This is What Reminds Me of Summer

Girls Camp at Warm Springs!

We had 17 girls and almost every leader attend. We built lots of swimming in to the schedule every day. But we also went rifle shooting, did all of the certification, cooked fabulous food, and has a wonderful testimony meeting. I always tell people that the girls go to be with their friends but I do too . . . I love those ladies so much.

Since it was so hot we decided not to attach the rain fly onto the tent. It was so cool to look at the stars before drifting off to sleep, and we desperately needed the circulation (since I don't think it was under 88 degrees any night). But . . . and you know what I'm going to say before I even say it . . . it rained the last night. And we experienced hurricane-force winds, which turned our fly-attaching mission into a lesson on how sailboats work. Somehow with brute force and duct tape we were able to get the tarp on and lie back on our cots . . . only to be tortured with the loudest, most persistent FWAP-FWAP-FWAPing imaginable!

The girls were so sweet and helpful, especially in helping each other shore up their tents and make sure everyone was safe. We have the best young women, which is why I have the best calling in the world.

Unfortunately just three weeks after our girls camp the entire facility burned down due to--ironically--brush-clearing efforts designed to reduce the risk of wildfires. It was very sad news indeed.


Tyce's EFY (Especially for Youth)!

He attended at BYU and he had a blast. He didn't go with anyone he knew but he quickly made friends. His roommate was from Hong Kong and wasn't even a member of our church; I can't imagine the double culture shock Dickson (his Americanized name) must have experienced spending the week in America at an LDS youth conference.

Tyce loved his entire company--the boys and (especially!) the girls. They were all 14-year-olds and most of them were from the western states. Two girls were from North Las Vegas. They had a spiritually uplifting week from hearing amazing speakers--John Bytheway!--to inspiring devotionals with their counselors. They also had fun at dances, where Tyce boogied so hard he won first place in the dance competition. In their free time Tyce's company went bowling and became Jamba Juice's best customers.

He had a wonderful experience, and it was 100% worth it to me to see the light in his eyes and the energy in his spirit when he returned home. He's already looking forward to going back next summer.

Swimming with friends!

We swam a lot this summer and these pictures are from when Betsie and her girls joined us at the Whitney Ranch pool.

Ninja Cameron!

He makes these faces pretty much all day long.

Free Summer Film Festival!

We went nearly every week this summer, and our last movie was "Astro Boy." I fielded Cameron's questions every time on the movies' rating: "Is it R-PG-13?" Because that mish-mash rating is definitely off-limits. This last time he smuggled a bag of grapes in--under his baseball cap! He looks pretty pleased with his plan, eh?

Swimming lessons!

Harrison is quite a good swimmer already. He is very physically talented and catches on quickly. Both boys really enjoyed their lessons with Miss Haley.

Mary was thrilled to find out she was the only one in her class and had a teacher all to herself. They worked on swimming strokes and diving. I love this picture because she and the bird look like they're going the same way!

Playing games!

The twins are starting to play UNO. And we will always love Settlers of Catan but it's fun to get new games. I especially like this one because I won the first three times we played it. Haha. But now Bryce is on to my strategy and has trounced me ever since. It's really easy to learn and a lot of fun, so next time you come visit . . . let's play!

America's Got Talent!

I love this summer show! Some of our favorites so far are Hannibal Means--for his eccentricity as much as his voice; and Haspop--because his moves are pretty amazing.

But my bet is on Fighting Gravity-- I think they'll win it all.

Visits with family, road trips, strawberry slushes, quoting Nacho Libre, reading Hunger Games, sleeping in . . . these are the things that remind me of summer.

Another Cam-erism

During sacrament meeting Cameron was squirming on my lap.

Me: Cam, be still. The sacrament is the most holy ordinance you'll participate in today.

Cam: AND the yummiest.

Our Cammer Jammer

I took Cameron in to the doctor because of his snorting problem. The sound is just like when you ask a child to oink like a pig--but it's about every 10 seconds. And he can't stop. We've tried allergy treatments and I don't think it's allergies. He had this problem in the spring and his preschool teachers nearly went crazy, practically begging me to take him in. But he stopped just in time for the preschool graduation in May. So we thought it seasonal allergies (even though the meds didn't work) or a lingering sinus problem that finally went away.

But now it's back. And Lord help us all if it's a nervous habit or a tic.

