EFY - Firm in the Faith

Amanda and Liz in their room!

Amanda left today for EFY! She is not excited about going at all.  With dance starting up next week and soccer continuously throughout the summer, she said her summer is now over.  She wanted one more lazy week.  But, we wanted her to follow through with her commitment and after talking to a bunch of kids that have been to EFY this summer, she agreed to go.  It didn't hurt that she found out she knows a really cute boy that is going to be there at the same time!

Jeni drove the girls down this morning because she and Alli are on their way to the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City.  We have pick up duty at 7AM on Saturday morning.  They are at BYU. I know....how could we send our child to BYU?  We just heard that it's the place to go for EFY.  She has taken some Utah shirts and plans to let her colors shine!

I have had a few texts from her telling me their room is small and dirty.  I told her to ask someone for cleaner and rags and get busy. She said she appreciates her big room at home and that we have a clean house! Good to hear!

She should be meeting with her group right now, so it will be good to hear how the rest of her day goes.  Party on!!

Trek 2K13

Amanda had the opportunity to go on Trek this year as the Stake Youth Conference.  The kids were asked to 'bring along' an ancestor.  We did a ton of research and found many, many amazing ancestors...some that had come across the plains and some who hadn't.  Eventually, we decided on Susannah Marriott. She did come across the plains and eventually they settled in Kaysville!

 Isn't that amazing?  We have NO family up here, but now realize that we have roots here!  They settled here with 3 other families, one which was named Burton. There is a street named Burton in Kaysville.  No streets named Marriott though, that we know of. Eventually, John & Susannah were asked to go settle further north.  There is a town called Marriott-Slaterville and we knew about our roots further north...Garden City, Ogden, etc.

 We couldn't find a picture of Susannah, but there was this grave on the web.  Looks like a new one obviously, but still nice to have some type of photograph about her.

 Here is our little pioneer before she left! She wasn't overly excited to go and maybe a little nervous.  Grandma Gib loaned us the bonnet which her Mom had made and helped us with a shirt and apron, too! Thanks Grandma!

Mike & I were really nervous for her to go. We knew she'd be fine, but there wouldn't be any communication with her for 4 days and we knew it was going to be hard.

We worried most about her feet. We knew if she got blisters, then she'd have a terrible time.  What we ended up doing after several options was having her wear my already broken-in hiking boots and bought some hiking socks.  She came home blister-free!  Some kids had 20+ blisters on their feet.  

Mike & I were also wishing we had gone along. There were a couple of opportunities for one or both of us to go, but at the time it didn't seem feasible.  Looking back, we should have made it work.  Good lesson and we'll prepare for when Sydney gets to go. Amanda said she wishes we had gone.  Almost everyone had a parent or a sibling there in one capacity or another.

After we had dropped her off at the Stake Center and Mike went to work, Brandon and I decided to go for a walk.  We are trying to get some conditioning in before he starts football.  We walked a long way. Not as long as Amanda walked that first day, but we were thinking about her.  We were in kind of a funk after she left.  We really missed her!

Our friend, Amy, who was going on trek with the kids sent me this picture of Amanda's trek family before they departed the stake center.  The boy in green second from the right is Jake and is in our ward.  She said she only knew one of the girls.  Mike knew her Pa as he was the stake auditor when Mike was finance clerk.  I was a little worried still....

Then, the 2nd night at 10pm, I got this picture sent to me on my cell phone!  We were so relieved!  We were happy to see that big smile on her face!  I texted back and forth with Amy and made sure everything was ok. Amy said it had been really hard. There were tons of hills and they walked over 10 miles the past 2 days.  She hadn't seen Amanda much, but when she saw her she said Amanda was always smiling!  This picture of Amanda and Landon (who isn't in her 'family' so I knew she got to mingle with her friends) made me happy!

 Then, she sent this one of the camp and I posted it to  Instagram for all the other trek parents who wanted a little communication.  I couldn't reveal my source, but we all chatted and made each other feel better at least,

 They arrived Saturday about 4:30! Mike & I had taken Sydney and Brandon to City Creek for lunch to kill some time.  Then, on the way home Amy texted and told us they were there and to come now!

