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. 

 

July Recipe Challenge

You know I like a good challenge. Often it's a reading challenge but Six Sisters' Stuff has been doing recipe challenges recently.

For July, it was Slow Cooker Smoky BBQ Pulled Pork.

It was easy and made plenty but didn't last long even as leftovers. My pickiest eater had several sandwiches the day I made this recipe.

Thanks again, Six Sisters' Stuff. 

Yellow Pigs Day 2026

July 17 was Yellow Pigs Day. Often for this holiday, we do pigs in a blanket with mustard. I was talking to the kids and said we could do pigs in a blanket or we could do corndog muffins with mustard. But I didn't want to heat up the house with the oven. Then we figured out something that didn't require the oven. Squid pups!

So that's what we had. Squid pups with mustard. As a side dish we had sauteed zucchini from our garden! 

Jet was a big helper making the squid pups. He's so much fun.

Watercolor Waterfall

Mom: Wow. What is that?

Nichole: Waterfall in Washington.

Mom: Oh, Snoqualmie Falls. Did you take one of my pictures? Oh wait. You were there. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. 

Watercolor Evening

July 16 was Ginger Rogers' Birthday. I fell asleep during a movie with Ginger Rogers in it.

I also fell asleep before I remembered to tell anyone to use spinach with their lettuce for taco salad. It was Fresh Spinach Day. I didn't have any myself because I fell asleep. Luckily other family members put the leftovers away because I didn't.

I was tired because we did all this after Nichole and I got back from an evening Relief Society activity where we made watercolor cards.

I am not the artist Nichole is and don't know what I'm doing with watercolors. That's okay, though. I still enjoyed socializing and eating snacks. 

I based my watercolor picture on the rainbow we saw in Oregon last month. 

Nichole based hers on this picture she took at Cape Arago on our Shore Acres day in Oregon. 

I like that our Relief Society has been doing such a variety of skills and activities. I still wear my charm bracelet on most Sundays to church and have been keeping my sourdough starter alive for over a year.

Catch of the Day

 

Kristin: Where is everybody?

I walked into the room and started laughing. 

Hot Dogs and Gummi Worms

July 15 was National Hot Dog Day. It was also National Gummi Worm Day.

We went to a cookout where we ate hot dogs.

We ate gummi worms on the drive there and back.