Girls Camp

I was going to break this post in to separate posts for each day, but I decided not too so this will be a long one.
MONDAY July 26th
Our stake went to the Heber Valley camp this year. We were in the cabins known as Camp Abish. After  a long bus ride we arrived and settled into camp. The first day was mostly welcome, and rule setting, etc; the theme was "Be Strong" from Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the ^aLord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. " In total we had about 17 girls, and 7 or 8 leaders there (sometimes more).  In the afternoon we had a stake activity. The YCLs (youth camp leaders) taught us the Haka with words about being strong.

  We also played a version of minute to win it. If you haven't seen the TV show basically the competitors are asked to complete a random, really random task in 60 sec. In this case it was just the first person to complete it. There were tasks such as pulling kleenex out of the box with one hand, stacking 4 cookies on your forehead (Jina did that one in about 3 sec), putting a cookie on your forehead than getting it into your mouth without using your hands, keeping 3 balloons in the air as long as possible, sorting m&ms into groups by color, and putting a cereal box picture back together. I am sure I didn't remember all of them, but here are some pictures of the fun.

Sorting M&Ms

Stacking Cookies

Jina with her winnings

Dusty --keeping 3 balloons in the air

Shelley--unrolling toilet paper rolls by spinning your hands

Megan trying to eat the cookie

It was a hilarious game and I think everybody had a lot of fun.

When we got back into camp Shaina (thats right our ward camp director's name is Shaina) had some games for us to play. The first was a cow game and it was funny. It is one of those trick games meant to embarrass the person. What was extra funny is that the first time Jessica forgot she wasn't supposed to "Moo" and so she mooed all by herself, really loud. That wasn't supposed to happen which made it even funnier.

We also played a game where you tell the person to entertain you and when the "audience" is entertained they will clap. The real thing is that the "audience" is just copying what the entertainer is doing so they have to clap to get the audience to clap. We played this game with some of the stake leaders and the one lady sang a whole song for us, while laughing because we were all copying her movements finally she started to clap. It was really funny.
For Family Home Evening we had a beauty pageant with a focus on different kinds of hearts because our ward theme was about having Strong Hearts.

TUES
I got to go on a hike with our first year girls and Dusty. It was suprisingly a harder hike than I imagined and our girls kind of struggled, but the view in the end was worth it.

L-R: Dusty, Mackenzie, Heidi, Joy, Kaycie

 

Later that afternoon we got to go canoeing on the lake. Dusty and I got to use a paddle-boat just in case anyone fell. It was a good leg workout thats for sure.

After the lake we had a service project which was helping to spread wood chips on one of the paths. The girls did a good job and Shaina was her usually funny self.

We also received some bad news on Tues. Brandon Curtis (one of the priests in our ward) was in a car accident and was in very critical condition. Shanae and Heidi left with the bishopric. When we got back Sis. Gibb told the girls what happened. 

We were able to have a fire that night which was fun. We had HUGE marshmallows to make smores with.

Wed
We got to go to the challenge course. There were lots of stations where the girls had to work together to solve the problem and then there was a zipline as well.

We also found out on Wed that Brandon had passed away. This was hard news and we had to tell the girls. It was a very hard moment for everyone, but I think it brought us closer to each other and closer to the Spirit as well. We were able to have a late campfire and the stake leaders came and spoke with us and sang some songs. It was a good experience in the long run, I think, even though it is incredibly sad. It had rained earlier that day so the fire pit was very wet. Jina, Jessie, and I managed to keep a flame going even though we had to almost constantly blow on it. by the time the fire pit dried and a real fire started it was time to go to bed.

