Broads with Rods

I've never had so much trouble with pictures on my blog before!  I finally figured it out, but I'm sure I'll forget by the time I have to post a bunch of them again.  

Last weekend Matt and I joined Jason and Tera and we spent 2 days fishing on the Green River just below Flaming Gorge dam.  We had 2 guides, which is the ONLY way to go!  The first day we stayed with our hubbies and fished, but the next day the girls spent the afternoon in one boat.  Our awesome guide James really took good care of us and we were really having a blast and catching lots of fish.  

Tera and Jason Fishing

My first catch of the trip.  James taught me how to hold a fish without dropping or killing it.  It's my first hold without a towel too!

Matt was super excited.

BIG FISH!  

First day.  That is our guide James.  The last few hours I just sat and enjoyed myself...drank.  

After a long day of fishing we went to get some delicious grub at Snatch....errr  I mean Snag restaurant.  It's right on the water and I must say, the food was delicious!

A Matt and Kathee action shot.

Check out that form!

Matt is in the zone.

I'm in the zone too.  The take my picture zone.

Start of the second day was beautiful.

Day two and we are looking fabulous!

Out of order - but start of second day again.

Matt and I again.

The broads - waiting for Jimmer to get their rods ready.  Assuming the chillin' position.

Jason's catch.

Tera and I ....we are hitting the rapids and we both have a fish on!

Matt catching another big one. 

I got tired of having the same "holding the fish" pic.  So, I stuck my finger in it's mouth.  Fish abuse? Doubtful.  I'm sure he liked it - look at those eyes, so bright and excited.  Bahahaha

Almost a smooch.  What a grip!

Tera fishing the way you should fish.  Relaxing!! 

Smoking a fish - or what?  Tera the fish whisperer.

The end of the line.  The real Broads with Rods!

She's a beauty!

I really did kiss this fish.  They are much better kissers then you would think.

Green River Wrecking Crew

Jimmer, Paul, Jason, Tera, me and Matt

Good times with great friends!  I'll be doing that again.

Blog on..........

Yeah, really

It's been over a month and the folder of "Need to blog" pictures is overflowing.

On the other hand, I have a second job to pull in some money. We don't really NEED it per se, but I was feeling like I wasn't working enough. The projects at home are still there - but I felt the need to have sort of a back up plan. Working as a nurse you have your slow times and busy times and when I need money isn't necessarily when it's busy up at the U and I can get over time.

So, I applied at Jordan Valley Hospital for a position in their CVICU. Which is the only adult ICU in the hospital. I was worried about working in a small hospital and I was ready to jump in and accept the way they do things. There is always more then one way to skin a cat!! I absolutely love it! The stress factor is much lower there and I'm a newby, so no one comes to me for questions. Well, sometimes they do, but the staff is awesome and so welcoming, I just love it. It gives me a different perspective on ICU care and I slow down a little and take more time with the little stuff. It's not all LIVE or DIE any second.

My job at the U in the SICU is secure and well loved. I reassess my job constantly and I just can't imagine myself anywhere else full time. OK, I work 75% there (2 shifts one week and 3 shifts the next) and that is perfect for me. It's a high stress job and I am emotionally invested to the unit. I want the SICU to be a great unit and have the high standards that were in place when I started. I feel like I get the best of both worlds.

Needless to say, when starting a new nursing job there is lots of classes and orientation to go to, so I have been wickedly busy. I love the opportunity and are especially grateful for not just one but two fabulous jobs. Plus I get to have a little cushion for the emergency stuff!!

In the last month, lots of things have happened. First of all Corinne and Logan are engaged!!! YEAH!! I am so excited for them and they are so perfect for each other. Logan has been in our family already and love him mucho grande! We look forward to their wedding in August. It's very small family affair up at a cabin and with all the families and step-families they have to be real selective.

My cute little "pseudo" daughter had her adorable baby boy on April 15th. TAX DAY!! I will blog with pics about it, but she is doing fabulous and, oh my goodness, he is a treat! Lyndsi is Chris's daughter and as you know (well you do now) Chris is one of my great friends that has been a part of my life since my divorce. He has been there for me in so many ways and I have been around Lyndsi since she was about 7. They moved to Colorado but we were lucky to have Lyndsi come stay with us in the summer for a couple weeks for a couple of years. I love them both so much and being able to spend time with them and get to know Brent, Lyndsi's boyfriends and Hunter, Chris's 4 year old son, was so awesome. I miss them!!!

My kids are great. Daniel went on a cruise with his dad. Sami is driving up a storm in my car - she won't drive a stick shift. Matt is drooling over the boat, getting antsy to get it in the water. Austin is working on getting in the electricians union and Jake is playing in a band, that is actually pretty darn impressive.

