Yeah! Here come Grandma and Grandpa!

My mom and dad came to stay with us for a few days this week. We had a lovely visit and the time went much too quickly!

The kids got to spend time with their grandparents and did some fun activities including tennis, swimming, board games, and working on scouting.

My dad worked on our yard digging up lots of weeds (too bad he is not here all of the time) and my mom and I went for a refreshing swim each day in our backyard pool.

Mom and Dad were able to see both Tuacahn shows ("Les Miserables" and "The Sound of Music") while they were here and they enjoyed them very much. I had Cub Scout Pack Meeting Thursday night and Rick and I had a training all day Friday and so they baby-sat the little kids for us during those two events and headed back Saturday morning. We enjoyed having them come. Thanks Mom and Dad -- we love you!

Fun With Flubber!

A few years ago my sister taught us how to make flubber. It is so easy and fun to make! Janika has made it for her brother's and sister's birthday parties, play-dates, and simply for family fun.

Here are some pictures showing the fun things you can do with flubber! For the recipe go to:

http://www.makingfriends.com/r_flubber.htm

Play-Group

A few families in the neighborhood started a summer play-group once a week. We take turns having all of the kids at our various homes so that the moms can get a couple of hours off a week!

We hosted the play-group today and so I enlisted Janika's help in making flubber with all of the kids. It was a big hit! We also had a fun little picnic outside. The kids all had a great time together!

Father's Day Flee -- Day One

Rick is such an awesome Dad! Here he is sharing a scripture with Janelle at our annual "Father's Day Flee." He is wearing his Father's Day T-shirt from Janika that says, "University of DAD where money grows on trees." (We wish!)

"Father's Day Flee" is a tradition that Rick and I started several years ago where we take our family on a fun/spiritual vacation around Father's Day. It is sort of like a "mini-EFY." Usually we go out of town, but this year we opted to try it from home because of other commitments.

We invited our friends, the Bashfords, to join us this year for our theme of "Legacy of Living Waters." All of the activities centered around water and we continually made comparisons between our need for physical water and our need for the "living water" of the gospel. Rick planned the whole thing -- from arranging the agenda, to scheduling meeting places, to buying all of the food.

I know it doesn't seem fair with it being Father's Day and all (he should be kicking back getting a foot rub) but this tradition was his idea after all and he is great at this sort of thing. We started off the evening with some water games and then Rick gave a lesson from the scriptures about the Savior, drawing symbolism from the water activities we had just participated in. We concluded the evening with Rootbeer Floats!

Father's Day Flee -- Day Two

We started off Day Two of "Father's Day Flee" with a HUGE breakfast at the Bashfords. We all helped cook and then stuffed ourselves.

Then Brad Bashford gave an awesome lesson continuing our theme of the living waters. He sent the kids out on a treasure hunt with clues to guide their way. One group got lost in the "mists of darkness," (their clues eventually led them into a dark closet with no lights). The other group was instructed to hold on to the stair rail if they were afraid to go up the stairs. So of course they let go of the "iron rod" and were lost as well. The third group was told to hold on to the stair rail (the iron rod) the whole way up the stairs and they were able to partake of the fruit and the living water. Except for me -- I got lost in the great and spacious building -- the Bashford's beautiful home!

After the lessons and more water games we all met at the city pool to enjoy swimming, the hydrotube, diving boards, and kiddie pool. The kids don't get to go here very often and the Bashfords had never been and so it was a fun event for everyone.

Later on we met back at our home for a barbeque and then we watched an old Seminary movie called "The Pump" and discussed it. Then we all had a treat and watched the videos of "Father's Day Flee" from last night and today. Fun day!

Father's Day Flee -- Day Three (part one)

After a great night's sleep and another yummy breakfast at the Bashfords, we listened to a lesson given by Annette Bashford. Everyone did such a great job on their lessons -- I was really impressed!

We took a walk down to the Santa Clara River to see how powerful water can be. We looked at the erosion left over from the Santa Clara Flood from a few years ago.

Jaiden and Taryn Bashford became really good friends during Father's Day Flee (as you can see with them holding hands on our walk).

