Thanksgiving 2015

Dinner with ALL the Hullinger's at the church near the temple. Andi wanted us to snap a picture for her as she is missing the holidays with family, while in Indiana.

 Thanksgiving dinner at Bart and Lu's in Salem.

River Trip~ Desolation

Andi, Annie, Damon, Ashley, Adam, Greg. 

River trip from the past...

This river trip was 7 years ago in the summer of 2006. Kandus was almost 5, Lucy was about 19 months old. 

Before the trip I was so nervous about leaving the girls for 5 whole days. Not only because it was my first time leaving them, but because where we were going there would be no phone service, just like in the olden days. How did people cope without technology? I guess when it's what you are used to, you don't know any different. First off I should say, that it was very good for me to let go and after I finally got over the fact that I had no control over their safety and happiness out there in the middle of nowhere, I decided to have fun and it became a blast. So glad we went. I enjoyed the time alone with Dae, time that we needed. If you have never been river tripping, these are some things you should come to expect and just...well, let me just say that it is a good thing that I love camping and the great outdoors.

River tripping ins-and-outs...

 Keep everything you own in dry bags throughout the river portion of the day.

Poop buckets(Keep the river sights clean and sanitary!)

Everyone peeing in the river together at stopping points(Is that sanitary?)

"Bathing"(swimsuits and soap) in the river.

Set up and take down camp each new day.

Lots and lots of snacking.

Use frozen water bottles as your ice and your cold water all trip long.

Last but not least...

If you fall overboard during bigger rapids, make sure your feet are in front of you while going downriver(Don't be a backwards jockey).

(Dae trying to make a sail so we could pick up some speed through the slow parts)

One of the highlights of this trip that I will always remember, was sharing tents with Damon's siblings; talking, playing games, and laughing at bedtime just like we did when we were kids. I learned pretty quickly that Andi talks in her sleep, A LOT. On one occasion Damon even had to direct her back to her sleeping bag. There was one night when we were all sound asleep and I was awoken in pitch blackness by a very LOUD and LONG rumbling. My mind put together that the noise had to be a massive heard of wild horses heading right toward our tents. My heart jumped out of my chest as I sat straight up panicking and said in horror, "Oh my gosh! Damon! What is that?!"

He instantly said, "It's ok Ann, it's just a rockslide"...

Then I imagined giant boulders coming right towards us and I'm not sure, but I think that might be even worse!! "What?!", I said.

"But they are on the other side of the riverbed. It's ok Ann, that's why we camped on this side. We're safe", he promised. All I could think of was how glad I was that the guys thought of that, because I didn't.

After I took a minute to relax and adjust to the idea that I was in fact, NOT going to die at that moment, I heard Andi quietly say from the other side of the tent, "You ok Annie?"...

I was ok...and I laughed when I realized that I was actually questioning at that moment whether Andi was really awake or not. I think that was the only comment Andi made during all the nights in which she wasn't sleep talking. It was pretty funny. Thanks Mica for taking care of our girls while we were gone!

Cascade Springs

Cascade Springs and a picnic on a lovely Sunday afternoon with Adam, Ashley, Noah, and baby Zoe.

Gingerbread and Candy.

(Front row to back/left to right) Deacon, Noah, Harrison, Mckay.

Adam, Kandus, Emily, Amie Jo, Lucy.

Annie, Payton, Charlie, Brook.

Ashley, Damon, Greg, Andi, Jason, Ellie, Ryan.

A night of soup, family, and candy houses.

Pictures of the night and a few candy house tips...

#1 Dump any and all excess frosting on top of your candy house when you're done. That way none goes to waste and you've also created a winter wonderland scene. (bottom right)

#2 Cut, cut, cut all your candy...the whole evening long.

#3 Lastly, eat all your candy...first not after.

That's how candy-house making night is done.

Bear Lake Brawl Triathlon. Aug 28, 2010

Deacon and Noah ~ at the Rendezvous Beach race start.

Damon and Adam both did the best they have ever done.

Kandus and Damon sleeping after the race was said and done.

A quick stop at the beach before our trip home on a most blustery day.

After this little trick, Jack howled at Damon and ran half way across the beach.

Question of the day...

asked by Lucy during our guessing game on the drive home.

Lucy: What is something that is white...

and it doesn't even kill people that much?

answer...

a polar bear.

Yuba Triathlon ~ September 12, 2009

We all went as a family this time down to Yuba to watch Damon do his last race for the year. The kids had a lot of fun watching him. Adam and Ashley were nice enough to accompany us and take a some pics of Damon during the race. Thanks again guys!...I know the night before the race was a long and sleepless one.

Race morning...Lucy's silhouette

Noah and Deacon.

Family pic just before the race.

Ashley, Adam, Noah, and Damon on Adam's shoulder.

Escape from Scofield Triathlon ~ July 18, 2009

The night before the race Damon did some fishing and we all tried to kill a soda can and a beaver in the water by throwing rocks at them. Actually, Adam tried to kill the beaver.

Adam and Ashley ~ We love hanging out with you!

The morning of the race the escape distance racers were shipped out to a little island where they had to swim back to shore for 1.75 miles. This part is what the guys were so excited about.

Damon and Adam in transition together after the swim.

A broader picture of the rest of the swim.

The guys finishing up the 37 mile bike ride from hell.

You asked for it Dae...this was the highlight of the race to me...

I won't ever forget this moment. I'll admit I was concerned about him doing a race this hard. His hardest race ever...almost a half ironman. I was so nervous waiting for him to get back from the bike. So here he comes after his bike ride, starting the 10 mile run. He ran past me with a big smile on his face and held his hand out to give me five. It was an eye opener at how much this man loves racing. I am so proud of him.

Adam finishing up the race.

And Dae