Camping 2010

It's that time of the year when we go camping with the Meuer's. I love California, but I miss camping in Utah. In Utah, you can go camping on a whim, just pack up the car and go, find a spot and pitch a tent. In California, we actually have to plan ahead, make a reservation, and pay money. It's still fun, but not as easy as Utah camping. This year we went to Henry W. Coe Park. Last year we went to Big Sur and loved it. This year we wanted to try something new. It was a private campground and had some nice views, but it was also dry and windy and not a lot of green beauties, plus they wouldn't let us have a fire. Still, the company was great, the food was good, and it was just nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of work and electronics for a few days. Below are some pictures of our adventure.

Elijah is pumped to camp.

Can you see the raccoons glowing eyes.

This raccoon caused so much trouble. He was a very gutsy fellow. Our first night he jumped on the picnic table while we were right next to it. He didn't mind us being there, he just wanted food and we were the first on his evening route. We were sure to put our food in our cars before we went to bed. On our last night we thought we got everything put away before he stopped by our site. As we were heading to bed we saw he was eating the dog food and we didn't bother him. Then he ran over to our table and picked up a zipped up backpack and took off into a nearby bush. The backpack had trail mix and other snacks in it. We swung at the bush to scare him off and recovered the backpack. He manged to zip open the pack and make off with the trail mix. At least we got our bag back and we have quite a story now.

Yummy Mountain Man Breakfast made by yours truly. We ate really good. Lars and I got a dutch oven and it makes such good food.

While on the hike we saw lots of trees that had a red fungus growing with it. It looked like someone painted the trees with red stripes and it was so cool to look at. Funny how something so bad for the trees looks so pretty.

2010

The hike we chose led to a pond. Here we are resting.

This is becoming Jamie's pose for every camping trip.

2009

The hike was long and most of it was up a steep hill which was quite a work out. In the end I think we hiked 6 miles. It was beautiful and fun but in the end....

we were tired...

so we relaxed when we got back...

all of us were pooped.

On the last day we found the park sign

Elijah and I posing

We finished off the camp trip with some traditional smores.

Cocoa was ready to go home.

Thanks for camping with us. We will see you next year.

Any suggestions on where we should camp next year?

Mom's 60th and Father's Day

I promised you pictures from my last adventure to Utah and here they are. Enjoy!

Mom and her cake

My Dad and some of his grand kids.

My Mom and Sister and I

The 3 youngest Stark's. We will go down in the family history being known as the kids who weren't spanked with the wooden spoon.

I made my sister model her new hat.

ZUPAS!

If you live in Utah and haven't been to Zupas then do me a favor and slap yourself on the wrist.

This place is amazing! While I was there in June my Mom and sister took me.

At first I was like, "okay another sandwich place. Whoopie-de-doo!"

Zupas existed when I lived there and I never ate there, but now I am kicking myself for missing out. All that time I could have gone there and enjoyed their fresh, tasty, and beautiful food. Everything I had there was good. Seriously delicious, fresh, tasty, and well priced and portioned.

They let me sample all their soups and they were amazing and flavourful. They had a variety to choose from. Let me tell you, the price is sooo right. You can get 1/2 sandwich and salad for just over $7. The half portions are huge. I had to share with my Mom and I am not one of those lite eaters either. I can definitely pack it in.

Salad was refreshing and good.

Sandwiches can be done panni style and they are perfect. This was a 1/2 sandwich, but its huge!

Yummy dessert! Seriously just tasty and perfect.

SO please visit your local Zupas and enjoy before you are living in the same regret I am.

As for you Zupas, please come to California soon.

Me Day in SLC

I flew into SLC mid June to surprise my Mom for her birthday. Before I surprised her I had a much needed "ME" day in SLC. SO what did I do for my "ME" day. I ate all the food that love and miss so much. I met up with some old coworkers at The Judge, where I enjoyed their chicken enchiladas and infamous brownies and sugar cookies.

Then afterwards, literally a few minutes after the cafe, we went to Banbury Cross donuts for their world famous cinnamon donut and more. Seriously delicious. I know love Winchell's donuts here in California, but they don't have a cinnamon donut like Banbury's.

After I left SLC I met up with my in laws and enjoyed Pleasant Grove's Strawberry Days. It was so much fun walking around the festival and just taking in the fun atmosphere. I partook of their free samples and listened so a sales pitch from The Living Scriptures people so I could get a free DVD. It was a fun day.

Site Manager of the Year

So I was nominated and won Site Manager of the Year for 2009 within my company Document Technologies Inc.. I am very grateful for being recognized and have a renewed motivation to continue working hard. I got to go out to a nice lunch with my boss, his boss, and Lars (who has always been supportive in my career so technically he won too). I received a goodie bag with fun toys including a crystal trophy, two free PTO days, and a gift card to a Marriott.

Thank you very much DTI for the opportunity to be recognized.

Lars-The man behind the manager.