THURS
It was Joy's birthday so we had a special birthday breakfast. It was delicious just like every meal. We as leaders decided to try to cheer everyone up because it kind of seemed like everyone was having a rough camp after the news. We had been talking into the night and decided to do a lip sync for the girls. We had a bunch of random props that the girls had for their skit that night. We told the girls to meet out in front of our cabin. We came out in all the props and did a lip synch to "Don't Stop Believin'" the Glee version. I got to sing the boys part and Tina sang the girls. Shaina played air drums, Jina had a broom guitar, Dusty air guitar, Amy played bass, and Marie, Mary and Becky were the pregnant back up dancers/singers. Becky isn't really pregnant, but Mary and Marie look about the same size so Becky put a towel in her shirt to match. It was a big hit with the girls. So much so that they insisted we ask the stake if we could perform it at the skit night. The stake thought it was a good idea as well so we got an encore performance infront of the whole stake. Our band name is Crimson Tears. Here are some pictures. I know one of the girls videoed it I will try and get that to post as well.

Okay so some of those pictures are a little embarrassing, but I hope you enjoyed them.
If you are still reading this, I am to my final bit about camp. The girls did a skit and did a synchronized swimming idea. It was really good, and really funny. The girls did a great job playing up the parts.

Well that is about all I have to write about girls camp. I had a great time and really feel like I know both the leaders and the girls a lot more. Go Kolob 1st ward :)

Too Much!!

So I know I haven't posted in such a long time and I actually have tons to blog about. I promise to get as much written tomorrow as possible. Life has been crazy lately and I am trying to get everything figured out before school starts. I did get a job, which is great because I was getting worried I wouldn't be able to find one. I am going to work at the Cannon Center (glorified cafeteria at BYU). My shift is from 6 -10 AM T-Th and 6:30-11AM on Saturdays. I am kinda bummed that I wasn't able to get a MWF shift, but I will take what I can get, especially since I don't have dish was or toilets to clean. I will be working in the section called the grainery. It is basically bagels, donuts, muffins, cereal, desserts, etc. I am not really clear on my job description or even when I start, the training today was pretty vague, but I am glad I to have an actually shift since quite a few people were what they call temp workers (people to call to fill in if a shift worker gets sick or can't make it). Anyway I will post all about girls camp and folk dance camp tomorrow as well as my new canning and dehydrating adventures!

Job "Whoas"

So for those of you that don't really know where I work. I currently work for Spanish Fork 17; Spanish Fork's own local TV channel. I get to do everything from on camera work, running camera, directing, editing and any other preparation that goes into a show. I have worked there since I was 16 and it has been a great job. Lately however it hasn't been the job for me any more. My job has been great in the sense that I basically work when I want, I got a yearly raise, I like my coworkers and I film a variety of stuff so it isn't a mundane desk job.
The con's however have been starting to out weigh the pluses. With the economy down turn we stopped getting raises, and on top of that our hours were cut to "under 20". I started having a lot of trouble getting announcers to stay committed to coming to games. (they don't get paid enough and so it is more like charity work for them) they like to do it but if a better thing comes up they bail. I also have had a few coworker problems, but I won't go into them because I like the people I work with, just sometimes they got on my nerves. So for about a year I have toyed with the idea of quitting. I was sick of never really being off of work; people would call me, I would need to call other people, especially announcers, etc. I also started to feel that the hours I was getting were minimal and my checks weren't really balancing out the stress work was providing. I couldn't really find another job however so I didn't dare quit.
This upcoming semester I will be taking 16 credits and they will all be afternoon and evening classes. This leaves one night that I could actually work, unless there is a game at 7:30 in which case I would have to rush straight from school to make it. I wasn't looking forward to this and started to search for another job. I was struggling to find something that would work with school and that I would get paid reasonably well. I actually get paid $11.50 an hour at SF 17, so getting a cut to $7.25 is a little rough. I looked at BYU and realized that while taking a pay cut to anywhere between $8-$10/hr I would make the same or more each paycheck because I would consistently get 20 hrs a week. Once I realized this I knew it was time to quit. On top of this finding I also had two announcers cancel on a weekend where I had 2 games on Thurs, 2 games on Fri and 1 game on Sat. This meant I filmed and announced a game on Thurs and a game on Fri (thats right folks I can announce baseball even coming from a non-athletic family) I actually felt I did a pretty good job. Anyway I was super frustrated because of that and I told my boss my plan to quit this upcoming school year. He knew it was coming eventually he just didn't know it would be this soon. So I have been super excited to get a new job it is just time. I don't officially have a new job but I have an interview with the girls locker room staff and I am also looking into a janitor position.
So the real point of my post today, besides to inform everyone that I am quitting my job of almost 7 years, today I was filming Mutton Bustin' at the rodeo (no I didn't get mauled by a sheep), while we were waiting we were standing by the stairs in one of the entrances. All of a sudden I felt some drops hit me, my first thought as I hurriedly moved was that someone dropped their drink and it was spilling off the side of the seats. Oh how I wish that were true. Instead of a drink, I see a dad carrying a toddler down the stairs and the kid is throwing up. YUCK!!! So yes now I am at the rodeo with throw up spray on my shirt and in my hair. It was super disgusting!
Boy am I glad I am quitting ;)

