Chore List

 Update: 4/12: There have been a number of changes.  More people are leaving us on Sunday afternoon than we originally expected so the logistics have been a bit tricky to coordinate.  See if this works for you.  If not, let me know

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In an effort to help us keep the stress level of the weekend to a bare minimum, we are asking everyone to help out for two meals with a cooking shift and a clean-up shift.

Deven, Nicki & Katie, I did not assign you ladies a shift because you either have very small children to care for or you are growing a very small child.  If you guys would like to help out at some point, please feel free to join in.  We would love to have you in the kitchen with us!

If you are up for it, extra help, even on a shift that you are not assigned is always appreciated!

Bethany is my Executive Chore List Manager.  She will be reminding you of your shift duties. 

Friday Dinner:

Cooking: John, Tod, Jayne, Diane, Jill

Clean-Up: Bill, Jason A., Andrew, Dan

Saturday Breakfast:

Cooking: Andrew, Jason A., Abbi, Bethany

Clean: Sean, Brit, Anthony, Candece, Kourt

Saturday Dinner: 

Cooking: Sean, Brit, Anthony, Candece, Kourt

Clean-Up: BZ, John, Jason M., Tod

Sunday Breakfast:

Cooking: Jan, JZ, Jen, Gwen

Clean-Up: Jen, Jayne, Jan, Abbi

Sunday Lunch --> whomever is around, please help set stuff out/clean up!

Sunday Dinner:

Cooking: Becky, Glenn, Lisa, Kyle

Clean-Up: Diane, Bethany, Jill, Gwen, JZ

Monday Breakfast:

Cooking: BZ, Jason M., Dan, Bill

Clean-Up: Becky, Glenn, Lisa, Kyle

If your assignment is not going to work for you, please let me know and we'll figure something out!

Room Assignments

Here are the room assignments!

Bedroom 1: BZ & JZ

Utility Closet converted into Bedroom: Gwen, Bennett, Callie

Bedroom 2: (10 bunk beds)

Brit

Sean

Kourt

Anthony

Candece

Bethany

Kyle 

Katie
Kameron

*I have one bunk left.  Preston and Layla can share a bed if you think that would be comfortable for them or we are happy to bring sleeping pads/sleeping bags for them.

Bedroom 3: (1 Queen, 6 Bunks)

Queen: Becky & Glenn

Lisa

Henry

Owen

Elliot

Bill

Kandace 

Bedroom 4: (1 Queen)

The Meininger Family --> Jordan in a sleeping bag

* Here are my thoughts: I don't think there are extra linens to change the queen sheets and because Jill & Dan are staying three nights, I put them in the queen.  Discuss amongst yourselves.
If something would work better for your room, go for it.

Bedroom 5: (1 Queen, 6 Bunks)

Queen: Jill & Dan

Edie

Owen

John

Abbi

Jack

Logan

Bedroom 6 (1 Queen, 6 Bunks)

Jen
Tod
Kai
Kashen
Jan

Andrew

Olivia

Harper

Bedroom 7 (1 Queen)

The Alexander Family ---> Finn in a sleeping bag

Ziercher Pop-Up:

Jayne & Diane

There are 4 bathrooms in the house.  Two single units upstairs and two big dorm style bathrooms downstairs with multiple toilets/showers.

If your sleeping situation is not going to work for you, please let me know. We'll work something out.

We Are Registered...

If you would like to buy us an extravagant gift for our 10 year anniversary, we wanted you to know that we are registered at "Please Help a Brother Out!"

What's that you ask?

It means that we know making it to the middle of no-where Utah is a big deal.
Both in terms of your time and in terms for your pocketbook.

Please please please, no gifts.

But instead...

We would love to have some help around the house for the weekend.

We are assigning everyone that is not currently breastfeeding or preggers, two tasks over the course of the weekend.

One day of helping in the kitchen to prepare a group meal and one day of helping to clean up a meal.  Or maybe two days of cleaning up...whatever.
I will try to be very thoughtful when placing people together but feel free to switch around if you don't like your assigned task.

There will be music playing in the kitchen and lots and lots of cool people laughing and telling stories.

I don't think it will be too hard on anyone.

In fact, you may actually have a fabulous time cleaning up.

But that is all we want for our anniversary.

To hang with our very favorite people and to help each other out so that no one is overly stressed and everyone can have a blast.

Thank you for being such amazingly awesome people!
xoxo

What to Bring!

What we will have for you:

linens for the beds/bath
there will be a box in each bathroom that has assorted shampoos/soaps/lotions/toothpaste/sunscreen
food for meals and snacks
a keg of really hoppy beer from Moab
a limited supply of watered down beer for people from Missouri that do not like Brett's beer
vodka/rum/whiskey/wine
mixers: juice, tonic, club soda
sparkling water
juice/lemonade
a Wii, dvds, board games, cards, washers, bocci, lightsabers



You May Want to Bring:

What you bring will depend largely on the weather at the time of the event.  Brett and I were in Moab this past weekend (it's the middle of February) and it was sunny and in the 60's.

