You know how they say girls just want to have fun. Well that stands true even for mommies. Every once in a while I get the itch to have a good time, just being a girl not a mom. So about twice a year me and my girls hit the road for a night away somewhere. This time we ended up at Mill Hollow Center it is just up past Kamas. We left early in the day to hit a movie and lunch. We missed the movie due to the fact an outhouse was headed out to Eagle Mountain where I was and couldn't go past 15mph.
So we had some extra time and went shopping at the outlets in Park City. Ya we get a little crazy when we have no kids and kinda act strange. So then we headed toward Mill Hollow. Well I thought I knew where I was going because Terry said it is right where Tonja saw the bear 2 years ago. Which we went camping right by there last year, so I though. I didn't need to look at the map I drove them right to it. Well I forgot the small detail that the actual bear sighting was one large canyon over from where we camped last year. After driving 20 miles up the wrong canyon we asked for directions and was set straight. Even though so many things matched up to what the directions said, we just thought it was a bad map.
Anyway we get to our destination right before dinner and start packing in our stuff and found our sleeping arrangements were a little shabby. But Holly, Tonja and I decided this is the stuff that will make us remember this experience. Thinking that is the worst it is going to get.
We go down to dinner which we had heard the food there is wonderful. And well do you remember elementary school lunch. Well that is waht it reminded me of. Right down to the tables and the cafeteria style lines. Although I must say the schools had cleaner dishes. So no the food was not as great as we expected but who cares. We were here to have a good time and besides we didn't have to do dishes so it couldn't be all that bad, right?
Now it was time for the fun to begin. We go up into the "Spruce Room" and start scrapbooking away. It was great we talked and laughed and had a wonderful time. I actually accomplished alot and was feeling great. But suddenly 10:30 slipped by and I had forgot to call and check in on my dad. I knew we had to drive a short distance to get cell phone reception so we got directions and away we went.
Funny as we were walking to the car Tonja asked if I had my flashlight which I always have with me. I said "no I left it here we are just going 10 minutes away what can really happen?" We start driving and each one of us had the thought pass our minds "What if we got a flat tire? That would suck!" Well just us being parinoid. We drove the short drive to the reservoir and we couldn't see the road we were suppose to take (later finding out it was blocked off). So we kept driving all the way to the summit. I turned around very disappointed that I couldn't find out about my dad. Then for some reason I backed up and headed down the other side of the summit. And right as I did we got reception. I immediately stopped and called Terry. I found out they let my dad go home that day and was doing so much better. I was so relieved to hear this information. We started heading back to the cabin and not to far from the summit we all heard this sound. Holly and Tonja said "Does that sound like a flat tire?" so I pulled over and opened the door looked back saw the damage. Slammed the door(because after all we are in bear country let me remind you) and said "NOPE THE TIRE LOOKS FINE!" Then I just sat there and Holly and Tonja just looked at each other. Finally Tonja says "are you sure?" I say a few things that I wouldn't have said infront of my children and open the door one more time. Yes it was a flat tire. Not just flat but completely blown!
I closed the door one more time and considered driving on the rim of the tire all the way to the cabin. Because I really didn't want to get eattin' by a bear! But the girls gave me the courage to get out and do my duty. So we searched the car for Terrys flashlight that he always has in his car. But my cutie had taken the bloody flashlight out of the car and forgot to replace it. So we left all the doors open and the car running incase a bear came near us we had a get away plan. Then I got down in the dirt and changed that tire just as fast as I could. Holly and Tonja stood by real close shining their cell phone lights so I could see what I was doing. I dont even remember seeing a moon. It was the darkest night in my life. Got the little donut tire on there, tightened it real good and away we went.
It was a long drive back to the cabin since it was 10 miles away and we couldn't go over 5 mph. I knew that donut wouldn't last down to the city the next day if I did. So we just took our time and got back at about 12:30. From the parking lot to the cabin there is a really walk through a forest and over a river then up a little hill to the cabin. As we crossed the river all three of us hear a low grumble. I knew this was my bear and picked up the pace. Well Holly was right infront of me and she started running and you better believe I was right on her heals. But I couldn't even hear Tonja who was in the back.