Jam Session

Ha Ha you probably thought this was about music, nope. I made my first batch of jam a few weeks ago. I LOVED it. I just want to make jam all the time now. Anyway I made raspberry because that is both Lin and my favorite. I am planning on making more and some blackberry when they get ripe. Just thought I would show you the fruits (ha ha) of my labor

What? Construction?

So yes I am again going to complain about the road construction. They are on the next phase of the process. The huge pipe has been in and we have had a small break until last week. Now there is major construction once again. I felt I was pretty understanding about the delays last time and "off-roading" just to get home. This is ridiculous now. They are taking all of the road materials away (2 feet deep) so everywhere is  a hill to get into or out of. They just got to our trailer park today. At noon I was going to run errands. There was a backhoe and dumptruck blocking the way and so I didn't go and got someone to do me a favor at work. Then I had a small chance to leave around 3:30 so I took it. It still was insanely hard to get out. Right hand turn out of our park (downhill) then a 3 point turn to go immediately the opposite direction and up a hill. Not too bad but definitely NOT convenient. When I came home and hour later. The road to my trailer park was completely blocked off with a back hoe and a dump truck. This is the ONLY way to get to our trailer park and it is blocked off. So I eventually found a spot to park on the side of the road (which is pretty full already) and walked with the stuff I bought straight through the construction. Lin wanted to go skateboarding so I told him to take my car so he could go. In the 15 min between when I got home and Lin left the hill I went up to get out is now gone and so basically we are stuck here. The reason I am really complaining is because earlier they had created a temporary access to our trailer park through the back this has since been closed and re-fenced. I don't understand why they don't keep it open until they are COMPLETELY finished.

 UGH!!!

Camping at Nebo Creek

For the 4th of July weekend Lin and I decided to go camping, just the two of us. We went to Nebo Creek in Spanish Fork Canyon. It is amazing there. You are camping right next to the creek and there is nobody next to you. It was so beautiful. Here are some pictures I took when we first got there of our campsite and the creek.

We brought our sweet, 8 man tent that we bought at our ward boy scout yard sale, but somehow we forgot to bring the stakes. Lin, the handyman, found some sticks and made some stakes for us.

Lin whittling away

Our awesome fire pit all cleaned out and ready to use.

Two of the completed stakes.

Our tent finally set up.

After we go settled in we went fishing down the creek. We didn't catch anything, but it was still a lot of fun. and so peaceful away from everything. Lin brought his waders and made me promise not to laugh at him in them. They do look kinda funny, but I would have liked some myself. I ended up just wading in the water.

After awhile of fishing we left our poles on the bank and took a stroll down the river. We had a boat race (Lin's stick won) and took some pictures.

Sorry the middle picture is blurry I think I was trying to take a picture of our "boats".
After our stroll we headed back to camp. We hiked on the road instead of back up the river. When we got to our stuff Lin slid down this steep pathway to get our gear. Then he was stuck and walked up the river to our site while I walked on the road.

