A couple more Pics - 2010 Family Camp - Bear Lake

Second pass through on pictures produced a couple more favorites. The 4 Wheeler Morgan is driving got a flat tire so he's keeping the weight on the front corner to get the machine back to camp. Lucky we had lots of fun with it first! Gavin and Mike went out on the Jet Ski and Gavin got to drive it for a while. He LOVED it. I had a good time for my first experience as well, but it was on the windy day and it was very choppy. Mike and I got a full force wave in the face and it felt great! David and Ashlee had a turn on the Jet Ski but we'ren't up for the spine jarring force of the waves. Morgan and Michael were waiting for the tow rope to get pulled out of the sand bog. I don't have many photos of Ethan as he was on his dirt bike and had zoomed off ahead. Racing and splashing was the name of the game. And boy was it fun!

2nd Annual Durocher Family Camp - Bear Lake, UT/ID

It only took a week after the wedding to be geared up for our long planned family camp out. This year we gathered at Bear Lake, Hot Springs, Idaho side. It was arrid and dusty, but the beach was long and wide and the water an awesome color aqua blue. Apparently there are particular reflecting minerals in the 6 x 18 mile lake that make the 200 foot deep lake a shimmering brilliant blue. We arrived there Thursday afternoon with Michael arriving first and dubbing a great spot out of alot of traffic...well at first anyway. By Friday night we had a large group of people squeeze in around us to the tune of 8 tents and more than a dozen cars. The RV park was rummored to have over a thousand overnight guests (tent or trailer registrants so that means a ton more people than that!) on this particular weekend of Pioneer Day.

We had a terrific time on the beach! Michelle's family was having a Munford reunion and invited us to share their water toys of jet skiis and a boat. We had a total blast riding the (5) 4-wheelers speeding up and down the long length of beach and splashing in the water! Most unusual was the tractors that backed up the boats. I called it "Redneck boaters," but with the water level being so low, and no boat docks or ramps available, the huge tractors can push them out rather far without getting stuck in the sand. It was quite a sight! On our way back from the 5 mile ride David's 4-wheeler blew a tire and Morgan drove it back riding on one side for about a mile!

We shared a couple meals with Munfords and had meal assignments with each of the kids. It worked out great to feed our group of 13. Nick brought Dans camp trailer (home sweet home for Michelle and he for another week, being parked along side Davids house,) and it was great to have our own private potty!.....remember the thousand registrants....yep, the porta-pottys were in heavy demand. Nick and Michelle will soon move into a new housing area which is real new and in a nice area south of Logan a few miles.

Friday Annalisa and friend Brett arrived mid afternoon and later David and Ashlee. We ate with Munfords, afterwards getting D&A's tent up before dark. In the morning we had a great dutch oven breakfast and headed for the beach and took a long 4 wheeler ride along the water. Bridgett had gotten a bad sunburn on Friday and ended up sitting out of the days activities because it hurt too much to move! Poor girl...she looked a fright...bright red and puffy. We all put sunscreen on like it was nobodies business! The temps were in the mid 90's but cooled to the low 70's at night which was very nice. Friday turned out to be a day of high winds that churnned up the normally clear water, but it was fun anyway and actually kept us cooler.

Saturday afternoon Mike and family left after some super rides on the 4 wheelers and jet skiis. Gavin even got to drive the jet ski and had a blast. Michael brought Gavins own motorcycle ( ask Gavin and he says, "my Honda 50".) He's not even 3 yet and driving his own real....not toy...motorcycle!

Late Saturday night the rest of us pulled up camp due to the noisy nature of our latino sardine packed group next to us...and we didn't want to pay another 20 bucks for a noisy night of people chatter! We parked, albeit at midnight, on the other side of Bear Lake on the Utah side and had a perfectly quiet spot at a picnic ground. David and Ashlee had gone home to Logan so we took a mountain trail 4 wheeler ride to Ephraims Grave in the Logan Canyon. It was spectacular scenery getting to the grave and monument of Ephraim, a local 9 and a half foot standing height Bear that weighed 1100 pounds. Ephraim was shot by a rancher for killing livestock, and became a legand due to his size. We have a photo of us sitting at the monument which represents the Bears height. It was a great way to end the trip and see some back country. The song, America the Beautiful, kept coming to my mind while beholding the natural wonders. We got Nicks trailer set up again at Davids house and had leftover lunch of BBQ pork from the wedding. Yep, it was a super trip and the best part was the fine company of my children! Did I mention how dirty we got? Way dirty, grimy hot sweaty bunch of people. What a perfect gathering of fun!

Day after Wedding = Oma and Tamie time

Nick & Michelles Wedding!

