Happenings in July!

This last week my brother and family left. It was so fun  to have them in our home.  I adore their children.  It was hard to believe that I hadn't seen my brother and family for 5 YEARS!!!  Way too long.   I really admire their family and I felt so grateful they stuck around in Utah  for several weeks.  I am grateful that I had them staying in my home a lot of their trip!

Kara went to YASE camp last week at BYU!!  She had such a good time.  On Friday night we had the privilege of going and seeing their show. It was so well done. It is unbelievable that they put on a show that they started practicing for on Monday and did Friday night.  There was so much talent there-----SPECTACULAR!!!

We were not allowed to take pictures during the show because of copy right laws. 

Kara came home from camp early Saturday morning  only to head back to girls camp Monday morning.  On Sunday, the 14th we celebrated my birthday.  We had homemade ice cream and my favorite red velvet cake.  The kids helped make dinner and it was a fun day.   Kara left for girls camp early Monday morning. 

 Cleaning up after dinner and Kara and Spencer being silly!  I felt spoiled.  Thank you to everyone for the cards, gifts, flowers, phone calls and message! 

 

Girls Camp, August 3rd through 6th

Girl's Camp was held at the J.R. property past Fairview, UT.  We actually passed my sister in law Miriah, parents home on the way.   I worked with the 2nd years and they were so cute.  Unfortunately, for me, I didn't get to stay the whole time, but I sure loved the every minutes I was there.

Above is cute, Sierra, one of  my ward Beehives. I serve in  my ward as the 2nd Counselor in Young Women's.

The stake president trying to teach us a game that I can't remember the name to.

Kara enjoying the game.  The theme this year for camp was, "Anchored in Christ."  We had a theme song for it and everything.  It was the most organized camp I have every attended.  I have never seen a camp run that smoothly!!!!  WOW!

Be the Best You Camp July 19th-23rd, Thanksgiving Point!!

Kara went for her second year of Be the Best you camp!!.  THis is a camp that is run by Barbara Barrington Jones.  It is a camp that is devoted to service.  They do all kinds of activities that are service oriented. They also have incredible speakers that come to bless their lives.

Before the dance.  Kara's cousin Mikayla who was also at the camp came and helped with her hair. Last year Mikayla and Kara shared a room, but this year because Kara was in the 14-15 year old group they couldn't be in the same group because Mikayla was in the 12-13 year old group!

Kara was placed in this group with other 14-15 year old girls and they had one adorable counselor too.

They had one of their activities be about working with some of the elderly. 

This was the first day of camp.  This is one of the leaders who works with the girls, who they obviously adored!

Posing for another picture with their group.

Each group brought the material to make a blanket for a child in need.

They each had a child they worked with for a day.  They read them a story with a book they bought to give to their child.  Then they took them through some fun places that are on Thanksgiving point.

On the last day of camp, parents came up to view a slide show about what their daughters had done during the week, hear some of the youth speak and  watch a modest is hottest fashion show.   My niece Mikayla was one of the ones who modeled a modest dress!

Kara with girls at BBY.  Her cousin, Mikayla, is directly above her!

Camping with friends

This summer  some of my girlfriends and their families all went camping together up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  It was so much fun.  Kara brought two of her friends, Rachel and Eliza. Everyone had a wonderful time and there was yummy food!!!!!  In the above picture we are playing games.  I am the one in the pink shirt on your right.

There were some beautiful scenery!!!  It was gorgeous up there.

Kara, me and Eliza and Rachel.  Some of us are much better at making silly faces!

Makinzee, Camille and Kami on bottom from left to right and Ann and Rachel.  Some of us had already left when they took this picture!

Some of my friends cute kiddos.  And Kara has baby sat everyone of them!!!

Colton's Week long to White Pine Trail Head August 3rd to August 9th

(I am sooooooooo behind) This week long happened on August 3rd through 9th 2009! Colton went on a scout week long backpacking trip with his varsity scout troop. It was a very memorable week and one he won't forget for the rest of his life! Seriously and neither will his mom! Here are just a few pictures from it. During this very eventful week they ran out of water, their trail ended after only going 4 miles, and they climbed over great boulders. And I was only worried they might see some bears or mountain lions?! But Colton says it was the most spiritual week of his life. He came home 36 hours late, but we were just so grateful that he was home! And boy did they have a lot of stories to tell!

Girls Camp July 20th-July 24th

Kara got to go to her first week of girls camp this summer at Heber Valley girls camp. There wasn't much roughing it though because they had cabins with showers, ice machines, and all the luxuries you could ask for. There was a lake there that they got to go canoeing on and they worked on certification each day. She got to know the girls better that were in our ward and in our stake. I had told her a little bit of what to expect when you go to girls camp and one of the first thing she said to me when I picked her up was, "The girl camp you talked about was nothing like the girls camp I went to. We did no roughing it at all." She came home exhausted and slept that night for 16 hours. I was so grateful for the camp leaders that gave up the whole week to spend time with the girls and planned all of the activities. They did an amazing job! Thank you so much.

Pictures from the last couple of weeks!

Colton has been very busy working at cub scout day camp six days a week. He leaves at 6:30 am (we are in a great car pool with a total of six scouts) every morning and gets home around
4:00 pm each afternoon. He likes working with the 8 and 9 year old cub scouts. The only problem is that it has been having thunder storms, but he is such a trooper. The picture above is one of him drenched and how I have found him the afternoons I pick him up and lets not forget the mud too.
Memorial Day Weekend Camping Trip--Kara and Matt posing for a picture. And it was raining a little bit too, but the smores were yummy.
6th Grade Party Celebration Party that was loads of fun! After wards the teacher and students gave us a wonderful program. I have really enjoyed working with Mrs. Robison this year. She was an amazing teacher.
After the program we took pictures. What cute 6th graders!

Matt cooking hot dogs and hamburgers with a grill that didn't want to cooperate.
A funeral/graveside service for my former stake president in my youth President Charles Terry Graff. He had nine children 8 boys and 1 daughter. One of my good friends, J'aime Jones Graff married one of the brothers. I was the same age as one of his children. I love his wife Virginia and they are a remarkable family. What a sad day for his children and wife.
Kara performing at the the School Talent Show singing, "Freckles." She did amazing.
The back drop from the Draper temple Celebration. In the final number the Draper Temple comes out of the Mountain at the very top.
Kara in her costume with other girls from our stake in their costumes. Pretty cool.
At home before we left posing in her costume. Lindsay and Spencer off to the left getting ready to go to her performance too.
A blurry picture of Kara in her student council dance performance at the School Talent Show.
Kara on the last day of school. I think in this picture Kara and Coby kind of look like each other. Coby kind of makes that look too.
These pictures are totally out of order. This is Colton before the Draper Temple Celebration. The youth in the Choir were to wear a black tie, and black pants and wear a long shirt (he had to change, but we didn't have time once he did).
Edgemont Elementary mascot the eagle and Miss Brinton one of our favorite teachers at the school. Pretty fitting for the last day of school.
Colton's birthday cake. He wanted a baseball or soccer ball cake. So here was my best attempt.


All he wanted was money for his birthday and he is planning on saving it for something big and for college. We are glad we have Colton in our family.