Campaholics Anonymous

This has been a summer of camping. Unfortunately, not all of it has been together as a family.

Breanna went to Youth Conference with our stake up in the Uinta Mountains. She also went to girls camp with the ward up at Payson Lakes. The picture is of her whole camp. Their theme was a military theme ("Be All You Can Be"). They had tie-dyed shirts (camouflaged) and some great activities and experiences. Breanna is in the middle/front just to the left of the sign (she's helping to hold the sign.

Then, Jacob had scout camp. Steve got to come along with that one and teach the Canoeing and Rowing merit badges. This is a picture of Jacob driving the motor boat for the motor boating merit badge. We spent the week at Rockport Lake about 1 hour east of where we live. Jacob earned his Motor boating, Canoeing, Rowing, and First Aid merit badges.

Following scout camp, Natalie and I went on a Pioneer Trails Workshop with some other seminary teachers. We began our trip driving out to Chimney Rock, Nebraska and worked our way back to the Salt Lake Valley.

The picture is of us at Chimney Rock. At Chimney rock, there is a cemetery. The highlight was the grave of Mary Murdock. She was a Scottish convert who crossed the plains and died of cholera. Her son, who was in Utah while she was crossing the plains was named John. As she died near Chimney Rock, she said, "Tell John that I died with my face toward Zion." What a great message for all of us in her life.

We also got to pull handcarts at Martin's Cove and over Rocky Ridge. Steve, who is not in as great of shape as Natalie, got four blisters on Rocky Ridge. The next picture is of Natalie and Steve and some others pulling the cart, the one following is before Steve pulled his sock off to look at the blister (sorry if you're weak of stomach).

The experience (the whole week) was incredible! We gained a greater appreciation for what the pioneers experienced and why they experienced what they did.

After the Pioneer week, Steve went with the ward's priest quorum up to the Stake camp called Camp Helaman. This is an incredible week for young men ages 16-18 in our stake. Many great experiences for these young men. They have an award that they give at the end of the week for accomplishing several things (like memorizing scriptures, service, etc) called the Big H award. Steve wanted to earn it as a leader and was able to complete it.

The week after Camp Helaman, Jacob was in an accident with his bicycle and got to ride with the paramedics to the hospital. His handle bar punctured his upper left inside thigh in the joint of his leg and hip. He was blessed to miss his femoral artery. The doctor put him back together with 17 stitches (11 on the inside). The wound was about 2 1/2 inches long, about an inch wide and about 3/4 to 1 inch deep. He's been hobbling along pretty good this last week. We have to remind him at times that he's still healing. Natalie took him to the fire station to take his picture with the ride he went in to the hospital. The engine came from a different station, but they were kind enough to let Jacob pose and Natalie shoot! :-)

The Monday after Jacob's accident (which happened on Friday, August 8), we took the family up to Brigham City to play at Willard Bay for three days and two nights. Then we left BC and went up to Bear Lake for the rest of the week. The second day at Bear Lake, we took the kids up to Paris, Idaho. Their fourth great-grandfather was Apostle Charles C. Rich who helped to settle the Bear Lake Valley. He lived in Paris, Idaho (just North of Bear Lake). At the South end of Paris, is the cemetery where he is buried. His fifth wife (the wife we descend from), Emeline Grover Rich was buried right next to him. Here is a picture of the family between both headstones.

The weather was wonderful at Bear Lake and the water was perfect! The kids were digging a hole in the beach and Josh thought it'd be fun to have us bury him. We all thought it was fun to bury him. At knee deep, we created some feet for him. Eventually, we almost got him up to his neck in sand.

As is tradition with our family, we stopped at Quick N Tasty on the way out of Bear Lake for their famous Raspberry shakes.

Michael Turns 9 This Sunday

Michael has been busy these last 9 years. This last week, he earned his wolf badge in Cub Scouts.

He also had a birthday party with his friends to celebrate his 9th birthday (which will actually be on Sunday). His mom is so good about throwing fun parties.

Summer birthdays are always fun, but they're funner when they're family! Happy Birthday Michael! (in advance).

Go Cougars!

Today we took the kids down to Provo to hang out with their Grandma and to go to BYU. Here is a picture of them on the bridge connecting the Law Building with the Wilkinson Center and their favorite letter on the mountain.

We went bowling at the BYU Game Center and had a blast! They had these really cool ramps (and gutter bumpers) so even Rebekah could get that ball down the lane.



We had a delightful time being with Grandma Jones and Katie. They are great! The only problem was that our time was too short together. Thanks Grandma and Katie for a great time!

Watch Out Tiger!

On Saturday, May 31, Josh (almost 14), Jacob (12), Daniel (5) and I went to Fore Lakes Golf Course in Taylorsville. Michael couldn't come because of an injury he obtained while doing back flips off of the swing out back. Daniel had only 'golfed' around the yard--occasionally smacking the siding or the street (fortunately no cars or other houses) with the golf ball...he likes the real ones better than the whiffle balls. Here is a video clip of his first ever tee shot on a real golf course (by the way, Natalie taught him how to line his feet up). In the video we're uploading, the quality of it makes it difficult to see the ball roll down the fairway. But trust me, it did just that!



The only clubs in his bag were a sawed-off-regripped 3 wood and a putter. Most of Daniel's shots were pretty straight and down the fairway. Towards the end of the round, Daniel was getting pretty confident. Josh is pretty good also, but had a couple of rough shots. To which, Daniel commented, "Josh, maybe you need to learn to hit the ball." I had to remind him to be nice. I guess, when you're good, you have a right to talk smack. We all had a great time!

Breanna's First Scholarship

At an awards assembly on Friday, May 30, Breanna was awarded a $250.00 scholarship for excellence in academics. Since her 7th grade year, Breanna has had 12 consecutive terms with a 4.0 grade point average! Her and one other student won a scholarship presented by a local credit union. The first of many! Way to go Breanna!

Breanna and Josh Wow Audiences

Breanna has enjoyed playing her viola in the West Jordan Symphony. The following video comes from their Memorial Day Concert. Their attire was very casual compared with their usual concert black. They played at a funeral home. The intent was to play outside so that those coming to the cemetery would hear the music. The weather didn't cooperate though, so they had to play inside.



The next video is from one of her final concerts at Sunset Ridge. Joshua is also featured playing the cello in this video. Josh finished his third year playing the cello and has gotten quite good at it! The song they are playing is. . .well, see if you know what it is! The kids love this one at the region dances.

Skeleton Gives Hope!

For those of you that are not aware, Steve has been teaching out of a Church building for three years. Normally, in Utah, seminary students walk across the street from the school to the seminary building to attend seminary. We haven't had a seminary building since the middle school was built three school years ago. We've met the kids at the school and bussed them to a church building a mile down the road. Yesterday, the bus took its last trip! I estimate there have been over 6,000 bus trips made and several thousand miles. Here is a picture of the seminary building as it was a few days ago. Construction remains constant and they are on track to be done in August with a couple of weeks to move everything in before school starts!