July 15, 2010 - Logan, Utah

In stead of re-writing the events, my Mom did it so well! This is her weekly letter to the Heller Clan which she has done faithfully for over 30 years! Thanks Mom for such fortitude and keeping our family circle tight and hearts knit together! Love, Sara

Oma’s Newsletter
July 19, 2010
Where do I begin? I’ll start with going to Nick and Michelle’s
wedding. I drove to Utah with Tamie and Maggie Wednesday the 14th.
Everett and Tiffany drove from Las Vegas and stayed at the same motel we stayed in. The next day was the wedding in Logan, Utah in a lovely little park. I’d never been in that part of Utah and the whole valley is just beautiful, green, mountains, pasture, etc. The park was set apart from other things, green, a stream or two with walking bridges, a pavilion, a grassy area surrounded by trees which made it feel private. All Sara’s children looked wonderful. Both Mike and Ethan have lost weight and buffed up. Annie has a new boy friend who makes her happy. David and Ashlee were their lovable selves giving me hugs.
Morgan is nearly as tall as Nick. Gavin came with Bridgett and Mike.
Michelle’s family had decorated with purple and lime green lightly and in harmony with the surroundings. Michelle’s dress was lovely, white, long, a purple sash, and simple but with tucks around the skirt that made it look like there were large scallops. It was so just right and tasteful. Nick wore a black tux with tails, lime green cumber-bun, and tie. The rental place had to get a tux made for his size because he is so tall, so it was a perfect fit. Wow! He looked so very handsome and manly. I felt so pleased with it all! Michelle had at least one sister and Annie and two others I didn’t meet. David was a groom’s man with three other fellows I didn’t know. Their Bishop said the right words before the ceremony and he pronounced them man and wife and they kissed. Then unexpected to all but the Bishop, Nick got down on one knee and looking up at Michelle poured out his heart. Oh my goodness!
I don’t know if there was a dry eye. It was the most romantic thing to do! Michelle was totally speechless and then there was an outburst from all. Nick had obviously given a lot of thought and preparation into the heartfelt words he said. Afterward they greeted those who came and did the traditional cake and grape juice toasts. Her family had a light supper and cake. When they left, they mounted Nick’s sparkling motorcycle with Michelle’s dress flowing behind them. Oh, drama! Such fun!
After we left the park we, Tamie, Maggie, Ev, Tiffany and I, found the Logan Temple and took photos all around it as the sun was going down. The Logan and Manti temples were the first built in Utah. It really reminded us of a castle. I really enjoyed seeing it, if only from the outside.
Mike and Bridgett had to work the next day, but they let Gavin come home with Sara, Morgan and Ethan. Gavin then got to do things with us Friday and Saturday. He’ll be 3 Aug. 1st and has a pretty good vocabulary. He was such a happy boy and never once threw a fit about anything. He started calling me Oma and let me hold his hands and later even a hug. I am a happy great-grandma! Morgan and Ethan are so very good with him and he really loves them.
Friday we went to Sara’s house as Everett, Tiffany, Tamie and Maggie had never been inside. From there we went to Thanksgiving Pointe. I have no idea why it is called that, but it used to be called point of the mountain before anything was built there. There is a very good dinosaur museum which Everett particularly likes. They also had hands on things for kids to do. Maggie, Morgan and Ethan did things with Gavin and had as much fun as he did. Outside there was a contraption that had several handles and when pulled or cranked water would come
out here and there. Another Gavin hit! It was 103 degrees that day.
After lunch, Ev and Tiff went off to celebrate their 4th anniversary.
(They request that the rest of the family refrain from getting married
on their anniversary: last year Hilary, this year Nick.) (<: We
walked around more of the Pointe in the gardens, etc. Of course, cameras were busy the whole time we were in Utah. Morgan drove Ethan and Gavin home while Tamie, Sara, Maggie and I went shopping. It was exhausting but I didn’t want to miss anything. (<: I wanted to be with my girls. At a favorite store Maggie tried on so many clothes that Sara and I just enjoyed the fashion show sitting in chairs.
Naturally there were many things that were beautiful on Maggie and so she and Tamie had to decide and make difficult choices. One item they did buy was a teal formal for only $20 on sale. You couldn’t buy the fabric for that. (I think Maggie should go out for Miss Carson City
again.) Other items were tops and jeans. We ate a late supper at a sports grill. At a Disney store, I found a shirt and a couple other things from the "Cars" movie for Gavin. Sara also bought some accessories to match. We gave them to Gavin Saturday for his Birthday.
He was excited and dressed up and let us take his picture. I spent the night at Sara’s Friday.
Saturday Sara, Gavin and I took Gretchen dog for a walk in Sara’s neighborhood and we took in some great views. Annie had to go to work, so I said good-bye before the walk. Sara did some "show and tell" for me and then the boys went with us to meet, the others and we took the light rail into Salt Lake City. We walked around and in the south visitors center they had the model of the SLC temple with one side cut out and one end cut out so that people could see what it is like inside. We watched a movie of Joseph Smith’s life in the big theater in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The cinematography was amazing and all was well done. Inasmuch as he died a martyr, it was sad at the end so tissues were needed by most. We ate dinner at the Lion House.
There was a free concert in the Assembly Hall at 7:30 PM with an orchestra from Oakland, CA with a famous guest violinist. She was amazing. Tiffany plays the violin and the rest of us also enjoyed the music. After that we returned to our motel. We said good-bye to Sara, Morgan, Ethan and Gavin. Ev, Tiff and Maggie actually went to a movie after that! Tamie and I crashed in our room.
Sunday Tamie, Maggie and I left Midvale, UT for Carson. Ev and Tiff returned to Las Vegas. All made it home safely. We had a few health issues while we were there, but we all went on anyway.
Kristi is recovering well from her last surgery and had company last week.
The DH's must have moved, but I haven’t talked with them.
Grandpa and Gunter survived my absence but Grandpa did suffer a bit from the heat.
So that’s it for now. We love you all.