Princess Camp!

I can't seem to help myself - in spite of filling the summer with horseback riding lessons, trips to Utah, and Festival team practices, I had to add something else. And that something was Princess Camp. In it's defense, I and the kids love Princess Camp. And after doing it for three or four years now, I have it down to a science. All year long I shop for crafts, props and sparkles, and when it's time to party, we're ready.

Plus Maggie got to use it as a 10-hour project for her Young Women Personal Progress, so I had her plan and carry out a lot of it. She did a great job and was really helpful!!!

 Every day began with a craft, and then a game, then a snack, then a dance segment (we learned two dances this week, a ballet number and a basic clogging piece), then another craft/project. SO FUN! I started out doing Camp for my girls, and now they love helping with it themselves!

 Sophie and darling cousin Aysia McWhorter

 Musical... um... foam pads

 Maggie and Sophie, our littlest Princess

 And what would Princess camp be without the annual horseback ride? Thank you Shaylyn and Chantel Hines for making it happen!!!

 Blowing bubbles and coloring with sidewalk chalk while taking turns riding horses

Doing our dance. The camp ends with a Grand Ball where the girls all get dressed up, do their dances for their parents, then party under the disco ball with glow bracelets and necklaces. We have SUCH a good time! And we make a little money with it too! Not too much, because of the cost of the crafts and snacks, but still, it's a bonus during our dry summer season when the studio's not in session.

4th Of July 2013 - A Country Club Affair

We made a long weekend of it in Richfield this year then drove up to Utah for a day to be with the cousins (the only time during the year we get to see them... :-( ) and to go to the Country Club for the 4th of July!

We started out the festivities with a morning visit to Pioneer State Park, followed by the elegant, much-anticipated all-you-can-eat buffet at the Club with fireworks afterwards on the Club lawn.

 On the train with Wyatt, Uncle Dave, Luke, Graham, Spence, Sophie, and Paige. And the tour guide.

 Making arrow head necklaces at the Indian teepees. With my friend Roland Denny and his family who happened to be running the craft!

 Papa, Sophie and Paige.

 Love the new water element! Especially on hot days!

 In the pool washing off the dust.... ahhhh.

 Hey Bella!

 All you can drink Shirley Temples - the height of extravagance to my kids!

 So much to choose from.... but this is what I got two plates of, below. The fruit smothered in creme anglaise - what a perfect dessert!!!

 Paige has you under her foot, bud! Not for the first time.

 Playing on the green while waiting for it to get dark

 Jane and Sophie

And the fireworks. Much to the kids' chagrin, we had to leave before they ended to beat the crowd out of there so we could start our three-hour drive home. But Bella was waiting for us in the car and needed our support during the scary antics of the fireworks, so that got them to come a little more willingly. This is one of my favorite ways to spend the 4th of July though - great food that I don't have to cook, and family family family. Love it.

South for the Summer

We made a ton of trips to Richfield to see Gram and Grandpa starting from May on - at least twice a month, cancelling Dance Alliance and Festival team rehearsals to clear our schedules. Grandpa's cancer is not treating him well and we didn't want to miss spending time with him!

 Loving the new horses next door! And of course, when we go to Richfield, Bella goes with us!

 Helping Gram in the garden, which Rob and Grandpa built so beautifully.

 Maggie learned to mow the lawn! On the ride-able lawn mower, that is!

 Spencer with Scotty, our very favorite, sweetest little boy of a Westie.

 Sophie watering the herb garden, which Grandpa also built for Gram.

 Poor Grandpa - not doing so well. But hanging in there.

Note how Sophie holds her hands - she has done since she was little. I love that trait in her! As she's probably watching Spongebob.

Maggie's Birthday

This year Maggie turned the big 1-2. WOW! Growing up so fast! She even got to go to girls' camp this year, by the skin of her teeth since her birthday was the week of camp. She didn't technically have a party this year, unless you count girls' camp, two weeks on tour in Canada and three weeks on tour in Portugal. Which I do. But we still made her feel special anyway - had a family birthday with gifts, etc the night before camp (for which she packed herself two months in advance... she was so excited to go!), and on her birthday itself, which was two days later, I drove up to Driggs that evening and surprised her with her favorite candy bar and a huge hug. How could I not see my own daughter on her birthday? :-) This was her first real time away from home, and she was a little weepy when she saw me (and had had a bout or two of homesickness before, according to her camp leaders), so I was so glad I was able to do it. Sure do love you, my Mags!

Being 12 is a big deal in our little community- she can now babysit legally (YAY! my life was just changed!) and it means leaving Primary behind for the more mature class structure and topics of Young Women at church, and she finally gets to go do baptisms for the dead with us at the temple! Such a meaningful milestone. We have big plans for returning often.

Let Summer Begin!

So I was so organized and ready for summer to start this year! I laminated daily "to do" lists for each child, with things like "brush teeth at least twice", "create something," "play something," "read 2 fiction and one non-fiction book per week and report on them to mom", "serve someone", "tell mom you love her" and three daily chores at different times. Worked like a charm for the first month - my kids like lists and like to check them off themselves, and I never heard "mom, I'm bored!" Sometimes it pays to think ahead. Especially as they had to be self-motivated as we had two international tours coming up that G and I had to plan for!

 Free at last - Spence loves summer!

 I don't have a pic exactly of this, but Gar would often make milkshakes (or sherbet floats) on Sunday nights and we'd sit on our front porch and admire the world, watching people ride their horses or 4-wheelers up and down the street, and chatting to people going on walks below. We have a great neighborhood!

The reward for doing all those chores was horseback rides, one every week with Julie Kimpel of West View Acres. Even I got back up on a horse! I had forgotten though how tricky managing a horse can be. It's harder than it looks!

 The Boston Lambs came and visited us for a few days, and we initiated them to Leo's Place. And Austin and Gabe to laser tag.

 Dad was still working hard at school though. He and Bella are both worn out at the end of the day!

 Each kid has an animal chore per day. Sophie feeds Bella, Maggie walks Bella, and Spence feeds Snickers the cat. And sometimes himself.

 We love Bella!

Okay, sometimes - not often, but sometimes - I am a really cool crafty mom. We made these little boat portal window one afternoon (thank you pinterest) and then watched Finding Nemo. Somehow movies always make their way into our family culture - we really love them.

 Family night at Applebees! With free face painting. Spencer and Gary watched The Avengers together (editing parts, I hope!) and Spence has had a thing for the Hulk ever since.

 Breakfast in bed one Saturday? Yes thank you, my prodigiously awesome offspring!

 I got to help Redge and Saralyn with their Color in Motion race here in Rexburg - had a great time pushing merchandise with Sar, Dawn Goodnough, and Stephanie Ricks, and enjoying the vibrant, colorful energy!

 We love Redge and Sar!