Watch for pics and updates....I am determined, double determined to get them all blogged so I can have a book made!!

Mwah mwah and double MWAH!!

Blog on.................

Fishing 09

Boating on Strawberry

This summer (09) Matt rented a slip at Strawberry for our old fishing boat. That provided us with some great entertainment and Matt loved spending his weekends there when he could! He shared his experience as much as he could.

Austin taking his turn at the wheel. What a beautiful day!

Daniel caught a fish!! I was just hanging out that trip.

The captain of the ship! Figuring out a great way to just lay out and read.

I was in heaven! Good book, sun and a little booze. Fishy!!

Daniel Matt's friend Adam went a couple of times too!

Matt and I even took the opportunity to have a trip by ourselves. I must say, we should do it more then once in a summer. It was a great day and I had a blast with my hubby!

My fishy fishy! I tried to put it right back into the lake, but he was already dead. We ate him. He was delicious!

Strawberry is a beautiful reservoir!

Can you see how happy this man is?? No, you can't see his face but I can tell he is smiling and loving it!

These pictures don't do it justice, but it really is beautiful. I love being high up in the mountains and in some great water.

We plan on doing it again next year and hopefully will have some great stories and/or experiences to share!

Blog on...........

Flaming Gorge July/August 09

For at least 6 years we have made a trip to Flaming Gorge in July. It's a wonderful time of year to go with hot days and cool nights. It started out as an adult only trip and has turned into family fun. I guess we decided we kinda liked our kids. When I say "we", I mean Gary and I with our friends. We've had a huge crowd on some years and just a few of us on others. Either way, it's one of two trips a year that Gary and I make together. The other one being the snowmobile trip.

This year it was a small crowd and we had a great time. This year it was Gary and his girlfriend Loreen and her daughter Sara. They bring Jonathon and Teresa, whose mom is a friend of ours and doesn't like camping. (weird!! hehe) Then another friend of ours who I haven't seen in years, Sherrie and her husband Art and her daughter Amber. Loreen's friend Stephanie was also there. Matt and I brought Daniel and Samantha and Austin met us later. Jake had to work, so he stayed home.



Matt out on his early morning fishing trip.

We kept the boats out of the water at night. Look how close we are to the crapper! It's usually way up the hill! The water was sure up this year.

Matt at his cooking station.

Crawdads..................Crawdads boiling. Num Yummy they were!

Hanging out

This is what happens when you work all night, then drive to the lake. Austin passed out asleep in his truck. We covered him with a sleeping bag and gave him a Gatorade. I think he told me he woke up around 2am.

Sami and Teresa.

TUBING!!!

Daniel

Sami

Austin

Austin trying to hold on!

Sami.......getting some sweet air!

Teresa

Daniel

Daniel driving the boat. Of course, our trusty flag. I took this picture so we could visualize it more when someone was in the water. Visualize and USE!! Safety first!

The kids having a water fight in the water. I was trying to swim.

Hanging out on one of the docks they have all over Flaming Gorge. Art is putting Amber in the tube and she loved it!! (She is mentally handicapped/cerebral palsy)

Of course those are the tiny teenagers laying out in bikini's.

Trip to the dam.

Austin and the girls sitting in the back and the front of the boat, following Gary's boat.

Daniel doing some more driving. He loved it. I read a lot. Finished that book on the trip.

Gary's boat. Getting close to the dam and seeing the bridge. This was the first time we had been able to go that far. The weather was absolutely wonderful! Calm, warm and delightful.

Looking out at the water from our campsite. I'm actually taking a picture of where we use to camp.

Sherrie and Art's trailer and the lovely princess mobile! My dad lets us use his motor home on this trip and we love it! It makes a difference having a fridge AND be able to stand up when you change. Not to mention the potty! Woot! Woot!

The cooking "man-cave".

The boys watching in AWE as Gary shows off his dutch over skills!

The start of something delicious!! Every year we have a dutch oven dinner on Saturday night. Gary makes some kick-ass pork ribs and potatoes. Sherrie made a dutch over brownie that I could have eaten the whole thing myself!!

Amber - excited! She was talking about her birthday party that was happening the next week.

View of part of our camp from the crapper. It's awful close to both that and the water. Loreen was loving the fun!!!

Chilaxin on the last night with a refreshing beverage. Waiting for my dutch oven!!

FAMILY FOTO!!

Thanks to Sherrie for taking this wonderful family photo!! I love it! Shows our personalities, that's for sure.

Great times! Thanks to everyone who went with us, I had the best time!

Until next year.........

Blog on..........