Brighton Girl's Camp

Brighton Camp had an open house so, I took up the family to show them where I worked for a Summer. I worked up at the camp the summer of 1997. I was 19 years old and this job was a huge challenge for me. I was a counselor to 12 and 13 year old girls and I learned a lot about listening to the spirit and learning about the love that Heavenly Father has for his daughters. Being up in the mountains was a so fun and I met other great counselors that left huge impressions on me.

View from the rock where we would have the flag ceremonies in the evenings. You can see the Mickey mouse on the mountain in the distance.

The Barn where the counselors could hang out and get away from the craziness of camp sometimes.

We got some cute pictures of the kids playing on the big rock.

So, for years all the camp counselors paint their camp names on the walls where they roomed over the summer. My camp name was Cricket and of course my great friend Lucky ( Lori) is right by me.

We met the Derricks up at the camp and it was so fun to see them again. Lori was my best pal up at camp and I really don't know what I would have done without having a good laugh with her on the hard days. We both roomed in the Knotty Pine at some point while at camp.

Lori and I would always talk about how we wanted out kids to be friends someday. Well, here they are! Don't they look like friends? By the end of the evening they all got along and were playing. Eliza still talks about Ella and she says, " Ella is the cutest!" Abby, Ella, Anne, Jason, and Kate

Every Monday morning we would get a new group of girls coming up for camp. They would have to haul their luggage up Hernia Hill. They would complain the whole way up each and every girl. Here are my kids hiking up the hill.

I also stayed in the Indian Paint Brush cabin. The cabins are so cute but, very loud and noisy at night with all those girls. Every night either a girl was homesick, throwing up, or couldn't sleep. I guess in some ways it prepared me for motherhood because I can't remember the last time I had a good nights sleep.

Lori and I with our kids minus Lori's Lucy. We both have a baby named Lucy!

The year of '97 as a staff while hiking we found this courageous sign. We mounted it on this post in the middle of camp and signed our names on it.

Anne and Eliza hanging out on one of the bunk beds. These girls are ready for girl's camp!

Our family at Brighton Camp. It is so pretty up there!

Cricket and Lucky! It was so much fun to see the Derricks. We had a picnic after and just enjoyed talking with them.

Schwitzer Bear Lake Trip

We drove up to Bear Lake a different way this time around and went through Logan. We met up with our friends the Parkinson's and got some Aggie ice cream and talked. We enjoyed seeing the Logan temple and the beautiful temple grounds. We made our way to Bear Lake and hit Bear Lake Pizza and got the most yummy treat...... Chocolate covered Raspberries! So good!

Back to our favorite place Bear Lake! We love going up with the whole Schwitzer family and our kids love being with all of their cousins. We had the new relaxation station and wave runners this time around!

The famous Bear Lake tent is where lots of good talking takes place and the baby hang out. Grandma and Grandpa Schwitzer with Lucy in the tent.

Jason loves Andrew and they enjoyed playing in the sand and water together.

Eliza was obsessed with this alligator that Claire brought to Bear Lake. Claire was always so sweet to let Eliza ride on it. These two had a great time together.

Lucy knows how to relax and enjoy the lake!

We always do a talent show and this year just kids did talents. The girls made up a cute dance. Anne, Kate, Emma, Grace, and Jane.

The boys did a funny skit and then this pyramid. Andrew, Jacob, Zach, Alex, Jason, Will, and Ryan.

We had a lot of fun with the family and it was great having Grandma and Grandpa Schwitzer with us. Grandpa Schwitzer gave us a devotional every night and we learned so much from him. We always feel like we grow closer as an extended family after this trip!

Cub Scout Day Camp

Since I am the Wolf Den leader I got to go to day camp with Jason this year. It was so much fun to be with him and his other friends in the den. The camp this year was held at the back field behind our stake center. I was sad that Jason wouldn't go up to one of the camps in the canyons but, this camp was fun for the boys. Jason learned how to shoot a BB gun and he learned how to shoot an arrow with a bow. They did lots of science experiments and hiking. We had a great two days together.

