Busy Again

The beginning of this week was mostly spent getting ready for Dan going out of town and the rest of us heading up to the cabin.  We tried to get some house cleaning done, we tried to get some fun in, and I spent a lot of time trying to get all the food ready.  Monday was laundry and grocery shopping.   We got the kids their school supplies, and they are now all packed and ready for school to start.  

Tuesday, I got some freezer meals cooked up to take with us up to the cabin, and the kids and I tried to get the house presentable.  

Wednesday, we tried to get everyone packed up - did a bit more laundry and then I had choir in the evening.  We have concerts coming up and had our big dress rehearsal with the full orchestra.  

Thursday morning, Dan headed to the airport to go to Chicago and the kids and I packed up the car and headed towards the mountains.  We stopped at Tiny Town, but we couldn't take Koopa in with us, so I got tickets for the kids, and sent them in with their lunches and put Eileen in charge.  They did good and had fun, then rode the train.  The place is small enough that I could keep an eye on them from the parking lot across the street and could even snap a few pictures of them on the train from just outside the fence.  Eileen took pictures of the kids for me with her phone.  Then we all got some ice cream and packed up and finished our trip to the cabin.  It's funny, I remember as a kid feeling like that was a LONG trip.  Now as an adult it seems to go so fast!  In the evening, the girls and I did a puzzle and watched Hello Dolly.  

When we got to the cabin, Grandpa was already there and the kids were eager to start going up to the mine and checking all their favorite spots out.  Friday, we heard about a used book sale near the Fairplay Library.  So we stopped in and looked around.  The kids found some fun stuff and I found a couple books that I had really been wanting - and could now get them cheap!  Friday night Doug and Julia arrived in time for some fun and chat before heading to bed.

Saturday we headed down to Fairplay again to check out the Burro Days fun.  We walked around checking out the artists stalls and such.  The kids had fun for about 20 minutes then they decided that they were hot and annoyed that everything cost money.... :)  So we snacked and headed back to the cabin for more hiking and dinner.  In the evening, we started Fiddler on the Roof with Eileen and Anna - but paused at the Intermission to go to bed!

Sunday the kids and I headed to church in Frisco (not TX - Frisco, CO) Church was awesome.  During 3rd hour, there was a special 5th Sunday presentation by a man who had worked and served all over the world.  He had some amazing stories to tell about the church and it's history in other parts of the world over the last 30+ years.  It was really a neat presentation!  After we headed back to the cabin and stopped at the Continental Divide for a minute or two - I think Eileen and I were really the only ones who found it cool - but at least the other kids enjoyed getting out and stretching their legs.  We spent most of the drive home looking for license plates from other states.  We saw over half the states!  In the evening, Eileen and Anna and Aaron played Killer Bunnies with Frankie and James and Evie watched The Music Man with the rest of us.

More Family Fun!

This week has been rather hot here - no not Texas hot - but we've been in the upper 90's and low 100's so the kids complain about playing outside after 10 in the morning unless the sprinklers are on so they can get wet.  We spent most of Monday doing laundry and such - we were too tired to get a dinner planned so our amazing friends the Guinn's saved the day - They had cooked up some extra ribs trying a new recipe and brought over the extras.  I added a salad and we were good to go.  

The kids decided that they wanted to go to the park one morning, but about 5 minutes after we got there, they started complaining about the heat and wanted to go to the splash park instead, so we went home, got swimsuits and lunches and headed to the splash park/playground.  We stayed until the lightning started, then we headed home.  :)  

Choir on Wednesday was awesome as usual!

Thursday, Dan and I went to the temple.  We left Eileen in charge and things seemed to go smoothly enough.  This was the first time leaving her in charge when she wouldn't be able to get a hold of us.  She had Sister Smith to contact if necessary, but things seemed to go well - I'm not sure they would go as well if Anna weren't also here helping her.  :)  We did sealings then grabbed a quick dessert on the way home.  

Friday, we headed for the Children's Museum.  We got there a little late - but the kids had a blast while we were there, and we can go back any time now!  They had a new area where the kids had a ton of fun climbing all over the place.  They kids always love the fire station area - I was amazed to watch Aaron climb up to the top of the fire pole easily and quickly - over and over again.  

They had a fun Vet Clinic area and of course, the bubbles are always fun.  They loved the bubble chamber - the fun thing is that I have pictures of Sandi and I in this same bubble chamber when we were kids!

