Camp

Jr. Jr. and Lucky went to Young Men Camp for 3 1/2 days. This was Lucky's first time going because last year, he came down with a stomach bug right before they were supposed to leave. Poor kid. He was fine this time.

When Jet saw us getting them ready for camp, he was in favor of getting ready for camp himself and was disappointed when I told him just his brothers were going. That little guy likes to be involved. 

We came to a compromise. I told him we could do camp stuff at home while the boys were away at camp. We had their schedule for camp so we could do similar things, although we had some of our own things to do as well. Let me tell you about it.

The day the boys left was Monday, July 20, Global Hug Your Kids Day. They got a big hug from Jeremy before I took them over to meet with their group and head out.

Later, I got to hug the rest of the kids. 

While the boys were setting up camp at camp, I had the kids at home cleaning up the living room so there would be room to do camp activities. Jr. even made a makeshift tent for Jet for a little while.

Apparently there was a lot of free time at camp. My kids at home were definitely okay with that.

There was a scheduled time for Game Center so we at home played Rummikub. 

When Jeremy came home, he and Jet had their special drink together. Refreshing when it's been so hot.

We did Family Home Evening and had phases of the moon cookies because July 20 was Moon Day. We opened up mint Oreos because I didn't think we had any regular Oreos then the next day I realized that we did still have regular Oreos. Sigh. So we had green moons. 

 

Jeremy: There. I made half moons, waxing and waning. I also made Muppet eyes.

 

My phone told me earlier that day the moon was a waxing crescent.

Earlier in the day we had an egg that looked like a moon. 

 

Tuesday, July 21, one of the camp activities was Rock Wall. We weren't going to actually climb any rock walls or go repelling down any, but we did go out to the canyon and went to Bridal Veil Falls where there was water coming down a rock wall. We set up the selfie stick tripod so Jet could use the remote to take pictures of the waterfall and us.

That afternoon, we did a service project. We went to a park and picked up trash to make it a little nicer.

 

Later, Jet asked for chips, even though he'd had a bag already. I told him no and there was no reason to eat junk food then I realized, "Oh no. It's actually National Junk Food Day, " so I told him after he ate his chicken, he could have another bag of chips. He did.

We also had woo-woo which Nichole wanted for Junk Food Day. 

 

Wednesday, July 22, we kind of strayed away from the boys' camp schedule and did our own things. We went to the BYU Paleontology Museum. It counted for a Summer Reading activity and we'd been promising Jet we'd take him. He wore his pteranodon wings.

He had a blast and made a new friend. There was another little boy running around who had apparently been there a few times (this was Jet's first time there) and wanted to show Jet everything. It was fun. He had his own little tour guide. 

We were proud of Jet only touching things he was allowed to touch and being respectful. We can definitely take him back there.

That afternoon/evening, we had some more outside time.

Then we went inside to set up a "tent" in the living room for Jet and Jeremy made a balloon campfire (with glowsticks) like we did back in 2009. Wow. That was back when we only had two kids. So Jr. Jr. and Lucky still have not had that experience but Jet got to do it this time. We did not roast hot dogs over the fire. We cooked those in the kitchen but Jet and I did "roast" marshmallows before I stuck them in the microwave to make s'mores. Jet loved it all.

 

 

Thursday, July 23, was Gorgeous Grandma Day. I wished that happy holiday to my mom and sister.

I went out in nature by myself that morning then helped tie quilts for humanitarian aid until Jr. Jr. and Lucky got back from camp.

That afternoon since Jet didn't get to go "fishing" like some of the Young Men did at camp, Lucky, Nichole, and I helped him do that. Jeremy put together a fishing pole and printed out some fish for him. I added some snacks and trash (old sock, empty candy wrapper, crumpled up piece of paper) and the last item, a stuffed shark.

Here are some of the things that were said.

Jet: I better put it in my bucket.

Jet: Oooh, Candy.

