More Yogi

More pictures of our camping trip. We finally found Yogi. The weather was so hot and humid that we really lived in the pool. Cami is already asking to go camping again. That's our baby!

Camping with Yogi Bear in Fremont

Our first camping trip of the year. For the past few years it has been only 1 per year as our children are old enough to have jobs and the meshing of schedules is nearly impossible. This year we planned a trip and then realized it was so close to Clare's due date that we shouldn't be too far away. We decided to bring Cami with us so that eliminated the problem of Clare not having a sitter should she need one.




When the girls were younger they had opportunities to bring their friends along camping. Andrew never had that chance although his friend (Timmy) usually camped with us. At any rate, I told Andrew he could bring a friend and he chose Tim. It didn't take Cami long to decide that Timmy is the new best buddy. For some reason she loves Andrew's friends and Tim is no exception. She constantly asked "Where's Timmy?" while we were in the pool.

The pool was heated so it was warm enough for me and Cami never got blue lips. She alternated from the kiddie pool, where she shed the tube, to the big pool.

Cami liked jumping in the water as long as someone was assisting. She got a lot of water up her nose through the course of the afternoon/evening.

We took a break from swimming long enough to have something to eat. The meal was simple. Sandwiches, kool-aid coolers and chips. With this heat who wants to cook? We're having a great time relaxing.

Quiet Mornings

Our summer vacation officially began last week but I was so busy that I didn't notice. This week, though, is much different. Erin began her summer job so she was out of the house by 7:15. Andrew also began a summer job in which he'll be working about 3 hours a day for my uncle Dan at the Transit. He was so nervous about talking to Dan about the job that he was up yesterday morning about 3:30 and couldn't sleep. He was anxious about "getting the job." Little did he realize he already had "the job." At any rate, with both of them gone each morning and Sammi sleeping in late or going to work, the house is pretty quiet. Tom doesn't make much noise and sometimes he's gone to work with his dad.

Some happy news around here includes the fact that the neighbor's dog is finally gone. Kim and I no longer have to walk and feed the critter and clean up after him. I think taking care of someone else's pet for 16 months is above and beyond the call of duty. Baby Adam should be showing up at any time now. Now that's exciting! Youth Conference is this week so Pat and I will be attending which is always fun. We're also headed to St. Paul on Saturday for a special appointment as well as taking in a session at the temple. I guess that makes the end of the week a lot busier than my quiet beginning.

Our Baby Girl

It's been a very busy and fun week for us with Erin. High school seniors sure can lead their parents to a busy life. On Thursday evening we attended the athletic banquet where Erin won numerous awards. Here she's receiving the Team's Choice award from her basketball coach. She also won co-MVP in volleyball (with Allyssa) and co-MVP in track (with Whitney). She also won a few other senior awards but the most impressive being Athlete of the Year. It's funny cause I won that award 29 years ago. Seems like it was just yesterday?
Tuesday was the Regional track meet which kicks off the tournament series. She placed 2nd in the high jump in Suring which moved her on to the Sectional meet in Marathon. On Friday she placed 4th which is enough to move her on to the state track meet in LaCrosse on Friday. She'll be joined by team mates Whitney (100m dash), Nick (400m dash) and Tom (800m run).
Following the Sectional track meet, we rushed back to Gresham so Erin wouldn't miss her high school graduation. We missed about the first 10 minutes. She didn't have to walk in which was just as she wanted it. Here is a picture of Erin and me with the head track coach Mr. Davis. I've never seen him so excited in the 2 years I've known him.
Erin receiving her high school diploma from Mr. Keary Mattson.
Of course mom and dad with our baby girl after the graduation ceremony. She and I attended the all night chem-free graduation party at school. I'm still tired after all of that. Last evening we had seminary graduation in Wausau. I officially have no children enrolled in seminary. One year off before Andrew starts. But, I still have to go to teach. I got my materials yesterday. I look forward to teaching next year's curriculum as it is The Book of Mormon.

I'd rather be healthy

Isn't it strange how sickness hits a person? I got up on Sunday morning and dressed and went to church only to find that it was unusually cold in the chapel. Or was it? No one else seemed to be shivering like I was. I put my head on the back of Clare's neck and she confirmed I was feverish. I went home to bed and stayed there.

Since it was a holiday weekend there was no way to see or even talk to my doctor until Tuesday. By then I thought the fever had finally broken as I woke up in a sweat. But.....now Sammi was exhibiting the same symptoms I had. I called the doctor's office for a throat culture for both of us. Good news! No strep throat. Bad news, no antibiotics. A virus! How do you deal with that except ride out the storm? It hasn't been fun. I pray none of the others who live in my house or visit often (the Gourleys) get this nastiness.

Now that I think about it, I think perhaps Tom had this too as he was clearing his throat a lot more than usual and his voice sounds odd. He never tells me when he's feeling under the weather so unless he has a symptom that I can physically see, I can't help him out. Today he woke with a lot of crustiness in his eye. Could it be another stye? I didn't find one, but we'll see what Dr. Peterson finds this afternoon. When it rains it pours! Stay healthy out there!

What a long day!

I spent my day in Marion. You would think that would mean I was there for either a track meet or better yet, spending the day with the Gourley family. It was neither. I learned today that if you are a coach in Wisconsin, you need to attend a training about first aid and coaching philosophy before you begin your second year of coaching. Well, I'm in my 5th year but only my 1st as an employee of the Bowler school district. They pay for the training which isn't cheap.

From 8am until 1:15 I learned a lot about first aid and some about making tough decisions. We actually had a 30 minute break to go and get food and then continued until about 4:55. I can't tell you how hard it was to stay awake. I wasn't the only one struggling though. The 2nd part of the training is supposed to be 8 hours but our instructor wants people to still be sane, so she skips alot of the "put into practice" stuff.

The other thing that I need to do yet is take a test on each of those things that were taught today. It is an open book test so that's good, but I'm afraid with all the stuff crammed into my feeble brain in one day, I'll forget most of it. I need to score an 80% or take the test over. That shouldn't be difficult, should it?

Mother's Day

I suppose there was a day when I thought Mother's day was something really cool. Probably back when I was a new mom. Then back in 1993 when my own mother passed on, I realized how wonderful she was and how unappreciating I was. I'd go to church to have some well-meaning member of the bishopric remind us to go home and call or visit our mothers to tell them that we love them. They never gave me the phone number to the spirit world though so I was left with no mom to call or visit. I know, life's not fair.

Now it's just another Sabbath day spent with my children and visiting my wonderful mother-in-laws. I've learned, through experience that if my expectation is that of wanting my children to give something extra in the way of being kind to one another or worshipping the ground I walk on (j/k about that last part), that I will be disappointed and know that I'm a failure as a mother. Therefore, I just treat Mother's day as any other Sabbath day and then I'm not disappointed and the plus side is that I know I'm a good mom. With that in mind, I don't mind every other mom out there celebrating Mother's Day so I hope you had a good one.