5 Mile

We went with the girls on a 5-mile hike to Lake Mary.  I was breathing hard through the first part.  I'm out of shape!  Maysen suggested we ride the chair lifts, but unfortunately they weren't moving.  The hike did get easier the closer we got to the top.  It was beautiful up there.  I brought my tiny point and shoot camera - the pictures just can't capture the beauty.  It was a fun hike though, and really fun to go with Maysen. She was such a trooper and didn't complain at all, even though hiking is not her favorite thing.

Maysen & Stephanie

 Lake Mary

 Paige

 Ashley

 Kelsee

 Athena, Eden, Kelsee, Ashlee, Paige, Tember, Jenna, Emily

Melissa, Analise, Katie, Maysen, Courtney, Zoe, Rachael

 Maysen

 Maysen & Stephanie

 Maysen & Stephanie

My girls (Beehives) loved to play this rock throwing game.  They would try to get these rocks to stay on the sign.  They were usually first, so this was a good little activity.

Rachael, Zoe, Paige, Ashley, Courtney

When the girls got back from the hike we had a surprise for them. Sister Valentine had arranged to have the Relief Society come up and give the girls pedicures.  Yep, what a camp.  Maysen wasn't too fond of this idea and did try to get out of it, but she was a good sport.

Eden & Jenna

 Leslie Perry & Maysen

 Nicole getting a pedicure from her mom

 Analise, Melissa, Paige, Nicole & Maysen

 Brittany & Maysen

We had our testimony meeting tonight.  After the girls put ooey-gooey treats in a waffle cone.  Sister Valentine grilled them and then they were topped off with vanilla ice cream.  Delicious.

Nicole, Zoe, Becky

Maysen went to bed about this time.  I forgot to write yesterday that Maysen got a group of girls to play Apples to Apples with her.  They played for hours.  I was really proud of her.  It was quite a random mix of girls too, so it was so fun to hear them interact together.

I stayed up WAY too late.  The girls were downstairs in the movie room telling scary stories.  Kamee had dressed up in a bear costume to scare the girls.  She waited in the closet for an hour before she came out. Kamee, Jaime and Jacqui were laughing so hard about this.  Then they started to think of all the other things they could do with a bear costume.  Things must be really funny at two in the morning.

One quick story I want to write down.  Maysen told me, "Dad's awesome.  I want to marry someone as awesome as Dad, but that's impossible because no one is as awesome as Dad."  How sweet.  I love it!  She has always been partial to her dad.  Also, Bubs turned 40 today. Happy birthday Bubs.  You're old.

Girls Camp!

Today was our first day of Girls Camp.  I use camp in the very loosest of terms.  I would like to admit that I know we are spoiled.  But, man oh man do I love it!

We picked the girls up from church this morning and drove up to Becky's cabin.  Bryce's family (Becky's husband) has a cabin right at the base of Brighton ski resort.  We were lucky enough to be able to stay here during "Girls Camp".  It was beautiful!

The view from my bedroom

 The bed I slept on.  Man are we roughing it!

After we were all unloaded, the girls played a get to know you game with string.  We then had lunch and went canoeing.

 Analise, Katie, Maysen, Melissa

Julie Valentine is our camp director.  She is the Bishop's wife.  She is organized and the most amazing cook.  I can already tell I will eat well this week . . . not so sure about Maysen.

We separated into stations for different crafts.  I was in charge of the night light station.  The theme of our camp was "Truly the light is sweet" ~ Eccl. 11:7  While I was at my station, I told some of my girls about the onsen.  Man oh man were they terrified!  One of them said, "I'm never going to Japan!"  Becky and I were talking about it later. Becky has been to Japan many times.  She has never been to an onsen, but her brothers have.  Her family lived in Japan for awhile years ago while her dad was the General Authority in charge of that area.  She was laughing and saying how it is just different there.  She said it would be funny to describe it during a modesty lesson . . . "Never get naked into a pool with others . . . unless you are in Japan and then it is okay." Anyway, the girls all thought Marie was adorable, but who wouldn't?

