Copper Canyon Ward Campout (aka Better Late than Never)

September 11-12 was our ward campout. We packed up the kids, and Grandma and Grandpa Williams, and Zona the Wonderdog, and headed up to "somewhere up north where there's a lake" (the official description given to the RS by the planners up to about 2 weeks before). We went to the campgrounds by Marshall Lake. As you all know,Sept 11 was Joy's 8th birthday. We didn't get pictures, but she and her BFF Makayla Mason were sung to at the campfire. I made like 2 dozen cupcakes with caramel and chocolate frosting, but since we were at the campfire with goodies anyway, I just donated them to the cause. The campground was really nice. It was primitive, but they'd brought up portapotties and it was just a beautiful area. I was also SO incredibly impressed with how many of our ward were there!! It was really a fun time--there are some stories about bees that would rival a horror flick, but that's not my story to tell..... So, here are some photos---we didn't get many.

This is Joy, being walked by Zona all around the campout. The kids, and I mean ALL the kids, not just my kids, LOVED Zona--she really is a wonderdog!! She just hung out with everyone, soaking up the love.....
Okay, so I LOVE this picture!!! A bunch of the little boys were attempting to play horseshoes. Brother Beals was over there helping them. I glanced over and saw him showing Clayton how to throw and all that, and I was just enthralled with the way he was interacting with my little Bug. Clayton really took to him and I had Aaron take this shot-- it seemed like we were capturing a special moment. Brother Beals is like the Kid Whisperer.....Heh. THIS is "Marshall Lake"--- or "all Marsh Lake" or "it rained a little and flooded our field"--- yeah, you can't fish here. Seriously, a hole the size of our van. It's pretty funny that we packed our fishing gear for this. :-) Luckily, we were actually just up the road from Upper (and Lower!) Lake Mary. So, we packed back up and headed there.Another picture that I love. Zona was not too keen on being in the van on the way up, because we gave her the whole back of the van, but she was by herself so she was saaaaaad. (and I had to physically Leannhandle her into the van) On the way back, we let her sit with the kids, and she jumped up there all by herself and posed for the BEST picture she has ever taken. Everyone is so durn happy in this shot, I just love it!!As I said, we packed up and headed to Upper Lake Mary. We were gonna eat and then go down and let the kids fish for a while. While we were eating, all of the sudden there was this HUGE storm, complete with hail that grew in size from BB size to almost marble size!! Most of what I took was video, which of course won't upload GRRRRRR, but here's a picture of the rocks right outside the ramada where we (and every motorcycle and bicycle rider who scampered to the area when the storm hit) were sheltered. Totally looks like snow. It was crazy--but, it DOES always have to rain when we camp, so at least it was after we had broken camp this time instead of while we were setting up our tents.
So, it was a great campout, and I think Joy really enjoyed going camping with her friends for her birthday. I certainly had a blast with my family and my ward family. :-)