was still way hott and the water was soo warm, warmer then the snake river even I feel.




We didn't really think to bring any sand castle tools or anything, so I made due with what I had.... my hands haha and made an island with my house on the top.. Jake made some kind of pool or something and once he saw mine...

Thats all that was left of it hahaa




We looked for seashells and told Jake he could only take ten, of course he didn't listen and wound up taking half the beach I swear tracking all the sand he possibly could into the truck! I think he was getting a little sick of me taking pictures of him too haha

We had a really good time at the beach and I love my family! Even though only four of us went, we still had the best time ever :)
Every night we did the traditional campfires or course! Roasting smores and making memories... that was really when the bonding was.. we would tell ghost storied trying to scare Jake and we would play camp fire games! It was fun... so much fun usually everyone from the other sights would come and join us.. well little kids anyways, but I didn't mind. It was fun having all the little ones around us, trying to not start fire to the trees, or themselves! Haha it was like one huge day care.
Finally Sunday came and we packed up all our stuff, the WORST part... trying to fit everything back into the little bags they came in was terrible, but we managed to do it, with alot of bickering and fighting of course haha I am so glad I went and it was a nice little get away!
Now I just have to get ready for school, and get ready to move in about a month.. scary and its going to all happen soo fast!!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Fireworks, family reunions and of course, FUN!

July 4th, 2010

I have always loved the fourth of July ever since I was little. Whether it was going to the parade and getting candy or lighting off fireworks with my whole neighborhood... it was always tons of fun and even to this day I still love it. Maybe not for the same reasons though.  Sorry its taken so long for me to update too, I have been so busy working my life away lately but I have some free time today so of course I spend my time on the computer haha.. anywayss..The past few years I have spent my fourth of July weekend in Salt Lake, well Provo, at this thing called Stadium of Fire! Its soo much fun.  It is this huge dance show, and they have like divers and other way cool things, plus there is always a singer there.  The past few years I have went I saw Kelly Clakston, Tim Mcgraw, Brooks and Dunn, and Martina Mcbride. also Miley Cyrus went one year! Haha.  I have danced in it twice which was such a cool expericence.  It was tons of hard work though and traveling, but after it was all said and done its cool to say I participated in that! They also have an AMAZING firework show that definantly beats out Burley and by far Ruperts haha but I would have to say that Burley did  pretty good job this year! ANYWAYS: I didn't go to Stadium of Fire this year even though my mom got me a ticket I skipped out! Which I mean I regret, Carrie Underwood performed this year, and my mom sent pictures during the fireworks, making me I was there! She told me one of the fireworks malfunctioned sending someone into the hospital... ooops! ha
Well seeing as I stayed home, I went to the Rupert fireworks on Wednesday with Gavin.  Which might I say... felt like a high school reunion.. haha which was fun seeing everyone that I hadn't seen in a while and had missed, but in with the ones I missed were the ones I missed... not soo much! Haha but I have done my best to mend those bad relationships and put the drama behind me, because I mean I am a grown up now right ;) hahah after seeing my whole class, I noticed how trashy of a town we lived in and to be honest I'm kind of disgusted! Haha trying to keep our distance from all the smokers and drunks was a little tough but we found a pretty good spot to watch the fireworks.  Pretty much a dissappointment, but its the social scene we all go for I think! 
Friday we had our annual SCHOW FAMILY REUNION! I know I know, family reunions can kind of be a drag, but actually not when it comes to my family.  My family is soo much fun and we are always laughing.  They had a swimming party on friday night at the Rupert pool, I only went for like a half hour seeing as the weather absolutly SUCKED this weekend.  I hate hate HATE the Idaho winds more than anything!!  Then Saturday we all met at my cousins house to watch the parade. They had all sorts of breakfast foods in the backyard and literally my whole family was there! Even my great grandma who is like 97 haha my cousin lives by the police station which was perfect, except we were on the side of the road with the shade! So me being the cold blooded person I am stood in the sun on the road with all of the kids, which I didnt complain! I love those kids and they are soo much fun :)
After the parade my dad insisted on going to the square to get a scone, we waited in line FOREVER only to find out your supposed to get some scone ticket before. There was NO way I was going to wait in line again soo I used my good looks and charm to get my way ;) ha
After that the famly reunion moved to the river on that boat that travels down and up river going like 6 miles per hour.  I wasnt going to go but my dad begged me and I finally gave in. I'm so glad I went! It was soo much fun, even though we all basically were freezing, thats what blankets were made for right?
Later that night we did fireworks at my grandmas.  Its amazing how excited little kids get over those things and I am sad I don't get that excited anymore, we had the little fountains and sparklers for the little kids, and then big ones that go boom for the bigger kids (the dads) haha
Sunday I went to church with my dad.  First time in I dont even rememmber how long.. Weird to think that I would ever go there again? with everything i have put myself through I just thought that I would never go back, I never thought I would feel good enough to go and be accepted.  But now that i have gotten passed all my rebellion and found out the ways of life I feel better and it was cool to go with my dad.   i listened to him as he taught his lesson and it was amazing seeing a side of him that we never get to see at home.  I could feel such an awesome sprit and passion from him, and everytime he looked at me i could tell how much it meant to him to actually have someone there to support him which he hasnt had for the passed like 5 or 6 years. I really respect my dad for always doing what he felt was right and keeping in touch with the sprit in going to church, even though he was all by himself.  Everyone at my house beside me isn't mormon. No on has ever really bothered to ask my dad if they could go. I was to self absorbed in myself these past few years that I had completly spaced it but now I am going to turn over a new leaf, I have already become a much better person and it can only get better with every new step I take.
Sunday night I went to the Burley fireworks with Gavin! Those fireworks were awesome.  There was SOO many people there it was ridiculous. Lines of cars were just waiting to get out after they were done.  Luckily I found myself a smart boy with common sense and he parked us in the perfect place so we could get out quickly! When I got home I did the last of our fireworks with my family, we saved all the big ones for us haha it was so much fun and I love spending time with my family.Overall it was a good weekend and I cant belive summer is already half way over! Pretty soon I will be getting ready for college and I can't wait! Still don't know what I want to do, but I will figure it out soon enough :)
Here are some pictures of my weekend:
That little girl there in the middle is my favorite, I call her Sadie Gaga, if you cant see her bow thats why haha
See our hair, totally windblown, not my greatest moment, but Christy looks cute!
Some of the next generation of Schow boys + jake! ha
Carson, Sadie Gaga, Jake and Case on the boat

haha that would be my grandma on th right.. she is so freakin cute huh
Me and my amazing dad :)
My grandparents and some of there grandkids
Me and my not so baby sister :(