Girls Camp

I got to go to girl's camp again this year.  I really love girl's camp.  This was my 5th one as an adult, and I think it was the best ever.  I went as the stake medical specialist.  Basically I took care of anyone who felt sick or got hurt.  Before camp I had to put together a first aid kit and go through all of the permission slips to see what medical needs we had.  And that's it.  No planning food, a theme, activities...none of that.  I basically got to show up and make myself available to the girls with no pressure about anything else.  It was pretty awesome.  I even got to be with Kate for her first year of girl's camp.  Although I really didn't see her tons because I was with the stake and she was with our ward.  But it was still good to be up there with her.

We went to the big Heber Valley Camp, which is really convenient when you live in Midway.  Except that it didn't matter how convenient it was because I had to stay up there the whole time.  Jake had to hold the fort down.  Sage felt very lonely and was definitely happy to see me.  Poor Jake had a superintendent quit the morning I left, which made even more stress for him to deal with while I was gone.  I have to admit that I felt kind of bad basically being on vacation for a week while Jake was dying.  Not the best timing in the world.  Gratefully, we all survived.

As far as medical stuff goes, I ended up doing hardly anything. There were a couple of minor burns, some meds to give, bug bites, girls who felt sick, and that's about it.  So yes, a vacation.  I got fed way better than I ever eat at home, and it was pretty awesome not having to cook any meals.  I really did work though.  I jumped in and helped with all of the stake activities, met with the stake ladies about what was going on, helped prep and clean up meals, and anything else that needed done.  But it was nice to not worry so much if it was all running perfectly, if the girls were having fun, or if they were even getting along.  I managed to go on a hike every day.  You're not supposed to ever be by yourself, but I may have gone on my own twice.  But I didn't even get in trouble, so it's all ok.  The trails up there are so beautiful.  I wish I could hike up there every day.  Anyway, best calling ever in case you ever get asked.  It was a pretty great week (just don't ask Jake about it).

Kate climbing up the rope ladder on the challenge course

Kate on the bridge

Beautiful view from one of my hikes

Some of the girls

Gathering in the amphitheater

I just love the pictures in the background

Bonnie Cordon, the general yw president, made a surprise visit and spoke to us.  She stayed to recite The Living Christ with us.  Pretty cool.

May Happenings

May had a lot going on, as usual.  We finally got outside a bit (not as much as we wanted due to rain and cold), we had end of the year school things, we finished school, and just all kinds of fun.  As usual, I'll let the pictures tell the story.

How can Zack be so old? 

There is lots of mountain biking going on here.  More on that later.

Kate finished her first musical, "Music Man!"  Family came up to see it

First hike of the season!

Jake let Sage do his hair.

Watermelon season!

Another hike where it's finally green.

Not sure why I took these, but they make me laugh.

Jake put new bumpers on the Jeep.  I would never notice the difference.  A bumper is a bumper.  But apparently these bumpers are much better.

Zack driving.  Terrifying but soon to be a reality.

Chester ate my Birkenstock.  I still haven't forgiven him.

Jake got a fancy new mountain bike.  Now there's even less chance of me keeping up with him.

These are my last day of school pictures.  

We actually had a fun 'last day of school' this year and went swimming at Red Ledges.  The girls both took friends so they entertained themselves and I was able to read a book by the pool.  Heaven.  Zack didn't go because there were, "too many girls"

Sage has decided she loves rolling down hills

Girls On The Run

Sage got to participate in this great program called Girls On The Run.  She came home begging to do it, and I'm so glad she did.  It was so great!  A group of girls from her school would meet once a week for like three months to train for a 5k.  They did lots of running, but they also talked a lot about self-esteem and how to support each other.  The final event was a 5k yesterday at Sugarhouse Park.  Schools all over the state have this program, and they all came together yesterday for a 5k.  Every girl had a running buddy for the race.  I got to run with Sage.  We had so much fun and she did a great job!  She got her best time ever and finished in just under 27 minutes!  It was so great to see so many girls having so much fun and supporting each other.  Such a great program!  Hopefully we can do it next year too!

Sage and her BFF Kami

Towards the end.  She was getting tired.  And the people walking are people she lapped!

Finished!

It was freezing when we got there, but ended up being perfect weather for the race.

Jazz Dancers

Our good friends Angie and Kami

Kansas City

Jake had his builder 20 meetings in Kansas City, Missouri this time and I got to tag along.  I have to admit that I really like going to these meetings.  I get to see parts of the country that I would never go to otherwise, and while Jake is in his meetings I get to do whatever I want.  It's pretty amazing.

We flew in Wednesday evening, after barely making our flight.  I really don't like flying with Jake.  He always cuts it sooo close.  Super stressful.  Anyway, we drove right to dinner from the airport.  We ate yummy bbq food and then this place had tons of pickle ball courts, so we got to play for a couple of hours.  I love pickle ball.  It was a lot of fun, and such nice weather!  I'm trying to talk Jake into putting a pickle ball court on our lot.  He's not so excited about the idea.

While Jake was in meetings Thursday, I got to drive around and see some church history sites.  This was definitely a win-win.  I'm not one who's ever going to plan a trip just to see church history, and Jake really doesn't ever want to do that, but since I was right there with time to kill I got to go!  I went to Independence first.  Pretty cool.  It was just me and two sister missionaries.  Slightly awkward.  But as I was leaving two buses full of people pulled up, so I was happy to have the awkwardness.  From there I went to Liberty Jail.  That was really cool.  So small.  Strong spirit for sure.  After that I took an unplanned detour to some cemeteries.  Not something I usually do, but why not?  I saw David Whitmer's grave and Oliver Cowdery's, plus a cool memorial for the three witnesses.  And then I headed to Adam-ondi-Ahman.  That was probably my favorite.  So quiet and beautiful.  There was such a good spirit there.  I'm glad I got to go!

Friday I went fake shopping for a couple of hours (I don't really shop, didn't buy anything because it was all so expensive).  Then I hung out and did nothing for a couple of hours.  Which felt sooo good.  Most people left Saturday, but we stayed an extra day.  Of course it was pouring rain, but we still had fun.  We ended up hanging out with another couple from his group.  We went to this hole in the wall bbq place.  Delicious and excellent people watching.  Then we went to the WWI memorial.  I knew nothing about that war before I went, so I learned a lot.  That night the weather cleared up enough that we were able to go to a soccer game.  That was a lot of fun.  Maybe I should go to a Real game some day!

Anyway, that about sums it up.  I don't know why, but it was such a great trip.  Like one of my favorites ever.  I think what that means is I really needed a break.  It was wonderful.  Now I'm back home to the craziness of May.  Heaven help us all!

Pickle Ball!

Crazy temple right next to the visitor center

The land the church owns in Independence

Liberty Jail

Adam-ondi-Ahman

The view from the roof of our hotel

Fake shopping

Awesome diner I went to.  The guy in the picture was talking to me.  And then quickly left after he found out I'm LDS.  

Biscuits and gravy! (no I didn't eat all of that)

French tank that we have for some reason

Soccer!

Visiting the office of the host for these meetings.  This was the whole group.