Girl's Camp

I do always enjoy girl's camp, but this was the first time going while being a mom. I had some anxiety leaving Emme for four days, but knew I needed to go to bond with my girls. Once I got there and was busy I relaxed quite a bit. I knew she was in good hands at home.

The greenies. Poor girls had to wear this stuff all week.

We have a lot of BYU fans in our ward so I had to get a picture with my fellow Utes girl.

After our skit.

Me and the first counselor. We have bonded big time and sadly she is moving soon. Don't worry, I totally bawled my eyes out when I found out.

Camp leaders.

Presidency

Geneology

 I was four when my grandma died.  I also maybe only have four memories of her.  Some of which include her making us peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with homemade bread/jam and another of her cleaning a wound on my foot after I had stepped on a nail.  I remember loving her unconditionally and getting lectured by my mom that I was going to wear her out.  A term I didn't understand at the time. 

What little memories I have of her I've always held close.  Thanks to my understanding of families are forever I knew, even at that young age, that I would see her again and will see her again.  

You can imagine my enjoyment when a couple of years ago I had the opportunity with the young women in my ward to have a private tour of the Relief Society Building at Temple Square.  Because we had a connection to someone in the General Primary Presidency we got a special tour through the offices of all the women auxiliary presidents.  In one of the locations, there was a huge binder full of woman's names who had donated to the making of the Relief Society building.  When I searched for some names I knew, I was delighted to come across my grandmother's name. 

 I daydreamed of her surrounded by other women in her ward hearing the news that the Church was needing donations for this special building.  I know my grandparents were never wealthy and I softened to find this hidden treasure and the fact that she too had a strong testimony, so much so that she would donate what she could even though they had little.  Yes, maybe there are thousands of names in those binders, but it meant the world to me that I would find a grandmother's name who had been long gone.

I have had a lifetime without her, but I know we have forever together.   

Yo' Dude

What's up in our neck of the woods you ask? Survival of winter. Although it has been a very lax winter we are ready for warmth. I always wonder why we don't have a trip planned to somewhere tropical this time of year. I mostly blame the green stuff for that.

Poor Gregg had the Klondike campout with the scouts and loved freezing for two days. Have I mentioned that on top of 2nd counselor in the young men's Gregg is also scout master? Punishment for his teenage days let me tell ya.  I am also 2nd counselor in the young women's so we like to think of Tuesdays as date night.  Expect for the fact that we're separate most of the time and dinner consists of In and Out at nine at night.  Luckily the YW president's daughter has been taking Emme for us during mutual.  She comes into YW soon, so I'm not so sure how that's going to work out.  Suggestions at keeping a one year old busy during mutual?  Sundays are also hectic and I'm often told I look exhausted.  Not sure how to take that exactly other than "you look really bad today."  Good times.  Hopefully it doesn't sound too much like complaining.  I love the YW program, love the women I serve with, and love the girls.  I guess Gregg and I just feel a little like we're failing at our callings is what I'm trying to say.  We hang in there though.

Emme is her usual busy self.  I'm told by many people how active she is.  Gregg and I are pretty used to it and have the house Emme proofed for the most part.  It's not easy when she's let free at new places, but she is really good to ride in her stroller in the mall or cart at the store.  For how energetic she is, she doesn't mind being strapped down like a lot of kids do.  I think she's a normal 1 1/2yr old and the calm relaxed ones are the odd ones.  :)  Her new love is climbing.  I'm actually glad she can climb now because I don't worry so much about her on things, as she can now get down by herself.  It's still not unusual for her to take the crash landing route once in a while.  She still puts everything in her mouth and loves to eat paper.  Her newest thing is to reach into the fireplace and grab pellets and sneak them in her mouth.  I can't get her to eat certain foods, but she'll eat ash.  I don't get it.  She loves to talk on the phone and will give a big MUAH to who's ever on the other line.  She's a little cuddle bug and gives the tightest squeezes before bed.  She loves her daddy and screams with delight when he gets home from work.  I love that she is understanding us more and more and learns a new word almost every day.  She's our smarty pants.  I wouldn't have her any other way than our zippy, ash eating, Emme.

We're all looking forward to March.  St. George, Beauty and The Beast on Broadway, and family coming for the Hunger Games premiere are all on the list.  Bring on Spring!  

Girl's Camp '09/Ya'at'eeh

Yes you read it right...we had girl's camp in the winter this year. We went to Grace, Idaho and stayed at a little elementary school. I only went up for one day because of my strep throat, but still had a blast. We went snowmobiling and swimming in Lava Hot Springs (yea to my whiteness) and at night we had a Native American ceremony where we all got a name of an animal and a charm bracelet. My bracelet had all my girl's animals on it which was really cool. The theme was Ya'at'eeh which means home and honestly I still can't say it. I only wish we had some girl's camps like this when I was in young women!