Week #26: Skippy Jon Jones Goes to Girls Camp

This week...

...I went to Girls Camp! It was awesome! I was a co-tent mom over the first years. Loved it! I was over hikes - Awesome! I was also over activities - So Great! I am so glad that I got to go and be part of camp. I was constantly amazed by all of the work that went into pre camp preparation and the actually execution of everything once we got to Teancum Timbers. 

I took Skippy Jon Jones with me to camp and he was a big hit, even with his beeg eers. He rode in the center cup holder up to camp. My companions for the trip, Nicole Z. and Natalie M., thought it was hilarious to see him there with his great big eyes staring back at them.

Skippy Jon Jones also accompanied me to the bathrooms as I dried out my coat with the blow drier. We battled a down pour the whole way up to camp. It let up a little as we arrived at the site and set things up. As my co-hiker and I went out to scout the first year hike, the heavens unleashed their wrath and poured buckets and buckets of rain down upon us. We were drenched and soaked through. Luckily, I was able to borrow some shoes from another camp sister and my feet were no longer soggy. I laid my coat out to dry, but needed to help the process along so I could use it again.

Here's our unit - 2nd Row: Sydney, Mckayla, Bailey, 1st Row: Shaya, Aubrey, YCL Riley, YCL Natalie, Katie, Shelby, and Carli.

Skippy went with us to the meadow. Mckayla and Katlin took good care of him.

Here we are gathering in the meadow. My new friend Bethany Andros is setting up her red lawn chair. She was awesome! She reminded me of these really cool YCLs that were at camp when I went to camp as a beehive.

Bonnie gave us all these cool headbands with springy ponytails. Mckayla is hugging Aubrey in her banana suit. That was one of the props for the skits in a bag.

I was co tent mom with Bonnie Calaway. She was awesome! She was so great with the girls and she had so much energy. It was great to be silly with her. She gave the girls a General Conference challenge to read as many talks as they thought they could while at camp. There were several girls that met their goal. Very cool!

We took the first years on a hike around camp. We led them through grass, down trails, and along the creek. My co-hiker, Katie Orton, is leading the girls.

We took the first years up to the amphitheater. What a silly bunch!

They roped off the bridge because a bear had been sited on that side of the stream. We were able to go over there because we were in a group.

Beatrice and Egla being chic on the slip n slide.

Skippy even got to try out the slip n slide. Thanks to Shaya, Carli, Aubrey, and Sydney.

We took the 2nd years on a five mile hike starting at a trail head. It was a good arduous climb. No rain on this day, just hot, hot sun. We took the third years on this same hike, but it rained on us the whole time.

Second years group shot.

 Skippy sat and did a craft with Jenna Hale - brown paper bag journals.

Here's the stake camp leaders. They were great. My word, they put a lot of work into camp. Sister Black, Sister Elison, Sister McCullough, Sister Spurgeon.

The cooks! They were hilarious! Not only did they prepare amazing food, but they made us all laugh. And then they gave us an encore every time.

These are some of my girls after the ward testimony meeting. Mya, Savanah, Miriam, Kaitlin, Nicole, and Livi. What a great time we had eating smores and hanging together.

**The first day was fun to get to know the other women from the stake staff. My friend, Shelly Norman, would instigate introductions by saying "Ask her about her honeymoon" or "Ask this one about how they met." She liked to also start one about me by saying, "Ask her about serving her mission with her husband" or some other silly thing. 

Camp was not complete without skits in a bag, role call, or ditties. Ditties were new to me...and we had to have one for every night at the meadow. Yikes! You take a song that you know and change the lyrics. We took Jesus wants me for a sunbeam and changed it to "We prayed today for a sunbeam to come to camp to stay" because we got so much rain. Then we took the Bridget Mendler song, Ready or Not, and changed it to a song about Bonnie and Skippy Jon Jones. We did an excellent job on our skit - we were loud, faced the audience, and kept it focused. The Bishops even did a skit when they came up for the testimony night. It was hilarious!

The Bishops performing their skit - Johnny don't do it! Johnny is the one with his hand raised and he went through several temptations - to take money from his mom's purse, take his dad's truck, try chewing tobacco, sneak looks at an inappropriately dressed cheerleader, and to get a tattoo. We had to yell Johnny don't do it! so that he would stay strong. 
L-R:Bishop Pierce (2nd Ward - our Ward), Bishop Levinson (6th Ward), Bishop Calaway (Snake River Ward), Bishop Spurgeon (8th Ward), Bishop Salsbury (4th Ward), Branch President Fielding (Spanish 5th Branch), Bishop Elison (3rd Ward)

Terri Moon taught us a camp call that was really fun. There are two parts. One person calls out the first part and when you hear them you echo back with the second part. Part 1: Hi Lo Mini Mini Kah Kah Oh Cha Cha ee Wah Wah  Part 2: Fungi Mungi Chica Lie Oh Hexum Minica Onica Zonica Oopty Aly oo Who. By the end of camp, I had it down. But by then, we were packed up in cars and heading home.

