Last half of July

 Trek:

 

Peter - 

On Sunday we went and dropped our sleeping stuff and our buckets. We got bags with a color on them, I got white. We dropped off our stuff at a color coded trailer. I found out that Tanner Austin Gage And Holland had the same color as me. We went back home and went to bed.

We woke up and packed the snacks that we set aside for the buss ride and then I made a smoothie, then we went to the high school parking lot.we got in our color groups me Holland and Austin tried to play hackey sack. We got on the buss and left the high school. On the buss Gage and Holland decided to lay under the seats. We stopped at a rest stop and a lot of people went up top and looked at the people on the ground. We all went to our buses but they didn't let us on so they could separate us into families. Austin didn't get to be with anybody he knew. Tanner and Holland got to be with each other. Then me and Gage where in a family. The Ma and Pa for my group were the Jensen's, and we had the youngest group with 1 13 year old and the rest of us were 14. We on the bus and got bandannas then we went to the camp. On the way there  kid was told he could pop open the top hatch but he broke it open and there was a loud noise the rest of the way there. We wen't to the place where they store the wagons and the missionaries told us their names and the rules we had a prayer and gave high fives to the stake leaders. We got our wagons then got our stuff from the front where the food was. We drooped our sleeping/tent things at our camp sights then went on a hike. We hiked for a while then we got to a hill and had to go up it. We started it was hard but we did it we got to rest at the top of the hill. We went back down the other side then parked our carts and went into the trees and sang. We headed a little devotional then kept going. we went back around the hill but went past it and went to a shaded area. We got color by numbers and colored. Then us men got called to fight in the "war". The boys left everything ad went past the hill again to another clearing and had a devotional abut that we need to respect all that the woman do. Then we got to rest, awhile later the girls where coming down the trail and w clapped for them. Then we sang the FSY medially and then headed back set up camp then had dinner then made a devotional about Nephi's family. We stayed up tell ten and had fun then went to bed. We all talked a lot in our tents the went to sleep. Monday was fun!

On Tuesday we all woke up at 6:30 and got ready for the day. We ate breakfast then headed free time until we went on a hike. We stopped at the exit of the camp and had a little devotional and said a prayer then left. When we got to the big hill we were told to grab a rock that represents our burdens It was a long and hard climb. We got to a clearing at the top then we went to a pile of rocks and placed our rocks there and that felt good.  We started going down the hill; there was a lot of cow pies. We stopped so the girls could the woman's pull. Then we kept going. We stopped on our way down to have lunch there where massive cookies. We headed a very touching devotional then kept going. We stopped to ling then kept going again. We got down and had to go across a stream. everyone liked it because it was cool water and we where all hot and dirty. Gage went to help someone then left back to camp with them. My family started back up and went back to camp. Me and Cash pulled the cart by ourselves the rest of the way. we got back and rested before dinner. We had dinner then danced. After that there was a carnival there where games and popcorn and cotton candy. We had a devotional that was really spiritual. We/the choir sang and then everyone else sang. Then we went to our camp sites and a little family night. After we got to stay up and have fun. Then we went to bed. Tuesday was fun!

Wednseday we did activities and had a devotional after the devotional we eat lunch and left on our last hike. On the hike we saw a car crash but everybody was okay. We passed a girls camp and we where all jealous that there was a lake that they where swimming in. We stopped for  devotional. Then we went up a hill to a secured grove. The spirit was so strong there we sang and had a devotional then went down for dinner. We grabbed our dinner then walked to where the busses would get us. After we ate dinner we got on the busses and went home. The bus ride was fun and we all had a good time. Trek was so fun!

Kendal - 

On Monday morning we woke up at six and got to the high school around six thirty. I found my group that we bused with and we hung out for a while. The buses were a bit late though so we were waiting for a bit. On the bus ride there I hung out with Lucy. We read our books for a while and just hung out. We found out out Ma and Pa were the Bowmans. We got off the bus and headed down to grab cart's and we had an introduction devotional. Then we had lunch and set up our tent's. I had some kid's I knew in my family. Then we went on a hike. We were in group C family 11. Our company left last on Monday. We had one of the oldest groups with 6 seniors and 4 juniors. We had Ellie Petterson so we helped pull her along. The first day we had a big hill and it was hard but we made it up. Other people came and helped us and that meant a lot. After a while we stopped for a devotional. The boys left us to go fight a "war" and we had a devotional. Ellie gave a great talk but some of the others were hard to hear. Then we took all the carts and met the boys. Then we sang the FSY medley but I wasn't able to hear well because they moved us to the front and heard back. Then we had dinner and went to bed.

