Scout Camp

Noah left for Scout Camp on Monday morning. We dropped him off and said goodbye and as I was going back to the van, teary-eyed, the Scoutmaster stopped me. He told everyone to look at how cute it was that Noah going to Scout Camp made me cry. I'll admit it. It's true. I love to see the Priesthood brotherhood in action. Watching Noah be accepted as part of the quorum and seeing them all working together just set me off! I'll miss him this week, but he will have a blast! There were 24 boys going and it will be so much fun. They are headed to Forest Lakes between Payson and Heber and have so many AWESOME things planned.

Heard Pueblo

Jacob's Scout Pack went to the BSA Heard Pueblo in Phoenix for day camp this year. For three days, they had a blast with the theme of "Knights of the Pueblo." They jousted with water balloons, played water volleyball and kickball, went swimming, and had fun soaking their leaders, all in the name of staying cool in the afternoon heat. What a riot! I got to go with Jacob the first day and we had so much fun. Arts and crafts, clue hunts, a map and compass course, archery, bb guns, den yells, sword-making, and trips to the trading post were all memories made. I'm a fan of Cub Scouts!

Bug Camp

My friend Cheri, aka "The Bug Lady," holds bug camps in her home every summer. My boys love to go because she loves bugs even more than they do. It creeps me out to drop the kids off and pick them up some days, depending on what they are handling at the moment. Isaac's class was all about butterflies. He brought home a painted lady caterpillar and we watched it change into a chrysalis and then a butterfly. So exciting! Jacob and Isaac both went to the "Insects and Arachnids of Arizona" class and were holding real millipedes when I went back. They brought home an insect-a-soap to bathe with. Then, late one night, Noah and Jacob went scorpion hunting with Cheri. They used black lights and big long tweezers to catch their prey. Ugh.

Durango

This year for the Super Activity, Jeremy took his Priests to Durango, CO, to go whitewater rafting. They invited any Teacher who had started their Eagle project to go, too, so Spencer got to go with his dad.

They drove a big 15-passenger van and visited the Mesa Verde ruins on the way. (This is Spencer and his friend, Trevor.)

Eleven Young Men with Bishop Cowgur. Bishop made this whole trip possible by donating the lodgings at a nice condominium in the Durango Mountain Resort.

It was cooler there, and gorgeous! They took a hike at nearly 10,000 feet elevation and once they caught their breath, enjoyed the beautiful views.

They spent one day on the river with a rafting company. What a rush! (Jeremy is in this raft; he's in the back of the boat with the baseball cap on.)

Spencer is in this raft, although you won't recognize him. He and his friend, Brandon, put their shirts over their heads so they look like ninjas. Spencer is in the very center of the raft.

The boys really enjoyed themselves at the condo. The pool was great and they had fun on the waterslide. (Check out the scenery behind them!)

They liked the weight room, too. Spencer got a good workout in.

After five days it was time to pack up the van again and drive home. What an awesome trip!

Mohawk

Jacob needed a good short summer haircut and he said he wanted his head shaved after school got out. When we were planning to do it, he asked if he could have a mohawk. I am not sure what came over me, but I agreed to give him a mohawk for 6 days! Noah was mortified. He said, "Mom, we are not that kind of family! What will people think?" We shaved off the mohawk on Saturday night, just in time for Jacob to look like a Tibetan monk, or a Holocaust victim, for church on Sunday.

Get a Grip

Now that Spencer is 14 he qualified to go to Youth Conference this summer! Three days, two nights in the dorms at ASU. The theme of the Conference was "Get a Grip" based on Sister Ann Dibb's talk about holding to the iron rod. Spencer had such a great time! They really kept them busy with fabulous speakers, entertainment, dances, activities, and lots of food! He made some new friends, laughed a lot, ate a lot, and came home so excited. I love it.

Weaning

Isaac has been the best nap-taker of all of my boys. I have loved that time we spent together. We always read two books and then he goes to sleep (and usually I doze off for about 15 minutes, too). I decided he needed to be weaned off naps this summer and it's been so hard on me! His poor little body is sort of confused, too. The day everyone was here for Noah's ordination he played and played and then crashed while Grandpa Tom was reading to him. Sweet little guy.

Memorial Day

Nana and Papa took us to Amazing Jakes while they were here. We love the all day all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-ride, and all-you-can-play deal. It's becoming quite the tradition!

Isaac thinks he wins the Go-Kart race every time!

Noah vs. Papa on the bumper cars.

I finally got to take a turn on the bumper cars. I got smashed between Jeremy and Jacob a few times.

It was also my first time on the frog hopper. Jacob talked me into it!

Noah spent nearly the entire day at the rock wall.

Jacob tried to get to the top...

Jeremy tried to get to the top...

But nobody can beat Noah. He's so tenacious and such a thinker!

Who needs Disneyland?

Air hockey: Isaac's favorite.

Noah vs. Papa again.

The mini-coaster makes me ill. But for Jacob the Brave it's no big deal.

Noah is the best big brother.

I caught Jeremy...his guilty pleasure.

Spencer schooling Papa in the ways of a video game addict.

Jacob found a friend at Amazing Jake's and they spent the day together. This is just before they had to say goodbye!

Schuff-Perini Climber

The newest exhibit at the Phoenix Children's Museum is a three-story climbing aventure!

We've been so excited to go try it out and we finally got a chance when we had to go turn in some paperwork for Spencer's Eagle project.

What fun! Even adults can climb, although it isn't easy! I even got a little lost while wandering the twists and turns. One deadend was this amazing giant winged bathtub!

My favorite photo of the day! Three boys, three levels.

So whimsical...a footed, striped boat floating in the sky. You can barely see Jacob and Isaac.

And of course the day wouldn't be complete without a visit to our new favorite place at the museum: the fort building room. Here's Noah's creation.

And Jacob's. What a great visit. Then we found out that they put out Spencer's instruments only two days later. We just missed it!

More Pictures of Noah's Special Day

I forgot I had these other pictures of the day Noah was ordained. The kids had so much fun building a fort on the back porch (made of the box from my new treadmill...yay!). And Noah's favorite gift: a new Star Wars Lego set to feed his construction habit.

Noah Ordained

Noah's ordination to the office of a Deacon was on Sunday, May 30th. We were happy so many members of our family could be here.

Noah with his grandpas.

A special day for father and son.

Super Proud Mama.

That afternoon we invited our friends and family to our home for Sunday dinner. Noah chose the menu: Baby back ribs, buttered noodles, pork and beans, a big veggie tray and a big fruit tray, homemade lemonade, and Aunt Kelli's Hot Fudge Pudding Cake.

We loved having everyone there and had a great time.

We're so thankful for Noah in our family and are so proud of him for this big step in his life. We love you, Noah!