Having said that, it could be 30 degrees with three feet of snow at the house.

I have a link to the right of this screen ---> that will send you to the weather page for Moab.

Please pray for warm weather and sunshine.

And on with the list:

hiking clothes/shoes

hat- warm & brimmed for sun exposure

jacket(s)

 sunglasses

rain gear: at least a rain jacket

ipods with sweet sweet tunes (dance parties are very popular with this group)

a good book

a robe/slippers

pjs that are good for lounging with friends and strangers

toiletries

clothes for Mass, should you be going

layers - short sleeves, long sleeves, fleece

fishing stuff/climbing stuff/floating stuff

A camera!  Or your trusty iphone.

Any extra snacks you want to have on hand for hikes ect. -- there will be granola bars and such at the house for you to grab but ya know, extras if you want something special.

If you are driving to Utah from your home and have extra empty plastic Easter eggs laying around, please bring them!  A bag of gluten free/dairy free/nut free candy for the plastic eggs would be rad - skittles, starburst, jelly beans, sweet tarts...

Easter Egg hunting basket for your wee ones.

Also, please throw in camp chairs if you have them.

Your good attitude and friend-making smile.

Please buy booze before you get to Utah (if possible) and bring whatcha like to drink. 
 The Mormons have no sense of humor when it comes to alcohol.  And between our friends and the Zierchers, we have some people that like to drink up in here.


A Super Hero or Villain Costume:

A Fabulous & Outrageous Vow Renewal Outfit : 

For those of you that have floated down the river with us, you know we love a good theme night and an outrageous outfit.


For Super Hero/Villain Night, I strongly urge you to think of a made-up entity.
You are all very creative people.  I believe in you!
For instance: "Time Out Man": toddlers far and wide fear him the most!

But Batman is fine too.  If you're like totally boring.


For our vow renewal ceremony, please don your most fabulous or outrageous party wear outfit.  It could be that killer bow tie you've been dying to wear.  That feather boa you were only able to wear once to the New Year's Party or your sparkly leg warmers.

There's no official dress code

as long as it's fabulous.

And it's at this point I know a few of you are rolling your eyes and thinking,
"There is no way I'm dressing up in some stupid costume."
Seriously, I can see your faces in my mind.
I know who you are.
(I can also see Brit, Bethany, Kourt and Jen giving me a virtual chest thump as they immediately start inventorying their fabulous wears.)

That's okay.
We obviously think you're fabulous, just the way you are, so if you want to come in your comfortable, everyday attire, that's just fine by us too.

But there will likely be lots of glitter around you.

And perhaps an oddly colored feather or two.

Just saying...

A Tentative Schedule of Events

Friday:

Arrive
Check in is at 4p

Cocktail Hour (s)

Group Dinner- 6p-ish

Saturday:

Group Breakfast- 8a-ish

All Day Free Play! -- >
Brett and I will have a plan of attack and we would love to have you join us, but feel free to do your own thing.  It's a beautiful and amazing area to explore.  Please be back in time for the group dinner.

Lunch on Yer Own!
Cocktail Hour (s) 5p 

Group Dinner: 6p-ish
Dress like a Super Hero/Villain Night

Sunday:

Early Group Breakfast: 7a

Group that heads out for Mass

Group that heads out for a half day hike/play: Please be back by 3:30p at the latest!

Lunch at the House or you can make sandwiches and take them on your adventure
Group that Hides Easter Eggs!

Easter Egg Hunt at the House: 2p

BZ + JZ Vow Renewal at the House: 4p
Dress in your finest (ie, craziest) 10 year Anniversary Vow Renewal Attire

Cocktail Hour (s)

Group Dinner: 6p

Monday:

Group Breakfast: Time 8a-ish

Check out: 11a
Group Send-Off!

10 year Anniversary Travel and Adventure Logistics

Blogger I am not.  Map boy I am.

As JZ mentioned Hidden Oaks is 40 miles out of Moab.  24 miles South on HWY 191 and 16 miles East on HWY 46, that is.  It is just north of Old La Sal, Utah. Basically look for mile post 16 and just past it, take a left on CR 125 at the old cow.  Go 1/4 mile north and take the 1st left after all the squawking ravens sitting on fence posts through the gate marked no trespassing.  Then, smell for the aroma of hops and their relations.

