Jase's Camp Out

I sent our old camera with Rick and Jase on their camp-out. There is definitely something wrong with that camera. Or perhaps Rick has become so spiritual lately that he is starting to glow. Nope, must be the camera.

Jase had his 11-year-old scout camp yesterday and today at Thunder-ridge. He got sick the first day and had to sit out of a couple of the activities, but other than that things seemed to go pretty well. He took a class on basket weaving and can't wait to finish his creations.

Coming Home

Yesterday we headed up to Grandma Jensen's. Julie did my hair and Rick went out to lunch with some old buddies from high school. Here is a picture that Tom took with his cell phone: Eric Snell (on the left), Rick and Curtis and Tom Coldin (on the right).

This afternoon our family (well the kids didn't do much except for Janika) helped work in Grandma and Grandpa's yard for a few hours. All of the family were meeting there that night to have a "work-in-the-yard" party but we were leaving (back to the condo) right when most of the others were just arriving. Rick was hoping to make it back in time to swim with the kids but right when he arrived another rain storm swept through and so they closed the pool again. At least Rick and I were able to sneak away later that night for a little hot-tubbing without the kids. When we got back, the younger kids were in bed and the rest of us watched a Disney Movie. We often had a difficult time this week pulling our cable-deprived children away from the Disney Channel!

Today (Saturday) we packed up and headed home. The kids were great on the ride and it seemed much faster than on the way there. Unfortunately we accidentally left Jenna's little hook-on high chair at the condo. We will have to live without it until we come back up next month. Another "Father's Day Flee" come and gone...until next year!!

We were anxious to check out our new carpet when we got home. We had hired a friend of ours to install it (upstairs and all of the staircases) while we were out of town. We were a little disappointed with it at first because it seemed really thin and lot less cushy than the sample we had picked out. Several days later, however, Rick brought home a new vacuum since ours was broken. After vacuuming it, it looks and feels a lot better. It makes us really want to re-carpet the whole house now !

Bed Time

At the condo all of the kids had their own twin beds (four beds in the upstairs loft and two in the room across from the master bedroom) and a crib for the baby. Even though we put the kids to bed in their own beds, we would later peek in to find Jaiden and Josh snuggled up together. Several months ago at home we had these two in bunk beds; but Jaiden would always sneak into bed with Josh (apparently she was afraid to sleep alone). It didn't look too comfortable to have two kids crammed into a twin bed; however, and so when we happened across a killer deal on a brand new King Size bed, we purchased it. Now Janelle, Jaiden, and Josh share the King bed and still have plenty of room. Of course we will have to move kids around when the kids are older, but for now this works out great! When Jenna was born we had moved Janelle up with Janika, but it didn't work out too well because Janika would always stay up late and keep Janelle up. Janika always complained that Janelle would snore and grind her teeth which in turn would keep Janika up at night. Apparently Janelle's snoring/teeth-grinding doesn't bother Josh and Jaiden though. It is nice having Janelle back down with the little kids because then we can put the four youngest to bed early and let the older three stay up later. Although Janelle is always begging to stay up pleading, "But I'm the fourth oldest!!" I pointed out that she is also the fourth youngest! While on vacation, however, she got "big kid" status and stayed up with the older three until way too late every night! I thought it was funny that Jaiden still crawled into bed with Josh while we were here on vacation. So cute!

Choose Your Friends

When the Healeys arrived, we all gathered again for our next Father's Day Flee Lesson, "Choose Your Friends" taught by Curtis. (As a side note, the adults were not the only ones giving the lessons. Each of the kids were assigned either a talk, activity, game, or prayer). Cutis did a great job. First he told the kids that they were a captain of a team and had to choose members to be on their team. He passed out paper and had the kids write down who they wanted to be on their team. Jase listed Batman, Superman, Green Lantern etc. Janelle chose a dragon team. Jaiden chose to be captain of a dance team and named off Amber and Racquel Healey as well as several of her pre-school friends. Jared had a basketball team that included Jase and his friends. Janika chose a "team of prophets" and had all prophets on her team. Then they talked about why they would choose those people to be on their teams. Then Curtis had the adults dress up in different costumes and we came out as that character while he gave a profile on what that person was really like on the inside. Then the kids could choose if that person would be someone they would choose as a friend or not. This led to a great discussion on what to look for in a friend and how to be a good friend. Great lesson Curtis!

Scripture Reading

The kids who memorized the theme scripture for the week got a king-sized candy bar at the end of Father's Day Flee. Our kids diligently studied and they all passed off the scripture! Tonight there was another great lesson taught by Rick. He divided everyone into two groups and we played a mean game of "Steal the Flag," (actually we played "Steal the pan" because we didn't have a flag.) Each member of the team had a squirt bottle and each team had water balloons. Whoever got hit with water had to sit down and count out loud to sixty before they could get back up and play. My team lost. They were mad at me because I wouldn't let them put their "pan" high up in a tree. I didn't know if that would be fair and so I suggested hiding it in the bushes. So now they blame their loss on me. What happened to the "Choose Your Attitude" lesson I just taught? Apparently nothing! After the game, Rick taught a lesson (about choices of course) and then we ended the night with a testimony meeting. Then the kids who had memorized their scripture passed it off.

