Saturday, August 23, 2014

Ward Family Camp Out

The first weekend in August we had a Ward Family Camp Out up at a church owned campground. Aspen Lakes campground is up near Heber just passed the girls camp. We were split into two sites that were a ways apart. They had such a good turnout that it was a little crowded but we had fun. We decided since we are not big into real camping (only Bear Lake camping) we would stop for dinner in Heber on the way up instead of taking food and trying to cook over the fire. We had a great dinner at the Dairy Keen where are children proceeded to eat nothing and Quinn and I were so full from picking at their meals. Good thing I packed snacks. The ward was providing breakfast the next morning so we were saved there.

Our cute kids sitting around the fire pit watching another family try to get their fire going so they could cook their dinner. I think their fire wood was bad because it took them about an hour to really get it going.

Cutest camper ever!

That night we all gathered together to watch a few groups do skits. Here is Jessica the narrator.

The Bishopric families doing their skit - the Adams Family.

A bunch of the primary kids did a skit but we were not really sure what they were doing but Emma had fun.

James - showing off his new jacket.

The ward.


A view of the lakes. It was so pretty and I saw a buck down in this lake getting a drink.



The kids were so good while we set up and packed up. Especially Mia and her friend Garrison. They spent a lot of time in these seats just waiting on us.


After breakfast it was time for some fun. Emma was brave enough to try the zip line but not jump out of it into the lake like the big kids.

This is one of my Young Women jumping.

Here is Emma!


Then I took Emma and James for a canoe ride on the lake and kept us all dry.


Thanks 7th ward - you are the best. Next year I"ll make sure to bring and air mattress and stays blown up and hopefully no one in the tent next to us will be sick and cough all night. 

Friday, August 22, 2014

Mia is 18 Months Old!

August 2nd Mia turned 18 months. I can't believe how fast time flies. I miss my baby because she is not a baby any more. She is just one of the kids trying to keep up with the others. She loves the play chase, hide and seek, peek-a-boo, and put on jewelry. Mia is going through a huge Mommy phase, she is very clingy and will just hold on to my legs without moving. It makes doing any housework a challenge. But I will take it because I love my girl and her hugs. Who could not love this face! It was a challenge to get pictures though. We walked in and I but her down, gave her the flower and the guy clicked these four pictures. 30 seconds later she realized what was going on and would not let go of me. We tried and tried to get a few more. I especially wanted one of her standing and holding the flower to match Emma at this age but she refused. I thought it would be fun to dress her the same and recreate just one of Emma's pictures and I loved this little dress. Oh, well kids are kids and these four pictures are cute. We love our Mia.






Here are the pictures of Emma at 18 months.
 

24th of July - Happy Pioneer Day

During July Emma and James both took classes at the park for City Recreation. Emma had a blast at Adventure Camp which she took last year as well. They have a theme for the day and play games and do crafts around that theme. James took the Balls of Fun class. Two years ago Emma took this class. She cried because I make her do and James cried because I wouldn't let him do it because he was too young. He was finally old enough and had fun.

This day was tennis.

Not sure the actual theme but Emma is wearing a sheriff badge and holding up her wanted poster.

Then we were joined by these lovely ladies and cute boys for Handcart Days at Bountiful Park. Everyone had fun except for James who was a pain and didn't want to do anything but the big slides and the fish pond. He was very whiny and wanted to go home. It was also very very hot.

The big blow up obstacle course and slides are always a favorite.

Owen and Emma on the swings.

The fish pond.

We tried to get Mia to go on the train ride but she is in a very clingy stage right now that she wouldn't go with out me. Owen and Emma had fun though.

Cute baby Dylan. Our first time seeing him.

The park had a new playground but we didn't want to waste our time at the park when that is there everyday and all the game and ride are not so the kids grabbed dinner and headed to the park one night to play. It was a nice stormy night and cooler. It was sprinkling when we got there and I had to drag them away when it started to pour.




