Poppies

I love that these poppies just grow all over the place on the way in to Mantua Lake, our new found place to hang out.....canoe, kayak and swim. For me, just sit in one place and rest.

National Youth Leadership Training

Kaleb has matured so much this past year. Back in January, I was somewhat surprised that Kaleb told me that he wanted to attend NYLT, National Youth Leadership Training this summer. The boy who became very emotional about six years ago when we left on a three week vacation saying that we needed to turn around and go home on day two.

He attended NYLT on his own and learned lots about what it means to be a leader and how to lead others. I am really proud of him.
The camp was in Morgan, UT at a private camp. It was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately it rained the first two days they were there but fortunately I have a son who packs the kitchen sink. So he had all his rain gear with him including a waterproof tent.

Kaleb is a true boy scout, always prepared and there to lend a helping hand.

He received an award for his willingness to help out when needed and without being asked to do so.

Yep, that's my Kaleb.

Dependable.

Loyal.

Trustworthy

Responsible..

Well Loved.

Ogden Nature Center

Ogden Nature Center has been on our summer bucket list for two summers. We finally decided to go and it turned out to be a free day. Can't beat that.

It was a gorgeous day, still a little crisp with June weather.

 The trails leading around the entire grounds was a perfect walk. They housed many birds of prey. All with a story. Most of them have been injured and could not be returned into the wild so they keep them.

 I could have sat alone in this field of prairie grass. I would have loved to just walk out into the niddle and crouch down so that no one could see me and just sit. Our lives have been so busy I probably would have cried if I had, but I kept it together and thanked God for the wonderful husband and children that I have and embrace the business of our lives.

Star Academy Camp Out

After being gone almost an entire month in Arizona it was hard to pull ourselves together to make it to our co-op campout. I am so glad that we did. We barely got our tent and sleeping bags together, brought broken chairs, and had our potluck salad, smores makings and bagels for the next morning. I felt like we were minimalists.

One of the moms came up with this awesome idea and arranged for it to take place at Guinevah camp ground. The drama class put on their productions in the amplitheater. Jared was part of the group that wrote the plays. They took fairy tales and twisted them. Jared played prince charming (which is so unlike Jared to do so). Kirk and I kept nudging eachother because we were shocked at how he was performing. He was so funny and played the part well. Kaleb thought it would be funny to play a guy fairy. At first I was like....WHAT are you doing? But after seeing how he played the part, he had everyone laughing until we had tears in our eyes. I know he can be funny but this was hysterical. And he didn't even care that everyone was watching him.

One of the groups wrote a play that had Walt Disney when he was young and older, so Jared and Kaleb played those parts since they are brothers and atleast resemble eachother. Where they found plaid pants for Jared to wear was beyond me. And they were tall size too. Once again, Kaleb was hysterical. We have always said that he should be in drama but he would always deny his ability.

It was a wonderful evening. I am so happy that I pulled myself together because

 it was so much fun to visit around the campfire with all our friends.

It was a perfect way to top off the school year.

Swimming Buddies

I loved listening to the giggling and laughter that took place with these two. It cracked me up what they would laugh over. Just having fun like they just saw eachother the other day. Oh yeah, they did see eachother the other day!

Crazy Cousins

Kyle and Kaleb got the crazy idea to do this!

Everything came out okay......

It still worried me a little.

BFF's

These two haven't seen eachother in two years and they picked up where they left off.

Kelly and I did the same. It was great.

As soon as we knew for sure when we were going to be in Arizona, Victoria started making plans to sleep over, whether Kelly wanted her there or not. But that's okay, they are like family so that would make Victoria and Hannah cousins.

That works for me!

Hannah's bird, Joey, is a talker. I didn't know parakeets could whistle and talk. If I remember right, he says hello, I love you and more. Very impressive.