Christmas Visits

I just had a wonderful trip to visit my son Ben's family in St. Louis, and my Daughter's family in Layfayette, Indiana. More details and pictures to come. I am getting ready for Uncle Charlie to arrive today from Texas.

Family Reunion

On August 11th my daughter Nancy's family from Indiana arrived at Uncle Charlie's cabin in Island Park. We had a terrific day on Saturday playing by the lake. On Sunday my son Ben's family from Missouri and my daughter Katie and her husband Brennon from Pocatello joined us.

We had a Family Decathalon. It was a lot of fun

On son-in-law Victor and my dog Samson by the lake.

My grandchildren Tommy and Whitney playing on the "beach". There is a sandy area by the dock. Kara is in the background.

The last event of the family decathalon was attempting to do a back flip off of a tube being pulled by a jet ski. This is my son Ben taking a head dive.

Uncle Charlie, owner of this beautiful cabin, and my dog Samson.

My daughter Katheryn

My granddaughter Evie woke up with crazy hair.

My grandchildren: Kiersten (age 4), Kara (age 6), and Tommy (age 2)

Vicky, Whitney, and Nancy

Blue Croissant French Toast

Uncle Charlie tried to take our picture, he was not familiar with our camera.

Badminton

On the paddleboat

One of our decathalon events, batting a wet squishy ball.

Living at Scout Camp

It has been a long time since I've posted anything, so I'll try to catch up.

JUNE 24TH THROUGH AUGUST 4TH I lived and worked at Island Park Scout Camp. Mark helped me "move in". Our trailer became my home away from home for the next 6 weeks. My trailer was opposite Cheryl Siedleman's motor home, and we had a nice area between them for chairs and visiting. The first week was girls week and I worked at the waterfront. The water was a chilly 66 degrees the last week of June. We had to watch for hypothermia.

There are so many things we take for granted, depending on how we were raised. I still remember the excitment of a young woman as she climbed onto the dock after her swim check. She exclaimed, "I am so excited! I have never been swimming in a lake before!" She and her friends were giggling and jumping around. Some of the reasons that we work so hard at camp; giving youth the opportunity to do things they have never done before.

Trevor Peterson, my nephew, worked at the Island Park Scout Camp all summer with me. We got excused from camp for a few hours on July 4th and watched the fireworks with our families at the Island Park Reservoir. It was chilly and the fireworks were great.

While I was at scout camp my son Jason accidently burnt down his duplex with a spinning flower firework on July 4th.

The place for the main campfire was totally awesome next to the lake. .

This is Teton Pete.

This is still at the campfire area after the moon rose over the lake. It is a beautiful place!

The staff uniform on Tuesday and Thursday. This picture was taken at Island Park Reservoir. And we could not wear open toed shoes at camp

The sail boats reminded me of Jason. That was his favority activity here at camp. We didn't have enough Counselor-in-Training staff, the 14 and 15 year olds, and so my niece, Abby came up to work the last 3 weeks. She loved it!

And this is the reason I worked at scout camp. I was the Director for Trail to the Eagle. I helped the young boys earn their Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, and 1st Class ranks. Here are two of the boy with the useful camp gadets they lashed. I taught the boys 3 types of lashing. It was rewarding to see them learn and grow, and get excited at they accomplished requirements. The days were long and exhausting. I arose at 6am each morning and often did not return to my trailer until 8:30 at night. Oh, and on Tuesday's we did a 5 mile night hike and I didn't get back to my trailer until 11:30pm! Until the last week; I was determined to earn the Polar Bear patch. I got up each morning at 5:40 and walked to the dipping spot in the "Warm River" (NOT warm!) It was freezing. We had to be completely under the water, stand and say the scout oath and law.

Happy Asthma

Is there such a thing as Happy Asthma? Well I had my two week appointment after my last visit with my Asthma doctor when I was so sick, and I came out grinning ear to ear. I have been taking a steriod Advair inhalor each day since the year 2000. When I got the oral thrush this month, Dr. Petty took me off of Advair, and just used nebulizer treatments to handle my asthma. So I stepped it up with the Doterra essential oils I started using this spring. I put "Breathe" in the diffuser each night and put the oil on my chest and on my sinus areas on my face. My pulmonary test on Wednesday, June 20th, was the best I've every had since the year 2000!!! All my pulmonary functions are over 100%! And I was able to blow out all the candles on the cake! (the test) The doctor was happy, I am happy! Woohoo!

Missing the Family Gatherings at Dad's old home

I couldn't resist going by to see our old family home in Salt Lake City after I dropped Robyn off at her parent's house. The iron posts on the front porch have all been removed and replaced with wood posts. Here are the iron posts leaning against the side of the garage. This is the fireplace hearth leaning against the garage wall. The new owner has cut down a lot of trees. I discovered that in this pile a trees and limbs is an apple tree that my great, great Grandfather Howard planted.

Bike ride with FFL

Twelve of us from my FFL group went on a bike ride on June 8th in the morning. We had a enjoyable bike ride around the paths around the Snake River that runs through town.

Women's Conference 2012

My best friend from High School, Robyn Brower, flew in from Texas and we went to the BYU Women's Conference together. I had an absolutely fabulous time. This is a picture of service projects I worked on. And it is always fun to eat and talk together. At the close of Women's Conference. On Thursday night they have a good concert. A picture of the Logan Temple that I liked. The BYU Bookstore always has lots of good specials during Women's Conference. So, I want to make this offer, while I'm feeling generous. Any of my daughters and daughter-in-laws, that would like to attend next year with me, I will pay for your registration as a Christmas gift. I don't understand why my words aren't printed beneath the pictures, dumb program.

