Abundant Recompense Copy

One of our family goals for the year is to go on two camping trips. Frankly, neither Nate or I really like to camp, but the kids LOVE it. This past Friday Nate and I decided to finally bite the bullet and take the kids camping. In the backyard (lower stakes, you know). We all had a blast and really enjoyed having a tv-free Friday night outside together. I gave each of the kids a fly swatter and let them go at it while I worked on the fire. They were in heaven. Santa knows what to put in their stockings this year! Leah was super happy kicking around on the picnic quilt. Bryn and Addison helping to put up the tent. They were in heaven once it was set up. They ran in and out and squealed repeatedly for at least an hour and even knocked the whole thing over a time or two. The foil dinners were a hit. I am of the opinion that the food is the best part of camping. Bryn's poor marshmallow. For most of the time it was resting on the ashy log. I am so proud of my fire. I did it all by mysel...

Here's a sampler of our activities, big events, and cuteness of late. Eggs. Lots of 'em.  Nate ran over Bryn's trike that she left in the driveway several months ago. Our friend Sallie found her a new one and a helmet at a yard sale! Seriously, I have the best friends. Bryn is thrilled and has officially got pedaling figured out. Addison adores Leah. Several of his favorite toys are only allowed to be touched by the two of them. Birthday party for our family! Six years old this month! Addison started soccer. Go Blue Lightning! These two do just about everything together. The latest is going into space. My heart is melting. Megan and Sam came down to visit and spent the better part of an afternoon playing with Barbies. Leah's growing up so fast and is still the sweetest baby around .

Michelle has reminded me several times to record my two recent man-trips. A few weekends ago I went down to St. George with Mike, a friend from the ward. We met up with my longtime fellow canyoneering adventurer, Dustin, and his sister Melanie, and did Pine Creek. This is the first canyon me, Dustin, and Roland ever did, and things went much better this time. It took us longer than expected because we had to wait for other groups in front of us - including families with 4 and 6-year-olds. Crazy to take kids that young on a canyon like that. Mike in one of many long swims. The slot flash-flooded a week before, so it was FULL of water. Dustin rappelling into "The Cathedral" - a beautiful area with a double arch. Full of water, and also quite dark. Here you see me sporting the purple monstrosity Weber State calls a rental wetsuit. The next-to-last rappel. The final rappel, 110-foot freefall into a grotto. Just awesome. After about an hour hike, you get to the part where you bush...

We spent the first week of our Georgia vacation gearing up for Meg and Sam's wedding and reception. We measured, sewed, ironed, glued, constructed six million pinwheels, baked a lifetime supply of cupcakes, sweated, cried, cursed, laughed, and pulled it off. My mom and her siblings could make bank planning weddings if they had the stomach for it.  Megan's reception could be summed up in the theme "a summer day." She really wanted hot dogs. (Seriously???) And Mom made it work and ran with it.  So I present, with special thanks to Chelsea for being so gracious with her amazing photography skills, Meg and Sam's reception: a visual feast. The sign in table. Granma made the bears. Photo clothesline It took four grown men all afternoon to figure out how to make these sailboats float right. Aunt Sandy and co did all the flowers. Granma made quilts to go under the kites for the great grandkids to play on during the reception. At the temple. I loved the colors. Uncle Scot...