A Boy's Favorite Weekend

Background (March-ish):

Typically at church I remain very quiet (refering to Priesthood opening exersizes). But when Whit and I moved here to Springfield, I was pretty quick to make my mad camping skills known throughout the ward. I mean lets be honest, my camping skills are comparable to Lebron's skills on the bball court. I don't know why but I have just been blessed with this gift, to be at one with nature and to have an innate ability to understand the camping way of life. All things camping just come to me.

The Story (Present time):

Friday my trusty Father in Law and I picked up four boys. Joseph age 12, TJ age 10, John age 8, and Zach age 5/6. We also had Derek on board. We drove about an hour to Table Rock Lake, near Branson. We packed the Envoy so full I felt like I was going to sell pest control again packing up the Taurus with stuff everywhere. Stuff at your feet, on your lap, stuff on your side as a pillow. I didn't even have it that bad, it was the two little boys that you could barely see their little eye balls they were burried so deep. You know stuff...camping stuff...sleeping bags, tents, marshmellows, footballs, pillows, liter fluid, hatchets, fishing polls, lawn chairs, etc.

It was the weekend every boy looks forward to all year long, the father and son campout. We arrived Friday evening and set up camp.

Here is Joseph in front of his tent.

Left to Right, here is John, TJ and Zach and their tent.

Here is my tent, pretty must the sweetest tent a man can have. I mean what is not manly about this tent? Nothing. I think the length of time that a man has had his tent says a lot about him. I mean who wants to be that guy that stopped at the store on his way to the camp out and bought a tent? Not me. My tent and I are going on 8 years (its hard to believe, time flys).

The evening festivities included: Words from President Chandler, roasting hot dogs, marshmellows, smores, starbursts (Thanks Les, delicious), camp fire man talk, a plethora of trips to the restroom for the little guys, a little football, and just hanging out.

After the boys all fell asleep (which took about 3 hours), Rich, Gus and I just did our manly thing hangin' by the fire. Derek was also there for part of that until he went off playing capture the flag with his posse (spelling?).

The next day we had a vegan breakfast, which was interesting, not your typical father and son campout breakfast, at least not where I come from. Then we headed down to the lake. Swimming, rafting, boating, fishing, and of course lots of peeing in the lake. Yes that's right, on multiple occasions this scenario played out...

Zach: "Evan, I have to go to the bathroom, REAL BAD!!!"

Evan: "Okay, no problem, lets walk on up to the restroom."

Zach: "No, Evan, I have to go to the bathroom...NOW."

Evan: "Okay, just go in the lake then."

Zach: "uhhh..." (Zach swiftly runs to the lake gets in maybe up to his ankles, drops his swim shorts, and bam. He goes to the bathroom inches away from where his buddies are swimming. To say the least, he cleared the area fairly quickly.)

The situation repeated four times throughout the day.

Then we broke camp and headed home. Of course stopping at the golden arches on the way home for lunch.

Lessons learned: Be careful what you ask for. Camping still rocks, but rocks a little less with allergies, don't let young boys drink 3 soda's in about a 10 minute time period, be descriptive with your bathroom instructions, and never go camping with little guys without backup (Richard and Derek).

Thank you's: Richard, Derek and Gus. You each made my weekend much better. And minus that one part where we lost one boy for about 25 minutes it was a great experience, see you guys next year!

And of course, thank you Table Rock Lake, we could not have asked for a better weekend.

Get to know the Birthday Girl...

It is very common to find Birthday blogs, across this fine blogging world. But since this is a milestone birthday, and a very special birthday, I wanted to do something a little different for the blogging world.

Many of you out there that read our blog, do not live in Nixa, Missouri. Since that is the case I want to bring each of you into the dynamic mind of the birthday girl, Whitney. I have put together 22 questions and asked for Whitney's immediate response. Remember I asked her these questions right when she woke up too, so that may have an effect. Hopefully this will help you to get to know Whitney a little better. So....

1. If you were a candy, what candy would you be?
A: Mr. Goodbar, kind of nutty

2. Name the first professional sports team that comes to mind.
A: Portland TrailBlazers (Yes, I'm doing my job)

3. What is the first thing you think of, when you see the color purple?
A: tinky winky tella tubbie (I hope I spelled that right)

4. Who is the tallest person you know?
A: First I thought Ev, then I thought Yao Ming...wait...

5. What is your favorite store to shop at?
A: Banana Republic

6. How old, is old?
A: 86

7. Pick one: Facebook, Twitter, or Blogger.
A: Facebook (duh)

8. If you could go out to eat anywhere right now, where would it be?
A: Olive Garden

9. What is your most hated house hold chore?
A: Floors (moping)

10. If you could have any super power what would it be?
A: To read peoples minds, I like to know everything

11. What was your first thought when you woke up this morning?
A: Why in the world is that curtain half way open! (Sun was glaring in her eyes)

12. What do you think the greatest invention in your life time has been?
A: I'm not saying the first thing that came to mind...ok...hair straightner

13. Name one thing you miss about being a kid.
A: Liking to run (that really says it all!)

14. If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?
A: (This one was very tough)

15. What was your favorite music group when you were in middle school?
A: N'Sync, but I wasn't a die hard

16. What was your favorite childhood injury?
A: When I broke my wrist doing a back handspring at lunch. Then I went all day not going to the doctor, yeah thats how tough I am.

17. If your house was on fire and you could grab only 3 things, what would they be?
A: Evan, Laptop/External hard drive (photos), and my Reasons book that Ev gave me when he asked me to marry him.

18. If you were a cartoon character, which one would you be?
A: Tazmanian Devil, because we live in Missouri and its always a tornado here (without misssing a beat)

19. If you were an animal, which one would you be?
A: A Lioness (she has been watching a lot of animal planet lately)

20. Have you ever been told you look like someone famous? Who?
A: hahaha, Whitney Houston

21. Why does caregiver and caretaker mean the same thing?
A: oh, cause you provide and give them things, yet you can take away so much being in charge of them.

22. What would you like the blogging world to know on this, your 22nd birthday?
A: I have a couple things so you better be ready to write. 1, Olive Garden does not put as much alfredo sauce on their chicken alfredo now, I am assuming because of the current state of the economy. 2, I very much appreciate when Ev mowes the grass diagonally. 3, right now its 9:26am so if were going to church I need to go get in the shower!

Happy Birthday Cowboy

Wishing one of our favorite cowboy's a happy birthday. May your day be filled with gladness. Ride on cowboy, ride on.

And remember, "If it can't be done on a horse, it aint worth doin'."

Coffee Table Make Over

Before....($5 from a garage sale)



After....




ps- Happy Mother's Day to all those Mom's out there.