Camping at Palisades Creek Campground

For Father's Day weekend Mark wanted to go camping. Mark took our trailer up on Thursday and so did Amber and Shaun. The rest of us arrived Friday morning. Evan pitched a tent, and some of his friends were in the campsite next to us. And two interns; Sam and Derek, pitched a tent too. On Saturday, well, I'll finish writing later.

Leave No Trace Trainer

I attended a two day class to become a Leave No Trace Trainer on June 8th and 9th. On Saturday we went a a 6 mile hike. The trail was crappy since Motorbikes use it too. But the canyon and the view was beautiful, and I enjoy trails that you only go one way on (when you have a vehicle dropped off at the other end of the trail). My only problem was that I got a bad blister on the back of my right foot. I haven't had any blisters for years. I think it was because my foot slid on an orthodic I was wearing inside my hiking boot. But, I enjoyed the training, and I am looking forward to teaching it at Scout Camp this summer.

Horribly sick

It's been a long time since I've been so sick. It started last Thursday afternoon, and 1 week later (today) I went to see Dr. Petty, my asthma doctor. I spent 2 hours in his office today. A week ago, I lost my voice, and had a runny nose. So I treated it as a cold. Then decided it had made my asthma flare up, so I treated it as asthma and started using my nebulizer. I can't sleep for barely an hour before I awake coughing up phlem. Breathing makes me have a dry cough. I have been miserable, yet trying to carry on a normal life. Women don't get to lie in bed and be sick. Yesterday I added cough syrup to my regiman and got new medicine for my nebulizer. But today I gave up and went to the doctor. I have still never recovered my voice, it is an effect to speak and I usually cough. First Dr. Petty thought it was a severe sinus infection, which I do believe my sinus is infected, but there is no drainage, and I can breathe through my nose. Then he gave me a nebulizer treatment, because my breathing functions were so poor. I improved hugely. Then he decided I have a Thrush infection because I haven't been rinsing my mouth out after taking my Advair inhalor. Oh man, to think I brought this upon myself! Anyway I have a ton of drugs to take, and hope to get better quickly.

Salmon River Rafting

We had a nice weekend rafting with the Idaho Alpine Club on the Salmon River.

Taylor Creek Hike

Well, I had my fist hike since my knee surgery last July. And my knee didn't hurt at all!!! Yipee! I hiked with my Friends for Learning group. The rest of me was totally exhausted. We hiked 6.4 miles. It was not an interesting hike, and I won't be doing it again. But it was nice to be with 22 other people my age.

Runaway Dog

And do I mean RUN, when Samson gets free, he runs like the wind. On Tuesday night he was barking a lot at 2am. I put him in the garage, which he dislikes very much. Mark went to work at 5:30am and let him escape from the garage. So I spent the morning driving, driving, and praying looking for him. At noon I returned home, very sad. I checked my answering machine, turned around and there he was laying in his dog house!

He was the dirtest, and smelliest dog I have ever seen! Samson was covered with green stuff(smeeling like cow manure), wet from a canal, large burrs in his fur, and black oil like substance. As soon as Mark got home with his truck, we went to the Doggie Wash. It was definitely and two man job this time.

April 2012

Well, I've have seen many things on this trip that I've never seen before. I've never been to any of the states in this area of the United States. So: #1 I flew to Indianappolis, Indiana on April 10th. Nancy drove to pick me up and we drove back to Layfayette. #2 They threw a surprise birthday party for me at Nancy's home! Victor's sister Kayleen, and her two daughters are visiting this week too. Nancy made my favorite dinner - lasagna! And a really yummy chocolate cake. #3 On Wednesday we drove across the state of Illinois on small 2 lane roads to Nauvoo. I have been so excited to go. I have been looking forward to going to Nauvoo for years and years. The 8 of us stayed in a 2 bedroom condo for 2 nights. I LOVED getting to tour the buildings that have been restored in Nauvoo. We also had the opportunity to attend a temple session in Nauvoo, and I loved that too. Kayleen's family left to drive back to Virginia on Saturday. During the next week, Nancy and I prepared for Whitney's Birthday Party on Saturday. I loved getting to watch Tommy and Whitney play together. #4 On Saturday, the 21st, Nancy threw an awesome 1st Birthday Party for Whitney. Ben and Becky's family drove up on Friday night when Ben got off work. I had a wonderful weekend being with two of children and their beautiful families. #5 I drove to Chicago with Victor and Nancy's family. My 1st visit to the windy city of Chicago. And indeed it was windy! I was really impressed with Lake Michigan, and Chicago seems to be a beautiful city built on the shores of Lake Michigan. Our first stop was the Lincoln Zoo. Then we explored the entire Millinium Park. Then we walked down the Navy Pier. And just before we left, I went on a Lake speedboat tour. Tommy and I went, and he fell asleep halfway through the boat ride.

February visit to see Mom & Pam's family

I drove to Smithfield on Monday the 27th and back home on the 28th.

Trevor loves to draw. This is one of his drawings.

Pam and Danny now have a salt water fish tank. This is one of their two fish.

This is the other salt water fish, a yellow Tang.

I was awake in the middle of the night and took a partial picture of mom's newly remodeled kitchen.

New Dog House

Samson came to live with us in December 2010. While Mark was at the cabin, I built a shelter from the winter weather for Samson on December 31st. Now don't laugh, it is a shelter.

Samson got a new dog house yesterday. It was miserable, cold weather with the wind blowing. But Samuel Miller had offered to help build a new dog house for Samson, and so he did.

Sam Miller loves dogs, and Samson and I'm so grateful he came to live with us.