On Tuesday we got up early and headed to breakfast. After breakfast we headed out and did one of the longer hikes. At the bottom of the hill they told us to grab a rock that represent our burden and carry it to the top where we put the rock's in a pile at the top of the hill to represent giving our problems to the Lord. Then as we were hiking down we had a problem and we had to wait for the next group. We met at the bottom for the woman's pull where we had to sing certain woman. Then we went and had lunch. On the way back we hiked through a river. That night we had a carnival and danced. Then we had a devotional about ancestors and got letters from our parents.

The last day we had a devotional and then did activities in the morning. Then in the afternoon we hiked up to the sacred grove. On the way we saw a car crash. It was scary but we prayed and in the end everything ended up ok. At the grove we sang sacred grove and had a devotional. Then we headed down to the busses to head home. On the bus home I played card games with my family and when we got back home I got to eat some really good bread!

Day 1 pictures: 

Day 2 pictures:

Day 3 pictures:

Alice got to be spoiled by Mom and Dad while the older two were at Trek. Picking dinners, ice cream, picking movies and games. We went and got her Barnes and Noble free book since she finished her summer reading as well! She missed Kendal and Pete, but it truly was a peek into her future when they're both out of the house and she'll have years left with us. Alice also got to do a basketball clinic those three days. She liked doing it and hopefully can take those skills learned to her season later this year. 

I went Bowling on the 16th with some Middle School ladies. It was such a fun time together - we were even asked if we'd been drinking our group seemed so Merry and crazy. 

Casey and I started out Anniversary weekend on Friday going and doing sealing's at the Temple. I loved looking across the altar at Casey knowing twenty years ago we were taking this big step together and knowing we have an eternity ahead of us to enjoy. Saturday we continued our Anniversary weekend by going golfing together. We like to pick activities that we haven't done / don't usually do. I suggested golfing because it's a "future hobby want" of Casey's. Hitting the balls in the driving range was a good indicator about how our outing would go. Casey did well through the whole course (minus the water features) I STRUGGLED through the whole thing but that wasn't the point. Despite the hot day we made it through our nine holes and came home to some AC relief. Later we went out to Girrabahldis for dinner. We came home and watched a movie with the kids. I'm so grateful for the life and marriage that Casey and I have built. We are imperfect in so many ways, but continue to see the good in each other and build each other up in countless ways. I'm truly blessed with the best. 

Casey got in his Summer appointments for his eyes and a physical. He and I continue to fuss over the yard, and wish the temps would cool down so we can get to work on the horrible front yard. Even though we both seem to have black thumbs most of the time the garden is producing things and most of the plants are doing well (we won't talk about the ones that are giving me grief : / 

Alice had a summer goal to do a Brownie (lemonade) stand. She has been making brownies in preparation and eagerly waiting for me to agree to a day. I figured when Pete was back from Trek he could help out and we'd make it happen. Alice and Casey printed 3D animals, we bought some soda, made some lemonade, baked some brownies, and made some signs. Alice and Pete were out for a few hours the first day and when they cleaned up Alice had customers show up at our house so she set up shop on our front porch to keep selling for a couple of hours. She was so happy with her success that she went out the next morning to sell the remaining drinks and more 3D animals. Overall this girl made about $150.00. She handsomely paid her brother for his help and is so giddy that she had customers and got to make this happen and put another check on her summer bucket list! 

Pete had an orthodontist appointment last week and was thrilled to hear that he get's his braces off at his next appointment. We weren't sure what the outcome would be since we were seeing his 3rd orthodontist at this practice, but it was a retired guy that took a thorough look, pulled up his x rays from before braces and was happy with what he saw. The end is in sight and Pete is so ready to be done!! Pic - "Mom take a picture of this cheese pull!"

We headed down to Logan from the 22nd to the 25th. We spent quality time with cousins, Aunts, Uncle, and Grandparents. Pete got to spend a couple of nights out at David's with his boys (they love spending time with each other)! We had lots of ice cream thanks to David and Anica winning a years supply of seconds from Caspers. On the night of the 23rd we got a bit of a view of fireworks from a concert that was up at USU. The next day we went to watch the pioneer parade in North Logan. None of the kids cared about a busy park of activities so we went back to the house to hang out. Did our typical bottle rockets and Katherine pulled out some water balloons to enjoy. We missed out on Fireworks that night thanks to Thunderstorms in the area. 

