OH NO!

Well SO much has been going on in my life that I've neglected my Blog. I apologize to my visitors...if there are any left! So here is a quick update of all of the events that have been going on in our life.

My birthday was a few weeks ago and I was hit with the "Bunko Bug" I had played Bunko 3 nights before with my friends. We have a great time laughing, eating, and tossing dice. Anyway, the flu bug was passed on to us through the dice. Four of us were hit with it that Friday. So I spent most of my birthday on the couch watching movies. My cousin Paige was so sweet to come and watch Ashlyn so I could take a nap. I felt much better by that evening so my whole family went to Market Street Broiler. It was fabulous!

The next event was preparing for Girl's Camp. Holy Cow there is so much to pack! Now I remember why I don't camp. :) Too much work for too much dirt!

For Girl's Camp we headed up to Camp Barlett in Idaho, it was a 3 hour drive. My beehives had already reserved seats in my car a few weeks before. They were SO excited! Thank goodness for my wonderful advisor Michelle. She was my navigator and she was so good with the girls. She does a great job! Once we arrived at camp we were busy setting up the tents and unpacking. I had brought our ginormous tent and it was perfect for our 2 queen beds and 3 leaders! It was huge though! Our camp theme was "ER" Eternal Rewards. We had scrubs and ID badges that held our daily schedule and a picture of each girl. The leaders badges had pictures of celebrities. Mine was Carrie Underwood. I actually had someone tell me they liked my picture. What a nice and optimistic man. I clean up well, but not that well!

Camp Bartlett is so beautiful! They have over 600 acres of land! They also have a TON of activities to do. We were so busy we didn't have any time for the girls to fight. It was heavenly! We went canoeing, swimming, river running--and two of the jr leaders tried to pull me under the water and I cut my knee on a rock. I have now named my scars Tazia and Stephanie. No worries...I got them back! :) I also learned how to tie a variety of different knots, first aid, which plants you can eat (yes I partook), and I shot a riffle and hit the center of the target all 10 times! Thank you, Thank you. I also stayed up way to late every night and the last night I started a silly string fight with the 3 jr. leaders...note to self--next year take more than 1 can. They had 4 and started to attack me back! I tackled them to get the can nozzles away from them, then we laughed and talked. It was a lot of fun, but it took me 3 days to recover!

My girls also had to participate in Star Gazing. It was amazing how clear the sky was and how bright the stars are. We all laid on the grass and watched for shooting stars. I also had a great time getting to know the other ladies that I serve with. It's amazing the impact Girl's Camp has on everyone who attends. Our testimony meeting was fabulous. I really enjoyed watching each girl's testimony grow while we were up there. I loved every minute of it!

Cole, my mom, and Paige were lifesavers! They worked out a schedule to watch Ashlyn so that I could go up for all 4 days. It was very nice and I really appreciate it! When I got home, Ashlyn was not very happy with me for leaving her for so long. By the next morning she had warmed up to me again.

The day after camp was the 4th of July. We went with my family to the Bees Game to see the fireworks. Ashlyn invited herself to eat the cheetos of the man sitting next to us. He was very nice and opened a new bag for her. I think it made his day. She is getting so big, I can hardly stand it! The fireworks were great! They played music along with the fireworks and it really made me reflect on how thankful I am for the freedoms we have in this country and for the men and women who have fought and are fighting for our freedom.

Ashlyn eating Cheetos Cole and Ashlyn Julie and Ashlyn

The next day we had our annual family BBQ at my uncle's house. He makes homemade french fries and hamburgers. They were divine! We also have fireworks care of Ryan and his trip to Wyoming. He bought some pretty cool ones this year. The neighbors across the gully called the police--Party Poopers. Anyway, it wasn't until Ryan lit off the "finale" firework which included 8 in the air fireworks did the policeman show up. He admitted that it was an impressive show, but said he was there on a complaint and that they are illegal. Anyway, Jay sweet talked him and he didn't give him a ticket. We had a great 4th!




Now we are in Denver visiting my aunt, uncle, and cousins. We are having a great time. Stay tuned for pictures and stories from our trip........