Summer in UTAH

As most of you know the last 2 summers Brett and I have been in Juneau, Alaska. We loved our time up there but unfortunately because we have been up there we have not been able to have a Utah Summer together, doing the things that we did when we were growing up. So this summer has been different for us. Unfortunately, it has not been as "lively" as we would have liked it to be because both of us have been in school the entire summer. School just drains us and we haven’t had as much time for all of the adventures we would have liked to go on.
With summer winding to a close and the first day of school just around the corner, we were able to escape school and work for a few days to get away together. This past week was the Cache County Fair and Rodeo! I have missed the rodeo for the last 3 years, first because I was in New Jersey and the last two because of Alaska. I can not tell you how much I absolutely love! love! love! the fair and rodeo. When I was younger, my family practically lived at the fairgrounds the entire week. Sadly, as we have all grown up, we haven’t had any reason to be at the fairgrounds and it makes me quite sad. Luckily, this past week Brett and I had the chance to go to the rodeo all 3 nights! YEEHAW! I loved every minute of it! There is just something about the smell of dirt that has been freshly raked, the excitement of the crowd, and the jitters of the cowboys and cowgirls that just get me. Being able to spend some time down there took me back down memory lane and boy was it a great trip. I have many many memories of the fairgrounds, not just of the fair but of growing up riding horses and being involved in 4-H. Just a few of the memories I have that I will spare the details but just to name a few:
*my very first kiss
*getting chased down and thrown in the creek after a long, hot day at horsecamp
*horsecamp dances
*getting bucked up
*riding exhibition for barrels at the rodeo
*late nights being scared that someone was following me
*meeting my first ‘love’
*winning lots of trophies on my pony Flicka
*making life-long friendships
*beating Blue with an American flag until he decided that he liked it and would let me carry it around the arena
*spending the night at the fairgrounds during the fair with the Mitton brothers
The list could go on and on and on but those are just a few of my favorites. What can I say… I love the fairgrounds.
a bareback rider
bull poker - SCARY!
Bull rider
On Saturday, I played in a co-ed 6v6 soccer tournament. We had our first game at 8 am and played our last game at 5:15 pm. It was a long day of soccer but I had a blast playing. Our team was actually really good and we lost in the championship game, so we took 2nd. I had so much fun playing. I keep telling Brett that this is the most fun I have had in a long time. It was so fun to play with people that I haven’t been able to play with since high school, to visit with them during the breaks, and remember how much I loved hanging out with the people I did in high school. They were sure to bring up some of my “blonder” moments and we had a great time laughing and joking together. It really was a blast and I can’t wait for next year! Thanks everyone for playing!
Back row from left to right: James, Tyler, Tim, Burt, Jeff (aka Dahmer)
Fron row from left to right: Lataya, Me, Taylor, Kilee, and Jenny
This is a great picture that Brett got of my scoring! If you look close, I'm the one on the ground under the keeper and the ball is just past the right post, headed for the side net! I got 2 goals in this game and I NEVER score so it was fun!
During our 2nd game (we played 6 games total) I got slide tackled by a guy from the other team. He totally took out my ankle with his cleats and I have an awesome bruise to show for it! It hurt really bad at first but I played all of the other 4 games. It was only sore when I stopped playing and I let all of the tendons and muscles get tight. As weird as it sounds it actually felt good to get hurt again playing soccer – another trip down memory lane for Chelsea.
It doesn't hurt as bad as it looks....
Monday, Brett and I went backpacking. We started at Tony Grove Lake and hiked to the highest point in the Bear River Range, Mount Naomi and then down to High Creek Lake. It was so beautiful! The views from the peak were gorgeous and the hike was not too bad. High Creek Lake is great – it sits up on these cliffs and from down below you would have no idea there was a lake there. It was absolutely beautiful. Our original plan was to hike back the way we came and pick up our car at Tony Grove, however, when we got to High Creek Lake we had cell phone reception and thought we would call home and see if someone could pick us up at the top of Richmond Canyon at High Creek Trailhead. Sure enough, Greg and Nat saved the day! They picked us up at about 11:15. We hiked out 5.3 miles in under 2 hours with packs on! That night, my parents took us back up to our car and stopped to get some KFC on the way up for a picnic. The lake was beautiful and it was good to get to chat with the parents on the way up.The only damage done from the hike was blisters on the back of Brett's heels, a blister on the bottom of my heel - from a stinking rock, and sore muscles just because we are out of shape...
On our way to the top... Are we there yet?!?
Awesome picture of Brett standing on the cliffs at the top of Noami. He looks so small!
We made it to the top!
Top of Naomi, over Smithfield Canyon
Looking back toward Logan Canyon
View from the top lookin out of Smithfield
View from top of Naomi
Coming up over the ridge and seeing the lake in was a beautiful sight both to look at and for my tired legs.
The reflection of the cliffs on the water.
We thought it might rain on us but we got luckily...
The clouds were amazing that night.
Brett glassing for deer with a gorgeous view!
Look up at High Creek Lake. The lake is below the cliffs but above the pine trees on the left-hand side of the picture. You don't know there is a lake there unless you are looking for it.
Brett terrible blisters... Poor guy!
Tony Grove
Wednesday, Brett and I were able to join my dad for a cattle drive. I had the opportunity to do this several times when I was younger but this was only Brett’s second time! He did great! Some people that live by my parents have cows up Logan Canyon and were pushing them from the Spring range (Right Hand fork area) to the Fall range (Twin Creeks area). This push requires us to gather all of the cows from the range (huge area) and then push them up the canyon via the road for about 2.5 miles. So yes, if you were traveling through the canyon yesterday around noon, you were cussing us for slowing down your trip… and yes, and sorry about that cow poop on the road that just got your clean Lexus dirty. There were lots of people who were taking pictures, it was like they didn’t know cattle still existed in the world or something. It was a long 12 hour day of riding but it sure was fun! Here are some pictures of the area and our cattle drive adventures.
Brett walking through the range with a beautiful view
Me holdin' the cattle in place

What a week!

Last Saturday we had the chance to go to the REAL Soccer game with my parents. It was so much fun! They won 3 - 0 again DC United. It was their 20th win in a row at home! Go REAL!



However, while we were at the game Brett's brother-in-law, Greg, went into emergency surgery to get his gall bladder removed. He had been sick for about 2 months, in and out of the hospital and doctor's offices; no one was able to figure out what exactly was the matter with him. If you are really interested in whole story got to Nat and Greg's blog in my family blog. Needless to say, he was an extremely sick guy, who had, what felt like, a near-death experience. They also have two adorable kids, who frequently appear on my blog, that have needed to be taken care of. Natalie has had her hands full trying to take care of her poor husband, her 2-year old who doesn't understand why he can't play with Dad anymore, and nursing a baby who is a mama's girl. And if you remember, poor Nat broke her leg three Sunday's ago and has been walking around in a boot ever since. The only bit of good news they have received in the past few weeks, was the Natalie foot was healing great and she no longer has to wear the boot, just a small brace.
The past couple of nights we have stayed to help out with putting the kids to bed and getting them up in the morning. We are so grateful that we are able to live so close and be able to help out as much as we can. Greg is currently on the mend. He got his staples out yesterday and has been able to get outside for a few minutes every now and again. All seems to be going well, but poor Nat still has her hands very full.
Here's a picture of the cute Phillip's Family (Abby's still in Nat's tummy)