This is the place - Aug. 13, 2009

August is always crazy getting ready for school. We took a day off before school started and went to This is the Place. Shelly didn't get to go with us last year and so we made sure to plan it so she could go this year. We only got to go for about 4 hours again this year. You really need a full day to do it all. We didn't get to do everything, but we tried some new things this year. We love to go there and even though we went last year the kid still loved it. It is a place that we could go every year!

Aaron & Jeanette's Wedding

On Aug. 11 our nephew Aaron married Jeanette in the Salt Lake temple. It was such a beautiful ceremony and a great reminder of the covenants that we make with each other in the temple. We are so excited for them. They are a cute couple.

Family Support

While I was gone at girl's camp our awesome family helped to take care of the kids. Grandma Gerry, Shelly, Nathan, and Grandma Linda helped Mark out with the kids while he was at work and while he was sleeping. Jacob always loves having sleepovers at "Shelly's house." They happened to be repaving the road and Jacob loved watching the trucks! Shelly took the kids to the BYU Museum of art for the Walter Wick display that was awesome. I am sad that I missed it. Shelly also took the kids for us on Aug. 11 when we went to Aaron & Jeanette's wedding. She took them swimming and then we meet up with them on the way home from Salt Lake at Thanksgiving Point at the Dinosaur Museum. We love all of our family and all of the help that they give to us!

Families are Forever

On Aug. 1, the day I came home from girls camp we got to go see Brandon, Christie and Addie as they were sealed in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. What a neat experience! We were so glad to be there and share in their special day.

Girls Camp - July 28 - Aug. 1

I went to girls camp this summer. Our stake camps by levels instead of by wards. I was the camp director over 25 1st year campers and I also had some stake responsibilities as well. It was so much work! I didn't really have an assistant or other helpers before camp, so I was exhausted. I didn't want to cook for a long time after camp. The girls did have a great experience. I did enjoy parts of camp, but there were part that just exhausted me. It was kind of a struggle for me this year. I have always loved being a leader at girls camp. I have been a camp leader for over 15 years. This year was different though, I was so busy working the entire time, I didn't really get to bond with the girls or have time to enjoy the experience. It was also different being a leader over girls you don't even know. I have a lot more responsibilities as a wife and mother now that I had to leave at home, which was difficult. Camp fell on a week that the big kids were at our house, so I didn't get to see them pretty much for three weeks. After camp I came home and thought that this year might have been my last year for a little while, which makes me kind of sad because I do love girls camp. It was just kind of hard. The flowers and the camp were beautiful though.

Cub Scouts

Joe is finally a cub scout! We bought his uniform over a year ago we were so excited. Joe earned his Bobcat award and his fishing belt loop on July 21. Doesn't he look cute in a uniform.

Granite Flats - July 19 -21

We went camping with Brandon, Christie and Addie up at Granite Flats campground in American Fork. I love American Fork canyon! I spent a lot of time there camping as a child with my family. It was always a favorite spot. We took Shelly's trailer and had a fun time up there. We went fishing at Silver Lake Flats. Jacob and Addie had a great time playing in the water, fishing, riding the wiggle cars and playing together.