Summer 2014: Week 1

Summer 2014 has started off with an incredibly BUSY week....actually it's going to be a busy month! I've decided to try to lump the summer weeks' activities into one post so there'll probably be one long post a week rather than a bunch of smaller ones. So let's get this week started! Monday (June 2) Dallin left for a week long leadership training camp with the Boys Scouts. This was a camp he voluntarily elected to go to. There were no merit badges or any sort of rank advancement activities. The camp was solely dedicated to teaching these young men how to be effective leaders. I was excited to see what he'd learn by the end of the week. In any case, Monday also stated swim lessons for Danny. Because we opted out of baseball this summer, I felt like Danny needed another activity. He has loved it. He is excited because he is actually learning how to do the strokes well.   

                                       

After swim lessons, we signed Danny up for the summer reading program at the library. He is an excellent reader and I'm glad that he is still excited about this incentive programs...because I think he'd rather not read during the summer. The rest of the day was spent doing laundry and helping Laurin get some last minute items for her humanitarian trip to Peru. I also had to take Danny to the dentist to get a couple cavities filled. I don't think that was his favorite part of the day. Poor kid! Hopefully, this will be the one and only appointment to get cavities filled.

Monday evening (because Laurin was working), I met up with her humanitarian group to fill her luggage with supplies. Many scouts used this trip as an Eagle project and collected hygiene kits, newborn kits, dental supplies, toys, books, etc. All the trip participants divided the supplies among their luggage. Each person took down at least 40 pounds of humanitarian supplies. There are 60 people on this trip so that is 240 lbs of supplies. I am so proud of Laurin for her decision to sacrifice time and money to go on this trip. I have a feeling it will be an experience she will never forget.

Tuesday (June 3) started off with another kid leaving - Amber. Amber left for girls camp that morning. Jeff spent the morning helping the young women get off to camp while I took Danny to swim lessons. Here are just a few pics from Amber's week at girls camp. 

                                    

                            

                            

                            

                            

                            

                             

Jeff got to join the girls on Wednesday night for Bishopric night.

                             

After swim lessons, Danny wanted to go to the library's weekly story/activity time (who was I to argue with that?!). This year's summer theme is: Fiz! Boom! Read! They are focusing on science so today's activity the kids learned about how to conduct electricity. Danny really enjoyed the activity. The rest of the day Danny hung out with friends while I ran some errands and found some time to meet up with Jeff for ice cream. He has been incredibly busy getting things settled for girls camp and work because he'll be going up to camp tomorrow.

Wednesday (June 4) started off like the other days...by saying good-bye to another kid, Laurin. Today Jeff took Laurin to the airport - Peru bound! I'm so excited to hear about her adventures. While Jeff was taking her to the airport, I took Danny to swim lessons. Today my niece, Kaia, also joined us. After he finished, we headed to the summer movies at Spanish Fork theaters. Today's movie was Shrek. Following the movie, we went to Costco for a healthy pizza lunch (haha!) with ice cream. The rest of the day Danny and Kaia hung out while I helped Jeff pack up and get ready to head up to girls camp. I have to admit that I am looking forward to July because all the youth camps will be over and I'll have my husband (and kids) back.

Thursday (June 5) Danny and I were on our own. We went to swim lessons then Danny invited his friend, Lane, to join us at the Museum of Natural Curiosity. This is a new science museum at Thanksgiving Point. It is a very interactive museum and I think the kids really enjoyed it! There are 4 different "venues" - rainforest, water works, kidopolis, and discovery garden. Danny seemed to love water works the best. We stayed at the museum for nearly 3 hours before I finally said we had to leave (but not before getting some ice cream!). I think it was a successful afternoon! I love to expose the kids to museums and any other learning activities. I love it even more when they actually enjoy it!!

Friday (June 6) wasn't as fun as the previous two days because there were chores to do. Last week, I took the boys to get Krispy Kreme donuts for their good grades. While we were there, we discovered that today was National Donut Day. Krispy Kreme was giving out free donuts but I didn't have time to drive to Orem...so after swim lessons, I took Danny grocery shopping with me where I let him pick out a donut. After lunch, Jeff and Amber returned from girls camp. Amber was a bit sunburned and tired so she unpacked and relaxed the rest of the day. Jeff, on the other hand, took off running. He was catching up with work and making sure all the emergencies were handled. Luckily, he was able to get everything done so we could still go out on a date. It was nice to finally spend an evening with my husband.

That brings us to Saturday (June 7) - FINALLY! Jeff and I woke up that morning and headed to Timberline to pick up Dallin. Again, I appreciated the alone time I had with Jeff. He truly is my best friend. That doesn't mean that we don't have our differences...it simply means that we always treat each other with respect and love as we work through them. When we reached the camp and found Dallin, he gave me a huge hug. I missed him! I was glad to see him. He seemed to really have enjoyed his week. He shared with us what he'd learned and informed us that he has signed up to be a leader next year (if possible). I know I've grumbled about the Scout program before (mainly the fact that I've felt like I have to nag the boys to get their requirements done), but the values they teach are vital...especially in today's world. I feel like the Scout program supports what Jeff and I try to teach in the home. I am so glad that Dallin is learning these skills that will help him to be the best person he can...now and in the future.

This was one of the team building/cooperation activities he completed during the week. He was assigned as patrol leader.

Dallin as he said good-bye to his scout leaders.

I just thought this picture was funny because the pack seems to be as big as Dallin is! Two of my handsome boys!