Our Heritage...our Future

The stake primary was asked to put an entry in the city parade.  Since I am still the stake Primary president I called a committee to take care of this project.

Im so thankful for all the work that went into putting together this float.

I babysat my friends kids for a couple of days this week.  

Ella is down syndrome.  She has such a special spirit.  It is a privilege to have her in our home.

Scout Camp

This week was the dreaded week of scout camp.  I say dreaded because this year the boys went on a 50 mile backpacking hike.  As you know there was a big thunderstorm Monday night and these boys were in it.  It was rough starting out with your first night in a rain storm.

Tuesday was their hardest hiking day.

From the sounds of it all the boys really struggled.  Briggs was crying of home sickness and exhaustion.  

I am so thankful my boys had this experience.  It was really hard but they accomplished it.  Briggs was asked to speak today in church.  This was his first talk in sacrament meeting.  He talked about the scout camp and how it helped to understand and appreciate the sacrifice that Nephi and his family made to leave Jerusalem.
I took advantage of the boys being gone and I gutted their rooms.  We bought them both a Full size mattress.  They had out grown their twin beds.  The boys were pleasantly surprised to see a clean room and a soft bed.

Fun, Fun and More Fun

 We are blessed with some great neighbors that are willing to share their swimming pools with us.

 The produce is coming! We have enjoyed strawberries, raspberries, apricots, cucumbers, and  tomatoes.

One more thing I forgot

While we were all at Crystals house we, Jake, Crystal, Mom, Dad, Adam and I, went to the Rexburg temple together.  It was wonderful focusing on the covenants and promises we receive in the temple.

4th of July

This year we enjoyed Fireworks from the roof of our house.  We have enough of a view of the valley that we had a great show.  

 After the fire works we made smores on the deck.

Back up

I need to add a little more information from before our vacation.   We had a blast watching Bisket, Justins puppy, but most of us didn't mind saying good bye.  Ila on the other hand really struggled.  She took such good care of that puppy, it was her baby.  She cried as Justin took the puppy away.

Seven years ago we got two cats.  It didn't take long before our cats found it more enjoyable at the neighbors house behind us instead of the toddlers at our house.  This couple, a senior couple, loved the cats and ended up basically adopting the cats. 

Sadly one of the Cats disappeared one day.  About six months ago our neighbor, the man, died.  A couple of weeks ago I got a text from the wife telling me that she has been put in an assisted living home and she asked if I would be willing to take the cat back.  

Long story short, we now have a cat.

 Buddy is the best dog ever!

The Play Mill

 We have a girls night while in Island Park and we drive to West Yellow Stone and we go to a play at the Play Mill.
They always put on a great show.  We invited Briggs to go with because he will be performing The Little Mermaid this coming year in school.

Before we left it was like torture dragging Briggs away from "the boys", and the riding.  He couldn't hold in the tears as we drove there.  Once we arrived it took less than a minute before Briggs realized one night away, with the girls, was Awesome!
I think he will be excited to go with us next year; if we invite him again.

On to Island Park

Each year we rent a cabin with the Slocums and we spend a week in Island Park.  This is a tradition that Chad has had with his family for countless years.  He had a lot of family there.  They are always great to invite us in and treat us as family.
It was so fun riding behind Adam and Ila as he was trying to tell her to slow down.  He treats Ila a lot different then he treated / treats the boys.

 We take one day and drive into west yellowstone on our bikes.  We always go to the same pizza joint and spend an little time shopping and then we ride back.  It is always a long, dusty, dirty, and fun day.

 We also spend a day floating down the river.

 But the most important event is lots and lots of riding.

Smores, games, campfires, food and lots of treats

The best laugh of the trip was:
The kids were all playing card games together.  Landon has perfected cheating in the games.  He enjoys the challenge of trying not to get caught.  Nicholle (his mom) caught him and lectured him on honesty, integrity, and playing fair.  After a 3 minute lecture Avram chimed in, "Yea, thats not Landon."
Actually Landon is a very good boy.