Nothing is more memorable than a fish!

Nothing is more memorable than a fish. One tug can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up an epic battle of man vs. fish, a hot summer day, a majestic river nestled low in valley surrounded by snow capped peaks. Now you have a memory, a defining moment in a fishermen’s life. We all have them, they are what make us.

I have been lucky enough to experience events of the previous nature a few times in my life but few compare to a recent experience I shared with my dad, brother and a few friends in British Columbia last week. I was fortunate enough to not only catch one Spring (King, Chinook) salmon but two. The first of which would have not only satisfied my determination to catch “the King of salmon,” but would have made a memory to last a life time. It was however, the second one that will be burned in my memory forever.

I hooked the fish in almost the same spot in the river were I had caught the Spring the previous day. This time however, I was using a spinning rod, the same rod I use for trout back in Utah. The rod can be purchased at any Walmart for a measly twenty-five dollars. This is not what you want going through your head 30 seconds after hooking the fish of a lifetime. I new almost immediately I had something special, it wasn’t the dislocated elbow I experienced from the initial tug but the aerial performance we all witnessed as my fish headed for the ocean. As I chased the fish along the bank, ever aware of the shrinking distance between me and the log chocked bend ahead and the dismay that it surely held, dad organized the other members of the group and brought the boat to my rescue.

I was able to clamber into the boat as Darren shoved us into the current all the while Craig was filming what should be an Oscar winning performance. Dad rowed the boat with the grace of a ribbon twirling Olympic athlete, the skill of a spey rod wielding Englishmen, and the power of Ryan following four days without a shower. Dad maneuvered the boat around logs in the river, slowed when needed and accelerated as required all the while I stood in the front of the boat hanging on for all I was worth, shouting orders and chocking back obscenities dreading the out come that was most probable.

It was probably close to an hour after hooking the mammoth that it showed signs of weakening, I however had been showing signs for the last thirty minutes. I looked to the beach searching for an adequate location to land the fish. It was not to be, the banks were either to steep or chocked with debris. To make matters worse the channel split three ways just ahead. The boat entered the center channel and with a little coaxing the fish followed (it was close my prize would have chosen the right channel if not for the stout Walmart rod I was controlling it with). Just around the bend was a good length of shore that held promise. I calmly persuaded dad to beach the boat, and remembered a famous quote “this is the place.”

Jumping from the boat, I continued to bring the fish closer to shore. Surprisingly, she began to role to her side, with a final gut wrenching pull I slid her up the beach. Dad was just getting the boat secured and run to assist, blocking any possibility of escape. After snapping a few photos, smiling for the video and admiring my catch we all stood and watched her swim away.

Thank you, to everyone who helped. Most notably dad I couldn’t have landed that fish without you, Kim for making it possible for me to go, Kenna for forgiving me for missing her birthday for the fourth time, Kenzie for finding the rod I used at Yuba and Walmart you sell a hell of twenty five dollar rod.

“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love,

the things you are, the things you never want to lose”

The Last Summer Horrah

Richard excepted a job in Cedar City so we went down and found somewhere to live. We also found out that school starts on the 14th. SOoooo I registered KayLee for Middle school and when Grandpa drops Richard off Tuesday from their British Columbia trip, KayLee will be going back down to stay with Brett and Triessa until we get moved down.

We will move in about 2 weeks so the other girls will just start a week and a half late. Aunt Tress is so excited to have KayLee at her school. She is even her math teacher and picked all of KayLee's teachers.

We came home from Cedar last night and decided that today would be the only day we could use our Seven Peaks Passes. We took the neighbor girl with us and had a blast. Look and see for yourself!

Maui

Richard and I along with his parents, siblings and their spouse were able to take an enjoyable trip to the island of Maui.

Thanks to his sister Kari, we were able to fly for a discounted price which also meant flying stand by. It was an adventure, Kari was a nervous ninny, Richard ground his teeth so much that he suffered from a major tooth ache the whole trip. Everyone made it to the island on schedule.

We rented a very nice house just across the street from the ocean. The first thing we did and this is a must if you ever go, we rented snorkel gear. I was a little afraid at first but when I saw how beautiful it was under the water I forgot about the breathing. We snorkeled all but one day. We were able to see sea turtles and many colorful fish.

We ate pineapple every morning with our breakfast and some other type of fresh fruit. We tried coconut milk it wasn't very tasty. We took a snorkel cruise, went to a luau, drove the road to Hana, and pretty much just relaxed and enjoyed our visit.

I would like to thank Kari for all her hard work she put into planning this trip and making it work. I would highly recommend her for your trip to Hawaii as a travel agent but I am afraid Jaron won't let that happen. She was very stressed trying to make it all work. Thanks again Kari!!!

On our way to the airport Sunday night I was able to spend a few minutes visiting with my cousin Amy and her son Corey who live on Maui. It was nice to see her and visit.

I have already been looking at airfare and hotel to return. I don't know if we ever will but I had so much fun I want to go back.

Yuba

Richard picked the kids and myself up for a evening of fishing. We took chips, drinks and chicken for dinner. We headed down to Yuba. It was quite warm. The kids kept begging to swim. Richard told them no swimming until the caught a fish. Rich started off catching a Northern Pike right off.