Reading Time

One of the activities that the kids did for down-time while they were here was reading. Gerilyn brought up lots of children's books from the library and read to the kids. Even the older kids gathered around to hear the stories.

Lehi?

In one of the lesson Curtis dressed up like Lehi from the Book of Mormon. Great facials, Curtis! Thursday afternoon we were able to go swimming with the Healeys for a very short time before the power went out. A big wind storm came up and they kicked everyone out of the pool. darn! The power stayed off for a couple of hours but it was still light enough to see fine.

Madame Futura

Steph did such a great object lesson with her lesson on "Choosing Your Future." She came out dressed to the hilt as "Madame Futura." She had a great accent and predicted the future for all of the kids. We were all laughing as she read the kids' futures.. Brandon..."I see football? No...foot! You be foot when you grow up!" Jared..."I see rock star...no...rock! You be rock!" (Jani and Amber both want to be authors when they grow up.) Madame Future predicted... "You be Arthur? Funny name for a girl. That no good. Arthur!" Instead of a dancer, Jaiden was predicted to be a dance hair. "You hair will dance!" After predicting everyone's humorous futures, she talked about how we are so blessed to be able to choose our own futures. She explained that in countries like China, childrens' future career paths are chosen for them and not the other way around. Great lesson, Steph!

Boating at Pineview

Today we went boating at Pineview Dam with our friends, the Healeys. This area has had tons of rain lately and so the lake was really high covering most of the beaches. We were able to find a little spot, however. The nice thing about the lake being so high is that we could set up our seating area on the grass in the shade near the picnic tables instead of on the dirt. The weather was perfect -- not a cloud in the sky, and yet not too hot. The kids had a great time playing in the sand and had a blast being pulled in a tube behind the boat. All of the kids took a turn on the tube except for the babies (Morgan and Jenna) and Josh and Jaiden. Jaiden and Morgan did enjoy the boat ride though. Josh didn't want to go out in the boat but he had a fun time chasing all of the seagulls around. Jenna had fun playing with the grass and even took a little nap in the shade. Rick and I took a turn on the tube with the kids too. It was fun!

Choose Your Attitude!

Viktor Frankl wrote in his life-changing book, "Man's Search For Meaning:"

"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

I did my lesson tonight on "Choosing Your Attitude." Unfortunately a couple of our kids have been struggling with a poor attitude lately (not during this trip but before that). So hopefully that will change!

Father's Day Flee Day One!

The kids all went to feed the fish (Big Moe) this morning while Rick and Jase had a mean game of raquetball. Jase fell in love with raquetball while he was here and kept begging everyone to go play with him. Then Gerilyn, Abbee and her friend, and Grandma Jensen all came up to the condo for a few hours. We swam and played games and then Stephanie Healey and her kids arrived. After dinner Curtis arrived and we started the "Father's Day Flee" portion of our vacation. Every year around Father's Day we go on a vacation that involves learning and fun. Rick came up with the idea several years ago and it has become a tradition ever since. Rick really has a gift for putting things like this together. This year's theme was "Choose to Choose." He assigned each of us a topic that had to do with choices to be presented throughout the week. Our friends, the Healeys, have joined us most of the years that we have done this and we were excited that they could joined us this year as well. Tonight for the opening ceremony Rick played a CD that he had put together. He had digitally altered his voice to be really low as he announced in a big booming announcer voice, "Welcome to...Father's Day Fleeeeee!" Then he and Curtis Healey came out and did a line dance sort of thing. It was hilarious! Then they taught the dance to all of the kids. After the dance, Rick did a play on the word "choose/chews" as he had all the kids participate in a bubble blowing contest. Janika came out the winner! Rick gave a lesson on choices and introduced the scripture for the week. The kids were strongly encouraged to memorize 2 Nephi 2:27 by the end of Father's Day Flee (which only gave them a couple of days.) 2 Nephi 2:27 reads: "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, acccording to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." Jase was the first one to have it memorized. He is already memorizing seminary scripture mastery scriptures even though he is only eleven. Janika made the suggestion that the kids six and under memorize 2 Nephi 2:25 (another scripture Rick discussed tonight) instead since the other one was a little long. We thought that was a good idea and the little kids memorized it really fast (especially since Janika put the words to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." After the lesson, Rick divided the kids into teams for a scavenger hunt. They had to make certain choices along the way as they found their clues and followed the directions on the clues. The groups even had to go to the front desk and sing, "Choose the right," for the desk attendant in order to get their next clue. They ended up back all together for their prize. Many years we were able to reserve two or three condo units so that we could have friends and family come join us but this year we were only able to get one. Since the Healeys live close by, they traveled up and back for the Father's Day Flee activities.

Activities at Wolf Creek!

