Young Women's Camp

I love my mountains.  May have mentioned that once or twice or a hundred times.  The girls had a blast at YW camp this year. As usual most of the pictures Leah took where of trees and flowers, not many with people in them.  It was Leah's first and Cora's third camp.

It was a stake camp this year and the theme was B.O.O.T.  Build on our testimonies.

There was the usual hikes and firesides.  One night they brought up a generator and had an outdoor movie.  Watched 'Follow Me Boys'  It was great weather for a camp.  Some hot days and cooler nights the girls said.

Leah got her hair braided for the camp.  Easier to take care of.

One of Cora's requirements was outdoor cooking.  Some didn't work, but this one did.  She said the biscuits were great.  As it turned out the ward we are moving to next month did not have any leaders to go with.  (We are staying in the same stake) The two girls ended up combining with our ward.  It worked great for us.  Cora and Leah got to know the girls that they will be with in the fall a little better.

With the theme being BOOT camp there were a lot of activities and props around this.  The girls all got army shirts and dog tags with the scripture and theme on it.  This army tank was set on a 4-wheeler and used all week.  They used it to call the girls to activities and wake up.  There was a slot in the side for each ward.  In this slot is where, any time through out the day, the girls could drop and check for their pixie gifts.

Spiritual Jenga.  Each block had something written on it to help build our testimonies.  Genealogy, scripture reading, prayer, etc.  The point was if we take any of these away then our testimonies start to fall.

It was a wonderful camp.  Leah said better than she was expecting.  They made journals and so many other things I don't remember.  Glad they had fun.

I knew I would forget some things from the reunion.

We all now have matching scars.  Kita's are pretty tiny we had to point them out. ;) The lighting was not great so you can't really tell, but they are all there.  On every knee.

Hard at work.

My happy Father.

Every year the grand kids watch all 3 Indiana Jones movies.  It is tradition.  No idea how it started but they have been doing it for many many years now.

Off They Go!!!

After 18 months, today was the day.  YAY!!  Actually she was really sad to get them off.  Loved her braces.  Only twice did they hurt.

I wanted a during picture with the wires coming off, buy I was getting my teeth cleaned at the same time.  So I just got the mold making. Doesn't she look pleased that I am taking a picture right now?

Look at those awesome straight teeth.  

Killing a little time at the temple while we waited our 30 mins after fluoride before we could eat.

Cora trying to be taller than her younger sister:)

Celebration time, come on!!  Took them to Dave's for a burger and milkshake to celebrate getting the braces off and nobody had any cavities.  Very successful trip today.

I made them all pose for a shot eating their burgers.  Yummy!!

I warned Cora ahead of time that her teeth would look huge after she got the braces off.  She said she felt like that commercial where they dogs are posed with people teeth and they look really funny on them.  I just laughed at her and told her she would get used to it soon.  She looks great.  

Reunion

I always think of a family reunion as a day where you go to a church or a park and sit with a bunch of people you don't really know. You eat lunch or dinner and try to remember who belongs to whom.  But I realized this year that the week we all come home and spend on our parents farm is indeed a family reunion.  I know I am pretty quick, only been doing it for 20 years.  Honestly the most looked-forward-to week of the year. I grew up in an amazingly beautiful place just below the mountains.  The farm has so much room for the kids to go and do anything. Now that the kids are getting older and make a lot of their own plans it is even more enjoyable.  My kids all said they thought this was the funnest year ever.

Dave picked up the girls from YW camp and drove them straight to the farm.  We aired everything out, got them showered and helped my mom prepare for everyone coming in that night.

Sunday my nephew McKay was ordained an Elder.  He only has about 6 weeks till mission time. We had a fabulous taco bar at Cannon and Nicole's after church.  Because of McKay's ordination and going through the temple, Nicole's brother and family and her parents where up this week also.  6 extra cousins to play with.  Tuesday morning my parents took all the 12 and ups to do temple baptism.  They had a picnic lunch, then the adults went in for a session as McKay took out his endowments.  That was really neat.  Lots and lots of fun activities done this past week.

