youth conference 2009

Our stake put together the most incredible Youth Conference for the kids! Every other year when there is a stake YC, they either go on Trek or a Book of Mormon experience...this was the year of the BoM. Technically I didn't need to go because they didn't need us as leaders, but my friend Nan hooked me up (with her and a few others) to take pictures. Yes, that was our only job...all day long...taking pictures, looking for "the shot," whenever, wherever. It was a rough job, but somebody had to do it!! Now I know what I want to do in my next life...;)

Seriously yummy food for "roughing it"

But before we got up there, we began at the stake center, in our "Book of Mormon attire." The gym was decorated up to look like old Jerusalem. There were games, activities, a carpenter, fabrics, pottery, and, of course, plenty of food!

As we were driving into camp, the dark and threatening clouds were moving in quickly. This was nothing new, since it had rained almost every day in June up to this point, but we were hoping for better.

Just after everyone arrived and gathered together into their families, with Lehi's and Sariah's as parents over around 10-12 "children," the heavens opened up and the rain/hail came down!! I do feel kind of bad that Nan and I kept warm/dry in my car (just after we dropped off Julie!), but I did get a couple of pretty cool pictures from there!

(Thanks to Julie for some of her "outdoor" pictures!)

But almost as quickly as it came, the storm was gone, and left us with beautiful blue skies...and a whole lotta MUD!!

The first day the "families" played games that helped them to get to know each other better and they learned to work together.

It was crazy muddy out there from all the rain!

Emily and Lindsey--two of our cute laurels!

The next days activities were more of a spiritual nature.

The Whisperings of the Spirit activity was one of the kids' favorite activity. While blindfolded, they had to choose which voice to follow--if they didn't choose the right voice, they were led all over the place; through puddles and mud, over rocks, or just led around in circles. The correct voice would lead them back to their family.

One of our favorite Sariah's and Lehi's--Julie and Tom.

This was the Iron Rod activity, and it was one of my favorites. The kids were blindfolded, and then followed a rope that they were holding on to. At one point the rope ends. Then what do you do? Many tried to find their own way to the next rope, but there were some who dropped to their knees, as an act of asking for help. It was a very powerful message.

These were some of my favorite pictures that didn't really fit in anywhere else...

A big part of the Book of Mormon experience were the reinactments of different B of M stories.

At the stake center before we left, we watched the story of Lehi leading his family out of Jerusalem, and Nephi and his brothers going back to get the brass plates from Laban. After they got the records and were about to continue on their journey, everyone kneeled with them in prayer as we all began our journey "into the wilderness."

After the morning storm, followed by "family activities" on the first day, that afternoon we met together in the big grassy field. We were greeted and taught by King Benjamin.

That night after dinner, we met in the same field to watch King Noah and his wicked priests capture the prophet Abinadai. Abinadai (our bishop) told the king and his priests that they needed to repent. One priest, Alma, believed the teachings of Abinadai, and was able to escape.
Abinadai was not so fortunate, but was burned at the stake for following the teachings of God. This was a very powerful moment. (note: our bishop was NOT burned at the stake, but was switched out before then; whew!)

Alma and the sons of Mosiah made a visit to our group the following day.

I had to leave that Friday night and get back to sick kids with high fevers, so I missed Captain Moroni, and the prophet Moroni. Capt. Moroni, funny enough, knew how to work email and sent me a copy of his amazing talk. I also missed the thunder and lightning "storm" created at 3am Saturday morning, prior to the visitation of Christ to the camp. The entire weekend was a great experience for the kids, and for the rest of us. You read these stories in the Book of Mormon, but to see them acted out and to imagine what it must have been like really brings it all to life.

Me and Nan ;) Thanks for inviting me to go!!

jake's firsts

This will be short, sweet and to the point...literally!! And I'm talking about this post, not Jake's hair...
After a few weeks of coaxing/brainwashing, on the day we were going to Brenda's last week for haircuts, Jake agreed to get his hair buzzed:

Isn't it just the cutest thing on him?! I knew a buzz would be so cute on him, and it fits him perfectly. Of course, the other two were not going to have anything to do with a buzz, which was just fine with me!

Since Jake was already experiencing firsts, we might as well throw in his first tooth to come out! I kind of heard Jake and Daren in the bathroom Sunday night, and it went something like this:

Jake--Dad, look I have a loose tooth!

Daren, aka: Daddy--Yes you do. Why don't you try pulling it out?

