Off to Scout Camp!

Isaac left yesterday morning for scout camp!

He was a little unsure about going, but I'm glad he went.

I hope he has a great time!

Girls Camp

Before I dropped Grace off for Girls Camp,

I took her to lunch at Costa Vida :)

We had a nice lunch together.

 Then I dropped her off and wished her well.

She was very excited to go and spend time with her friends.

She got back earlier today and I got to hear all about the great time she had!

Cousin Campout and Hike

This past weekend we crossed another thing off our summer fun list. 

We had a cousin campout in Joe and Melanie's yard.

I know the kids loved sleeping out in the tents with each other. 

Henry and Isaac in the boy tent

Grace, Maren, Julianne, Anna and Eve in the girl tent.

In the morning we all headed to hike Battlecreek Falls.

11 Year Old Scout Campout

Mike went on an 11 year old scout campout with Isaac.

They had a good time together.

They even made pizza in a can for their dinner.

In the morning they had pancakes
but I think Isaac was more excited about the hot chocolate!

Trek Training

Don't know if I've mentioned it or not, but Mike and I were called to be the Trek leaders for our Ward. We are in charge of organizing and taking the youth in our ward on a Pioneer Trek. We will take them to Martin's Cove and Sixth Crossing in Wyoming. This is the where the Martin and Willie Handcart companies were stranded and in need of assistance to make it to the Salt Lake Valley. 

I will say that when first asked to do this, I was nervous and a little worried and maybe not terribly excited. Not about the Trek in general, but about being in charge. I don't think that I'm very good at being in charge...except for at home, ha ha!

Anyway, Mike and I had the opportunity to go to a training for Trek leaders at Martin's Cove this past weekend and it was wonderful! We decided rather than getting a hotel room (that we really couldn't afford right now anyway due to Mike not having a job yet) we would take a tent and camp the way that we will next August when trek comes around. 

When we arrived we checked in and got our packet and then headed over to the orientation meeting. I have to admit that this meeting wasn't my favorite. There was some cheesy stuff and I don't know that I was really in the spirit of the whole thing, but then we watched a very nice movie about one group's experience and I found myself feeling better and being more ready for this adventure.

After the initial meeting we went out to the handcarts and put ourselves in small groups. We were with 2 other nice couples and we started our training experience. We pulled and pushed our handcart and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and talked with the other people in our group.

Yes I'm a dork...no I didn't make Mike pull by himself...but he could have, he's so strong!

We stopped for lunch (which I had packed and brought from home). It was very tasty. Peanut butter and homemade strawberry jam. We continued after everyone was finished eating. All along the way we would stop at certain places and the missionaries there would give us ideas of stories to share at that spot and ways to help the youth feel the spirit.

Some of my favorite moments were the woman's pull, crossing the Sweetwater river and sitting quietly in Martin's Cove. 

The woman's pull was difficult for me...showed me how out of shape I am! I was able to do it ok, but I was not able to go back and help anyone else, I just didn't have the strength left. I know it was hard for the men too, to have to stand back quietly and not come and help us. 

Crossing the Sweetwater river was neat. It was amazing to think of the young men who helped so many people cross the river, and then see the monument to them on the other side. I think this is going to be one of the favorite spots for the youth to see and I really want for us to have some music playing, violin I think, while they cross the river.

Sitting in Martin's Cove was peaceful and spiritual. Thinking about the men, women and children who suffered so much, but were so strong in their testimonies and conviction to God that they kept going until they could go no further and then had such joy when rescue parties arrived to give them food, clothing and help them move out.

As we had been walking that day, they had told us to think of someone in our own life that we think needs rescuing in someway and turn our thoughts to them as we crossed back into 2014 from our Pioneer experience. I thought this was a very good idea and one that we will try and use in our own trek. Giving the kids and leaders time to think about how they can help and serve those around them.

Well before dinner we set up our tent and got our things situated there. Dinner was delicious...probably made more delicious by the fact that we were very tired and hungry :) When I saw that the dessert was brownies with walnuts all over and in them I was a little disappointed, but just asked if they had any without nuts. They didn't, but the nice man went and got me a slice of berry pie that was not going to be served...he told me not to tell and winked and gave it to me :)

During and after dinner we had some more presentations and skits and information...so much to take in! After all of that we were ushered outside for some square dancing. We actually had a really good time with that and laughed a lot. Then we drove out to see the campsite that we had been assigned to. I thought the night and silhouette of the trees and stuff looked cool.