Saturday we left Logan after lunch and made our way to Declo to river property of Todd and Laurie's to enjoy some time with some of the extended Webb family. The kids were hesitant at first, but once Nicole and her kids showed up they were all in. Playing in the water, and even going out on the boat and attempting water skiing (Kendal was close to getting up, Pete tried without success). It was nice to see family we don't often see, connect, and catch up with each others lives.  

Kendal and Pete had a Trek Fireside on Sunday. There was a slideshow and then the time was given for the youth to share testimonies on their experiences. Kendal went up and talked about her experience and shared her testimony on the experience. I learned she was nicknamed Kodack from her fellow Trek family and they both got to reconnect / reminisce with their Trek families afterwards. 

Kendal and Pete got their sports physicals on Monday. Pete passed with flying colors, Kendal is going to get an echo cardiogram because she had enough red flags (plus a cousin with heart issues / David) for the Dr to order one. Not news we wanted to hear, but maybe it'll be a help to her for a better running experience in the end of things. 

That same day we packed up and headed out to go camping (another bucket list item for this summer). It was super smoky in our area -still is, and we were nervous how camping would be. We chose to go simple and head out to Heggler Canyon above Kenny and Cheryl's. We got into the mountains and were so happy to see there was no smoke or issues there. It had rained earlier that day so the bugs weren't to bad either. We set up camp, roasted some hot dogs and s'mores and ended the night with card games. Just as we thought our camping trip would be one without any hitches Casey woke in the middle of the night to use the restroom and found that the car battery was dead. The next morning we went for a walk to higher ground to try and get connection to talk with Casey's parents to get help. We had a guy camping nearby that we figured could be a last min. help if needed. Our plan was to finish out the day - we had to scrap going to Sublet to fish, but why not hang out and enjoy the area - and then the next morning they'd come up with a new battery or jump us so we could leave. We spent some time that morning playing games and watching hummingbirds fly all around us. We got up to four that were happy to hang out in our campground. (Alice named them Flick, Flicka, George, Georgina).  After lunch we headed down the road to see if we could get reception closer to the entrance of the canyon. Alice and I had to give up before the others. She kept herself busy by counting 163 butterflies on our walk out and then back to camp. We fought between sitting out with a ton of flies or sweating it out in the tent or a while, then had to resort to the tent when some rain came in. All the while the other three continued down the road for miles (Pete even ran two extra miles further just to try and get connection). They got the edge of the rainstorm and made it back hours after Alice and I did. We waited out the rainstorm in the tent letting Casey, Kendal, and Pete rest from their Journey. The rain was bad enough we got worried about what our night would look like. There was a bit of a break that Alice and I went out for a bit, and just as I wanted to start dinner another surge came through. Harder and longer than the last one getting droplets into the tent and letting some water in as well. As the rain was finishing we decided to give up and ask the guy for a jump. We didn't want to pack a soggy campsite with a car running so we headed down to Kenny and Cheryl's house with minimal belongings for the night. We had a late dinner and hot showers before bed. The next morning Casey, Pete, and I headed up to clean up our still wet / but thankfully not soaked belongings. We were gone just long enough for Kenny to start his way up to check on us and see if we were stranded, but we made it back and then went home and cleaned up our disaster that was camping gear. I don't know if this beats out our trip from years ago where we could start a fire, and got caught in a crazy rain storm, with a smoke filled area the next day, but it's definitely a contender. 

 

Thursday Pete got to go to the Raft River Water slides with the Dansie's. Casey took the girls fishing this morning since they missed out on our camping trip. Kendal was off with Alicyn for some fun this afternoon at Hands on, and Alice has been on create / Disney music mode for a while. Thursday night Kendal went to a late night viewing of the new Spider Man movie. Because she got to go Casey took Pete and Austin the next afternoon to see it. (Good reviews all around!). 

Kendal went boating Friday evening with friends for Lucy's birthday. She got up first try and had a blast wake boarding. Pete went to play late night games with neighborhood kids and Alice watched a movie with Casey and I before bed. Pete went to Dirkies yesterday with the Dansies and had fun jumping off cliffs! Our summer days are dwindling, but we'll continue to enjoy the slower pace and sunshine for a while longer.