PRIDE Reunion

When I was in High School, I was in a performing group called P.R.I.D.E. (Peers Responsible in Drug Education). Our group consisted of teens from 5 different High Schools and we performed all over the District at Elementary Schools and Middle Schools, teaching children to say No to drugs and alcohol.

It was so much fun to be a part of this group! They were like family. After 14 years, we finally got together and had a reunion. It was so great to reconnect with so many of my good friends! I wish everyone could have come, but at least we had a decent turnout, despite so many people living out of state.

We had a family picnic at the Roi Hardy Park in Riverton, then we took the kids to a babysitter's and went to our Director's house for a catered dinner with just the adults. We watched videos from our performing days and had a lot of laughs.

(Spencer Hale, ?, and Jarin Blackham)

We sat by BJ and Cheri (Anderson) Denison for lunch

(Matt Pilling, ?, Kat Newell, Mary Pearson, Mishala Pilling)

(Sonya Strong, Mishala Pilling, Ginger Garn, Matt Pilling)

(BJ Denison, Lyle Affleck, Kirsten Lake)

(Mary Pearson)

(Me and Ginger Garn)

(Jason, Amber, Landon, Dave Faux, Brandon Bodily)

(Landon and Jason)

(Amber and Brianna)

(BJ and Cheri Denison, ?)

(Our Director, Donna Newbold, Dave Faux, and Brandon Bodily)

(Spencer Hale, Kelsea, and Me)

(Ginger Garn)

This is what happens when Mom takes too much time talking to friends

I went to pick up Brianna at our next door neighbor's house while Landon was finishing up his lunch. While I was there, my friend told me how she felt so bad because her son fell asleep in his high chair that morning. We had been talking for awhile at her front door and I joked that I'd probably get home and Landon would be asleep in his high chair too. Sure enough, I walked in the door and this is what I found . . . poor guy.

Youth Conference Pictures

So here's the pictures I said I would post later. When we first got to camp the youth had to put together a skit, then we had a Luau in the Stake Pavilion - it was awesome.

(This was a staring contest and I had to take a snapshot of his eyes - it was too funny.)

All the male leaders were asked to come up and do the Haka Dance. It was really funny. On the front row, is our YM's President, and 1st and 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric. They were not afraid to let it all out for the youth.

(I thought this was a lovely shot of you, Quincy! I had to post it - giggle.)

Practical Joke

I attended our Stake Youth Conference this week and had a great experience. I wish that I could have gone to all of the day sessions, but I needed to be home with the kids. Yesterday, however, I had the opportunity of going up to Heber Valley Camp with our youth and we had such a great time (I will post pictures a little bit later). The whole conference was so well put together, the turnout was enormous, and everyone seemed to enjoy the entire experience . . . . well, almost everyone (ha ha ha) . . .

So here's the story.

I happen to come from a very goofy, funny ward, who fears nothing and no one. When we arrived at camp, yesterday, our Stake YW's President (who is a complete hoot herself) was going over all of the rules for the camp and the stake camp. One of the rules that was most emphasized was that NO one was allowed to use the stake bathrooms, except the stake leaders. There are good reasons for this, but we happened to know that the real reason for it was because one of the stake YW leaders is a serious germ-a-phobe (sp?) and cannot handle public use of restrooms. She has to make sure that everything is very sanitized and the thought of anyone using her "sanitized" bathroom is highly unacceptable. Well, when our YMs leaders became aware of this, they thought it would be pretty funny to create a long line of bathroom intending customers right in front of the Stake bathroom, right before dinner started. Those of us in the line were trying to be as unsanitary as possible and we made sure that this particular Stake YW leader was aware. Before she realized it was a total joke, she came running up to the door almost as if to blockade it from the filthy soon-to-be users. It was too funny to watch. She did catch on though and got a good laugh.

We went and sat down for dinner and one of our other YM's leaders started telling us some of the funny things some of his co-workers would do at work . . . well, that got us to thinking . . . "hmm, does anyone have any chocolate they could spare?" Our YMs president went to his car, got a chocolate chip cookie, broke it in half, and smeared the chocolate on the toilet seat of the Stake leaders bathroom. He took a picture of it and it totally looked like skid marks. We were so pleased at our work and giggled a lot through dinner.

All of a sudden, the Stake YW's President walks over towards us, leans down and says, "You're gonna bring it? Oh, I'll bring it" and we knew it was on. (I have gotten to know her these past few months and completely adore her - she is so funny and from what I have been able to see, she knows how to have fun as well . . . if you know what I mean.)

So, later that night, in front of the entire stake, she called us out. She said that there had been some rule violations and would everyone please turn their attention to the Sunrise Meadows 1st Ward leaders. She then revealed the bathroom mishap and made a snide remark about it - we knew her game was on.

So we waited all night to see what would happen and nothing did. Well, this morning when we sat down to breakfast, our YM's President, and each member of the Bishopric were welcomed with a wonderful surprise in their eggs . . . chunky mint patties were hidden and I must say, they did look gross. We thought it was funny, but not good enough to match what we had done. I, so, look forward to future stake events with the youth. This is going to become an underground battle, and we, the SM 1st Ward WILL win!!!

We did it . . . finally!

We have been wanting to put in box gardens ever since we moved in and we finally did it. Jason purchased all the wood and with the children, they treated them with Linseed Oil. Corbyn and Brianna were so excited about helping and though the oil might be a little thick in areas, it's great that it was done by them.

When the soil was delivered, once again, the kids really wanted to help get it in the wheelbarrow and to the back yard.

Here's the finished product

And we finally planted it with a bunch of starters and a bunch of seeds. This is our trial year and was all done by us and the kids . . . we'll see how it turns out.

Nick's Birthday

Last Saturday, we celebrated Jason's brother, Nick's, birthday. We went to Nick's in-laws house and had a great time swimming, BBQ'ing, planting the garden, and playing Volleyball - it was a lot of fun.