Finally we went back to our tent and snuggled in. I don't think either of us slept very well...it was pretty cold and so incredibly windy!

When we got up we were going to go home because our trek itinerary didn't show us going to Sixth Crossing, but for some reason I felt like we should go over there and see what it was all about. Mike agreed, so we packed up our stuff and drove to Sixth Crossing.

Here's our little tent and Mike getting some things packed up.

Anyway, when we got to Sixth Crossing we had a delicious breakfast first and then another meeting. I'm really glad we went to this because Mike and I both felt strongly that we should talk to our group about adding Sixth Crossing to our itinerary. We felt like if we were going to spend the money and take the time to go all the way to Wyoming for trek, we should make it worth our while. Adding Sixth Crossing wouldn't cost anymore than just doing Martin's Cove...other than it would add a day to our stay so it would mean more food, but we think it's worth it! Martin's Cove is just about 5-6 miles, Sixth Crossing is an additional 10. I think that's a better trek experience. Anyway, they also talked about the usage of music on trek...which I feel is super important. I'm hoping I can convince Anne Law to take on that task :)

After the meeting they served us a nice lunch and we were on our way home. It was a beautiful drive and we didn't see many other cars on the road. 

Some of what we saw on our drive home.

Don't tell anyone, but Mike wanted to feel the speed of his car and so he went kind of fast (about 120) boy did that make 80 feel slow, but his car rides so smooth I love it...and did I mention that I love the seatwarmers! 

Selfie on the way home, sporting a hat that I finished that morning.

Anyway, on the drive home I finished Unbroken...one of the best books I've ever read! I had been telling Mike about it as I had been reading it and I had read some parts of it out loud to him too. I highly recommend it, it was such a great book.

Well there you have it, our Trek training experience. We are looking forward to trek next August...boy we have a lot of work to do! Good thing Mike is awesome at stuff like this!

Grace goes to Girls Camp!

Grace was so excited to head off to her first Girls camp with our ward.

I dropped her off early this morning.

I hope she'll have a wonderful time! I know I'll miss her :)

I'm sure she'll have a lot to tell me when she comes home!

Father/Son Campout & Girl's Night

This year's father/son campout was different for my boys, of course, because Mike wasn't here to take them. Our kind home teacher offered to take them with him and his boys.

Blurry, but it's the only picture they gave me of the three of them together

Isaac loved throwing the tomahawks

They said they had a good time, but really missed having their dad there with them.

The girls and I had a good time together while they were gone. We went out to dinner at Costa Vida and then we got some yummy frozen yogurt at Menchie's.

We laughed a lot and just had fun together. At home we snuggled up and watched a movie :)

Boys outside, Girls inside

This past weekend Mike took the boys on the annual Father/Son campout (or Annual Aaronic Priesthood Commemoration Overnighter...that's a mouthful!)

He felt like our 3 boys wouldn't keep him busy enough so he also took the 4 boys of my friend Nanette. Her husband was away on military assignment and it was her birthday.

They all had a great time. Isaac was a little late to the camp out because of the talent show, but he said it was ok because he still got to roast marshmallows and have some s'mores :)

After we dropped Isaac off at the camp the girls and I went for frosty's and then came home and snuggled in my bed watching Ella Enchanted. The next morning we got up and went to Mimi's Cafe for breakfast. 

It was a fun busy weekend!

Our long awaited camping trip!

We finally got to take the camping trip that we had scheduled and rescheduled twice...and I'm finally posting about it :)

October 21 and 22 we went to Solomon's Island and enjoyed some much needed time away. I absolutely loved the time we got to spend with each other. It was such a great weekend. I think everyone had a really good time. We decided that we need to go camping more often!

We went miniature golfing, we walked on the beach, flew kites, played football, played horseshoes, sat around the fire, roasted marshmallows and hot dogs, sang songs, told stories, laughed, made shadow puppets, went on a hayride, played games, and basically just had a great time!

*warning*

there are a lot of pictures
...no really, a lot of pictures!

 Mike had a different kind of "handicap" while we were golfing :)

 the hot chocolate really hit the spot

These pictures make me smile because it looks like Dallin is controlling the fire :)

 My least favorite thing about the trip...the bridge!

 pretty view, but I still don't love the bridge

We are already looking forward to another camping trip!
...and if you looked at all the pictures you rock!