KayLee had a nice Northern hooked and up to the boat but her line snapped and she lost it. That disappointed her but excited Richard. The kids got really bored and I started reading a book. Richard was moving to a different spot and I was sitting on my stadium chair on top of a cooler. I did not think to move. One other reason we were there was to break in the new boat with the 90 horse motor. He was going faster than I had expected him to and before I knew it I fell over backwards into the bed of the boat. I could not get up and Richard wasn't much help as he was laughing too hard. I did fall on a pole that snapped like a twig. (good thing Rich is always prepared with 6 poles for a group of 5)

The kids finally caught some perch so they got to swim for a minute. I had never been down to Yuba so I wanted to know why they called the one section Painted Rock. The pictures tell why. We really did have a fun night. Thanks for taking us fishing Richard.

A Fun Visit

Last week Triessa called and ask if she could come stay for a couple of days. I told her I had to work but she was more than welcome. Thursday she took KayLee, Kenna, Kenzie, Mardi, and baby Whitni to the Hogle Zoo. (what a brave woman!!!) I ran into them a couple of times as I was there on a field trip with the kids from work. I was 1:1 with one girl and poor Tres was 5:1.

The next day I again had to work, Tres and all the kids plus 2 of her cousins who are both under 14 braved the hike up to Timpanogas cave. They came home tired and a few blisters but everyone had a good time.

They spent one more night so I finally got to visit with them. It was a fun time. If anyone would like to come visit you are more than welcome. Thank you Tres!!!

6 new additions to our family by kaylee

Me, Kenna, Kenzie, and our friend Haylie were swimming in our pool when along comes the neighbor boy JD and says hey guess what i got a baby chick! then he told us that one of the wild chickens that hangs around our house had some chicks so we got all excited and got out of the pool got dry and headed for the field. When we saw the chicken she was laying on the chicks. We got her to get up and i saw some of them go and hide in the bush. I grabbed the first one. Then we didn't know where the others went so we had to hide and let the mom call the chicks out of there hiding places. We saw one go and hide where the tree goes in the ground so we got it and now we had 2 baby chicks. We went to go hide again so she could get them but we waited and waited and she still didn't have them out i said lets check where the last one was and Haylie said hey i see one it was under a board so i had to lift up the board i got it up when Haylie yelled hey there's another and then another and another then we had six. We had them in a bucket and were ready to put them in a small cage we have when i said I'm gonna go check if she has anymore sure enough there was another that made 7. We got them in the cage had it all set up then went to get in the pool and let the chicks calm down. When Kenzie was getting in the pool she said whats the cat eating and so we all piled out of the pool and saw that the cat was eating one of the chicks. While we were fixing the cage so that the chicks wouldn't get out my dad came into the garden and said what you got in the cage and i said baby chicks and he said does your mom know you have them and i said no he said well you better get a light on them and that's how we got 6 new additions to the family.

June Boulder Trip by KayLee

Once we were at the camping spot where Grandpa, Brett, Jaron, and Stuart had set up my dad said "i wonder why they didn't bring the boat?" Even though he saw the boat sitting there we ended up heading to fish creek. We were about half way there when i saw grandpa coming up right behind us. Grandpa said he was on his way back to write us a note then he saw our stuff and no four wheeler so he assumed we must have gone up to fish creek. Then we had to go all the way back to camp. OK the trip was a little bit long so I'm gonna start skipping through it. The hike we usually take was long and i hated it! When we were at the lake we caught 10 fish and there were kids throwing rocks so grandpa kept yelling hey and they ignored him so my dad went and had a talk with the adults and they're like fine we'll leave and my dad said that's all i ask. On the hike back i choose to go with my dad and Kenzie that hike was way easier then the regular one. On the 'wheeler ride back me Kenzie and my dad saw a bear. Once we were at camp we had to wait for Justin and Garrett. In the morning we went to Green and we caught some grailing then we hiked down to blind. After blind we went back to Green and i wanted to cast and hit the water right next to Brett but i cast to far and oops it hit him square on the head with a bubble full of water so it was probably as hard as a golf ball! After that i was afraid to cast when Brett was around. On the way back from green Kenzie kept yelling its a bluebird in a British accent over and over again then when Kenna would look back me my dad and Kenze would start flying now Kenna has a new nickname. Back at camp we went to sleep and woke up in the morning packed up and left to Foursithe it was windy so we went home.

14 years

It was 14 years ago that I married my best friend. They say that time flies when you are having fun, it surely has. I don't feel any older but to look at some pictures I definitely am.

Since we both had to work today we met for lunch. It was kind of like a date. (and there were no kids). I look forward to many more years together.

I love you Richard.

Two more Birthdays

Kortny turned 18 on June 1st. Now her dad is feeling really old. When your kids start turning certain ages it ages you as well.

KayLee turned 12 today. Yesterday she had a friend party. They swam in our pool, ate burgers then cake(oh to be 12 again and able to unguiltfully eat 3 pieces of cake). Then they spent the night on the trampoline. Notice I did not say slept. Therefore I did not sleep much either. Oh well you only turn 12 once.

I don't know what it is with Hepworths and June but if this keeps up not only will I have a Christmas fund, I will have to start a June fund. New baby Ryker 5/29/08, Kenzie 5/30, Kortny 6/1, KayLee 6/3, my anniversary 6/4, Dale and Linda's anniversary 6/9, Camdyn 6/20, Taylie 6/21. See what I mean. Oh well it keeps things interesting!!