Scout Camp

Seth went to scout camp.  Since I wasn't there these are the only pictures I have of his week long adventure.  He said he had a great time.  I'm so glad that he is involved with the scouting program.  It not only gives him some fun events to attend, but it also teaches my son many things that are helping to make him a great young man!

Girl's Camp

Yes, I went to girl's camp AGAIN! 

 I just can't seem to stay away! 

 

What makes Girl's Camp the best?  All of the great leaders!

 This year at camp, I was asked to organize and prepare a spiritual challenge for the girls.  This is a time when the girls can go individually or in small groups to learn about the gospel and to feel the spirit.  We have a special cabin that we call the Celestial Sanctuary where the girls can go inside to experience the spiritual message.  This year I prepared a musical slide show quoting Joseph Smith's first vision (Thank you Seth for reading)  I also had a sacred grove I created in the woods where the girls could also go and read the scriptures, feel the spirit, and become closer to their Heavenly Father.

(Below are some slides from the slide show featuring the primary song, A Child's Prayer)

I also made our our staff poster. 

We were the Beekeepers and we focused on the 6 B's spoken of by President Gordon B. Hinckley

 

Last year at Girl's camp we had a special guest named Maude come and visit us. She brought a lot of excited and fun to camp. She not only has an outrageous wardrobe, but a personality to match! This year she brought her Mama with her and invited us to play The Hungry Games (challenges with food). It was one of the many highlights of camp.  I heard a rumor that she may bring her sister with her next year . . . oh the fun they will have!

It looks like the leaders can have fun at camp too.  This year we were able to open the archery range for everyone to use so we took the opportunity to go and give it a try.  I didn't do too bad--actually Cindy blew us all away with her straight shot!

 

I LOVE THESE LADIES! 

It has been an amazing 2 years serving with them.  I am sad that I won't be able to be with them next year, but the fun memories I have of our time at Camp Bountiful will keep me smiling for years to come!

This was Andrea's last year going to Girl's Camp. I feel so lucky to have been at camp with her for 5 of her 6 years. In one more year, Kiana will be able to go to camp and maybe I'll get to experience all of this fun once again.

Eagle Project

 Since we didn't have much going on this summer (ha, ha,) we decided to schedule Seth's Eagle Scout project for a weekend in July.  We knew that were were moving in August, so Seth wanted to complete his project before we left.

His project involved removing and rebuilding a retaining wall around a playground structure at the elementary school he attended.

(Neal Dow Elementary) 

A lot is required to have an Eagle Scout project approved, planned, and carried out. Seth did a lot of work to be able to acquire the funds needed for the project and after making a lot of phone calls to make sure he had the right equipment, supplies, and manpower to complete the project, he went ahead with the project, showing himself as a strong leader.

~assess the damage~ 

~move bark and gravel away from old wall~

~remove old wall and set new posts in cement~

~attach new boards and put gravel & bark back into place~

This was a much bigger project than Seth thought it would be and the sun seemed to be extra hot this weekend, but Seth was very lucky to have so much support from family & friends enabeling him to accomplish a wonderful project.

Now, we just need to have Seth fill out the paper work to complete his Eagle Scout requirement. 

PS:  A big thanks to Andrea for taking some great pictures of the project.

Summer Fun

Since we have been busy packing up our house, we thought it would be important to take some time and enjoy a little bit of the summer before it was gone.  

Some cool water, a boat, a wake board, a slide, flip flops, goggles, and the sun helped us take a break from the mundane task of filling our endless array of moving boxes.

Packing up the Storage Unit

 Well, we did it.  We packed up our house, in less than a month, and put all our possessions into a storage unit.  

Wait . . . let me start at the beginning.

About a year ago, Aaron was transferred toYuba City for work.  After he commuted down there for a year, we decided it was time for our family to make the big move to Yuba City.  We knew it would be a hard move for our family, since we had lived in Chico for 20 years, but we knew this was where

we needed to go.

Since it wasn't a good time to sell, we decided to rent our house.  This turned out to be a great decision because our next door neighbors were looking for a place to rent. 

It is amazing how much STUFF you accumulate after living in the same house or over 15 years.  We will miss our little home and all of the fun memories we had in it, but we look forward to new adventures ahead of us. 

 

Hmmm. . . now, we just need to find a place for our family

to live in Yuba City. 

Mud Football

What do you get when you take the youth, put them in a wet, muddy rice field, and give them a ball . . . .

FUN!

(Well, at least they think it's fun--I'm so glad I could enjoy the activity through pictures and I didn't have to be there personally to be a part of their so called fun!)

 Even Andrea didn't hold back when it came to supporting her teammates.

I don't think Aaron knew that this was a requirment of being the young men's president. He still seemed to have a great time rolling around in the mud!

Utah Reunion--4th of July

We spent the 4th of July in Utah this year.  Aaron's family was getting together for a BIG reunion on his mother's side. 

It was a lot of fun to see everyone.

The Chatfield Family 

We spent time golfing, eating, swimming, relaxing, visiting, taking pictures, meeting new family members, attending the temple, and playing games.

Here's the whole gang!

McLaughling Family Reunion

July 2012