First part of slide

Second part of slide which was much steeper. I am not sure what is causing that streaky part in the corner but it kinda looks cool.

Lin in the creek and me on the road.

We made tin foil dinners and had smores with marshmallows and those fudge striped cookies. YUMMY!

One of the best parts of the trip was breakfast. Lin cooked bacon and eggs over the fire in our cast iron pans. It was some of the best bacon I have EVER eaten. You may think this is gross, but the fat tasted like candy. It was that good, and I don't normally like the fat.

Sizzle Sizzle

The best camp chef ever!

Yes the bacon gets this close up picture just to make you jealous. It was seriously so delicious!

BYU Clogging Camp

So I finally got the pictures from clog camp. I don't know what I posted before so some of this might be repetitive. I got to work as a counselor for the camp and I was in charge of about 13 girls (along with another counselor). It was a lot of fun. They picked a theme this year of Best Dance Crew (like the TV show) and so each group was a "crew". We were Crew "Twister". Here is our group with our banner.

Our girls were so cute and such a fun group. We were much smaller, younger, and less experienced than all the other crews so the competition aspect wasn't the best but we did quite well considering everything.

We got to go to a lot of different classes, our own crew class to put together our choreography, games, and 7 Peaks. It was a lot of fun.

Treats the first day

Our crew choreography with Maria Tucker

Update on Summer To Dos

So I thought as a check for myself and an update (if anyone really wants to know) I would post an update on my summer list from April. Here we go:
Plant a garden-- It is doing pretty well. A few of my plants keep getting eaten but the tomatoes, peppers and peas are thriving. I also planted some transplant beans from my sister, we will see if they survive. . . .

Bottle and dry fruits, sauces, etc-- I haven't done much with this I need to figure out when the fruits I want to make jam with and bottle are at the peak of their season. But my sister and I are going to bottle shredded chicken in the next couple weeks, so I will keep you posted on that.

Deep clean my house (cause it needs it)-- I started out great with this I deep cleaned my kitchen. . .. then I started to dwindle. I did clean out my closets though and I got rid of a lot of needless things. I still haven't deep cleaned the bathroom or the front room. I just hate washing walls and I am not sure how to clean the huge drapes in our front room; any suggestions are welcome.

See if I can get a teaching job at one of the charter schools-- I don't remember if I already posted this, but Meridian School wants to hire me to teach a 4-6 week intensive course in Jan or Feb. I am really excited because it will be a great start to this class. I will be able to see if it will work or not and if it won't I only have to make it work for a month.

Start teaching clogging-- no success here. I can't find a place I can afford to rent when I only have one students whose parents want to barter for lessons. I am up for the barter, but I want at least a few paying students before I rent a place.

READ for FUN-- I have already finished one Agatha Christie book and am in the middle of another book.

Go camping-- I have gone camping once already and Lin and I are planning to go again this weekend :)

learn how to sew some type of clothes (I can only really sew curtains, blankets, anything with a straight edge)-- I haven't started this one because I am trying to get out of some other projects before I start in on this one.

Finish putting the home videos onto DVD--I have successfully captured every video to my computer, completely burned discs 1-3, currently I am finishing burning all copies of disc 4 and hope there is only one disc left. 4/5 not bad.

Relax--Even with all that I have accomplished on this list I have relaxed and it has been needed and wonderful. I have not been totally controlled by the clock which is great and I would love to live my life that way.

Looking at my list I am glad with how this summer is turning out. There are still things I want to finish on the list and other ideas still in my head, but I am liking where I am headed.

Update

So it has been awhile since I last blogged so there are quite a few new posts. Other than what is below I go to work at BYU's Clog Camp as a counselor (more info forthcoming with pictures). I also had my first cavity :( It was not as bad to get it filled as everyone makes it seem. I was pleasantly surprised at how quick, easy, and fairly painless it was. The worst part was being numb for a few hours after. Other than that I have just been busy with work. I hope you enjoy the posts and pictures below.

Roses

I wanted to show off our rose bushes because they were so beautiful this year.