Sister Moon and her first year helpers. She taught us the call on our hike.

The cooks put on a luncheon for the tent moms - it was delicious and a nice break. We did Singing in the Trees in the amphitheater. We were saved by the Calaway hay tarps that they so generously let us use to keep the rain from soaking us out at the pavilion. 

The YCL's put on the ten virgins play for everyone one night after dark. They had two doors on stage, one lit up white and one in shadows black. Two modern day girls talked over a different situations and visitors from the parable past came through the doors to persuade the girls to make good their invitation and attend the marriage feast. But to no avail, one girl chose wisely and one chose foolishly. The foolish five did come back through the door once they realized what they had done. They banged and pleaded at the door all lit up bright - "Let us in!" They cried. But it was too late, they could not enter. It was a very powerful production. Once it was complete, everyone in the audience was able to go through the doors and travel to the marriage feast. They served mini cupcakes and handed out lamp necklaces for us to remember to be prepared.

Rockin' out on the way home.

Livi Palomino, Nicole Zavala, Savannah Flores, Egla Gonzalez, Beatrice (hiding), McKenna Carver (making the heart), Stephanie Valdez, Natalie Marley.

Camp changes you - none of us will ever be the same.

Week #25: Summer is Slip Sliding Away

This week...

...we did some slipping and sliding. I borrowed this nice, big piece of plastic from my brother so I could take it up to girl's camp next week for a slip-n-slide option. It came from the farm and was in need of a good cleaning. So we unfolded it and started spraying it down. The kids thought it would be fun to try it out. Of course! You can't have plastic this big and not let them have a turn. (Plus, they cleaned the plastic faster than I could have as they slid up and down.) We thought we were having a lot of fun, until it started to rain. And then it started to pour. I was already getting wet and I needed to finish it off, so we stayed out in the rain. It was definitely unexpected. It was definitely fun.

Week #24: Craft Camp 2013

This week...

...we attended Emma's first piano recital. She started taking lessons from Calleen Hall in our ward in January. Her progress and skill has been amazing! I'm grateful for our Craigslist piano and our wonderful teacher too.

Emma's become a big fan of the side messy bun. She's been doing her own hair and actually asking me for help. This is the longest she's ever had her hair. And yes, the boys were having a hard time sitting still by each other. We had to do the whole divide and conquer to make it through the evening.

 The performer

Lainey was a hard one to keep still. She was up with dad, then back with me, then asleep finally with Grandma Erickson.

Our friend Shelly Norman came to the recital and brought Emma this bouquet of daisies. She felt special getting flowers.

...Emma went to craft camp with Danyelle Mathews (from Dandee) over at the Yellow House. It is such a treat to send Emma there to explore her creativity. Danyelle is so great to think up projects and help the girls do it themselves, lending a guiding hand. This year Emma made the following...

1. Small stamps with note cards 2. A green forest 3. Geometric cube necklace 4. Story Stones 5. Paper Poppy Flowers

The Story Stones were a lot of fun to do together. We each took turns pulling a stone out of the bag and adding on to a story. We were laughing at each twist the story took. Emma even showed her cousin how to make some with markers and rocks - very cool.

...Paul dumped the sugar. The kids have caught on that I like to take pictures of the moments when things don't go so well. My worry is that they might be getting to the point where they're thinking up spills for photo thrills. Not my intention or desire whatsoever! I have found that taking a picture takes the anger out of the situation, and that's what I need every time. Paul just simply couldn't hold the sugar and it ended up on the floor.

...the kids played outside in the sprinklers. The neighbor's sprinklers. Our neighbor two houses down had a blown sprinkler and my kids thought they would take advantage of it. And I couldn't stand by and watch and still be a good parent without my camera. I did go and knock on the door to alert the neighbor that we were there. He said "No problem! That's why I haven't fixed it yet." Well, my kids had so much fun jumping through the spray. What a great neighbor. :)

Here's Claire, Ben, and Paul with neighbor kids Wyatt and Madison, and one more (not sure of his name).

...Jason and I did some vinyl decals at a local Elementary school. This was a lot of fun to do. Jason is amazing when it comes to matching seem lines, overlapping, and applying. I was so glad he was there to help me not mess this one up. :) As always, the vinyl looked so great on the wall and the secretaries loved it.