Saturday was our big stay at home and get stuff done day.  Dan and the kids worked on cleaning out the garage, I worked in the house and in the afternoon, Sandi and the kids came over for a few hours and dinner while Jon met with employees.

Church today was fun - We had members of the temple presidency visit our ward today.  Their talks in Sacrament meeting were wonderful.  Unfortunately, I didn't get to be there for the 2nd hour question and answer session - I was subbing in James' primary class.  Plus I got to hear him give his talk during primary!  He was so cute!  It was funny - once I told him I was going to be his teacher today, he got excited and wouldn't leave my lap (except for the choir number) The choir's musical number went great!  It's so fun to hear all the talent in our ward!

Fun at Home

We had a fun and busy week!  Dan headed up with the young men for High Adventure.  He was gone with them until Friday - at which point he came home tanned, tired and needing to take his belt in another notch.  We went to the park on Wednesday morning with the Smith's and enjoyed playing outside while it was still cool enough to enjoy being outside.  

Wednesday night I had choir and Sister Cottrell watched the kids so I could go to Choir.  After Eileen, Anna and Aaron got back, I started getting emergency texts from Eileen that the kids were still awake - and by the time I got home after 10, they were all still up and running around.  Poor Eileen - but the kids sure had fun :)  

On Friday, we went to the Butterfly Pavilion and got ourselves a joint membership for the Butterfly Pavilion and the Children's Museum.  The kids are very excited about it.  They had a great time there as always. While we were there, we saw the posted for "Rosie's Birthday Party" which was the next day, so on Saturday, we didn't give Daddy any time to recover, we just dragged him along with us back to the Butterfly Pavilion.  They had tons of fun stuff going on - plus there was a special "Member's Only" area - and the kids were SO excited that they got to go in because they are now members.  :)  We came home with tons of free stuff - lots of junk toys, sunglasses, water bottles, bags, etc.  They all had a great time though!  

They even got to get their faces painted and Anna had her Caricature done.  We headed home at closing time, exhausted, but we had a great time!  Plus it was so great to have Daddy back!  

Sunday morning, our friends the Tolbert's got into town, they arrived just in time to come to church with us and then they stayed the night with us!  It was so good to get to see them again!!  We had a great afternoon playing games and chatting and singing and talking crafts!  There are times I think that I would like to move back to Texas, just to be near them and the Tilton's again...

Family Reunion

Well we started this week off with a 4th of July Pancake Breakfast that our ward puts on every year.  It's put on by the cub scouts and this year Aaron got to help out - early on, he took over making the scrambled eggs - can I just say that his eggs were the BEST scrambled eggs that I've EVER had at a church function (or really any large dining place) In other words - for the first time - they weren't way over cooked and burnt.  He was still getting complements on them at church today!  After, we spent most of the day getting ready to leave the next morning.  

Bright and early on Tuesday, we loaded up and got into the car to head to Bear Lake.  We stopped for lunch at Little America, and made it to the rental cabin by mid-afternoon.  We unpacked - picked rooms, and had dinner before a family home evening lesson and play with cousins.  Bedtimes went out the window this week....

Wednesday we all packed into our cars and headed for the lake.  We rented a Jet Ski, a lake trampoline and a couple paddle boards.  Everyone had a ball - and most of us got a bit sunburned.  It's been so long since I've gotten to ride a jet ski - but I LOVE them!  Someday, maybe I'll have one of my own...  We did lunch at the beach and stayed there for most of the day - only heading back for dinner in the evening.  We had another wonderful family home evening lots of game playing and hanging out.  

Thursday we played games around the cabin.  I brought the left over girls camp crafts and Dan brought paint balls and grandma and grandpa brought candy covered shirts for playing human pinata.  The paint balls were a little rough - some of the kid ended up with some pretty good welts - but we had set an age limit of over 12 to keep littles from getting hurt.  After the older kids had fun, we let the younger kids take over and aim at targets.

This was Evie chasing one of the human pinatas - her cousin Jacob.  It was so funny to watch the older boys run away and eventually get tackled and brought to the ground and mauled by little kids eager for candy.  :)

In the afternoon, some of us stayed at the cabin and rested and played games (including me - i had hurt my toe on Tuesday and I was still hobbling) While the rest got to go hike up and down in some caves.  I wish I'd been able to go - but I don't think I could have handled the stairs...   Thursday night, we had our final FHE/Devotional.  We sang songs, bore testimony and shared the love.  I'm so grateful to be part of this family!  I'm so grateful that my kids get to be part of this family too. Then we played a game of sardines for a bit before sending the kids to bed, while we stayed up playing a few more games and talking for a bit longer.

