Summer . . . so far

Three birthdays . . . kind of.

We celebrated Kiersten's 4 days before school let out.
Erik's was 4 days later on the last day of school.
Alex turned five 4 days ago.

Kiersten is playing her wrapping paper. I think she liked it more than any real present.


Her birthday happened to fall on Siesta Sunday and since it was a big one -- 16 -- I invited some of her friends over for cake and ice cream.

Erik received a gift from Savanna Lawson, a girl from our old neighborhood who dubbed him Roadrunner in first grade since he always ran to school. They were in the same English class this year, and for the Shakespeare unit, Erik got cast as Romeo and Savanna was Juliet.



Alex reminded me months in advance that since he was turning 5, it was the big year for his first birthday party. I do believe this was the most low key party I've ever come up with. Splash pad, popsicles and chocolate chip-m&m cookies, open presents, send kids home with a punch balloon. The best part is my older kids pretty much ran the show.






Payson Temple open house was part of our summer plans and Training Table afterwards.

A last minute race for Kiersten with her friend Hannah.

Quick day trip to Ogden to the Dinosaur Park and Smith & Edwards -- funnest store around.

Seems like we hit the dino park every so often. First time ever was on Erik's 4th birthday and the terror that filled his little heart. It took us the entire trip through the park to convince him they weren't real. Then we had to go back through again and see it with new eyes.

2011


2007

2004 (notice Erik is not in this picture)

Youth Conference in Ferron. One of our impromtu night activites was instigated by the Tovar family. We had a little rap fest where the kids would face off and come up with a rap that was complimentary about the other person. What a riot! My rap pretty much sums up the amazing group of young people we have in our ward.

"We have the best Youth in the entire stake. The live in a Ward on the Point by the Lake!" :) Get it? Lake Point Ward Youth. Ha ha.


I won't lie; it was a little stressful knowing we were headed home and I just prayed they would all behave themselves and not be stupid. They far exceeded my expectations. I didn't stress a minute we were there. The feedback I got afterwards was that they all want to come again and how much they loved all the free time. They pretty much lived in the pond the entire two days.



Friday morning we went on a hike out to some Indian writings and then later that day we performed a little talent show at the nursing home.

Toward evening a game of capture the flag commenced. The pond was neutral and each team was on one side of the pond and the other. I went undercover for one team and acted as the garbage lady picking up trash when really I was gathering information about where their flag was. As I came upon the flag I debated about how I was going to get it back to the other side. Meghan, who was guarding the flag somewhat, asked if I was playing and before I could really respond she said, "Oh, you're just the garbage lady." A minute later I took that flag and jumped in the pond, clothes and all, yelling, "I got their flag" and swam it to the other side. I took everyone by surprise since I hadn't been in the pond yet. It was a very clever move and won me many high hives, hugs, glares, cheater comments. It was definitely a moment that will live on in infamy with the youth of our ward.

Rootbeer tasting party for Fathr's Day. I do believe the winner was IBC.


And tomorrow we are hosting a neighborhood party. Welcome summer!

Life's tragedies

I started composing another birthday post, but my mind wouldn't let me wander in that direction. All day today I have been consumed with thoughts of a missionary serving with my parents on Christmas Island.

Elder Openshaw was the receiver of some terrible, terrible news on Friday. His parents and three of his younger siblings were flying home from the midwest on a small airplane piloted by his dad. For reasons not known right now, the plane immediately crashed after taking off, killing his parents, two of his siblings, and leaving his 5-year-old brother in a hospital. He has another brother who is in Germany doing some schooling.

How would I deal with such devasting news?

What would it feel like to lose more than half your family at once?

Dad sent an email about the day he received the news.

Here's just a quick letter to tell you about Elder Openshaw. You've heard the news about the plane crash in Missouri that took the lives of his parents, a sister, and a younger brother. This is our favorite Elder on the island. He has been here for almost 6 months now and is scheduled to go to Fanning next week with me. We went to his place yesterday morning in the car and picked them up. While we were riding back his phone rang and it was a call somehow from Elder Anderson of the 12. He offered to fly him back if he decided but Openshaw was determined to stay. Maybe today is different. I spent a bunch of time with him yesterday and during the travel he started to waiver about going home for one reason.....the little 5 year old brother who survived the crash. Maybe today he will have decided for sure. He was the only Elder who agreed with me during the last batch of Elders that they were out of control and so disobedient. He is very polite and always courteous and polite. I was so impressed with him that I wrote a letter to his folks and told them what a great missionary he was. He was telling me last night that Governor Herbert had flown in that plane with his dad a few times. I got him hooked on fishing so much that he bought him a pole identical to mine. By the way, his parents lived a few blocks south of where Mom used to live on Dover Lane. [Attached is] a picture of this Elder that I took last night at the baptism. Study his face and see if you can tell that he just lost his family 12 hours earlier.

In the picture [below] Elder Openshaw is in the sunglasses. The Elder on the right is the only one in the picture who knows about the tragedy.

In the picture [below], Elder Openshaw is on the back row far left.  He didn't tell anyone about it except the Elders.

I'm sure he is still in shock. I would be. I've been praying for him and his brothers. His life just changed very dramatically and in a way that will never quite be the same.

So . . . how would I cope if I received such devasting news?

Tears would fall. Shock and grief and numbness would be a part of my day and days as I mourned and tried to grasp the awfulness of it all. BUT . . . the sunshine would eventually return because I know Father in Heaven has a plan for us that enables families to be reunited one day. And Jesus Christ ransomed his life enabling life to continue for all mankind. He broke that awful band of death with his resurrection. Death is not the end!!

I look at that elder above and what I see is a young man full of faith and hope and peace. He knows this earth life is just a small fraction of the eternities and that FAMILIES ARE FOREVER :) He knows one day he will see his mom and his dad and his sister and brother again. That is powerful knowledge.

Elevate learning

Last week at seminary graduation (although they don't call it that anymore because they honor all students who have completed the requirements for the year . . . it's more like seminary recognition) Brother Douglas made the comment that this past year was the first year that changes were made essentially raising the bar for the seminary students. It was to elevate learning. Wowzers, I love that phrase.

Elevate learning.

Shouldn't we all strive to consistently elevate our learning.

Every summer for the past couple I've had my kids set summer goals to accomplish. One of Ashlyn's is to start learning the violin. Nate and Kiersten are rubbing off. Nate wants to run 250 miles and Kiersten wants to double that to 500 miles. They both have been running every morning and evening for the past couple of weeks. That will be quite an accomplishment if they do it which of course they will :) Erik has a goal of finishing his eagle project. That would also be quite an accomplishment.

If my kids are being held accountable for their summer, so shall I.

I'm going to follow Kiersten's example of never missing a day of scripture reading. That's right. Did I tell you she hasn't missed a day in over a year since attending EFY last June.

I really want to learn to play the guitar and I've gone a little soft in the middle and want to do more sit ups.

Have a look at my nightstand?

Do you see a problem?

I don't think "elevate learning" means to have an Everest-high stack of books on your nightstand. Seriously, I am in the middle of most of the them and would love to have half that amount sitting there. My Goodreads feed just might blow up if I conquered that goal.

Catch up on birthdays

Boy do I have a little catching up to do. We've had three kid birthdays so far this year, one of them being the big 1-6. I can't hardly believe I have a sixteen year old who almost has her driving license and can date. I'm feeling just a little old today.

But let's start with Ash shall we since she is the first child of the year to have a birthday. She is now double digits and all she wanted to do was go ice skating. I don't know that I've ever been ice skating other than on the pond. Wouldn't it just be like roller blading?

I was mad for forgetting the camera and have to suffer with these terrible phone photos.

Ice skating is different than roller blading and took some getting used to, but after Ash and I did a lap she had the hang of it and cruised the entire evening.


Erik slowly made his way around.

Alex had help from Tyler and didn't want to stop all night long.

Kiersten got to be pretty good. 

And Nate hated every minute of it.

As per her request every year, she had donuts for breakfast and chocolate mint brownies for birthday treat.

Her birthday interview questionnaire (she's even wearing her favorite outfit in the photo above):

Since this seems to be about Ash, one highlight of her birthday month was that we got to attend the General Women's Conference in the Conference Center. 

Sister Esplin: In every home where there is just one person seeking light, it will make a difference in the home. We must find quiet moments to seek light and truth and then live it.