Girls Camp July 2014

Well we have already heard how Quinn spent his week while I was at Girls Camp so here is what I was doing. We were very lucky to be assigned our turn at the Heber Valley Girls Camp site that was bought and set up just for the Young Women of the church to use. It is a beautiful camp up on the mountain above Heber. We headed out at 7:30 am on school buses praying that our bus would make the trip with no problems. Apparently last time their bus caught on fire and they had to all cram in another bus that was already full. We were also hoping to escape the 95+ heat but that didn't really happen. The first day it felt just as hot and the next few days it only cooled slightly. Even at night we only needed our jacket but in our cabin it was still very warm at night. We had 9 leaders and 22 girls. 

On the bus with the girls. (I am still trying to learn the art of the selfie.)

Arrive with no problems - unpacked and now painting our clothes pins to hang up our mess kits with.

Heading out on our hike straight up the mountain.

So beautiful but we are lost.
I hung back to walk with a girl in another ward who was struggling and had no leader with her. Then we were joined by a few others and got left behind the main group. At a fork in the path we had no idea which way to go. Eventually we made our way down after we found a four wheeler path.

My cabin - 11 beehives and 5 leaders in this cabin and no sleep!

The Challenges Course - this pole doesn't look that tall from the ground but when you are climbing it, it seems to go on for ever.

Then we had to go across the tight rope.

Then it was the zip line.

My job was to get help everyone get a harness on because having just done it a month before in Alaska I am now an expert. Not really, it really isn't that hard to do. It was fine helping the girls and other Young Women leaders but a bit awkward helping some the priesthood brethren. "Here Bishop Hunter, let me help you tighten those straps!"

Doing our one craft - making a heart shaped microwave corn bag.

We were also able to go canoeing on the lake. It was so beautiful. 

On our hike back from the lake we were able to see a doe with two fawns and a buck.

Every year the leaders do a skit for the girls. This year we attempted to the black and white dance (look up on You Tube to see examples) only our color was purple for integrity. I hope the girls enjoyed it but it was a bit embarrassing. We had hoped to just do it for the girls but ran out of time the day was planned and ended up doing much later and Bishopric and their wives were there for the testimony meeting that night.

Getting ready for the testimony meeting.

My first year back at girls camp since I was a girl was very fun. I got no know my girls so much better than what you see on Sundays and activity nights. They are amazing. It is so much fun to see them grow in their friendships and testimonies. Love my beehives next year could we please get a little more sleep though. Beehives like to talk and giggle all night. Our last night there they were up till 5 am. I think I got less sleep there then I do at home with three small kids. Ear plugs only work so well. At least next year we will be in leader tent away from the girls. LOVE GIRLS CAMP!


Friday, August 15, 2014

Happy 4th of July

We headed to our favorite camping spot at Bear Lake for the first trip of the year and had a great holiday weekend. Apparently we only took pictures at the beach though. We were very lucky to even get on the beach that day. We forgot what it is like on holiday weekends, especially when there is no beach on the west side. We were quite lazy and didn't leave for the beach until about 11:00 or 11:30 and then we waited in line and didn't find a spot until about 12:30. It was one of the very last spots clear over on the east side before you hit the reeds. We actually ended up on a private beach and had to pay their fee too. But we ended up having a great day the kids had fun.

Emma (not scared of the boat but just a few weeks later was for some reason).
 
She did ask to ride the tube again with me and rode it for all of 30 seconds screaming the entire time that she wanted to get back on land (not just back on the boat) so maybe that has something to do with it. It also didn't help that when Grandpa stopped to the boat the tube flooded and we fell off with me falling on top of her.




 
 

 
Mia loved the water just a bit too much. She is still unsteady in the waves and took a couple of spills because she refuses to hold your hand and stay in the really shallow area.


 
Emma and James had a great time having a water fight and were thrilled that Uncle Steve joined in to (or that he just stood there and took it).


 
So happy that she finally found a pool just her size and did some relaxing.