I also consulted with the doctor regarding ADHD meds for Cam, which he totally backed me on. The good thing about Dr. Levin is that he trusts me. The bad thing is that I didn't do any research before broaching the subject and I think he gave me the most expensive medication sample there is. He said, "There's a $50 discount card for your first prescription." I said, "Oh, he has Medicaid so that won't be a problem." And Dr. Levin told me, "Medicaid doesn't pay for this."

Well . . . crud.

We may have to go old-school with Pepsi and a Ritalin.

(Something funny about the sample pack: When we got home Cam handed me the box and said happily, "I'm ready for my side effects!" )

Our other kids take Strattera but I'm not in love with it. And it's pretty dang expensive even though insurance (not Medicaid) pays for a big chunk. In the two weeks he's on Intuniv we'll do our homework.

I thought long and hard about medicating but it's obvious that he needs some outside help. I  don't want Cameron to be the kid who snorts and pesters and talks too loud. I surely don't want him to to fall behind in class because he can't pay attention. I don't want his behaviors to get in the way of who his IS: a sweet, funny, sincere, likable kid. That's our Cammer Jammer.

Young Men are from Mars, Young Women are from Venus

Last night I taught a class to the young women on stress management. I have a nice fat folder of materials from when I worked at the biofeedback lab in college (including a work schedule from 1994--I hope I really did come in on Monday at 8 a.m.).

I led them in a breathing meditation and then a progressive muscle relaxation exercise. Soft music played in the background. With the lights off and my disembodied voice saying things like,

"Take a deep breath in, and tense the muscles in your thighs. Hold for just a moment, and then release everything. As you do this, the blood flow to your muscles increases, and you may notice a warm tingling sensation. Enjoy this feeling of soothing relaxation in your thighs . . . "

all I really heard were fits of giggles.

The worst part is that they made me have to bite my cheek not to join them.

But seriously, the girls were very sweet and I felt that we had a really good class. And I will say, they all looked very relaxed.

When I came home my house was a wreck and six boys were sitting in my living room watching "Myth Busters." As the 1st counselor in the bishopric Bryce is the ad hoc adviser for Tyce's class; after opening exercises at church they went to the park to play baseball. Apparently they topped off the night be raiding the treat closet and watching a little telly. Chomping on Oreos and rooting for the 1:12 scale Lamborghini to really skip across water seemed to be right up these boys' alley.


I'm pretty sure we all had a good night.

Happy Birthday to Bryce!

His birthday was July 22nd and don't tell anybody, but this is his last birthday in a certain decade.

But you know what they say, 39 is the new 29. And brown is the new black. And trifle is the new birthday cake.

(Check out this beauty!)

I'm glad a took a picture of Bryce with each of the kids because these are pretty much my favorite people in the world.

Harrison made a very cute card for his daddy.

Tyce also made a clever card.

And Mary made sure her card was all about BYU.

A

Cameron didn't get around to making anything but he gave lots and lots of hugs.

Ben and Kim gave Bryce the thing he really wanted: a lemon ball.

After the party Steven and Konner came over to play Settlers of Catan with us. Steven showed no birthday mercy and trash-talked Bryce all the way to victory.

Even so, I hope it was a good birthday, because a ton of people love him and hope he has a fabulous year to come.

HBTY, Bryce!

Trip to Utah

So much for my resolve to be a better (i.e. more prolific) blogger.

Today we went to the free movies to see that cinematic wonder "Space Chimps" with Steven and Konner. After that I took the kids swimming, but swapped Steven for his older brother Cannon. Around here it's all boys, all the time. Poor Mary is still in school, and as she says, "We're not having parties all the time like you think we are. This last week is full of spelling tests, just so you know."

And apparently I threw away her math book. Like in the trash. I kind of remember thinking that it was her old text book they let us keep because it had a messed up table of contents. This is what happens when you declutter: you end up shelling out $55 for a math book that was never opened once at home.

But I digress.

We went to Utah last month and it was great. I really, really needed a change of scenery and we had a great time with all of Bryce's family. I don't have any pictures of Mary because she was reclusive and spent most of her time with Kess but she had fun.

Cameron and Harrison loved spashing in the pool Grandma and Grandpa set up. The only drawback was the copious amount of grass they tracked into the water. Don't you just love that giant back yard?

 One night when Judy showed us her pictures from England, Judy's cousin Nan Pay came for a surprise visit. She is hilarious and had us rolling with her dry sense of humor.

 On Sunday Kess was baptized by her dad, Andy Price.

