Way too much to talk about

One of these days, I need to really sit down and write about our summer, but it seems like there has been so much, that I get home, clean up everything, pack it up and then leave again. Here are the highlights:
Girl's Camp - I was able to go on the stake staff as assistant craft queen. We made some wonderful crafts and there was very little prep for me before camp so that was helpful. It was Marly's first year at camp and it was fun to watch her and do something we love together. I was thrilled that Christina was able to come and feel the Spirit at camp. We came home tired and dirty but it was worth it. Two days later, we left for...

Nauvoo/Church history family vacation - we saw Winter's Quarters, Kanesville Tabernacle, historic Nauvoo, Carthage jail, Liberty jail, Haun's Mill site, Adam Ondi Ahman and all the sites in between. We bought a used pop up camper and lived out of our camper and van for 15 days. We don't like to talk about breaking the axle on the camper in Missouri and buying a flat bed trailer to drag it home so don't ask:) We visited with the Jewells, Johnsons, Simmons, Raner, and DeLaCruz family. The DeLaCruz family hosted a fabulous 4th of July party, the Johnsons introduced us to a fabulous pizza buffet, the Jewells allowed us to pop in unexpectedly and fed us lunch and let the kids run around, Nona let us go to church with her and spend a quiet Sunday, and the Simmons allowed us to crash there and do laundry while we figured out what to do with the camper. I will share my favorite site - the home of Lucy Mack Smith in Nauvoo. I think I could relate to her being a mother. She, like the rest of us, could see all the potential in her kids. She had to know of their greatness way before Joseph's first vision. Way before all her sons served so valiantly as missionaries and her daughters raised families while husbands served in the early days of the church. I see it in my kids, I expect so much out of all of them and I can't wait to see how their lives turn out. Watch out for greatness!!

The Whetten family campout - Mom and dad and all my siblings and families got together for a fabulous campout put on by Matt and Candice. We rode the golf cart (there was one crash but we don't talk about that either), rode the quad (except for me cause I'm afraid, yes, afraid), ate some yummy meals (especially the chile and peach cobbler that DeAnna broke the law and built a fire to make). We sat around and visited, played cards (finally my kids love to play cards with me!), and had a sunday school lesson in the cool pines. We were as dirty as we've ever been and it was awesome!! I love being with my family, they are the greatest, I can't wait for next year!

Sierra Ranch ward campout - Despite the 50% chance rain and lack of husband to go with, I dragged the camper out with my 6 kids and one extra (Christina Acosta) up to our ward campout. I'm either brave or stupid, I haven't figured out which. We didn't have as much rain as we expected but we had more fun than we expected. We played in the creek, went to the fish hatchery, visited, and ate yummy food. Thanks to Vance for being my "man" while camping, we had a fabulous time. I didn't want to go home but I missed Ben too much.

Missionary discussion - Marly challenged her friend Christina to take the missionary discussions and she was thrilled. I know she felt the Spirit at camp and is ready to take this step. We've had two discussions so far and things are going well. It is fun to have the missionaries in our home and I look forward to the day when my kids will serve missions - 4 years from now Vance will be leaving!!

School starts - Vance started his first day of his sophomore year today. I have so many memories of my sophomore year. In face, some of my best friends today are ones I met at Mt. View (Mike, Trevor, Lisa, Don, Karla...) I can't name them all and there are so many more from Kino and my ward. It's hard to believe my baby is growing up so fast. He's such a good boy and so full of potential. This should be an awesome year for him. If it is half as awesome as my sophomore year, it will be great. I love that little boy named Vance. Next week, Marly goes to 7th grade at the middle school, Drew will be in 5th, Skylar in 3rd, and Katy in 1st, all at Simonton. Tawny starts her preschool on Tuesday, and I will be all alone, so sad (maybe not that sad). My babies are all growing up too quickly:(