Girls Camp

One of the lovely joys of being in Young Women is Girls Camp.  To be honest with you, I was not really excited, but once I got to camp, I had a blast.  We have great girls and leaders, and our camp leaders were amazing!  They did everything, and the rest of us just enjoyed.  We went up to the Yates family cabin somewhere in the middle of I don't know where.  It was the perfect mix of roughing it and being comfortable. 

We did have a couple of "highlights" during the week.  Anj and I volunteered to go on the "overnighter" with the 4th years--or 3rd?  I don't even remember.  Anyway, we went up to the "bunkhouse" to sleep.  It was quite a night.  We didn't really "hike" or sleep out, but we did get the required night of no sleep as the bunkhouse is on the edge of a cliff at the top of the mountain, and the wind howled and one of the girls got sick and threw up off the cliff in the middle of the night.  We were just grateful she didn't go off the cliff in the pitch black.  The funny thing was the girls sleeping in the wind and rain on the porch didn't even hear her! 

 This mule was our method of "hiking."  Much more enjoyable!

 The wood you can see here in the end of the porch of the bunkhouse.  I'm not exaggerating when I say it was on the edge of a cliff.

 Looking down off the porch.

The second "highlight" of the trip was the ride out.  I am pretty sure I haven't been so scared in a really long time.  All the roads out from the cabin are rough dirt roads.  It rained almost 24 hours straight before we were supposed to leave.  We even debated waiting until the next day, but the Yates decided we would "probably" make it--"probably" was really reassuring.  We had to leave the YW president's van there because there was not way it was going to make it.  The rest of the vehicles were all 4-wheel drive.  If you think snow driving is bad, you should try mud roads that are narrow and border nice huge drop-offs.  I was grateful to see the pavement, but if you take a look at this pic, I had to open the door to see anything.  Mud, mud, mud everywhere!!!

And Anna's Show

The ballet show this year was Mary Poppins.  Anna was in the laughing scene when the kids visit the old man and the table floats up.  Her dance was to "I Love to Laugh."  So cute!

 In front of Kingbury Hall at the dress rehearsal

 Practicing

 Grandma and Grandpa couldn't come to the show, so they sat through a very long wait at the dress rehearsal to see Anna dance.  Thank you!

 Aunt Steph couldn't come to the show either, and Anna was very worried about who might bring her flowers.  Looks like Mom and Dad pulled through this year (never mind we give her flowers every year--Aunt Steph's are apparently more memorable!)

Proud parents

Thys at the Cowboy Show

Becky never ceases to amaze us.  This year the kids learned all the traditional western and cowboy songs, then, of course, they had a show.  Thys was soooo excited.  He knew every word of every song and sang his little heart out.  Ohh, I am in love with this little boy!!!  That face!

 Thys and his best buddies.  These three little boys are so cute together, and they love each other.  When T gets to Becky's, the one already there screams his name and gives him a great big hug almost every day. 

 The entrance--they tongue means pure excitement!

 Look at that face!

Singing away!

All the Other Stuff Going On

One of the "girls" from the good old single days got married!  I am so happy for her.  We had a splendid time at the wedding with all our great friends!  We love them all. 

The girls

 Lynley and Todd

 Sophie was hilarious at the reception.  For some unknown reason, I had a velcro roller in my purse.  She thought it was a lovely addition to her hairdo, so she wore it throughout the reception.  I tried to sneak it out of her hair, but she caught me every time and DEMANDED (that means loudly) that I put it back where she wanted it. 

 We promised Lyn we would dance--you can see not many others made that promise.

Sophie is a girl who loves her sunglasses.  She wears them all the time, and when they aren't on her face, they are on her head just like a grown-up.  This kid does not miss much. 

Our zoo pass expired at the end of June, so we spent a lot of time at the zoo in June.  The first day I was out of school, Thys, Sophie, and I went to the zoo.  Anna was still in school, and she and I had just gone with her class to the zoo, so she was okay if we went without her.  They have these really awesome dinosaurs at the zoo right now that growl and move and look pretty authentic, I think.  Thys loved them, but Sophie had other thoughts about big, growling dinosaurs.  She would cover her eyes and curl up in a ball every time we stopped at one.  

 T obviously had no problem with the dinos!

 That big one in the pic above was too much for Soph.  Covering her eyes just wouldn't cut it when we were by that dino. 

 Oh, this kid.  He is so cute.  He carried his bear, again, in the baby doll backpack all around the zoo.  It's the only time he does this.  I guess his animal has to come too. . .

 The latest entertainment. . . .bubble baths. 

Anna's 7th Birthday

I've adopted my neighbor's policy of a birthday party every other year, so this year was Anna's "Family Party."  For her birthday we went swimming on Saturday (her birthday was on Monday), had a party at Grandma and Grandpa's on Sunday with all the cousins, and on Monday after Thys's program, we went to the Mayan and then had birthday cake that Anna designed and decorated herself (mostly).  She was dying for an American Girl doll, and that is what she got.  Her name is Jane, and she sleeps next to Anna every night. 

 Thanks, Mimi and Bupa, for the fun package!

 The traditional pinata

 THE doll!

 A cool pair of shades is a necessity at 7!

 The Mayan--I think everyone is ignoring me and watching the divers; except Mel, or course, who knows better!

 The self-designed birthday cake.

We love our Annie!  She is bright, independent, determined, and compassionate.  She is a wonderful big sister. Thys and Sophie adore her (and we do too, of course).  They want to do everything she does, and she mostly lets them.  She is fiercely protective of her brother and sister and takes great care of them.    At school she does her best, which turns out is really great!  She has taken off in her reading abilities this year and can tell time, read the calendar, add, subtract, do simple fractions. . .she had a great teacher this year.   She loves to play outside on her bikes and this year, her rollerblades.  She has picked up blading quite nicely. We love our Annie and are so thankful she is part of the family!

What We Did When it Finally Warmed Up

 This picture was taken on April 30.  Nice spring Saturday, right?

This was the next Saturday.  Finally a nice warm day.  The kids had too much fun outside first thing in the morning. 

 We went to Thanksgiving Point to see the tulips  We had to wait until May because it was so cold in April the tulips didn't want to come out.  It was still a little chilly, but at least the snow was gone!  Beautiful gardens!  The kids loved the waterfalls and running around, and we all loved the flowers!

And I have tried to include videos before, but I could never do it without taking a lot of time to figure it out.  Apparently blogger figured it out for me.

Easter

Spring break ended with Easter and Easter egg hunts at Opa Ray's and Grandma and Grandpa Jorgensen's.  Lots of fun--and still cold! 

 Coloring Easter eggs

Opa Ray and Oma Ray's Easter egg hunt

Anna and Easter basket

Thys's Easter basket.  Lest you think our Easter bunny is over-indulgent, the bunny brought T a Leapster to bring peace and quiet to the house because he loved to play Anna's, but Anna didn't love to let him.  Now we have two in the family.

 

And Sophie with her chocolate bunny.

All dressed up in Easter clothes

Sophie wasn't really in the mood for a nice picture--actually she hasn't really been in a nice mood for a picture for a long time.  Someday. . . .

The little grandkids ready for the hunt at Grandma and Grandpa's.