The Trips

This year we weren't sure if the annual Preslar Boys' Yellowstone trip was going to happen. That was partly due to the amount of travel Troy was doing for work and wasn't certain that he could get the time off. It ended up working out early in August, although the boys decided that they needed to take a different approach this year. They hadn't reserved their back-country camp spots like they had in previous years so they decided on a car-camping trip, hitting the really famous sites that the younger boys had never seen before. I think overall it was really fun for them to be together and to see those amazing spectacles, but were overwhelmed by the pressing crowds. They learned that hoards of tourists could really make life miserable in the park. I think from here on out any trips to Yellowstone will either be in the back country or will happen in the fall when the park empties a bit. I don't think they ended up with many pictures, but I know they especially enjoyed the Grizzly Bear Refuge Center.

They were gone the same week that Romney was at Brighton camp, leaving me with Emma to keep me busy and entertained all week. Romney was returning on Friday afternoon, and my sister-in-law Sheri and I concocted a plan to surprise our girls with a little vacation of our own. I picked up Romney from the bus and we continued straight on to St. George. 

On the way to St. George we first made a stop in Cedar City - Sheri had reminded me that in the summer evenings before the Shakespeare Festival put on their big productions each night there was a free Green Show outside that anyone could watch. I have wonderful memories of all the times my mom went to the huge trouble and expense of taking us on trips to see those plays and how much I loved the Green Shows. Silly actors and jugglers, improv and singing. So fun and festive. There was just one problem. There were always these bar-maid type gals with corsets and puffy sleeves walking around selling these little pies. Or tarts maybe. I don't know. All I know was that they looked delicious and we were NEVER allowed to buy any. I just wanted one so bad! Other than that my memories of the Festival are pretty dang awesome. This year we had neither time nor money nor interest in taking small children to see any Shakespeare. But it did sound really fun to see the Green Show. Sheri was working and not able to join us but Peter came up with the kids and we met on the lawn where we watched a Green Show that was really a much more polished performance than the goofy stuff I remember. But it was delightful still and the girls loved clapping along and laughing at the charming actors. There were even little pies and tarts for sale. Peter, having the exact same memory that I do of those pies, so close but so far away, gave me a look and we immediately shelled out the money for as many pies as we wanted. Oh how delicious they were, and so worth the wait. I love my Peter.

The plays are now being performed on bigger and better stages across the street from the original old theater, which is just there, open for passers-by. We stopped and let the girls put on plays and run around for a while

After the show we continued on down to St. George. I told the girls that's what we were doing for a few days but little did they know that the next day we would pretend to take a spur-of-the moment day trip to Las Vegas and hopefully avoid alerting them to the fact that all our suitcases were in the car with us and our plans were even bigger.

On Saturday morning we did indeed take our surprised and excited troop of kids off to Vegas where we spent one seriously sweltering Saturday afternoon. I don't think I've been in Vegas proper possibly ever before. I guess I remember one trip to a casino buffet on my way to California with friends in college but that's about it. It is the strangest place. We kind of just walked around, sight-seeing some of the famous casinos and watching people. I'll say it again. What a strange place.

After we ate lunch we piled back in the car and asked the girls how they would feel about going to California instead of going home. They didn't believe us at first but when we started driving they were so excited. It was Cara's 8th birthday weekend and we were so happy to surprise them with just a little trip to the beach. To be continued......

Camper Extraordinaire

Romney is definitely the kid who had the busiest summer. We didn't really make any huge plans, but I sure was grateful that the plans we did end up making seemed to fit in with all of our commotion just fine. Rom was able to participate in three camps this summer and I was overwhelmed with joy as each of the experiences were so positive and wonderful for her.

First, in June, she was able to attend Youth Theater at the U for the second summer in a row. I don't have many pictures because I didn't see much of her - she was gone for six hours every day participating in a melodrama and taking classes in comedy and improvisation. For the performances during the final week Troy happened to be in Preston, Idaho for a work trip and that good man took the time and energy to drive all the way down just to see her, and had to drive all the way back that night. I was so grateful for his effort. Romney had a great part in the play - she's a true character actress and had the role of a crotchety old gramma. She had great comedic delivery and timing. I loved it. She was also delighted by the attendance of her 6th grade teacher, who joined us for Ugurt after the show. We adore Ms. Parker!