Josh and Derek Bashford started off playing well together but then Josh suffered some facial battle wounds from Derek and so their friendship was short lived (maybe in a couple of years they'll be best buddies!)

Back at the Bashfords the kids filled plastic cups with rocks. Then they filled in the cracks with sand and then added water to fill in the void. If we don't accept "the living water" into our lives, we will always be left with a void, but if we partake of the living water then we will receive the peace and comfort that the gospel brings us!

Father's Day Flee -- Day Three (part two)

We concluded our Father's Day Flee today on a spiritual note. We went to the visitor's center where Rick had reserved the Theatre Room for our families. I taught the lesson on "What must I do to continue to drink from the Living Water, creating a legacy for both me and my family."

Then we took a tour of the exhibit of sculptures depicting the ministry and healing miracles of Jesus Christ. They were so realistic and moving -- it amazing. I am glad I got the opportunity to see it since our visitor's center will only have it for a few more days.

Our two families then met back in the theatre room where we had a testimony meeting. We really tried to focus a lot on testimonies throughout the past couple of days -- teaching the kids what is a testimony and how they can gain one for themselves. Most of the kids shared their testimonies and they were so sweet, pure and precious. It was really heart-warming and I had a difficult time not becoming emotional.

All in all I would have to say that this year's Father's Day Flee was a great success!

Westra Father's Day Party

 

We were not able to attend the Westra Father's Day party in Draper this year, but I am including some pictures from The Westra Way blog post just so that I have all the years in order!

Father's Day 2008

Girls' Camp

Here is Janika with her friends at her first year of girls' camp. (She is the one on the left with the pink jacket around her waist).

She returned home this morning looking tan and reeking of camp-fire smoke. She chattered away about her snipe-hunting adventures and showed off her cross-stitch and crochet projects. She sung her camp songs for us. (I think Janelle and Jaiden will be singing "God Bless My Underwear..." for weeks to come. )

She said that she had lots of fun and talked of the spiritual moments too, like their closing testimony meeting.

I am glad she had a good time. We really missed her at home. When Janelle asked, "Where is Janika?" I explained that she was at girls' camp and wouldn't be home until Saturday. She looked horrified. "Saturday???" Then she burst into tears!

We are glad to have her back! Welcome home Janika!

Favorite Part

Tonight we took the family to go see "The Sound of Music" at Tuacahn. When Maria and Captain Von Trapp kissed for the first time a hush fell over the audience...

That was until Janelle in her usual loud voice exclaimed, "That's your favorite part, Jared!"

Everyone around us started laughing.

I'm surprised Jared didn't turn around and yell at her since he can't stand anything even remotely romantic. Maybe it was his favorite part!

Strawberries -- Yum!

I found Janelle in the kitchen eating strawberries. She said, "These are good! I ate almost the whole box!"

Then I saw the strawberries
lined up on the snack bar -- with one bite taken out of each one.

It reminded me of the time when Jase was two years old and I found a bite out of each apple in the crisper drawer. At least I was able to cut up the rest of the strawberries and they were quickly consumed!

The Ticket System

We have our kids earn tickets by doing chores, fixing meals, being obedient and so forth. They pay tickets for privileges such as playing video/computer games, going swimming, playing with a friend and late nights. They also lose tickets for misbehavior (What? OUR kids misbehave -- never!!)

Our ticket envelopes were getting really ripped up and so Janika made these little cute little pockets out of denim as a place holder for the tickets. It has worked much better for the little girls since they know which one is theirs and can easily access them.  This system has worked really well for us and we put together a big list of jobs for the summer.

Do You Like My Earrings?

Jaiden earned ten tickets and chose this gold purse for her prize. It came with fake nails and stick on earrings.

She came in flipping her hair and said, "Do you like my earrings?"

"Where are they?
"Right here!" She lifted up her hair and there were the earrings -- right above the holes in her ears. (If you click on the picture to enlarge it then you will see the earring -- otherwise it just looks like a big pink wart.)

I tried not to laugh as I let her show off her earrings to everyone in the house!

My Head Is Cold!

Janika made strawberry jello to go with our dinner tonight. Josh ate several helpings and then smeared the rest in his hair.

Then he started shouting, "My head is cold! My head is cold!"

At least he is learning about cause and effect!