Random October

This cute little pumpkin jar is another project Camille made in her art class.

I snapped this picture before school started. Bryce and Rachel just sat with the kitties before it was time to go to school.  Later that day, Kenya was hit by a car, so this picture is extra special.

Cousin Jeremy earned his Eagle Scout award.

Parker was so happy to be able to sit in the Eagle's nest! It was sort of funny at one point because the whole Eagle nest is supposed to repeat a portion of the Eagle pledge (or something) but the man leading them divided it into really long sentences and they couldn't remember what they were supposed to say. It was so funny and everyone was laughing.

Random September

Parker got his driver's permit!!! after one try!!!

Camille started an art class (finally got my act together and signed her up) and she is loving it!

I saw this happen after church one day. I love that the kids search out their dad whenever they can at church. And he makes time for them whenever they do. Here he was fixing Bryce's tie. 

After the Festival

After Apricot Festival, Camille went with Emily up to stay with Brook and her family in Cascade for a few days. They drove with Gpa Brown and Helen. They peppered him with questions and he showered them with stories, the whole way.

They had a lot of fun playing in the river, going to young women's together and staying up late talking.

While Camille was gone, Rachel was a little bored. She busied herself with baking a two-layer cake all by herself.

Girls Camp

Sydney and Camille went to ward Girl's Camp!

They had the best time having fun, goofing off, learning the gospel, doing crafts, playing in the lake, feeling the Spirit. and bonding as sisters and friends.

Timpanogos Cave

On the way home, they stopped by FIZ and helped Camille celebrate her 13th birthday.

Last Day of School

The end of school is always marked by the Harvest Elementary dance festival. Camille was my partner. I dread the day when I go alone. 

Bryce danced with the 2nd grade. I thought I was recording but all I did was take a picture. Grrr.

Dance Fest Video

We gave our teachers these farewell gifts. 

Have a "KOOL" summer!

Clever idea, if I do say so myself.

Then we went to Hogle Zoo. It was a lot of fun!

We watched other people pay to feed the giraffe lettuce leaves.

A lot of animals were very active. I could have watched the orangutan for a long time!

And we DID watch the polar bear for a very long time.

Traditional Hogle Zoo picture!

End of school projects

We had lots of end of year projects for school.

Rachel did her county report on Beaver county. She made a diorama and a postcard.

Bryce had his egg drop. Together used some sponges to cushion the egg. Then we built a soft landing platform with straws. A grocery bag parachute topped it off. And his egg survived! It worked like a charm!

Egg Drop Video

To bid our teachers good-bye for the summer, we gave them a container of kool-aid with a nice little message. 

"Have a 'KOOL' summer!"

At the middle school, the last week is kind of a wash. They watch lots of movies and sign yearbooks. Camille didn't get a yearbook this year so...I took her hiking with me. We met a nice man who said he likes to give a gift to people who inspire him. He told us that seeing a mother and daughter hiking together was inspiring and he gave us matching bracelets that he and his wife made themselves.

Hikes: Stewart Falls, Timp cave, Ensign Peak

May 18- one of our last hikes before the end of the school year. Once summer begins, our time and hikes are with our families. As it should be.

Stewart Falls

I also got a frequent hiker pass for Timpanogos Cave.

On one of the last days of school, when nothing significant was happening, Camille skipped class and hiked Timp with me.

Another hike we did as a ward family to Ensign Peak. This was in preparation for the youth Pioneer Trek.

July 26, 1847, two days after the Mormon pioneers entered this valley, Brigham Young and party climbed to this point and with the aid of field glasses, made a careful survey of the mountains, canyons, and streams. In the group were Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, Ezra T. Benson, Willard Richards, Albert Carrington and William Clayton. Wilford Woodruff, first to ascend the peak, suggested it as a fitting place to "set up an ensign." (Isaiah 11:12). It was then named Ensign Peak. Subsequently, the stars and stripes were raised here.