Wolf Den Troop 1240! Addison,Emanuel, Hayden, Jason, Mike, Josh, Ben and Ben

July!

Anne's two front teeth fell out. She let those teeth dangle until the last moment. One tooth fell out while she was eating and the other she let Dad pull out because it was hanging by a thread! She has looked so cute all summer with her two front teeth gone.

The 33rd ward had a reunion this month. Mike grew up in this ward and we lived in the ward for about a year after we were married. It's a wonderful ward with the best people and it was so much fun seeing everyone again. For Mike it was going back to the good old days and seeing childhood friends. I wish I would have taken more pictures but, I did get this one of Bryce Myers, Rob Jolley, Mike and Brian Dippo. He has some great stories about these guys and many scout camp stories that always get me laughing.

Lucy started crawling this month and now she is all over the place. She also got her two bottom teeth! We say that Anne got rid of her teeth and Lucy got them.

Getting ready to crawl.

Happy 4th of July

I love the 4th of July and it is my favorite holiday next to Christmas. I love that we celebrate this great country we live in. It's just a holiday that is not stressful but, you are always with family having fun right in the middle of summer. Here are the kids in their 4th of July attire. I made Anne and Eliza a fun 4th of July skirt for the special day.

Jason and Lucy.

The fam with our red, white, and blue on Grandma and Grandpa Young's back porch. We had the traditional bbq and then we played a mean game of croquet. We did teams of couples and Mike and I won. Well, we won because I had Mike on my team but, still we won!

Our small firework show but, for the ages of our kids it was perfect.

Lucy and Dad enjoying the show.

Eliza did not like the fireworks. She sat on Grandma Young's lap and plugged her ears.

Lucy loved the fireworks and we all enjoyed watching her experience her first 4th of July. She would clap and hold out her arms with approval.

clapping and smiling with Sydney

Auntie Jill brought these fun sparklers and we had fun making shapes and taking picture.

J for Jill!

Bear Lake with the Youngs

We had a great time this year going to Bear Lake with the Young's. This year we took up Grandma and Grandpa Young, Jill, Ryan, Erin and kids. We started off by getting up to Bear Lake early and we headed up to see the Minnatonka Cave. We had to wait for the next tour and the mosquitoes were so bad. We did survive the mosquitoes and got down into the cool cave.

Eliza wasn't too happy about her cave experience. It was a lot of stair climbing but, after while she bucked up and did the hike.

Jason and Anne enjoyed being on the tour with Auntie Jill.

Lucy and I were pals and she actually eventually fell asleep while we looked through the cave. I always get a little creeped out when I know I am way under ground. I always hope that the big earthquake won't happen while we are in the cave. It was really pretty and interesting to see the cave though.

The next day the kids were anxious to get out by the lake and on the beach. Immediately the kids got to work on building something in the sand. The adults just enjoyed relaxing and hanging out on the water tramp. The lake was so full this year that we had to head up to the North beach. We miss our private beach on the east side but, it wasn't too bad hanging out with hundreds of others on the beach.

Lucy enjoyed the sand but, not the water!

On our second day at the beach we rented a boat and had a blast learning to water ski, wake board, and tube. Jason loved the boat and spend all day on the boat. He was in charge of the flag and did a great job with his job.

Anne on the boat!

Mike water skiing with one ski. He is the man!!!

We took Lucy on the boat and she was unsure about it at first but, soon fell asleep in Grandma's arms.

Mike skiing!

Mike and Jason hanging out on the boat. It was so much fun having the boat and being out on the lake!

Jason finally got brave and went out on the tube with Auntie Jill. You can't see Jill but, she was on there. Jason loved it!

Dad built this cute princess sand castle with girls. It was fun to watch them build it.

So, another successful trip to Bear Lake. We saw a moose while driving to the west side and a naked guy walking in the lake...... What the? We had a great time with family doing puzzles, watching movies, golfing, going for walks, and eating good food.