 Ben and Tyce sat on the back row and tried to keep Cameron quiet, which we all know was in vain.

 Bryce's cousin Makoto Jones and his family came. Makoto is a doctor in Salt Lake.

 Tyce really loves babies, especially adorable cousins. Following the baptism Andy blessed his third daughter, Natasha Nydia Price.

 I know this isn't the best lighting but I loved the fact that Harrison went up and just hugged his Grandpa Al.

 After the baby blessing Bryce ordained Tyce to the office of a  Teacher. Look how tall he's getting!

 Cameron and I posed for a quick shot on that very hot day.

 After the church events there was an open house in the Prices' yard. What a beautiful mom and her new baby! 

 Harrison also loves babies and enjoyed his 5-second turn with baby Natasha.

 Heather is such a good aunt and one of the funnest people I know!

Kim kicked our butts in Settlers of Catan just like I knew she would!

Grandpa Al and Grandma Judy  . . . thanks for always being such wonderful hosts. We love you!

 After a jam-packed 3-day weekend we headed home.

 See, there's Mary with an apple. She was here all along. We took Ben back with us for the week so he wouldn't be bored while his mom went to a camp in Yellowstone.

Our tireless driver, my handsome husband, and stormy-weather lover Bryce.

 We saw the brightest, coolest double rainbow!

 

 I think this might be one of my favorite shots ever. To add to the drama we were listening to the audio book "Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Ray Bradbury.

 A beautiful sunset.

So that was our trip.

Having Ben here was fun--he's a great kid. Tyce sure is lucky to have a cousin just six weeks older than he is, who speaks his 14-year-old boy language and likes what he likes. I will say I wish they made an estrogen spray--like a room freshener--to balance out all that testosterone, hardy har har. It's hard to believe they're both entering high school when I remember them both being in preschool like it was yesterday.

Bryce took Ben and Tyce BACK to Utah the next weekend so Ben could catch his flight back to Houston and Tyce could attend Especially For Youth (EFY) at BYU. Cameron got to come on this leg of the trip while I stayed home with Mary and Harrison.

Coming, going, coming, going . . . and now we're all home (for a while).

This month is such a special one, it's birthday time for Tyce

Those even-numbered birthdays are pretty great. Now that he's 14 Tyce can go to youth conference, stake dances, and EFY. And believe me, he's been chomping at the bit to do all three. He wanted an Oreo ice cream cake, so I made one. Ask and ye shall receive, my child.

We had a family party on his birthday, July 3rd. He got several great presents but the last gift was the best of all--his own cell phone. It came with 1000 parental rules and restrictions but he was still ecstatic.

Oh boy  . . . what could it be?

You know this is a staged picture because no teenager actually *talks* on their cell phones anymore--they just text.

Later we had the cake and Tyce went to the movies with his friend Gonzalo.

After his trip to Texas and before we left for Utah Tyce had his "friend" party. Here are the neighborhood boys: Steven, Davian, Elijah, and Konner. They had pizza and (another) ice cream cake before going to the movies to see "A-Team." After that they went to the park to play cops and robbers in the dark.

The boys all pitched in to get Tyce this hat and these very cool sunglasses.

So now I have a 14-year-old; no longer a child but becoming quite a fine young man.

Blogging Vacation...apparently

Oh my. Where have I been? Where have YOU been? Are we all still here, having a good summer?

And if so . . . will you bring me ice cream?

(Actually I've been making these fruit slushes--holy moly, so good. Our kids and the neighbor boys flip for them. I'll post the recipe on my cooking blog soon.)

You will be happy to know that the pigeons are gone. We hired an exterminator. We paid an outrageous amount of money for the privilege of living Poncho-free but oh boy, it is so nice to have a clean, quiet driveway again.

This month . . . oh what a month. Some happenings included Tyce's birthday; Independence Day; a trip to Utah for Kess's baptism, baby Natasha's blessing, and Tyce's ordination; Bryce's birthday; attending the much-anticipated sealing of the Urbancic's baby;  Tyce's trip to Texas; taking and picking up Tyce from daily football practice; entertaining (and being entertained by) cousin Ben (age 14) for a week; another trip to Utah to drop Tyce off at EFY; and various running around to swimming pools and free movies and making slushes for all to enjoy.

And Mary, Bryce, and I have been playing Settlers of Catan at night.
 
Oh, and I registered the boys for kindergarten.

So that's what we've been up to. And now my blogging vacation is over.

 The kids torturing their dad on Father's Day.