 There they were, stinky, dirty and tired, but happy!  I never got a picture of Amanda with her Ma & Pa or trek family, but these are her friends.  Jared, Bridgette, Erynn, Landon, Liz, Amanda, Susie

 And Maddy, Tanner and Amanda....She had great stories and a great adventure and loved it! She said she'd go again for sure!  We were happy for the amazing experience and all the effort that so many people put in and for her blister-free feet!

Fireworks!

Rog & Cozette and their cute kiddos go camping at Cherry Hill during the 4th of July week each year. They go with James & Jessica Heward and kiddos.  Last year, when we had Cherry Hill passes we went and played with them at the water park.

This year, we didn't get passes, but we called them after we got set at our fireworks spot to see what they were doing. They had just pulled into the church parking lot across from the high school where we were ready to watch fireworks. We talked them into coming to hang with us!  Tons of fun!!  I loved it because Coze and Rog would sing 'I'm Proud to be an American' during the fireworks show (it was coordinated to music) and it embarrassed Sydney.  Party on, Gibsons!

Baking Beauties

One Tuesday while I was teaching all day, Sydney and Mikaela got bored and wanted to make cookies. They picked some pretty detailed and hard ones to make.  They did a good job! They just got some measurements mixed up as far as how thick the dough should be, but they still tasted good! Nice job, girlies!

Amanda's Parade Moment

 Here she comes!

 This is about the time they all started throwing taffy at me while I was taking their pictures.  including Jon, the driver!

 My cuties!

 These are better pictures I got from Giselle's parents. Obviously, they weren't throwing taffy at them.

Right after this point, Melvin faked a car breakdown and made all the girls push his taxi VW to the end of the parade route. Once they got there, he said good bye, jumped in, started it and drove away!

Independence Day Ktown Style

We were going to try something new this 4th of July and we ended up only slightly changing what we normally do!  Amanda's soccer team was invited by Jon Argyle to ride in his VW's during the parade.

 Addie, Giselle, Aubrey, Amanda

 So, we had to go and watch our superstar!  We sat by our friends, the Lloyds, this year. They have a great spot near the start of the parade.  I ran into these girls as we were walking toward our spot!

 Micaela, Sammy, Brylie & Emma on Coach Mel's car

 There is shade and lots of room.....plus Brandon only had to compete with Parker for the candy that was being thrown throughout the parade and they were both really nice to each other.  Taking turns getting candy, making sure they both got a ball that was thrown, etc.  It was a great experience!

 The only thing I think our kids miss is that this isn't part of the water parade.  You have to be more on Main Street for that, but I didn't mind not getting soaked this year at all!!

Lloyds even gave Brandon the bag for his candy!  Super great!

Independence Day

Melanie & Adam Lloyd called us one night to tell us they were having a driveway party.  They pulled out some fireworks and diet Cokes and we watched the kids do sparklers.  LtoR, Amanda, Susie and Maddy.  Adam likes to scare people with firecrackers, so we had to stay on our toes!  We brought some fireworks as well as the Francis'  It was a great time!

Last of Lake Powell

 Maddy....she got some really rough water....

 The men...Mikey, Adam & Brad

 Amanda, Maddy and Susie on the tube. Liz tried it, but the water splashed too much. She's not much for water anyway...

 Me & Jeni (I didn't get a picture of Melanie before they left)

 We went out on Brad's boat on Tuesday. Finally a beautiful Lake Powell kind of day without wind or boat issues!  The Lloyds and the 4 older girls went home on Monday night so that the girls could go back for summer gym and Adam had to be back for work.

 Anyway, one can surf on Brad's boat! So, Sydney tried and got up! We were so happy for her! Especially since she had a bad fall on the wakeboard earlier in the day and wouldn't get out and try again. We were so happy when she wanted to try and then she actually did it!  Way to be Syd!

 The cool thing is that she pulls herself closer to the boat to find the sweet spot in the wake.  At that point she could let go of the rope, but was nervous to do that. I don't blame her.  She's so close that you could have a conversation without yelling!

 Brandon was so tired! For sure not enough sleep for this 8 year old!  My boys! Love them!

Unfortunately, I don't think we'll get back to Lake Powell this year.  So sad! We love it there so much! We were so grateful for the chance to go with the Arvelloysons again!!!