Girls Camp 2019 - Heber Valley Camp

This week, I had the opportunity to attend Girls Camp with the young women in our ward. I was released from my calling in the Young Women's organization a few months ago, but because of the lack of leaders available to go, they asked if I would be willing. Honestly, I wanted to go, but I also have a lot going on! The day after I would return from camp, I knew we would be hosting Amber's bridal shower and attending the temple with Dallin for the first time followed by a family dinner...and that was already after two graduations, a priesthood ordination, a quick trip to AZ, and a campout at Lagoon! Still, I felt I needed to go. I am not prideful enough to assume that the reason I felt I needed to go was to influence the girls, but I needed to go to humble myself. Often times, I feel like I am the only one running the show so to speak. I will get frustrated with others because I don't feel like they're helping enough, but I honestly don't give them opportunities to help. This was a week for me to learn how to delegate and lean on my team. I have an amazing "team"! Jeff and the kids are more than capable of picking up my slack, and I needed them to. I needed time to be with these young women and the amazing other leaders (Michelle Grant, Colleen Soreson, Michelle Pratt, and Lakyn Miller) who inspire me. I loved simply hanging out with all of them. I couldn't have asked for a better week! It was FREEZING, but fun. We got to go canoeing, do a ropes course, be creative in a service project, make fun marshmallow guns, catch squirrels, and so much more. While I may have felt physically exhausted at the end of the week, I was spiritually and emotionally rejuvenated!

Memorial Day weekend at Lagoon!

Dallin and I flew home Friday (May 24). Jeff picked us up at the airport and took us to the campground at Lagoon where we spent the weekend. Jeff's best friend, Matt Told, invited us to join his family at Lagoon for the weekend. They were finishing up a week-long family vacation with their family before their second son, Michael leaves on his mission. Needless to say, we didn't do much other than set up camp on Friday. However, Saturday (May 25) we spent the entire day at Lagoon. Of course, we had to split up because Jonas isn't quite big enough to ride all the roller coasters, but he's tall enough to ride quite a few! Jeff, Jonas and I hung out together. Jonas's excitement was contagious. I had a blast just watching him enjoy the rides. It was a very different experience than when I first brought him to Lagoon nearly two years ago. He was not impressed with the rides at that time, but this time he couldn't get enough! His favorite ride was the same ride he HATED the first time - the Dinosaur Drop. In fact, it was the first ride I ever took him on at Lagoon. He also really loved the Puff the Dragon coaster. We also took him on the Bambora coaster and the Bat coaster. I can't believe how big he is getting!

We met up with the other kids for lunch and decided to ride Rattlesnake Rapids together. Neither Jonas or I really wanted to get wet, but we still went on the ride...and still got wet. Afterward, Laurin and her friend, Casey, offered to take Jonas on a few rides so Jeff and I could ride the Cannibal rollercoaster. This ride was built a couple years ago, but Jeff and I had never been on it. It was a blast! We rode it twice. I'm getting to the point where I can't spend all day riding rides or else I get sick, but I still enjoy a good rollercoaster ride!

Jeff, Jonas and I finished all the rides around dinner time, but the older kids were still going strong. Luckily, we were able to just walk outside the park and into our trailer for the night. The next day (Sunday, May 26), we woke up and attended church then spent the rest of the day just hanging out. We enjoyed associating with Matt and his family. Jeff, Jonas and I also took a little hike on the Lagoon Trail in the afternoon. The kids played games and just hung out. It was nice to have a day to do nothing.

Monday morning (Memorial Day - May 27), we woke up, ate breakfast, packed up and headed home. I wish I could say that I planned something meaningful to celebrate the holiday, but I didn't. We just got home and unpacked then I re-packed to head out to Girls Camp the next day. Life is going to slow down, right? Even though life is busy right now, I wouldn't trade it for the world! I love my little family and am grateful for these little moments to spend time together.

Camp Verde Class of 2019

The day after Dallin graduated, we were off to another graduation! Dallin and I flew to Arizona for 24 hours to attend Tyler's graduation and hang out for a bit. It was an extremely quick trip, but it was worth it! I'm so proud of Tyler. He too is graduating with high academics and has earned a full ride scholarship to NAU, which he will start attending in the fall. I have loved watching Tyler and Dallin become friends. I loved that they had fun hanging out together. They are both growing up so fast. I think we could all feel the changes that are coming. Dallin will be leaving for two years. Tyler will be attending school. Nothing is ever going to be the same...so we made the best out of the time we had. The boys hung out all night following the graduation then the next day we went to eat at a Dominican restaurant (to get Dallin accustomed to the food he'll be eating for the next two years), did a little shopping, grabbed some ice cream then flew home!