Hidden Oaks Lodge Website Directions/Map

Travel times to Moab (per Google):
Denver International Airport 5 hours 41 minutes
Durango 2:42
Laramie WY 6:55
St Louis MO (driving) 17:08
Salt Lake Intl. Airport 3:47
Washington DC (includes tolls) 30:00
Except for coming from Durango, going through Moab is the most expedient route.  

The setting is very similar to our Hesperus house: amongst the gamble oak, looking at mountains.  Also as JZ mentioned, it could be cold, snow blowing, teeth chattering...whiskey drinking weather.  Having said that, lower down in the desert hiking, biking, sight seeing may be much nicer.   While I'd love to say that fishing and rafting are on, its just not clear what season will be in.  Floating the San Miguel or Dolores may be more convenient and sporty than the Colorado out of Moab.  (This is typed with a mischievious he, he, he)
http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/recreation/san_miguel_river.html
http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/recreation/dolores_river_information.html

So, stay tuned, RSVP and let me know what I can do to help.

B

Lodging Has Been Established!

The Long Version:

Ten years ago, when we were planning our wedding we knew two things: we wanted to get married in Moab, UT and we wanted to get married in April.

So I looked at Moab's event calendar and realized that of the four April weekends, three of them were filled with preplanned touristy events.   

And because we did not want to compete with tourists, our wedding date was selected for us, April 17th.

Ten years later, Moab's April event calendar is booked on all four weekends.

And that has translated into a relentless task of trying to find lodging that is big enough to accommodate 40-60 people as well as be budget friendly enough for all.

The Short Version:

We found lodging!

It's not exactly in Moab, in fact it's 40 miles from Moab, but it's big and spacious and beautiful and I think we'll have a great time at this lodge.

PSA: they have removed the pond in front of the house

Check out the website:

Hidden Oaks Lodge

It fits 40 plus.

There is a big kitchen where we can prepare our meals.

There are lots of bedrooms, lots of bathrooms (!!), a game room, a couple of living rooms, a giant deck with a big grill and a fire pit for s'mores!!!!

the game room has foosball and air hockey

the kitchen has a double oven!

the dining room has these two tables and two tables that are pushed against the wall

a big deck!

Nearby there is fishing (yes, Ziercher boys, Tod & Jason!), climbing (yes JLo!), hiking and rafting (yes, Durango crowd!) available.

If you want to make it into Moab to explore Canyonlands, you'll have a bit of a drive but it will be worth it!

 So as you can see, this place rocks.
Except for one thing.
The bedroom situation is...friendly.
There are three private bedrooms.  Four if you count a very very nice utility closet where we can put a blow up mattress.
The rest of the bedrooms feature one queen bed and eight bunk beds.
Which means that there will likely not be a whole lot of ummm, (cough), ummm, "intimate" times for the guests.
There was a child conceived at our wedding.  I'm guessing that will not be the case for our anniversary party!
But there will be fun.  Yes, there will be fun!
We have one family that will have a one month old and one family that will have a six month old.  They get a private room.  It's just better for every single person in the house.
And BZ and I are taking a room.  It's our party.
So that means that many of you will be in a bunk situation.
And so I hope you take this opportunity to find this situation amusing.
Because we can't do a whole lot about it.

The house is situated on a lot of land.  Which means that there is amply opportunities for people to camp in tents or bring their pop-ups/campers.

If you decide to camp, know that it may snow.  That time of year is really iffy.
If you are in a camper, you can use all the hot water you want in the house and you will of course be able to join us for all meals, drinking, merriment.
If you are from out of town but want a tent, we can hook you up with supplies.

 We are not sure of cost for lodging + food.  If we can fill the house, we're looking at about $66 per person for a THREE NIGHT STAY!
If we can not fill the house, the price will be more but I think it will be really reasonable as compared to staying in a hotel for three nights.
Food will be bought in bulk and communal so we are again unsure of exact numbers but I'm thinking it will be really resonable.

We don't want cost to keep anyone from coming.  After we get the final price numbers to you, please talk to us if you are having a hard time making the numbers work for you and your family.  We will work something out!



We want to book the house from Friday April 18th-Monday April 21st.

And so here's something else were weren't anticipating but we're excited about:

Sunday, April 20th is Easter.

We are hoping that people do not have to rush back to work on Monday because we thought a giant egg hunt on the property Sunday morning would be fun for the kids.  We are also planning on having a big Easter meal at some point that day.

For those of you that want to make church/mass a part of your morning, there is an option in Moab:

St. Pius X
It looks like Mass is at 9a. 

We will of course structure all egg hunting and feast eating for after Mass so that everyone gets what they need out of the day.

For those of you coming, there will be additional future blog posts on how to get  Moab and the house as well as tentative adventure plans and what to bring.

Please pre-RSVP by Friday November 22nd!

If we can't fill even half of the house, we'll probably look for alternate lodging.

I sure hope this works for everyone.  I think it sounds so fun!