Young Women's Camp

Camp this year was cold, wet, and muddy -- and we a blast.

It was a nice, sunny day as we pulled out of my driveway on Wednesday morning.

Look at how beautiful, warm, dry and clean we all are.



It was a fun ride up and would have only taken 2 hours if SOMEONE would have pulled out the map and watched for the exit while SOMEONE ELSE was driving :)



Luckily we were able to set up camp before the first downpour began. It would rain for a few hours and then stop for a few hours, and then rain for a few hours... you get my point.



The Stake had the girls paint picnic tables for their service project.






In between the storms, we made a lot of fun crafts,





ate some REALLY good food,



brushed our teeth with ashes,



(notice there are no leaders in these pictures)





made a few important phone calls,



played "Mafia" around the camp fire (sorry Bro. Dresser, no hard feelings about your multiple deaths, right?)



and laughed until we cried!



Each ward had to come up with a skit. We were given a bag of random props from another ward and had to incorporate them into our skit. The girls decided to make up a song and duct tape the props to themselves. It was pretty dang funny.



Our skit was the best. We had the most laughs and the loudest applause - not that it matters or anything, but we did.

Jana and Amy totally rock! We had so much fun laughing and talking all day.



Jenn was only able to come up and spend Thursday night with us (she's no dummy).



Saturday came and it was finally time to pack up and go home.



I can't even begin to tell you how much I love our Young Women. The girls were so great; I didn't hear one complaint the whole time we were there. Jana and Amy are the best, there's nothing like hanging out with your girlfriends 24/7. I can't wait for next year!

Camp photos

Graduation

Tyler graduated from high school on Friday, June 5th, 2009.

I had mixed emotions waiting for this day to come. On one hand, I was very excited for him to leave high school behind and start college life. On the other hand, I struggle with the fact that he is an adult, knowing I need to loosen the (desperately tight) hold that I have had on him for the last 18 years.

I had to ask Tyler at least once a week if he was sure that he was going to graduate. He would just roll his eyes and say, "Yes MOM!" And then give me the famous exasperated look that always follows what he thinks is a stupid question.

It was definitely weird to see him in his graduation gown.



The school put on a very nice program.







And then it was over.

The proud parents



The proud grandparents



The proud girlfriend

Let's just call this one... May

I thought that life got easier and you had more free time once your children got older...I guess that's what I get for thinking.

Here is where I spent most of May:

Cottonwood







USA U-16







USA U-14







Tyler still has a girlfriend - I know, shocking. I tell him at least twice a week that he better not do anything to make Erin break up with him. I really like her.



Mother's Day the girls baked me a heart shape cake and put trick candles on it. They were my first trick candles ever!



Funny story... You know how there is a picture on the back of the cake box showing the ingredients??



Well, Katie didn't read the part where you put three eggs in if you are doing the whole egg recipe, OR 3 egg whites if you are doing the egg white recipe. She added 3 whole eggs and 3 egg whites. As much as I don't like eggs, the cake was still pretty tasty! LOL

We celebrated Sean's grandparents 65th anniversary. We flew Sean's youngest brother Ben in from Alaska and surprised everyone that night.



It had been about 4 years since we had seen him. Everyone was shocked when he came strolling in.



Jeremy, Mike, Ben and Sean.

Have I mentioned that Sean doesn't like to be touched by other men? No? Have I mentioned that Mike and Ben like to touch Sean because they know Sean doesn't like it?



Here is Ben trying to get another little touch in. Notice Sean is ready to take off running...good times, good times :)


(Yes, Ben is aware that his belly is poking out and his zipper is undone. That's just Ben. Needless to say, we had a lot of laughs while he was here.)