Youth Conference

About 8 months ago we were asked to be in charge of our ward's youth conference this summer. I was slightly overwhelmed, but we worked with another couple who has lots of experience planning youth conferences before. It turned out pretty awesome, if I say so myself.

We started at our church building early on a Thursday morning. We had copy cat Kneader's french toast, using Kneader's cinnamon bread. It was amazing. Then we had a guest speaker, Ty Bennett. He is a professional keynote speaker, and I was honestly kind of nervous he would be very cheesy. 

He did a good job engaging the kids and I enjoyed it. 

Following that we played human hungry hippos which was so entertaining to watch. A few crashes in the middle, but mostly just fun. I wanted a chance to hop on a scooter, but I never did it. 

Then we had the kids make what we called one-word testimony flags. We told them to think of one thing they really believed in that can help ground them when they are feeling confused or lost in doubts and fears. 

Throughout the rest of the conference we would pull out 5 or 6 at a time and each kid would tell everyone about it. 

Then we hung them from our pavilion at our campsite. 

After lunch we started the drive to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. We gave each car of kids assignments at certain mile markers on the drive. One of the assignments was to make a lip sync. We had five 15/16 year-old boys in our van with us and I thought they wouldn't be willing to do it. They ended up getting super into it. Our guest speaker had shown the video clip of Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent as an example of someone finding their purpose. So the boys lip-synced to her version of I Dreamed a Dream. It was hilarious. I discovered I really don't think being the leader in charge when decisions need to be made. We had to set up tents and figure out who would get what tent and where. I found myself wanting someone else to decide. 

That afternoon we did a few activities relating to doubt, fear and trust that some of the kids had planned. That night we went to the hot springs and they were really nice. It was quite the contrast to the hot springs we went to in McCall, Idaho, last year. I would love to return to the Lava Hot Springs. 

On Friday we did a service project (painting picnic tables and pavilions at the camp ground) 

and then had some workshops focused on specific doubts/fears/things the kids struggle with. Our theme was D&C 6:36 "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not" and we had the kids anonymously submit the things they struggle with most a couple months before. 

These workshops each focused on the most common things, like friends, school, missions.

Then we went tubing down the Port Neuf river. 

That was probably my favorite part of the conference.  It was perfect- fast but not terrifying with several patches of rapids. 

The sharp lava rocks hurt when you fell out so you really didn't want to fall off your tube. Daniel flipped over twice on the first run and I couldn't stop laughing at him. On the second run I fell out and it humbled me. I am still sporting bruises from that fall/drag along the rocks. The most fun part was when we decided to all go down together. 

We grabbed each other's tube handles and went down with almost 40 of us together. We were that obnoxious massive group, screaming and causing problems, but the kids loved it. The 4-person tubes were my favorite way to go down the river because they were more stable and it guaranteed you had people to talk to the whole way. In the single rider tubes it was hard to stay with friends. 

That night we watched all the car lip syncs and our car's was the best. That is a fact, not opinion. Daniel and I weren't in it at all but I did contribute a lot by holding the phone steady to record a few things. The next day we woke up and packed up. I started feeling terrible on the drive back and by the time we got home I was struggling. I ended up not helping to unload or return any borrowed items. It was lame and I still feel bad about it. After taking a long nap I pretty much felt fine. Just proves how lame I am. 

It was a good time and I am relieved it is over. 

More Visitors Please

At the end of June my parents came out for a visit. They spent the first half of their visit with Matt in Boise, visiting people/sites from his mission, and spending time with Bobpa in SLC.  The second half was spent with us. During that time Daniel and I were gone for 3 days for youth conference. More on that in another post. My parents happily volunteered to come watch them 6 months ago when we were asked to run youth conference. It took so much stress off to not have to worry about babysitters.

Coordinating cute outfits from Nana. I love it I love it I love it.

One night they played princess dinner, reenacting our meal with the princesses in Disneyland. My mom had to sit at the kid's table and then the girls took turns coming in as princesses and took a picture with Nana. The picture is essential.

My parents came prepared with fun stuff like Pez dispensers and glow sticks. Glow stick dance parties are a favorite in this family. Just prepping them for future raves.

When Daniel and I returned from youth conference we had 2 more days with my parents. We fit in a neighborhood walk, which should always include a ride on Papa's shoulders. 

Millie displayed some fine bedhead one morning. 

