A fun day

Late this morning as I was sitting on the couch enjoying my day off and reading a book, my sister txt to see if I was working.  She was interested in coming up to my work to join me for lunch.  Amazingly we both had the day off and decided to get together for lunch and some fun.

 

We met up at Olive Garden and ended up having an entire room to ourselves.  That was probably lucky because we were having a lot of fun talking and exchanging stories from the last few weeks since we had been together.

 

After lunch we decided to drive over to Gardner Village and browse through the stores.  We had both only been to Gardner Village a few times in the past and always in October during Witch-a-palooza.  If you have never been to Gardner Village I highly recommend it.  Especially during October.  Witches everywhere and fun activities all the time.
Today was a lot more low-key and less crowded.  We enjoyed lazily going through little store after little store.

Sam found a couple of ducks taking a nap and had to take a picture.  So logically, I took a picture of her taking the picture.

 

We found several great signs.  Wise words but not worth the price of the frame.

 

"Live doesn't have to be perfect to be Wonderful"

This one fits me a little too well, especially the part about cooking.
"I understand the concept of cooking and cleaning; Just not how it applies to ME!"

 And just a bit more fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sam and her bug sunglasses. (No she didn't buy them)

I guess during the month of July Gardner Village celebrates 'Beach month.'  The whole place was decorated swimming and beach themed.  In the little creek that runs between shops here was a shark fin and a sign saying 'Beach Closed.'

 

Sam looking very scared of the shark.  Maybe if she had bought the sunglasses the shark may have been more scared of her.

We had a great time getting out of the house and enjoying our mutual day off.  We should do it again sometime.  I have a great sister.

Happy Monday!!!



Girls Camp 2013

Becca, Sarah, and Emily doing some quiet scripture study.

This year of Girls Camp was a completely different experiance for me then the last 10 years of camp that I have had the privilege of participating in.  This year I was called to be Camp Director.  It was my responsibility to not only join the girls and have fun but to plan and prepare nearly every aspect of the 5 day camp. Everything from ensuring that we had enough tents and equipment, to what crafts and activities we would do, and who would sleep in what tent. Lets just say it was a very busy and stressful time in the months leading up to last weeks camp as I worried and fretted about every aspect of camp. 



The girls gathered at the amphitheater for devotional.

 Luckily as soon as we arrived at camp and got settled in I was slowly able to relax and begin to enjoy the simple fun and sweet spirit that always accompanies girls camp for me. The stake theme of 'Hakuna Matata, No Worries' was true for me.
I had done my planning now it was time to help the girls/ and myself just have fun and spiritual time.  And we did.



Sarah jumping over the stream during the hike.

Camille, Olivia, Jorjee, and Madison eating lunch on the hike.



Myself, Cyndi, and JoAnn on the hike.

 The hike (or death march) was a very difficult, very steep trail that included 6 stream crossings, only two of which had small bridges.  We marched in a line of over 250 girls and leaders for nearly five miles round trip.  Happily popsicles waited at the end to help cool us all down.

The end of our skit when everyone sings Hakuna Matata.

Terni studying her scriptures.

Our skit was a spoof of the Youtube video 'How animals eat their food."  We changed it up a bit to be how African animals eat their food and even had guest appearances from Lion King's Timon and Pumba.

 

Lunch crew.



Jorjee showing off the olives for lunch.

It did rain on us the last full day but armed with poncho's and trash bags the girls continued to enjoy themselves and make the most of our time.  Luckily we had borrowed enough easy-up canopies to provide shade that they also kept most of our campsite and tables dry and usable during the storm that lasted several hours.



Singing during the circle of songs.

Amanda, Emily, Emily Alexis, and Christina.

All in all I believe that camp was a success, all the girls had fun, no one had to go home early and they felt the spirit. 
I am glad that this years camp is finished and I am also excited to begin working on planning next years camp.  I already have a theme in mind and a campsite at Heber Valley Girls Camp reserved and the count down has begun.  Only 10 more months until we camp again!






I do love Girls Camp.


Amanda, Terni, Jorjee, and Lainey at the entrance of our campground.



Many of the leaders, proof that we survived.

 

Girls Camp Crafts

Service Sister Boxes

The first day of camp, after unloading and setting up the girls made their service sister mail boxes.  Each girl was able to decorate their own box that throughout the rest of camp was used as a drop box for sweet notes, recognition of service, and for handouts and small treats.