I felt a little guilty with her being 8 months pregnant and all I an just left her to get eatin by a bear. So when we got to safty Holly and I turn around to see where she was. The poor girl was back there with eyes as big as golf balls holding her belly and crossing her legs. She had to go pee so bad she had no choice but to stop and let the bear get her. Then we all notice there was no bear that we could see but there was an airplane flying right above us making the same bear growling sound. So we all busted up laughing so bad I couldn't breath or stand up straight. If you didn't know us you probably would have thought we were all high on something.
We went back in the cabin and told our sorry story then we did some more scrap booking until 3:30am then we called it a night. I think we stayed up so late because #1 we had to wait for the adrenaline to leave our systems from the crazy bear attack. And #2 we really didn't want to climb into our pathetic bunk beds that were obviously made for elementary age children.
But when you had been up for 22 hours it starts to not matter where you crash. So we did what we had to do and climbed into our beds. I have to say at first I didn't think I was going to be able to fall asleep to the 5 different snoring masters that we shared the cabin with. However, it was only 1/2 hour and I was out for the night. Right up to 8:30am when the school intercome system bellowed "Dinner will be served in 5 minutes". We didn't want to but knew we had to get up to eat, then go to Kamas and get a new tire.
We went to the car to go and would you know, the spare tire was flat. So we borrowed a car and drove down to Kamas to the tire shop. Ya it was closed. So we called Holly husband and found another tire shop so we went there. Yep it was closed as well obviously nobody in Kamas works on Saturday. Except for the Auto Parts Store down the road we went there and some the employee said Mick does some tires and he just left let me go grab him. So he ran out and got Mick and Mick came to look at our tire and says "Yep you need a new tire and I don't sell tires but I might have a used one out back, follow me to my shop and we will take a look." So here is 3 desperate women following this complete stranger 3 miles out of town to some shop to see if he had a tire.
Turns out he did and I must say they were really speedy to get it mounted and balanced. He only charged us $30 and sent us on our way. I think he was anxious to get our bad luck out of his shop. So then we stopped at the grocery store to get a fix-a-flat can for the spare JUST IN CASE we needed it on the way home. And happened to run into my favorite uncle Stan and Pris. Stan is my dads brother I talked to him a while and told him all about my dad and his situation. Then gave him a hug and we were on our way back to the cabin.
I changed this tire even faster with the day light and a level asphalt parking lot and I even put the second part of the handle on which made it so much easier to jack up the car. Then back to the cafeteria for some more gross food and then a little more scrapbooking. The rest of the day was pretty mellow with a little relaxing at the table. At 5:00 we ate dinner then packed up to go back to reality. We were a little sad to see it end but alittle afraid to stay away any longer.
As we turned the corner headed home we were all spell bound and couldn't say much other then "you have got to be kidding me." when we saw the road filled with sheep. Oh I know this is not a tragic happening but it just seemed really funny with only 4 hours of sleep and the night we had gone through. So that was it of course as soon as we got into civilization we headed to the closest Walmart to get our Breaking Dawn book and then we called it a great trip and headed home. As I pulled in the drive way I was welcomed by this cute sign. It is always nice to know I am missed while I am away. Thanks Holly and Tonja for making this such a fun and memorable weekend with out the two of you and your great out look on life and situations I would have hated every minute of this weekend. But with you two there I believe it will be one I will never forget. Love ya!
So the summer is almost over as I am sure every mother in America has noticed and probably counting down. Wether they are counting down to freedom with the kids going back to school. Or they are counting down to the loss of freedom with a homework and deadlines. However you look at it summer is coming to an end. And with it Bowdee had his final swimmeet. At tryouts I remember being really nervous that Bowdee wouldn't make it because he didn't know what a Breast Stroke or Butterfly was. And his Back Stroke was so crooked he would go in circles. And he could barely swim 25 yards with a freestyle stroke that would alert any lifegaurd that there might be trouble.
Well Bowdee has improved so much this year that I have been truely amazed. His dedication and determination has been the most impressive to me. It felt so good to watch him try to better his own time. And he did in all his events. In his final meet he even took 2nd in Back stroke, 3rd in Freestyle and 5th in Breast Stroke in his 8year old boy competions. Bowdee I just wanted you to know how very proud I am of you and the way you try your best at whatever you do. I do love you!