Canal surfing.  This was fun to watch.

Natalie had to do our annual pedicure and eyebrow tweeze.  See her fabulous vinyl gloves:).  She likes feet as much as I do.

Of course we all ooohhhed and aaahhhed and were extremely jealous of Brynn's hair all week.  That thickness and color is something you truly have to see yourself.  Kita has really thick hair and I think if you combines her, Natalie and my hair it would be about like Brynn's. Kita again brought up a few bags of clothes and we went "shopping at the Jones' store"  Such a great store.

There was tubing and bridge jumping.

Wouldn't be a reunion without a trip to the Pioneer Parlour for ice cream.

Makita and Steve had just come back from trek in Idaho.  It was fascination to hear the stories.  Our stake doesn't do trek.  After ice cream, Steve got everyone to play and impromptu game of 'Poisonous Stump'  It was a hit and was played many more times through out the week.

There was lots of chatting and many many games of Tomato with the teens.  They stayed up till midnight most nights.

On Friday, the teens that did not have to work decided to go back into the temple and do more baptisms.  I think that is so cool.  What a great way to kill some time.  They just decided to go, gathered everyone up.  Brock has a license and in they went.  Fantastic group of cousins we have. That night after Abby and McKay got off work was Teen Night.  This year they decided on dinner and swimming.  So much fun.  A brilliant idea my mom had a few years ago.  Everyone twelve and up really looks forward to this night together.

More cards.

The 'hay ride' to the local country store is always a hit.

We also spent a day in Waterton.  I actually made it up Bear's Hump.  My dad stayed right with me.  (He also walked with me a couple of mornings.  He usually runs a few miles but just walked with me.  I enjoyed our early morning chats.) I was actually pretty proud of myself for doing it.  

Red Rock Canyon is so beautiful.  We had a picnic there and then played in the water.

Every year when I blog about this week, I usually remember lots of fun things later.  I am sure it will be the same this time.  But this week is so relaxing.  I love being with my sisters.  (I missed Taylor and Kristin not being there) Cooking, cleaning, sharing recipes we have got new that year. Talking late into the night, seeing each others kids, napping because we stayed up to late, and just being with them.  I love it.  I love everyone one of my siblings.  I feel a gap when one isn't there.  They are all amazing.  We all have different personalities and things we are good at.  Different things we struggle with. But all together we make a whole. And together we are strong.  As always we are already looking forward to next year and thegood times to be had.

Just Blake and I

This week the girls have been at Young Women's camp.  Dave has been home in the evening, painting.  So it has been just Blake and I.  We have had some good times.  I didn't realize how much he depends on his sisters for playmates.  Even though they fight some times they really are good friends.  It was never more apparent then this week he has spent with out them.  Our mosquitoes have been terrible.  We couldn't even go outside with bug spray on. He helped me a lot getting ready for the family reunion that starts today.  We cleaned out closets so they would be ready for Dave to paint and did some deep cleaning in the basement. Blake and I cooked dinner and did dishes every night.  He found things to do in the evening as I helped Dave a little. One night, after Dave was done for the evening, we tried to spray up and go for a walk.  We did not make it far.  But I have made sure to do a lot of things with him and relish this time with just the two of us.  We made balloon rockets.

He made stuff with marshmallows and skewers.  I looked all over for the mini marshmallow and toothpicks but did not find them till the next morning.  Oh well!  He had fun.

The ice volcanoes where fun.  Blake saved some to do with his sisters.

We mowed the lawn and picked tons of strawberries.  Fresh strawberries from our garden with cream was so good. We have made cupcakes and cookies for this next week.  We went for a bike ride around Henderson.  The hour we were biking was the only windy, rainy hour of the entire week.  We still made it around a couple of times.