On the 4th of July we were invited to Ron and Lani Blood's house for dinner and fireworks viewing.Their house is perfect for watching fireworks since it is up on the bench in Alpine. You can see fireworks going up all over the county. My parents were good sports to come hang out with Daniel's relatives, but I think they had a good time.

The kids had a great time running around before fireworks. Millie ended up in only a diaper when she took a dip in their dog's pool. 

Their favorite part was throwing pop-its and lighting sparklers. 

Two important things not pictured:

1. We had a BBQ with my dad's best friend from college. Several months ago I noticed that my neighbor/friend Cassidy had a familiar maiden name. I asked her if she knew Steve and Dodi Weiler and she said they were her parents. Her dad and my dad were best friends at the University of Utah. Cassidy and I have met before as kids when we got together while my family was visiting Utah. Cass and I had been friends for a while before realizing it, but now our parents are reconnected too.

2. I took my parents to visit the Chipman relative graves in American Fork. I told them as much as I knew about each person. Then we drove around and found some businesses created by Chipmans and houses of Chipman relatives in the area. Unfortunately, none of our direct relatives' houses are still standing. But some great uncles' homes are still there. My favorite is the Washburn Chipman mansion. I went back last week and took pictures since my parents and I didn't.  It is totally rundown with overgrown gardens that were once beautiful. The story about the house is fascinating. It was built around 1853 by Washburn Chipman, the older brother of my 3rd great grandfather. James. Three of his daughters never married and lived in the house until they decided it was too much upkeep and abandoned it. After that it sat empty for 20 or 30 years. It was looted of everything and was apparently used as horse stables by many local people. This couple named the Fitzens bought it in the late-1960's and started to restore it. I found a 1985 article about the restoration here. They bought it for $1,000 and then were trying to sell it for $1,000,000 23 years later. I found another article in the saying the Fitzens sold the house in 1992. The most interesting thing about it to me is that it is now in total shambles again!! The Fitzens spent all those years restoring it and now it is back to holes in the ceiling, crazy overgrown gardens, and general creepiness.

 The article I linked to above said that pergola-type thing on the right was the front porch from the tithing office in American Fork. When they heard the office was being torn down they put the porch in their garden.

 There are 2 beautiful arches like this at the front of the property. 

There is one part of the property that is not overgrown. This beautiful brick courtyard. I stuck my phone inside the fence to get a picture. The entire property is surrounded by fences with no trespassing signs. 

Day of Fathers

Father's Day happened. 

The girls claimed to want to help make breakfast but then were no help at all, besides climbing all over Daniel in bed. He ended up kicking everyone out and then eating downstairs. We got Daniel a few important presents. The girls picked out hair spray, electric razor cleaner and gift cards for him. 

I tried to make everyone take a picture, which turned out wonderfully. I do enjoy the series of shots below. They are in order from first to last. Sadie was angry, then Daniel tried to make her laugh, and then everyone ended up in a very unflattering pose. 

 We are so grateful for Daniel and all he does for us. He is a great dad.

We are also very lucky to have 2 awesome grandpas/fathers in Paco and Papa. Fathers are so important. Our kids have so many examples of wonderful ones in our family.

Guess whos back? Back again

Carolyn flew back out to Utah in June for cousin Kate Blood's wedding.
We picked her up at the airport and then went to visit Grandpa Blood

Carolyn spent her trip going back and forth between our house and her dad's. She was a busy busy lady but the girls took every chance to get her attention. 

We hit up the purple dinosaur park. Sadie put on a show under the gazebo next to the park. 

On top of her shuttling back and forth between houses Carolyn and I fit in as many Parade of Homes locations that we could. I hardly took any pictures. Kind of regret that. The house below had amazing finishes. I did not like the layout, but the details were breathtaking. Nothing was overlooked.

This was one of my favorite kids bathrooms. 

Carolyn and I laughed as we noticed how critical we were of so many of the houses. It seemed like a lot of them mixed styles. I would like 2/3 of it and then hate the other 1/3. There were 2 houses that I especially loved and I wish I had lots of pictures of them because I would copy so much of both of them if I could.

3-D showing of Finding Dory with the big girls. We all enjoyed it. Not too different from Finding Nemo, but cute. 

Kate's wedding

 

Stole this picture from Grandpa from the reception.

Blood Family BBQ at Creekside Park in Alpine