Girls Camp 2011

So I was Girl's Camp Director again this year.  It was a very trying year.  I stuck it out for the girls and we had a great time.  I'm glad it's over because it was alot of work and I was struggling with getting everything done with working full time and having Rachel this year.  Our camp was from July 19th-22nd.  We went up to a camp by Cascade called EE-DA-HOW.  It was so much nicer than last years place that we went too.  We actually got to go on a hike and it was nice.  Here are some quick pics of things we did up there.

 Certification in Levels.

Oh a Hiking we will go a hiking we will go......

 All the girls we took to Girls Camp getting ready to head out on our hike.

 See Scott and I really did do the hike.  Cascade Lake behind us.  Had a view of the lake through the whole hike.  It was awesome.

 Two of my Youth Camp Leaders.  They are both awesome and did a great job as leaders.

 Working on writing something nice to each person who went to camp.  Everyone really got into doing this project and I'm sure the girls had a boost in self-esteem when they finished reading their own book.

This is one of the crafts.  It was a value necklace. 

 The Polar Bear Plunge.  They did this at 6:30 in the morning.  The water was cold and they had to run out into the lake.  Most ran out and then right into the showers. :-) Yes you can tell I didn't do it.  I thought about it but that was as far as it went.  They were just lucky I was up that early to get pictures.

We played this game so much. It's called Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky.  This was the first time the Bishop had ever played it and we totally got him hooked.

A great girl's camp but I'm glad it's over and I get to spend more time with Rachel.

Our Sealing as a Forever Family

So on July 9th in the Boise Idaho Temple, we were able to have Rachel sealed to us.  It happened to be the last day the Boise Temple would be open because they are closing it down for remodeling.  It was a very emotional day for me.  I was so excited about it but totally worried about how Rachel would react in the temple.  There ended up being nothing to worry about.  She was on her best behavior.  We got there at 10:30 and took Rachel to the daycare center.  At first she was scared but they asked her if she liked dolly's and away she went to find the toys.  Scott and I then met with the Temple workers and they sent us off to change. We then waited in the celestial room.  We had about a forty minute wait until we went into the sealing room.  So I was able to do alot of people watching.  I eventually had to stop watching a family that had done a session because as I could overhear their conversations and watched their emotions I was able to figure out that they had just lost their mother and were their to support their father on his first trip back to the temple without his wife.  I was crying right along with them which didn't help since I was already struggling to keep my joy and excitement under control.  When we got moved to the sealing room I was so happy to see everyone there to support us.  Our sealer talked to us and I just lost it because it was a realization that we were going to be a forever family and it had been a hard road but we finally were able to have children in our home that would be with us forever. (Yes I did the ugly cry as Oprah would say).  They brought Rachel in and as soon as she saw me she said, Look Mom pretty dress(referring to her white dress she had on).  It was just so cute.  She actually did really awesome sitting there and behaving.  The funniest part was when she saw Scott's sister Jamie she got really excited and said, "Hey there's Jamie."  Afterwards we were able to do some pictures outside.  We have figured out that if you let Rachel do it where ever she wants to we get better pictures because then she isn't screaming or crying in them.

 Coming out of the temple right after the sealing.  We didn't know we were going to be able to do pictures so I happened to wear my comfortable(or as I call it my fat dress).  I wish I had brought both my dresses so I could have changed and looked a little nicer.  Everyone says who cares so that's what I'm trying to tell myself. 

 Yes we are the Proud parents.

 Isn't she so cute.  She was so happy that day.

 Family Photo

 Rachel loved smelling the flowers as we were trying to get pictures.

 Walking to the water fountain.

 See what I mean.  More pretty flowers to smell.

 Almost everyone who came.  Kammi ran to our house to help get the luncheon prepared.  Our Bishop was also there at the temple with us but isn't in the picture.

I just love this picture of her.  She lookes so cute and so happy.

So after we got change we all headed to our house for Rachel's blessing and the luncheon.  Rachel though as we were driving out of the temple parking lot said to Scott and me, "Whew we made it."  Scott and I just laughed and said to her, "Yes we did." 

It was so awesome to have our family and friends there to support us on our special day.  We love them all for traveling and coming to see us.  Rachel is a very special daughter and everyone who meets her just falls in love with her.  I'm so happy that we get to call her our daughter for eternity.

Summer has been so Busy

So just a quick post to say when life finally calms down after this summer I will finally have some time to blog again.  We have been so busy.  It started with our trip to Scott's friend reunion, the finalization of Rachel's adoption, Father's Day, my gallbladder surgery, a trip up to where I was taking our Young Women to camp, our sealing to Rachel, Girls Camp, my father's surgery in SLC, Scott's brother Tyson's wedding, reception and open house; Scott's family reunion in American Falls, another friend weekend at our timeshares and a 90th birthday party for my grandmother.  So you can see we have been going 100 miles an hour but I will have lots to blog about when I finally get a chance to relax and breathe again.

4th of July

So this was our first 4th of July with Rachel.  She was so cute.  Scott had to work the night before and the night of the 4th so Rachel and I were on our own.  We started the day out at my friend Kammi's ward breakfast.  Rachel tried to go into the jump house that they had there for the kids but the older kids were just to wild and she was getting bounced all over the place so I took her out before she got hurt.  After that we ventured over to the parade.  This is a picture that one of my co-workers was able to snap of Rachel just before the parade started.  Isn't she just the cutest thing ever.

If you click on the picture you get to see what is on her hand.  It's the life flight helicopter.  We were walking to our spot and saw the "Little Al" helicopter and the lady asked if Rachel wanted a stamp.  I said heck yeah her dad loves the helicopter.  So she got a stamp and was able to show Scott when he woke up. 

Watching the parade and waving her flag.

We ended up only making it through an hour of the parade.  She started to get so red on her face even though I had sunscreened her and was not paying attention any longer to the parade.  So we left and I took her out to eat to her favorite restaurant Taco Bell for a taco.  After that we then went to get some fireworks.  It was getting so hot that when we got home we stayed in the house until there was shade in the front of our house.  I took her out to try pop-its.  Unfortunately Rachel isn't strong enough to throw them on the ground and so I taught her how to step on them.  She thought that was the coolest thing ever.  She loved it.  We are saving the rest of the fireworks for when Scott's off on Wednesday.

We watched some of the firework shows on TV and then at 9:45 I left with her and we headed to my work.   She was so excited to get to go watch fireworks.  We got to my work and I laid a blanket out on the ground for us. 

I'm so excited to watch Fireworks.

No she really isn't tired I think I just got it snapped in between a blink.  Mom and Rachel waiting for the fireworks to begin.

Playing with the dandelions.

Trying to find another weed to pick.

This last one was her longest weed she found.  She would have me throw them in the air to see them fall back down to the ground.  I was laughing.

 The fireworks started and she was completely messmerized by them.  About 1/2 way through she decided it would be better to watch them laying down.  So that's what she is doing.  Lounging while watching the fireworks. 

She looks like she is asleep in this picture also but she never closed her eyes the whole time during the show.  Her favorite part was the sonic booms.  I thought it would totally freak her out but she started to say boom after everyone she heard.  Then she started to stand up and fall down on her bum and say, "BOOM!"  She had me laughing during the whole show.

Here's a couple little videos of her.  It's not the best but its okay.  Sorry the second one I turned to get a better view but wasn't thinking about the fact I couldn't turn it on here.