Today Gerilyn and Abbee came up and we had fun swimming with them. Rick and I had been asked to do an hour long interview for an Internet Radio Station today (talking about parenting issues and our GOLD Standard book) and so Gerilyn and Abbee watched the kids while we did the interview over the phone in our condo. I have never done one before and had asked if Rick and I could do it together. Rick does impromtu speaking much better than me and so I was glad he was there! It went well (we think anyway) and I was glad to get it over with so that I could relax and enjoy the rest of our vacation. If you would like to listen to the interview click here: Answers4the family. During our interview Gerilyn and Abbee picnicked and swam with the kids.

After our interview I joined the kids in the pool. I had sunscreened all of the kids (except Jase). Janelle and Jared both got burned but Jaiden was fine. Jase pretty much never burns. I didn't put any sunscreen on him and he didn't get red at all -- just tan. I wanted to get a little sun and so I waited (a little too long) to put on sunscreen and got burned and had to wear a t-shirt while swimming the whole rest of the week.

Monday night we had Family Home Evening out in the grassy area by the recreation center. Rick had everyone look up some scriptures and did an object lesson with ice-cream. He put some ice-cream on a cone and asked who wanted it. Then he spat on it several times and asked again. No one did. He compared this to people who serve with a grudge -- or who complain the whole time when asked to do a job. Serving others is like offering a gift (like the ice-cream). But if we complain or serve unwillingly it is like spitting on the gift before we offer it. It was an object lesson that hit home to our kids (or seemed to anyway!)

Beginning Our Vacation

Friday night we went to a potluck dinner with the Deaf community while Jase attended a birthday party for one of his friends. We stayed up very late moving furniture since we have a friend putting in our new carpet while we are out of town. We were all so tired. The boys were begging, "Please let us go to bed!" You don't hear that very often!

The next morning we packed the car and straightened up the house and up North to go stay at a condo called "Wolf Creek Village" up in Eden, Utah. The drive took FOREVER! Our 15 passenger van is natural gas (actually bi-fuel) but Rick likes to use the natural gas whenever possible because it is so much cheaper. It also doesn't go as far though. Rick had looked up the natural gas stations on the Internet that were between our home and Ogden. We stopped about every hour at one of them. This added at least an extra hour on to our trip because of course all of the kids thought they needed to get out of the car and walk around and go to the bathroom. Thankfully Jenna was a perfect angel the whole way. All of the kids were actually pretty good and watched movies the whole way. Of course we did get the "are we there yet??" and "how much longer?" every five minutes!

When we finally arrived in Ogden, we stopped to pick up Janika from Gerilyn's house. Janika had stayed up North trading off houses with Grandma and Gerilyn and her cousins for a week so that her Grandma could teach her how to quilt. We picked her up and then headed to the condo. It was pouring rain and very cold. We fixed dinner and then went to bed. Rick and I are spoiled by our king bed. This one was supposed to be a queen but it looked more like a full to us. It was much too small! Rick woke up with a huge kink in his neck and shoulder.

Sunday we went to the nearest ward in Eden. The whole Sacrament Program was about the Pioneer Trek that their youth had just completed. It was perfect for us since Janika, Rick, and I are all going on our Stake Pioneer Trek next month. The youth did a nice job on their talks and it got us excited for our own experience. We came back to the condo and played around a little and then headed to Draper for the Father's Day Party at my brother's house.

Happy Father's Day!!

For Father's Day we went to my brother's (Scott and Amy) house in Draper. My Grandma and Grandpa Norman were there, my mom and dad, my four brothers, my sister, and everyone's kids. (24 grand-children) It was so fun!

Since we live several hours away from everyone else, we don't get to see our extended family as often as I would like. I love where we live, but sometimes I wish we could be closer to family. The kids had such a great time with all of their cousins!

My brother Shane and Chris's son, Conner, were taking turns pulling kids around in a wagon. They had several kids in the wagon and several hanging on the back being dragged behind. They would go faster and faster until the wagon tipped over and all of the kids spilled out. The kids loved it!!

Jani's Hats

Janika came up North a week earlier than the rest of us so that Grandma Jensen could teach her how to quilt. They worked on a baby blanket for her hope chest. I don't have a picture of the quilt yet so I will post that later.

While she was here her cousin Abbee also taught her how to make these cute little winter hats. They will be sent overseas to children in need. She had such a fun time making the hats that she purchased several looms and a whole bunch of yard so that she can make more at home. She also taught Jase how to make them. Cute, huh?

Gold Ticket Date

The boys both earned a GOLD ticket (which means they earned 20 regular tickets by doing so well on their chores and so forth) and so they got to go to a place of their choice (which was Pirate Island Pizza). Luckily they had those gift certificates from their school awards which paid for their dinner! They got to play lots of video games and earn tickets and prizes. They were in heaven!

Splash Pad

I brought the kids to the Splash Pad tonight for a Primary Activity. They all had a great time! The weather was overcast and cool -- perfect for those of us NOT getting wet! The kids ran around, got wet, shivered and ate at least four popsicles each.

Oh, and the little monkey climbing halfway up the wall in the last picture is Sam Harris. He probably would have climbed all the way up had him mom not intervened!