New Vlog Channel on Youtube!

We are no longer using this blog! We have recently started a vlogging channel on Youtube
at : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE2Nwv6nDXGRrhUCcAuv4eQ

If you still want to see what we are up to here in Kenya check it out! Here of some recent videos we have posted:


MOUNTAIN BIKING AND GIRAFFE TREKKING :

https://youtu.be/rQfjRwOOvkA


A DOG GOES PADDLE BOARDING?! :

https://youtu.be/sFyDtG4V1f0


ANOTHER DAY IN KENYA :

https://youtu.be/Y4lVmKMSiNM

Trip to the Animal Orphanage

I didn’t know what to expect, I thought it was going to be like a zoo, the thought of that didn’t sound so fun, but really, I didn’t know what I was getting myself in to.

We were on Christmas break so we decided to go explore Kenya for a week. During that week we went to an animal orphanage, at the Mt. Kenya Safari Club. They rescue animals who need help, and then they release them into the wild when they are better. I thought it would be like a zoo, all the animals in a cage sleeping, not doing anything. I have never really got the point of zoos, they keep animals in cages against their will, and it’s not even that cool to look at.  I could just search up animal pictures on the internet and it would be more interesting.  That’s why kids always chase the pigeons at the zoo because they would rather play with the animals that actually move.

Once I walked through those doors, I could hardly see any cages at all! There were llamas, pelicans, ostriches, peacocks, monkeys, tortoise and deer roaming all over the place. It was amazing! We got to feed them all and even pet them. But what was really cool is that we got to have the monkeys climb all over us! However, there was one thing that I will remember forever… I got to pet… A CHEETAH! And no, it did not bite off my hand. All and all this visit was a once in a lifetime experience… unless you live with the Fairbourne’s. I think I will always remember this trip.

Lake Powell by Porter Fairbourne

Lake Powell was AWESOME!!!! We did everything!

        After a six-hour drive we finally arrived at the dock. It was dark with only the dim lighting from the parking lot lamps. Everyone was a little achy from sitting for so long. We had to load everything up on the houseboat that night, so that we would be ready to undock in the morning.  That next morning we left the dock to find a place to park our boat. The ride was fun.  We played cars, waved to other boats, talked, and just enjoyed the view. 

When we found the perfect spot where our boat fit well and we could see from the front of the boat a great mass of water. I think Lake Powell is beautiful because of the orange tan rock, dark blue water, and the plateaus in the distance. Lake Powell is definitely the most well balanced trip from absolutely breath taking sunsets to exhilarating fun on the water.    Ellie taught me how to drive the wave runner. After that I was pro. I was doing jumps off boat wakes it was so fun. We would get some speed and drive straight over the wave and then we’d fly in the air.  Elli and I would ride our wave runners up the canyon and make jumps for each other.

A new toy that Eric brought was the orange mat.  Being pulled by the jet ski with the orange mat was super fun. There isn’t anything to hold onto except the side and where the ropes poke out. Since there are no handles you usually end up slipping and dragging the person next to you with you when you fall off.  I was pretty good staying on but not as good as this little kid named Wifi. I am four times this kids weight and he didn’t even get his hair wet!

Nothing is more classic at Lake Powell than tube wars! Tube wars is a game where two tubes are pulled behind the boat and the two teams competing try to see who can get the most points by throwing the other team’s players off their tube.  The teams were; Lilli, Jake, and I on one team and the other team was Alta, Elli, and Isabelle. Right as the boat began to pull the two tubes the game started. Alta with all of her mighty courage jumped on our tube but only to be shoved of the front of the tube. The score was 1:0 and the girls were getting angry. Soon it became all of the opposing team on our tube. Lilli was unwilling to throw her best friends off so she took refuge back on the other tube. There was a lot of pulling, pushing, and wrestling but they couldn't get us off. Some retreated, but Jake and I still had Isabelle and we rolled her off the back of the tube. Score 2:0. We were still in the lead. Elli found some courage to jump on our tube but was thrown of the side by Jake.  The final score 3:0.  

Something new I tried this year was repelling. Repelling off a cliff 110 feet high is kind of scary but scary is normal in the Pope family. Like Eric says, "We learn something new every year at Lake Powell." This year we learned why you don't use dynamic rope for repelling. By the end of the trip the rope was 5 feet longer.  However the rope worked just fine. I went down the cliff terrified but once I tried it wasn't that bad. I even did another one that had a big overhang.

Most people don’t like sleeping in Lake Powell, but I love it. One night while gazing upon the stars I spotted a shooting star then another and another. By this time all of the kids sleeping on the top deck were on a search for the best shooting star. Someone would say, “I just saw a really cool one!” Or someone would say, “wow, look at that one!” While everyone was looking at the shooting stars there was one that no one missed. The incoming meteor was bright white and looked as if it was coming straight towards us. As the shooting star got bigger it turned red and broke up into several pieces into the nighttime sky. Grandpa shot off fireworks that night, but that shooting star even beat those.

As everyone could tell, the Cokes were running out, a good sign that the trip was almost to an end. A day that everybody dreaded and hoped would never come.. Everyone had something to clean and something to pack. I picked up trash and packed the blankets. Once we landed back in the dock and every got out and started to head on home. Thanks to the Popes, Larsens, Holmbergs, and the Astlels I had the best Lake Powell trip ever.  