...we made bread. Ok, correction. My mom made bread. She came for a visit and what started out as a tutorial in bread making turned into a single handed production by my mom. I'm working up to making it on my own. This is the recipe from my friend's mom, Vicki, that calls for LOTS of flour. Just don't get cocky while adding it and the dough will turn out every time.

These are my new bread pans. We had to go buy some because I had all of two in my house. Not enough when you're making a batch of bread.

We had to add butter on the top. I remember my mom doing this as I was growing up whenever she would make bread. She asked me if I didn't want her to this time. I didn't know that was an option.

Cinnamon swirl bread-When my friend Heidi came to visit me here in our new house, she brought a loaf of cinnamon swirl bread from her mom Vicki. It was such a thoughtful gesture and the bread was heavenly. We tried to make our own this time. It didn't turn out too bad and I'm excited to try it again. And I'll think of you,Vicki, every time.

Week #23: Winding down & School is Out!

This week...

...I watched Emma and Paul walk out to the bus stop for one of the last times this year. I love watching them walk out across the street and up the path through the park. I love watching them walk together, being friendly and loyal, relying on each other to make it on the right bus at the right time.

...I volunteered at Emma's Jelly Bean Field day at her school. It runs just like a normal field day only they get a jelly bean for every event they complete. It only amounts to like 30 jelly beans, but I think the kids have a good time. I was at the tee ball station for the 3-5th graders, but I forgot to snap a picture of Emma when she came through.

 Hhmm. She swung. The ball stayed on the tee. She tried again.

Emma with one of her teachers, Mrs. Bunger. I did not get end of year pics with Mrs. Mathews or of Paul with his two teachers. So bad. 

...I made an excellant rhubarb apple crisp. Only I was so excited to try it and then so compelled to eat it once I did, that I forgot to take a picture of the finished crisp. My Sister-in-law, Julie Marie, found the recipe on tasteofhome.com and she shared it with me. It turned out so delicious!  I'll share the recipe with you though and you can try it for yourself. It tastes best warm with a little scoop of ice cream. Yum!

It called for rhubarb and apples, but I threw in some strawberries too because I had some. Delish!

Rhubarb Apple Crisp

3/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

3 cups sliced fresh rhubarb or frozen rhubarb, thawed

2 cups sliced peeled apples or sliced strawberries

1 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a large bowl, combine sugar and cornstarch. Add rhubarb and apples or strawberries; toss to coat. Spoon into an 8-in. square baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, butter, flour and cinnamon until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over fruit. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until bubbly and fruit is tender. Serve warm with ice cream if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

 

...school got out for the summer! We are so pumped for summer break. We stayed up late on Friday and made our summer fun list on Saturday morning. We are officially ready. They wrote all the activities themselves. Ben and Lainey drew pictures at the top.

...Lainey put together a surprising summer outfit...

...I found a Holy Place. This year's theme for the youth is Stand Ye in Holy Places and Be Not Moved (Doctrine and Convenants 87:8). We've been talking and thinking a lot about where we might find holy places or create holy places and how we can then stand and be not moved. With my back still on the mend and not feeling 100%, I get tired of the strain on my back and the tenseness of compensating for my weak lower back. Sunday after church, I had been coaxed outside in a lawn chair to watch while the kids played. I had a pillow to sit on and a pillow to rest my books on. Then all the kids wanted to go with Jason when he went around the corner to the neighbor's house. So they left on the bikes and I was left alone.

And that's when I found my holy place. It was quiet, as they pedaled off and their excited noise faded off down the sidewalk. Not that many people were out disrupting the peaceful air of the Sunday afternoon. What's more, Sundays just seem to have a different, quieter feel anyway for me. So I sat in my chair, with my pillows and my books, and looked out at my view. I love the view from our front porch. I get to look out over the park and see children and families enjoying the toys. I get to see the open, green grass of the soccer field. I get to see the beautiful, blue skies. One small detail of my view lifts my spirits every time I glance out the window, stand at the front door, or look out from the front lawn. It's the green road sign bearing the name of the road we live on. Providence Lane.

There's a scripture the Book of Mormon, found in Jacob 2:17 that I found when we moved into this house two summers ago at the end of a very long roller coaster ride of you have a job-no you don't have a job-yes, you have a job-no, you don't. The verse states: "And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly...." That's exactly how I felt. The hand of providence, God himself, had opened a way for us to leave Adams County; to come to a better agency with job stability, better pay, better hours, and better morale. What a great reminder every day that we are being watched over by a loving Heavenly Father who will cause "that all things shall work together for [our] good" (D&C 90:24).