Nichole: Looks like the fish are jumping. That's the best time to catch them.

Nichole: I think the shark ate the rest of the fish. That was probably the last one.

Lucky tossed a paper fish a few times to make it look like the fish were jumping. One accidentally fell outside the "lake" and we all got a big laugh out of that.

 

So Jr. Jr. and Lucky had a good time at camp (and got very wet because it rained a lot) and the rest of us had fun with camping activities at home.

I'd call it a successful camping week. 

 

Pacific Northwest Trip 2026- part 8

June 25 was National Handshake Day. As soon as my mom found out, she was going around shaking everyone's hand that morning. Except when she and I went out for a walk. Then she stopped by a neighbor's house and we got hugs. I like hugs.

We missed Marcus's annual jugglers BBQ that evening since we were in a different state but Jeremy was able to go since he was in Utah.

We'd been looking forward to going because last year, Jr. Jr. couldn't juggle at the BBQ and he's been practicing all year. Oh well. There's always next year and he'll be even better by then.

 

That night after playing a game with my brother and my sons, Jeremy asked to watch a movie with me. 

So Jet joined me and I set things up here while Jeremy set things up in Utah and we started the movie at the same time. We've done that before with friends but it has been many many years. 

We watched Sheep Detectives and throughout the movie, Jeremy and I texted each other comments. "Ooh, I think so and so did it." "Gasp." quoting a line that was just said "Wow, that actor is so tall." "Hahahahahahahahahaha." And on and on and on.

I loved it. I also approve of that movie and told my kids later they may watch it. Family friendly. 

 

Smoothie!

Sometimes I get hormonal. It's true. PMS is a thing.

Sometimes I get so hormonal that it reminds me of pregnancy hormones- the irrational way I felt at times during pregnancy. Cravings, crying at the drop of a hat, grumpiness. I am not pregnant, though.

One day, I figured out I was hormonal. I explained to my husband I was craving a smoothie so much to the point of feeling like crying. I was trying to figure out how to make a smoothie without yogurt because we didn't have any.

My sweet husband drove to the store and bought me yogurt and bananas so I could have a berry smoothie because we did have berries in the freezer.

My sweet husband. I didn't ask him to do that. I didn't expect him to do that. He's just that wonderful.

Marriage is give and take. Jeremy and I definitely support each other in different ways and we are grateful to each other for how we do support one another.

I always hope that our children learn from our examples (the good examples because we have our weaknesses, too). 

Jet has many times when he wants to be helpful. When it's time to bring groceries down, he runs to grab his shoes to carry or help carry items.

He also loves one on one time. When Jeremy went to get yogurt and bananas (and some other things we needed), he asked Jet if he wanted to go with him. Jet jumped at the chance. He was a big helper and enjoyed his time with Dad. He did get a special treat as well.

Earlier that day, we needed to get the windshield on our red car replaced. Jet and I went to pick up Jeremy after he dropped off the car and when we went to pick up the car later, Jet really wanted to ride in the car with Jeremy so he did. He enjoys bonding time. 

I won't complain when I get my morning snuggles.

All of our children enjoy one on one time with their parents. I'll tell you later about some of the other kids' recent bonding time with Jeremy.

 

Here I go again starting with a blog post about how I got a smoothie I'd been craving and then continuing on talking about other things. Well, this is me. 

  

By the way, that smoothie took care of that craving. 

Bonding Time

One night, Jet asked Jeremy to do a puzzle with him. Sweet daddy that he is, he said yes.

They had a great time together. By the time they finished the puzzle there were three missing pieces. So they went to bed and the next morning before Jet woke up, Jeremy told me about it. I found the missing pieces in the crate where we keep the puzzles (there are a lot of loose puzzle pieces in there) and put them next to the almost finished puzzle. When Jet got up, he was thrilled to find the pieces there and was able to finish the puzzle.

So cute. He wanted Daddy to come home right then so he could show him but was content when we texted Jeremy a picture of it. Awwww.