Catching up is hard to do

So I feel like I should go back and catch everyone up on our lives and crap, but honestly it would take way too long and probably bore most people. I think I'll touch on a few highlights of this year and call it good.

We love to camp. Tricia and I camped for a long time while we were river guides, and Tricia and her family have been camping for their whole life. I remember camping quite a bit with scouts and then the adventures with the tent trailer growing up, but it's been a whole new adventure getting our own kids into real (kinda) camping.

We try to go every year with Tricia's family to camp in the desert around either Moab, the San Rafael Swell, or most likely Escalante. It's a whole lot of fun camping, hiking the canyons, and doing all kinds of dirty stuff. The kids are actually great at it and seem to enjoy whenever we go down.

We usually try to hit a bunch of slot canyons down there, like Spooky and Peek-a-boo for sure, and then whatever other ones we can find. We usually have at least one great adventure of getting stuck, lost, or otherwise doing something we probably shouldn't. Here's some pics of the kids in the canyons. We don't have a lot of pics because the boys (Jake - 10 and Josh - 7) always go ahead with their cousins and leave Tricia and I back with Sara (4).

We also had a chance to go to Disneyland this year with Grandpa and Grandma Murdock and Tricia's brother Doug and his family. We had a blast, and I probably haven't walked that far on concrete in a long time. Hiking in the desert and walking in the land o' Mickey are two totally different things, and I know which one I prefer. The kids had a great time, though. We even got to go to the beach and hang out with our Bousfield cousins while we were there. It was Jake's birthday while we were there and Josh's the week before, so we had a little celebration at Joe's Crab Shack (not recommended). Jake got to wear the coconut bra and grass skirt. I'll probably pay more in therapy for him later because I posted this picture.

Life rolls on. Summer is coming (I think) sometime soon, and we can't wait to get out and play in the mountains around Heber...

It must be May

So, Even though I had really great intention, it must be May. Let me 'splain.

I teach some rescue courses for water rescue, and May is about the only time that we have decent water in Utah. As a result, pretty much every weekend in May I am usually swimming rapids, teaching rope stuff, or otherwise involved in helping rescuers remain safe in the water. It's not much of a living, but I enjoy getting out and swimming around a bit. Last weekend it was Moab with Western River Expeditions, and this next I am scouting some new locations and traveling on Sunday to look at some other rivers around the area and points north. Weekend after that, I teach Utah County Search and Rescue, and then it's off to Price for Carbon County SAR the weekend after that. Needless to say, the blogs are probably going to suffer.

Family life is going great though. Tricia is trying to get the yard in shape after a winter that just doesn't seem like it wants to end. Snowed on Monday, so that gives you an idea. I can't say that I mind too much because it IS spring in Utah. Just makes it a little more difficult to get some things done outside.

Gold's continues to take up the whole working day and then some. I can't complain too much, because they do take care of me pretty well. Some days it just gets a little irritating when the phone rings all night and you'd rather just leave the office at the office.

Anyone out there a "Deadliest Catch" fan? I can't say I am in love with this season. Don't know what the difference is, but it just doesn't seem as captivating as the first few season. I know my sister Heidi used to like it, but I think that she is just in love with Mike Rowe's voice...