Blake has been a little obsessed making guns with his Lego lately.  You can't see his top or back pockets but Blake is packing a totally of 4 guns, 2 grenades, and 2 bombs.  We are going to be save from any attackers, don't you worry.  Yesterday we got groceries and did laundry and cleaned.  Dave went up to be the priesthood holder at YW camp.  Blake and I decided to have a fun night out just us.  We went to Earl's for dinner.  I had two free tickets to a movie.  Blake picked Transformers: Age of Extinction.  I really should win a Mother of the Day award for sitting through that movie.  And in 3D none the less.  Really do not like 3D movies.  Do not get the big excitement.  Actually the movie was not bad.  Had a lot of funny parts and was not fighting the entire time as I had anticipated.  It was long and we got back late, but a perfect end to my week with just Blake and I.  Earlier Dave and I told Blake that he should get used to this since at 15 both his sisters will be gone and it will be just us everyday:) 

Happy Canada Day!!

We went out to Hill Spring for the celebration again this year.  (Of course) Dave had to work the day before so we were not able to be part of the triathlon.  We barely made it in time for the parade.  Just as we drove through they put up the barriers.  Whoosh!  The parade was 6 mins this year.  Right after there were a few cars that left.  We decided they were newbies, they didn't know that in our town the parade turns around and you get to see the other side also:)  Only in Hill Spring.  There was a nice little program and then we went to my parents house for a quick bathroom break and to load up the food.  Really good beef this year.  Perfectly done in my opinion.  After was the races.  None of my kids wanted to run, but we watched a bit anyways. Had a fun catch-up with old friend.  Last was the candy bombing.  A man in our town has his pilots licence and he flies by and drops candy out for everyone.  Does three passes.  The kids love this.  Everyone does.  Cora said she was getting pushed out by 30 yr old men.  All in good fun tho.  My parents had put up a zip line at the farm that the kids where anxious to try.  So we went back for a bathroom break again and to try the line.  HUGE hit!!!  We had a hard time getting them to go.  I even tried it.  Brilliant idea.  Sure to be a hit when everyone gets here Saturday.

We did not stay to long.  Needed to get back and get the girls ready for camp.  They leave tomorrow just before noon.  Dave will pick them up at camp and bring them straight to my parents house.  We had to back Grandparent's house bags and YW camp bags.

Getting everything on the list together. I braided Leah's hair last night.  It is getting longer again.  All those tiny braids are perfect for her to camp with.  No knotty hair to worry about.  This time it took me 2 1/2 hours.  The last 10 braids my hand started cramping and really hurt. But we got it done.

Our snacks for everyone.  We made s'more trail mix.  So good.  I had seen on Pinterest a S'more granola and thought it would be good.  So I took out the oatmeal and changed the chocolate chips to non peanut M&Ms so they would not melt as easy.  Blake could not stay out of it and Cora tried some slightly melted in the oven.  I had to make another batch for camp.  I am not a big fan of s'mores and I loved this.  Also made rice krispie treats with cut Mars in them.

Getting pixie gifts ready.  The girls came up with some great ideas this year.  I hope the other girls like them.

We finally got them all packed and had scrambled eggs for dinner.  We had wanted to go to the fireworks but are kinda tired.  We will see what happens. It was another fabulous Canada Day Celebration.  Such a wonderful, beautiful country I live in.

2 Conversations I loved today.

Me: Dave you don't have to come you know.  I know you have a ton of things you could be doing on your day off.

Dave:  I'm going.  I knew 16 years ago what I was signing up for.  We don't miss it. (He did not seem to say this with a ton of enthusiasm)

I totally started laughing at him and said, 'that's true'

The kids were singing a repeat-after-me song on the way home this afternoon.

Leah: Momma gave me a dollar.

Blake: A dollar

Leah: No Blake, you have to sing the whole thing.

Blake: Oh, okay lets start over.

Leah: Momma gave me a dollar.

Blake: The whole thi-ing.

Leah and Cora burst out laughing.

I hope everyone had a great day of celebration and family.  Happy Canada Day!