We had a fireside tonight outside.  We had three newly returned sister missionaries speak to the girls.  It was good, but kind of long.  It seemed to be long because I was SO COLD!  Poor me!  This camping can be rough!

Onsen

Okay, so Rachel was talking about an onsen on her blog and how awesome they are.  Let me tell you what an onsen is.  It is a public bathhouse!  I am not kidding!  They usually separate the men and the women.  First you strip down and wash yourself really good with soap while you are sitting on a stool. Then you go naked in a hot springs and sit there.  I'm not sure what you do, but I know you sit there . . . naked . . with other people.  No wonder Brett didn't want to go to the 'mixed gender' onsen.  His friend went and said he was there with a lot of old Japanese ladies.  Gross!

Anyway, it is pretty funny because Marie LOVES the onsens.  This is the conversation I overheard her having with Maysen.  Now, anytime Marie talks, imagine an adorable 'mickey mouse' type voice.  

Marie:  Maysen, do you want to go to the onsen?  

Maysen:  NO  

Marie: (shocked) Why don't you want to go to the onsen?  

Maysen:  Why do you want to go to the onsen?  

Marie:  Because you get to be NAKED! (At this point Marie throws up her arms in the air.)

Oh man that was funny!  Marie then asked Rachel if she could go to the onsen for her birthday.  If you are wondering, Mike, Maysen and I did not go to the onsen.  But we had plenty of laughs as Brett & Rachel explained it to us and as we looked at the helpful Japanese brochures.  

Swim Cap

I took Stockton shopping this morning and finally got him a suit!  Well, we got new suit pants, a tie and a vest.  It was about time!  We came back home, picked up the kids and got them all new tennis shoes. Stockton's old shoes were thrashed!  They were a couple of months old. I'm not sure how he goes through them so fast.  At least this time he had the excuse of scout camp. 

Steve, Brandon and Weston came up to go swimming this afternoon. Brandon and Stockton were both able to pass off their long swim test for scouts.  We had fun playing in the pool after.  I put on my swim cap I bought last year.  I couldn't believe how much easier it was to swim! Usually when I would try to freestyle swim I wouldn't even be able to breathe.  I could never figure it out.  With the swim cap it was super easy.  Mike and I ended up swimming late at night after the kids were in bed.  We did several laps.  It was really fun.  I'm looking forward to having Eden teach me - I'm sure I am doing several things wrong . . . but at least I'm trying!

Closet Doors

We finally got closet doors on the closets in the girls room.  They each have their own closet, but so far they have been just opened.  Maysen's looks just fine, but Jorja's can get quite messy.  Anyway, I have really wanted to have closets that were full length mirrors.  That is what Mike put up yesterday!  They look great, but I was too lazy to get a picture of them.  It is nice to get one of the many things checked off of our to-do list.  We will see how many things Mike gets done this week.  He just went on call today.  He usually gets a ton of stuff done, all which benefit me.  I love it!

Maysen also invited a few friends over to watch Aladdin.  She is working on one of her social goals.  I was proud of her and I think she had a really good time.  Melissa and Katie came over.  Both girls are in our ward.  Melissa will be in 10th grade and Katie will be in 11th grade this year.  I was really proud of Maysen.  She is going to try to invite/interact with girls at least once a week.  This was a great start.

Mike would probably appreciate me writing that he stomped all of us in Dominion.  He usually doesn't do that well, it was quite embarrassing.

Everyone's Gone

Matt and Mike have both gone home.  Boo!  Matt and Sam had to wake up at 5:30 this morning.  It might have been earlier, but I wasn't awake to find out!  We were able to squeeze a few extra games of Dominion in before he left.  Bubs and Bryan Leatherwood were there to play as well. I took Matt to the airport around lunchtime.  I can't wait until he comes home again.  Hopefully he will be getting married next time we see him! Hopefully we find out soon when that will be!

Happy 4th of July!

Today was a fantastic day!  The weather was great and my family was here!  3 of my 5 brothers were here.  10 of the 14 grandkids were here. My dad and Grandma Millburn were here as well.  It was wonderful! Let's start off with my favorite picture of the day.  I love this picture.  I love that cousins have a bond even though they rarely see each other.  I love how sweet Larkin is and I love how much Abby adores her.  You can see it in her face, especially in some of the other pictures.

Abby & Larkin

I tried to take a picture of all the grandkids.  Some were easier to get pictures of than others.  I was also trying to put them in order from oldest to youngest.  I think I got it right, but I'm not guaranteeing anything!  I know I got the first three right.  My kids are the Terry, Tammi, Rozie of our family.

#1 ~ Maysen

 #2 ~ Stockton

 #3 ~ Jorja

 #4 ~ Lincoln (born on Jorja's 3rd birthday)

 #5 ~ Skye

 #6 ~ Preston

 #7 ~ Ella

 #8 ~ Larkin

 # 9 ~ Marie, reason missing: she's in Japan

#10 ~ Abigail

 #11 ~ Mallory, reason missing: she became a big sister yesterday!

#12 ~ Blake

 #13 ~ Mina, reason missing: she is also in Japan

#14 ~ Trevor, reason missing: he was born yesterday

I should have taken a picture of Ange's belly and labeled it #15! Anyway, it was so much fun to have my family here!  We had a barbecue and went swimming.  Shocking!  It was a lot of fun though. I'm just sticking up the rest of the pictures in random order . . . because I have a lot.

 Skye, Abbs, Larkin

I was sitting outside eating my lunch when Blake walked right up to me with the sweetest grin on his face.  I picked him up and put him right in my lap.  There was a plate of jello in front of me.  Jorja made it and it was so cute.  She did one of those layered jello things.  She wanted to do red, white and blue but the blue was sold out - so she did red, white and purple.  Anyway, when Mike got here I asked him if Larkin could have the jello (Larkin and Blake have a lot of food allergies).  He said yes. So, when Blake came over to me I remember thinking, "He can have this jello, I've already checked."  I don't know why I assumed he was the same as Larkin.  I know he's allergic to more things, but for some reason that didn't register with me at that moment.  Anyway, I gave Blake the jello.  Thirty seconds later he kind of started gagging.  I got Mike's attention and told him I gave him the jello.  I said, "He can have that, right?"  Mike says, "NO!"  Totally not the answer I was expecting. I felt SO bad!  I try to be so careful and aware of food allergies. Anyway, Blake threw up right away.  Then he broke out into a rash. Great, Christen isn't ever going to let me be alone with him.  Not when I give him poison!  (Blake is allergic to milk.  There was sweetened condensed milk in the jello.)  Well, here are some adorable pictures pre-poison episode.  I hope you forgive me Blake!

Blake

 Gotta love that hat!

 Blake & Maysen

 Lincoln & Skye

 Skye & Lincoln

 Skye

 Lincoln

 Larkin, Skye, Ella

 Mike, Jorja, Preston, Maysen

watching Stockton's genius idea

 fail!

Mike tried to bribe Matt with $100 if he could make it across the pool on that ball fully dressed.  He didn't make it, but it was a worthy effort.

Porge!

 Larkin

 Mike throwing Preston

 Lincoln

 Skye

 Jorja

We played water wiffle ball.  That was fun!  It was Matt, Sam and my dad against Mike, Mike and me.

Sam batting, Mike pitching, Mike in the outfield on a jet ski

Our neighbors set off cool fireworks that we can see from our yard.  I love it because I hate going to firework shows.  Mostly I hate the drive home after the show.  Although one day I would love to see the show in Idaho Falls.  I hear that one is amazing.

Next week is Bubs' birthday.  I thought since there is a lot of family here that I would make him a cake.  I had another cake for all the June/July birthdays.  That was almost everyone else.  Sam, Mike, Christen, Matt and Ange.  The important thing is there was cake.

Bubs' cake

 Matt & Bubs

What a day!  Mike and his family left and are planning on driving to Vegas tomorrow.  Matt, Sam, Bubs, Lincoln and Ella all slept over. Matt, Bubs, Dad and I stayed up until 1:30 playing Dominion.  Bubs won the first game in a tie breaker with my dad.  I'm pretty sure Matt clobbered us in the next game.  I can't quite remember because it was getting very late.  I took my dad home and got back close to 2 am.  I took him in Mike's jeep.  When I got in the house I closed the garage door.  It wasn't until the morning that I realized I didn't close the garage door, I opened the door to the mini van garage.  So our garage doors were opened all night long.  Whoopsie.

Trevor William

John and Cassie had a baby boy today!  Trevor William was born at 2:24 in the afternoon today.  I guess that would be 12:24 for us.  He weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and was 21 inches long.  How exciting! Stockton is excited to have another boy cousin.  On my side of the family my kids have 7 girl cousins and now they have 3 boy cousins. Quite the opposite of my family growing up.  I had 9 girl cousins and 13 boy cousins.  Well, it doesn't seem quite the disparity until you add my family in there.  That would be 10 girls and 18 boys.  Hmmm, I didn't realize there were that many girls - sometimes it seemed like Brooke and I were on our own!  Anyway, we are so excited to have Trevor in our family.  I hope I can see him while he is still a baby!  Mallory was one and walking before I even met her!

John & Trevor

Matt is Here!

Matt got here about 1:30 in the morning.  We left the door open for him. Unfortunately I was so excited a woke up and talked to him for awhile. Then I couldn't get back to sleep . . . until 4:30.  I did defeat Matt in Dominion today.

Before bed I wanted Preston to finish his goal chart.  Man, that was like pulling teeth!  He freaked out about every suggestion.  Learning to ride a bike, swim lessons, learning the names of the kids in his class, even saying prayers.  He has already finished his mental goals.  He had 'read book' a ton of times.  I finally told him he couldn't earn his mental award until his goal chart was finished.  FINE.  Who knew this would cause so much trauma?

Preston's Talk

This last week was quite a blur.  I knew Preston had a talk on Sunday, but I never felt up to helping him write it.  Well, around ten o'clock last night the time had come.  (Ten o'clock is SO late for my family.) Anyway this is the talk he came up with.

Lehi kept the commandments when he left Jerusalem.

Nephi kept the commandments when he got the plates.

Noah kept the commandments when he built the boat.

I keep the commandments when I don't kill other people.  That is actually a pretty easy commandment to keep.  I also keep the commandments when I obey my mom and dad.  I give them lots of hugs and love.  Heavenly Father likes it when we keep the commandments. That is how we can make him happy.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I wrote down the ten commandments on a paper when we were writing the talk.  I asked him which one he wanted to talk about.  In my mind I was thinking, "Please don't pick killing or adultery!"  I guess out of the two I would rather him pick don't kill.  Anyway, Preston refused to practice the talk.  I really should have done this on Monday, but I did not.  I was worried he wouldn't be able to read it.  I know he can read, but I'm never really sure how well.  I wanted to have him read it at least one time for me!  He did great.  He read the entire thing.  Although one hand was holding the paper straight in front of his face and the other hand was pointing at the words.  It was really cute.  He also won Mike and I at Dominion tonight.  That's not so cute.

I took Maysen to a fireside tonight.  Hank Smith was the speaker.  He did a great job.  He was so funny.  Maysen was laughing through most of it.  She would turn to me and say, "I like him."  When we were getting refreshments, Josh came up to us and asked, "Where's Stockton?  He would have loved this!"  That was when it dawned on me that Stockton was supposed to come too.  Oh man!  I was really annoyed at myself. This would have been a great fireside to bring him to.  In order to make it up to him I brought him home a brownie.  I think he was okay with that.