Jake--Ok. *pulls on it and yanks his own tooth out* Yea! I did it!!!!!! *Then comes running to find me and show me his teeny tiny tooth. (He has very small teeth)

When Jake showed Ben and Will his new treasure, Ben had to go find his kindergarten journal to show Jake how he lost his first tooth in dance class at school. You can see Jake's new tooth growing in, and the tooth next to it is already loose--however, I was able to keep him from pulling out his new loose tooth by telling him that it's not loose enough yet. That might keep him from doing it for at least a day!! I don't think the tooth fairy was very prepared for that, but she did alright! ;)

Good job Jakers!! You have been one brave boy this week and I sure love you extra! One of these days, though, you'll have to quit growing up so fast!!!!!!!!!!!

summer adventures

Kennecott Copper Mine

Now that everyone is better from all our sicknesses, we can finally start on summer!! Yea! And what better way to get started on summer than a family outing to Kennecott Copper Mines.

Truth be told, this has been in our backyard since we moved here, and I've never been to it. Gma Train took Ben a few years ago, so I figured we were covered for a while. I was just as excited as the boys to see it all!

First things first, and all the quarters from any adult within our group were quickly confiscated and used to look through the overgrown binocular thingys (whatever you call them). Terry was kind enough to offer our little pip-squeak, aka: Will, some assistance to see out into the open mines.

This is what they saw--wouldn't you love to look into their thoughts and know what they were thinking as they saw all this happening. I'm sure it was something like, "Dang! That's a big sandbox!"

This is part of our fun group we went with, by the token huge tire! Daren's Aunt Janyce (affectionately know to the family as Aunt Pooh--try explaining that one to 3 young boys!) put this trip together, and although Daren couldn't join us, we had a great time with Daren's cousins, aunts, uncles, and Gma Cox.

Cool old box car something-or-other!

You can't even see in this picture how teeny tiny these great big trucks look when they get to the other side of the pit. We went inside the visitor center, checked out all the cool stuff, and went to watch a short movie of the history of the copper mine. It was so fascinating, though I doubt the boys would say that!

After the mine, we picked up some food at the golden arches (McD's), and most everyone met over at the park here in Riverton to eat and play. I love this family that I'm a part of!! And I know a lot of them read this blog, and even though they never post comments, we still love ya! Thanks for the good times!

Lagoon

With the boys getting a little older, we figured it was as good of a time as ever to take advantage of the super sweet deal we got through the fire department to get season tickets to Lagoon (you only have to go 1.5 times to cover the charge and then you're in the good!). Besides, this is my alma matter, the place I grew up at, etc. I remember walking to Lagoon from my grandparents house in Farmington, going there as a family, being able to hear the rides from friends houses, etc., when I was younger...much younger, as Daren would say!!

Will could hardly wait to ride "Jacque's plane," and even sang the Indiana Jones theme song as he drove his plane away. He was "happier than a tornado in a trailer park!" (Mater, from the movie Cars)

Unfortunately for Ben, this year he was too big for all the kiddie rides, so he tried to wait patiently until he could go on some of his rides. After the old roller coaster, I took Jake and Ben to ride on the newer "Spider" ride. It was kinda scary...for me! I hate rides like that where you feel like you are going to derail at any minute cuz the rinky dinky chairs you are sitting in can't possibly hold you on. Sheesh!

We really saw this spider right as we got in line for the Spider ride! We found out after this ride that Jake is barely tall enough to ride all the bigger rides if he rides with someone responsible. How responsible can you be if you let your 5-year old ride all these crazy rides?! We hit the Colossus after Spider, and Jake was woo-hoo-ing it up as Ben was pretty darn nervous about it. I had to bribe him onto the ride, but Ben ended up loving it. Man, I remember when that was built...

Somehow, Daren got out of going on all these motion rides with the boys! They loved the Tidal Wave, and it was fun getting a picture of all our toes hanging out over the park while we were on the sky ride.

These were some of my favorite rides when I was growing up:

the old wooden roller coaster--still a classic ride!

How could you not love the Terror Ride?! I dont think they've changed one thing in it over the years!

We stayed until sunset, and took this picture above and below as we were once again, riding the Sky Ride.

Such good times!! And the boys were great...at least until it was time to go home. We saved the best for last--Wicked!! Ben and Jake loved it (while Will and Daren were snoozing in the car while waiting for us), and wanted to go again and again. Time ran out on us though, and so did my stomach! One more motion ride like that and I would have lost everything! I can't wait for our next adventure, whatever that is!