Besides the evening performance there was also an afternoon sort of show-and-tell where the kids got to give a little demonstration of what they had been up to in their classes. Again, her comedy group did a great job and really got a great reaction out of the audience. The best part of that afternoon was the announcement that Ms. Penny, the director of the program, was going to give out four special awards for the Rising Stars - kids who really had shown skill and improvement and Romney was one of them. I was just thrilled for her to feel that success about something she loves so very much.

Here she is after hearing her name called:

Here's her darling melodrama group:

Early in July Romney was invited to go to the Stake Girl's Camp. I was feeling anxious about it but did my best not to let her know - she hadn't had many opportunities to sleep away from home, she'd be among a lot of new girls she didn't know besides the three from our own ward going. Sometimes she gets exhausted and has a hard time. But boy did she prove me wrong. She was an absolute trooper, and made friends and got involved with all of the activities. I was just so happy and proud of her.

Romney has a camera with lots of pictures from her camps on it but I haven't been able to get the photos off of it yet. You'll have to wait for an entry that will just be a photo journal of her camp experiences. 

While Romney was away, I had to find ways to keep the other two entertained. One activity was to make the LONG trek up to Ogden to the home of my niece's boyfriend - his family has a lovely pool where we spent the afternoon playing in the sun before going inside to watch a movie or, in my case, fall sound asleep in the comfy theater seats. 

Another fun outing was taking the two of them to the Natural History Museum. It was such a dang hot day, driving up the side of that sunny hill and just walking into the building about killed us. We had fun though. It's not easy keeping a 14 year old plus an 8 year old entertained doing the same thing at the same time.

Here's my pooped-out little Romney getting home from Girl's Camp, thrilled with her triumph of staying, having a great time, and making new friends. And really really needing a shower.

The next week was the one that about did me in - my current church calling (or job) is to work with the Stake Primary and we had camps that week for both the girls - Activity Days day camp at This Is the Place State Park and for boys - two days of Cub Scout Camp up Milcreek Canyon at Camp Tracy. I...have no words for how these three days completely did me in. So hot. Such busy kids. But it all turned out well, even though my worn-out Romney fell ill after the girls day camp. 

THEN just two weeks later Romney was again invited to go to camp - this time to my heart's home on earth, Brighton LDS Girls Camp. These two invitations were really special partly because Romney wasn't yet 12. She wouldn't be 12 until August, but since she had a summer birthday she was allowed to go to both. I knew she would love camp. Little did I know how much - yes, she did have a home-sick evening but pulled through and had a terrific week. Again, expect a photo journal at some point of her pictures. Maybe I'll even get her to do some writing about both the weeks.

The real kicker was picking her up on Friday afternoon after camp where she told me her big news. She had gone on the Above and Beyond Hike!!! This is a 12 mile, 8 hour trek to 7 summits surrounding the Brighton Camp area. Not many kids do it, maybe 15 or so, but she did! And she was still just 11. I was astounded! And then she told me that not only did she do the A&B, she woke up at 2:00 the next morning to go on the 6 mile sunrise hike. I just could not believe my ears. What a kid! She never gets to complain about walking anywhere ever again, now that she has done this!!

Here she is getting ready to board the bus on Monday morning:

During this week, Chase and Troy were on a trip of their own so it was just Emma and me. We had a cooler day that week so we went to the zoo. Emma wore a coat and got hot cocoa like it was fall. I wish!

We got to feed the giraffes - that was very fun. I kind of love doing something with just one kid because you do more things, not needing to pay for a big group. Just the two of us!

We also spent a day at the children's museum:

Here are Romney and her friend on pick-up day. So tired. So proud of themselves. Great great week. Brighton Camp, I love you, and am so happy another generation loves you too.

Yes, Romney was completely dead after that. But it was completely worth it.