                                       

My Grandma By Everett Fairbourne

As you may know my grandma Chriss Pope has recently passed away, and the sad thing is, is that she was really loved as a grandma, mother, wife and friend. However, we are all staying positive because we all know she is in a better place now. Being in her presence was nice to me. Family parties will not be the same without her.  One Christmas, I promised her I would giver a hug every day. I did that as a Christmas present, because obviously I had no money, except the 50$ she just gave me for my present. I kept my promise for about half a year until I moved and we became more distant. I learned that you can never really get enough hugs. One time at our family camping trip to Yellowstone she came from all the way from her mission to spend time with us, she gave all the little kids vests and told us we were the deputies and she made me the sheriff.  She was my boss and supplier, it was fun spending time with her. She was funny and great grandma, and I was lucky to have her as my grandma. She will be missed but never forgotten.                                             

Cannibal By: Alta Fairbourne

It felt like Christmas morning while we were getting ready to leave; I was so excited. I love going to Lagoon more than anything in the world.  I have been going every year; I haven’t missed it once. Today at Lagoon was going to be the best ever because they had the new, huge roller coaster

– Cannibal.

When we were parking in front of Lagoon we realized how huge Cannibal is. It’s a brown skyscraper that reaches into the clouds and it has a roller coaster track that looks as if it is falling out the window and dropping straight to the ground, only to zoom back up in the sky, moving into never ending twists and turns.

We decided Cannibal was going to be our first destination. Mounds of people were scurrying to get in line for the new attraction. The long line stretched all the way back to the Tilt-a-Whirl; it was at least a 2 hour wait. We were a little bit bummed when we saw the line, but the wait was going to be worth it. Once we reached the front I could feel the butterflies swarming arou

nd in my stomach. The soaring sounds of the carts running and faint screams played all around us as we waited to get on. We watched the carts plunge from the building. Some of my cousins were having second thoughts but we were going to make them do it. Even Grandpa was a little scared!

It was our turn. We sat on the vinyl purple seats and pulled the restraint to our waists. The ride slowly started to wheel forward and we went into darkness. Powerful beating music that matched my heat beat filled the room. We came to a dead end then out of nowhere we gradually started to lift up. It was so intense and dramatic it actually felt like we were about to be sacrificed to cannibals. The beating music began to fade as we got higher then a bright light shone from outside and we could see the whole of the Great Salt Lake. Our cart began to edge forward about to drive off the drop; I started to scream bloody murder. We swooped down the wall, dropping straight along the vertical building. It felt as if my stomach was floating within my body. Up, down, around and upside down we went; we even sped through a waterfall. Actually I think we were more upside down then upright.  Once the ride came to a halt we were so ecstatic. We desperately needed to do it again. It was absolutely worth the wait, and it was exactly what I was imagining!

 

The rest of the day we scrambled around going on all of our other favorite rides at Lagoon, laughing, smiling and having a great time. We actually even waited in line to go on Cannibal again! Lagoon is super fun and awesome and I can’t wait to go again next summer.

Opening Chapter.

At Birth


16 years ago, 2003, the night was wild. Wind ran through the air as rain followed. The streets were empty and the homes were full. One particular home held a happy couple, Jeff and Sarah. “Oh, Jeff,” cried Sarah “it’s time!”
“NOW?”
“Yes we need to go!” as Sarah and Jeff got in the truck, another happy couple next door named, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew were also expecting a baby, how ironic.

***

As the two cars arrived at the local hospital, the storm raged on harder. The happy couples were assigned rooms 36 and 48.
“One, two, three, push Mrs. Martin, push!” Meanwhile in room 48, “come on Suzy I know you can do it!” screamed Mr. Andrew.
The night did not stop storming on. At the strike of midnight, the sky was pitch black, and the storm got even worse.
Blue lightning struck the hospital, it was like something that has never been seen before, and it affected everyone inside the hospital.
There was something not right with Mrs. Andrew
“SHE NOT BREATHING!” screamed the female doctor. Mr. Andrew started to worry as they brought out the defibrillators
“ONE! TWO! THREE! CLEAR!” they used the defibrillators, she was still not breathing.
“ONE! TWO! THREE! CLEAR!”
The doctors knew she was a goner, they pulled out a sheet and placed it over Suzy.

***

As the doctor exited the room, Mr. Andrew stood up, “how is she doc?” said Mr. Andrew in a worried tone.
“I'm sorry to say this Mr. Andrew, but your wife is dead.”
Carl was devastated, tears ran down his face. He just lost the love of his life. The thought of raising a child without a mother sounded crazy to him. Carl didn’t know what to do with his life, all he knew was that it would be impossible to raise a child on his own.

***

“So you’re just going to abandon him.” said the doctor
“I don’t have a choice, take him some where, where love is there.” Mr. Andrew said.

Later that night the doctor was going to take the baby to the social worker until she looked down into the baby’s eyes and saw them glistering. She always knew she’d be a good mom, maybe now was the perfect time to become a foster mom. After getting off the phone with the social worker, she took the perfect baby boy home.
When she got home she made a mini bed and, put the baby in it.
“I’m going to call you… Austin” said the doctor.
***

Jeff and Sarah got into their truck and to and drove to their home. Storm had stopped, and everything was so peaceful now. As Sarah laid the baby into the crib she said, “I’m going to name you… Matt.

***

That night the happiest moment of Mr. Andrew’s life j became something he would want to forget. Mr. Andrew got in his car and drove far, far away, where no one would find him.

***

No one in that hospital would forget that night. Something happened, to those two babies that night,
something extraordinary!

Thank you for reading, this is my opening chapter for my new book called Extraordinary, its a school project.

Photoshop Is The Best!

Photoshop Is The Best!

My mom and dad got me Photoshop on my computer. Photoshop was kind of weird at first but then I got the hold of it and now I’m always on Photoshop learning to do cool stuff.

You can change anything on Photoshop you can change the lighting, color, and you can add and take out stuff in pictures. I like to change color and do every thing on Photoshop. I’m still learning Photoshop this is actually my first week of photoshop and I have done like 25 photos. I’m a little addicted actually.

If you want something Photoshopped you can ask me I would Love to do it .

Here are some of my photos: