June 16-22, 2013
Our Summer of Service Day 21 {06.16}
Father's Day! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful dad! We love to celebrate him. Emma was sweet enough to bring him breakfast in bed. Her mom was not kind enough to get up and help {I was still sleeping and oblivious to her efforts.} So she brought him lemonade and cereal which she manage to spill on him in the presentation process.
Following last year's tradition the kids had prepared "Daddy Dearest Cafe" {bucket list #47 and also our service for the day.} I had to go to Owyhee ward so everyone got home from church before I did. But when I did get there Kurt was making his own dinner! Apparently the kids had helped with their part before I had gotten home {Ruth had grand plans for a fruit salad for days.} Plus they were already prepared with the menu, sign, table decor and entertainment.
Ruth told a few jokes to get things started.
Followed by some original humor by Austin
Spencer did a magic show
{I don't know about you but I think the boys were anxious to use eye liner from our make overs!;}
We sure are blessed with the BEST dad ever! Love you!!
The rest of the day was devoted to Lucy and her second birthday. Although her birthday was actually on Monday Emma Lynn and I were going to be gone at Girl Scout camp. Kurt was gracious enough to share his day with her {like last year when it actually was on father's day.}
The traditional birthday morning wake-up!
She was so cute and kept saying, "Happy Birthday to ME! I'm TWO!"
helping to make her cupcakes after church.
Lucy is kinda obsessed with hair so we went with the Rapunzel theme. Here is the cupcake tower "Cake" I threw together. She LOVED it! We invited Bill and Cindy to come over for presents and cake.
Ever since Sam's surprise birthday she has been singing the Happy Birthday song. We had her sing to herself first just because it is so stinkin' cute. {Don't worry we all sang to her after that.}
This girl is so goofy. Love her to pieces. Can't believe she is TWO!
Our Summer of Service Day 22 {06.17}
Emma and I left that morning {after talking to grandma and grandpa in Madagascar for Lucy's birthday!} for Girl Scout Camp. We had to stop in Ontario first for all the fresh fruit and veggies, plus a few last minute things.Emma was a super great helper. I had to feed everyone lunch at noon {leaders and daughter helping to set up.} So I just grabbed some pizzas to make it easy. We finally got to Parma around noon.
I was the camp cook again and this was my service to cook for 45 people for two days. I also encourage Emma to look for opportunities to serve {and Kurt and the other kids at home too.} They all went on a service call together to fix a pivot for a friend and didn't charge him a service fee. :)
After pizza all the leader's kids got to go swimming as a reward for all their help setting up camp. Gotta have some perks for being the leader's kid!
Just as a reminder Girl Scout Camp last year was a complete and utter DISTASTER!! And I will admit that my attitude about attending this year 36 weeks prego cooking for everyone was not super great. But I am SO so so happy to report that it was a million and one times better than last year. Even in my extra large conditions. I've analyzed it and decided the following factors made it better:
* It was our second year so we were a little bit more prepared with realistic expectations.
* We used the kitchen in Chelle's house for ALL cooking. Last year we were trying extra hard to make it a "real" camping experience and didn't use her house at all. By using modern conveniences it saved me a lot of time and I was able to actually spend time with Emma {and my Junior troop} this year. Very grateful for that.
* We {as leaders} are a better team as we continue to work together for a longer period of time.
There were only 6 brownies that came to camp. One wasn't in the troop this year but her family is moving so they invited her to come as last hurrah before she leaves. The others paired off leaving Emma alone most of the time. It really made me sad to watch. But when we spent time together she was always happy and enjoying herself so I told myself not to worry or make a big deal about it. They were given a journal at registration which she wrote in diligently and she loved all the crafts stations that we set out during free time. I think she was one of the only GS to do them all. :) She is a sweet girl. I love that she read her scriptures before bed, had good manners and a happy attitude.
Our Summer of Service Day 23 {06.18}
Today Emma Lynn painted my toe nails a happy blue color. Such a great service to a mama who is finding it harder and harder to bend over these days. Back at home Austin went to work with Kurt. An employee needed a small body to help him replace an engine monitor. Austin was just the right size and with guidance he was able to replace the part. He was beaming with this accomplishment and opportunity.
One of Emma's act of service
Juniors at flag ceremony
Emma and the Brownies making a kite {out of a garbage bag.}
Swim time for the Daisys and Brownies!
It was a great day. Towards early evening most of the husbands were calling/texting that a storm was coming and coming fast. {For those that don't remember the details of last year a storm destroyed all our tents last year and terrified our girls.} At 6 pm sharp as we were serving dinner it arrived. All the girls had their food so we took them to the porch to eat and leaders ran to tent alley {where tents were already flying and bending and breaking} and the rest of us gathered all the lose items around camp.
The storm wasn't as bad as last year and the girls were calm. BUT tents were ruined and the rain was coming next. As leaders we spent the next hour trying to decide what to do. My opinion voiced was lets end on a good note {camp had been a huge success up to this point} before things get crazy. And eventually that was the consensus and parents were called while we rounded up items and packed up camp in extreme wind. Emma and I got home around 10:30 pm. {Thank you Kurt and Kea and Grandma Cindy for holding down the fort while we were gone! Much appreciated.}
Our Summer of Service Day 24 {06.19}
When we were brainstorming ideas for our Summer of Service I found this NGO online called "Color a Smile." You can print off their coloring pages and then mail them in and they deliver them to hospitals, nursing homes, meals on wheels programs, etc...
It was the perfect service because camp about killed me. It takes a lot for me to admit that. ;) I spent most of the day in bed feeling like a semi had run me over, plus the cramps and contractions that I've endured with diarrhea the entire month of June.
Our Summer of Service Day 25 {06.20}
That evening we visited with a family in our ward who is less active. Their YW is trying to be active and prepare for her patrichrical blessing. So Kurt and I taught her about the importance and what to do to prepare. She is a sweet lady striving to make some good choices without parental guidance. That always amazes me.
The view from her house - quiet and peaceful just as the peace the gospel brings.
We also we able to meet up with our favorite Sister Christensen and her family because she has finished her mission!! Its crazy to think that she is done but it was wonderful to meet her family and catch up with her.
I also had a Doctor's appointment that day. Dialated to a 1 and 75% enfaced and instructions NOT to go to Girls Camp next week. In the back of my head I already knew but still sad. Its just too far from a hospital.
Our Summer of Service Day 26 {06.21}
The day was spent on more of mom's nesting list. :)
Luckily no one has thrown anything sharp or pitched a terrible fit yet. Grateful.
The kids picked a toy, a book and a stuffed animal to donate to a local charity.
Kurt also left that afternoon for an overnight fishing trip in Hells Canyon. A company they do a lot of business with gave them this trip as a Thank You. I really encouraged him to go {how often does Kurt do something just for HIM??? Never.}
That night my Nyssa photographer friends came to take some pics of the girls. I've wanted to hang some pictures of them and their interests in their bedroom. They still have to be edited but I love the raw images already! Here's a little sneak peak of a few:
Our Summer of Service Day 27 {06.22}
After spending most of the morning cleaning and during chores we rewarded ourselves by watching "Monsters University" which just came out the day before. It was super cute and everyone agreed better than the first. ;)
Afterwards we went shopping for Girls Camp food {just for our family. Kurt is one of the priesthood up there and the oldest 4 are still going with.} For our service they returned ALL the shopping carts in the parking lot to the store {they don't have a cage for them in the parking lot.}
Kurt also returned home from his fishing trip. He had a good time {until he got food poisoning on the way home.} Check out this super impressive sturgeon they caught! Glad he could get away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Romans Reflections~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* "Little Rascals" has become the #1 quoted movie by all our kids of all time.
* Austin went with me to my Dr appointment on Thursday. Usually he spends most of the time with his nose in a book so I don't even get to talk to him that much. But he did come up for air long enough to say, "If I were President I would make it a law that everyone would have to be modest."
* Lucy tooted and said to me, "Mom I pooped." "Lucy, it was just gas." "Mom, I pooped gas." The kids are still quoting this days later. Love them some potty humor.
* Spencer continues to hang on everything that will hold his weight, followed by a cartwheel or hand stand. I heard him say to himself, "Drop and give me ten." He proceeded to do ten push ups in quite good form.
* After a big storm in May the door to the chicken coop was ripped off. So since then the chickens have been free range on our property. With all 33 acres they spend most of the time at my front door. Every morning pecking away. Most anoying. But worse than that is the poop all over my new sidewalk. There are VERY FEW things that look nice outside and it has really been bugging me. I asked for Kurt's assistance in fixing the problem {yes this was also on the nesting list.} Thursday morning I was in the shower when the pecking at the front door suddenly stopped and then there was a sound of feet running and into the bedroom runs a chicken. Kurt started yelling and running around trying to get the thing back outside. Needless to say the chicken coop was fixed that night. We are down to two.
* I love Ruth at this age right now. {Obviously I always love her regardless} But she is so super helpful, anxious to serve, a good friend and kind. Can you see why my heart strings are tugging to send her to kinder?