 

Chloe helping Anna put her box together.

The girls enjoyed using their creativity to make each box unique.



Emily decorating her box.

A few of the girls and leaders showing off their finished boxes.

Wire Necklaces
The next day, my assistant JoAnn taught the girls how to make their own bent wire necklaces.  They could choose a word such as 'Faith,' 'Stand,' 'Holy,' or any other word and with tools and a little patience bend a piece of wire into their own creation.
This turned out to be a good opportunity for those who were able to complete their own craft quickly to help those who had difficulty.  Many girls were willing to make necklaces for others.


Brinley and her mom working together

Lainey concentrating on her design.

Not one of our necklaces but this is a good
example of what they turn out like.



 

Duct Tape Purses

Becca and Camille modeling current duct tape style.

On Thursday we sat down with the girls and made fabric lined duct tape purses.  It was quite labor intensive but after a few rough starts and small squabbles over sharing particular colors of tape with each other the girls enjoyed this project very much.
I was unable to take any pictures during the actual creation portion of time because I was busy helping each table learn the next step throughout the whole process but as the pictures I do have show the girls again brought each of their own unique style and creativity to each bag. 
At camp these bags became their shower totes and then on Sunday many of them used them as church bags. 
It is fun to see them excited to learn a new 'skill' (if duct tape use can be called a skill) and be so eager to show it off in their everyday lives.


Many of the girls showing off their finished bags.

Heading off to Girls Camp!!!

It is favorite time of year! It is not my favorite season (winter) or holiday (Halloween) but I do get to go do one of my favorite things this week.  I get to go to Girls Camp!!!  I am so excited.  I am addicted to girls camp.  This will be my 11th year attending.  I went 7 years as a young woman, 3 as a leader and now this year will be my first year as CAMP DIRECTOR!!!! 
Can you tell I am excited?  My assistant and other young woman's leaders have spent months planning and preparing and it all starts tomorrow morning at 8:30am. I do not want to spoil the surprise of what we are doing for anyone who may be attending but I assure you that I will give a full report after camp is finished. 
I would like to those who have helped to make this camp possible.  Specifically my co-workers who have picked up extra shifts to cover while I am away, and to the many leaders and ward members who have helped by donating supplies and equipment and of there time. 
Pinterest has helped to bring out my creative side including fun crafts to do at camp and also cute ideas for thank you gifts.  I was crafty and made up these thank you gifts.

To my co-workers.  Says 'Thanks a bunch for helping cover my shifts.  Your a peach'

To the YW's leaders

Crafting With My Sis

Today I have a treat for you all.  My sister Samantha has accepted my invitation to be a guest blogger and share with you her amazing witty/fun writing talent which she inherited from our father and I did not.  She has her own blog which you can read here. 
Without further ado, my sister:

On a complete whim due to the fact that I would be in her part of the world on Saturday I decided to spend Friday evening and night with my sister.  It is a good thing that she agreed to this arrangement because it sure beats sleeping in my car.

As an activity to stay the encroaching powers of boredom (not really because hanging out with my sis isn't boring) we decided to do some crafting.  Now crafting isn't a very big thing that my sister and I do.  She has surly done more "crafts" than I because my idea of crafting is making sure that my shoes are tied when I leave my apartment and my bed is made when I leave my room.  My philosophy on the matter mostly entails that if it didn't start out that way it doesn't really need to be changed.  It was time to get my craft on though.

My sister is the Camp Director in her ward and as such she is in charge of making sure that EVERYTHING gets done.  Part of her job description (that I'm sure she has given herself) includes preparing the crafts that the girls will do and having an example to show them.  I would probably just describe the craft to the girls as best as I could and then leave them to their own devices, so it is very good that I am not the Camp Director, the crafts coordinator, or even going to camp.

The craft that we did was decorating note boxes for the girls.  Each girl will have her own box that others can put kind notes, handouts, and overall inspiring tidbits to raise each girls spirits through the time that they will be at camp.  I was overall very impressed with what I was able to turn out.  Of course my sisters box was much better and fit the theme of what the girls would be doing, but I gave it a fair go.  Since I love the beach and currently wish that I was there as the temperatures keep raising I did a turtle/shell theme.  Now my great accomplishment in the field of crafting can be shown off in all its glory along with my sisters when the girls do their very own craft box.