The next morning, exhausted and happy, we packed up, cleaned up and headed home.  We stopped at Steve and Claire's along the way for a bathroom break and to let the kids see all the animals.  Then we arrived at home and unloaded the car.  Then Dan began his mad dash to get everything ready for High Adventure next week.  Saturday was spent with Dan getting stuff ready and packed for next week, while the kids and I spent the day trying to recover from the past week.  We were all glad to get to pick up Koopa Friday night and spent a lot of time playing with him.

Sunday was church - wonderful speakers and great lessons.  Choir after church, yummy dinner, and playing games with Eileen and Anna in the evening.  Now I'm facing a week here alone with the kids.  :(

Camp

Well - I now have 2 kids in double digits.  Anna turned 10 on Monday!  She was so excited about being a double digit girl.  Unfortunately for her, It was kinda an insane day.  I spent a lot of the day getting things ready for camp - I had to run some errands, get everything packed and get laundry done.  Plus I had to meet the girls at the church to get everything packed into the trailer and sent up to camp.  After, we had Anna's birthday dinner of Burritos and then she opened her presents, then we took the kids down to drop them off with Aunt Tina for the week.  Eileen apparently forgot to bring anything to do and was bored all week (if her text messages to me and grandpa and Sister Smith are any indication....)  We took her ice cream cake to Frank and Tina's and she blew out her candles and we all had cake there before Dan and I headed home.  

Tuesday morning, bright and early we met at the church to head up for camp.  The weather this year was perfect - enough sun to be warm and enough cloud cover and sprinkles to not get too hot.  The girls seemed to have a good time and seemed to all feel welcomed and loved.  Our first day up there, we unpacked and set up camp, then in the afternoon, we headed for the lake and had fun in the canoes.  It was fun getting to see some of the girls trying something they had never done before and loving it!  

Wednesday morning after breakfast was the hike.  I chose to go on the 2nd year hike which is the longest - still not really a hike, but it was a nice walk through gorgeous scenery and even better - I got to see a beaver swimming around his pond!  It was really nice walking around and chatting with amazing people.  We spent the afternoon playing games and doing crafts.  Then tons of fun at the lake getting our skit ready and having fun at the lake.  Finally the evening program was a blast!  

One of the crafts offered was wood carving.  One of the cooks/bishops/awesome guy who reminds me of my dad - brought wood and knives for carving and taught the basics.  I had fun carving myself a "Harry Potter Wand" It took me the better part of all three days we were there to finish it, but I finally got it done and sanded and I love how it came out!  Now the plan is to stain the wood and display it - but first I'm going to have to convince the kids that it's not their toy!  :)

This is me at camp - Eileen was texting me and amazingly I had enough signal to get them and even to be able to chat with her on the phone a bit - so I sent her a selfie of me at camp - it's hard to tell from this photo - but one of the girls from the ward had done my hair for me into braids.

Thursday was more fun time and a service project and finally finishing my wand.  In the evening, we had our testimony meeting and we got some real rain for the first time.  It was such a sweet experience listening to the girls bear testimony!

Friday morning we packed up and headed out.  We were one of the first wards done packing up, but one of the last to leave since the girls were busy serving others and helping get everything done!  They are such amazing girls!  Finally we got home - got stuff divided up and sent home with people and I headed back home where Dan was busy with Newell and Jacob building us a new fence!  They were getting posts in -  I took a shower and a nap before heading to the baptism of one of my girls from camp.  I was playing the piano.  It was beautiful!  After I headed home to an early bed time and slept for nearly 12 hours.  I woke up late the next morning and Dan and Newell and Jacob were hard at work on the fence.  Becky and the girls came over for a bit too - they hung out and had dinner with us.  Hopefully Dan will be able to get most of the fence done tomorrow since we leave Tuesday for the Jones Family Reunion!

Church today was great!  Eileen fasted with us - and while she was a bit grumpy, she did great!  Relief Society was wonderful as always and I think my lesson went well in Sunday School.  After church, we had a nice walk home, then had dinner once Dan got home.  We spent our evening, having fun together and enjoying the beautiful weather.  Eileen wanted to play Killer Bunnies during her hour up, Anna didn't want to play - she said she wanted to scrapbook, but then spent most of the time chatting with us and looking over our shoulders.  Now that we have 2 who get to stay up, the dynamic is changing, we will have to figure it out!