If the crown fits...

Some must push and some must pull.

On the Monday after the kiddos flew to Idaho, they embarked on a three day trek to Martin's Cove in Wyoming. For those of my friends who are not familiar with a "trek" or "Martin's Cove," I will tell you. In the early days of the Mormon church, the Saints were heavily persecuted and subsequently driven out of every place they went. They finally decided to try to find someplace where they could go and worship without persecution...which is what took them to what is now Utah, which was then outside of the US borders in Mexico. After the initial groups worked their way across the country in covered wagons, they tried to find ways that more could come, especially the ones who had very little in way of material possessions...as some of these members had joined the church in other countries and had spent all they had coming to the US and had very little. They started heading out in groups with handcarts. Yes, walking, while they pushed and pulled the handcarts that carried very little more than food for the journey. The first few companies made it safely, but two handcart companies, the Willie and the Martin companies, left in early October. Then, due to an early winter, many of them suffered from exposure and froze or starved to death. Brigham Young sent out rescue groups as soon as they heard that they were coming and suffering. One group found them in an area now known as Martin's Cove, seeking shelter from the cold and snow. Today, our youth groups go on "Treks" and kindof reenact what these early saints did to ensure that they had a place to worship as they pleased and hopefully get a greater understanding for their sacrifices. They are usually held near to where you live, not the actual places that the handcart companies were.

My mom's ward went on a 3-day trek to the Cove. Morgan took Parker and Aliza with him.

They walked and learned of the stories of the people in the companies and the hardships they faced. They were able to cross the Sweetwater River, which is where many died, as ice was floating down it and they were unable to dry off after crossing. (In the original company, not the one my kids were on!!) Morgan took some fun pictures and the kids had a blast, and came home with a greater love and understanding of the early pioneers.

Thanks for taking them, papa! It was an experience they will not soon forget!

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Oh, where to begin...

I don't even know where to start...we had such a great summer. I have almost 800 summer pictures. Don't worry, I won't post all of them. This post will be so long and so boring. And for that I'm sorry!

I'll just do a few at a time and spread the love out over the next few weeks!

The kids started school last week! I can't believe that I have two in middle school and Liza is my only one in elementary school...and, it is probably her last year there. Chances are next year that the old HS will be turned into an Intermediate School (grades 5-6) until the next ES is built and it becomes another middle school.

Parker LOVES 6th grade at the middle school. He jumps in the car every day and tells me how great it is and usually follows it up with "I made a new friend..." That describes him to a "T." Loves meeting new kids and making new friends and learning new things! And he loves being with all his buddies from his football, basketball and baseball teams that went to the other elementary schools.

Tyler started 8th grade. Everyone back home was shocked that he has grown to almost 5'11". He loves school too, but when he gets in the car, he just says: "I'm tired. I'm hungry." Can't blame him...he starts school at 8 am with zero period (Speech). It is a HS elective and an extra class. Then he has his other classes: US History, Science, English and Reading (all pre-AP) and Algebra 1 (also a HS credit), Broadcast Team and Athletics. They have lunch at 11 am, then the last period of the day is Athletics and football practice is right after school til 5:20...that's almost 2 1/2 hours of weight training, agility and football in the HEAT of the Texas afternoon (last week was soooo hot) and 6 1/2 hours since lunch. He has to take protein packed snacks to eat in between classes!

Liza loves her class and her teacher. I am thrilled that our neighbor Alli is in her class. She is playing softball this fall with another neighbor, Lauren. I decided this year to not do anything on the PTO board and to spend the year as Aliza's room mom...it may be my last chance, ever. So sad. I am so glad that she comes home happy and talking about Ms. Sharp and Ms. Calvert and how much she loves it and tells me what they learned.

It's been so hot since we got back from our trip, we have loved to go to the pool at night when it starts to cool down a bit (into the 90's...) and hang out with our daddy and our neighbors...

It's fun at the pool in the heat of the day, too!!

What we did on Summer Vacation (first installment):

After Aliza and Parker left to G'ma's house in June and I went to Girl's camp, Tyler got to go to EFY with his friend Austin. We love love love the Jetton's. What a blessing Nancy has been to me here. Wish she lived in my 'hood too!! Austin and T had so much fun...he learned so much, and there were even two dances, which I think were his favorite parts. He got the phone numbers of some girls...(boooo) and made some great friends that he can now keep in touch with on facebook...

Then he spent a week at Scout Camp:

Slept here, which may or may not have been better than the cabins I slept in at GC.

And got to look at this everyday:

Beautiful. It is Possom Lake....

While I was childless I did some of this:

And I made some freezer jam!! YUM!!

Tyler FINALLY finished phase two and got his braces off!! I say finally because we went in for 4 appointments in a row and each time decided to keep them on for just. two. weeks. more.

Awwww, handsome!

July 4th, we went to the Jetton's for a BBQ with them and the Davis' and the Holgates.

Then came home and filled the cooler with Blue Bell Ice Cream and dry ice.

Then first thing the next morning, T and I started off on our trip to meet up with the kids at G'mas!! We had all the essentials...

...and drove the 14+ hours to Loveland, Colorado...

where we spent the night. When we got up the next morning, our tire was flat, so after a quick trip to WalMart to get it fixed and a prayer of thanks that we were somewhere we could get it fixed instead of in the middle of nowhere, we were on our way, for the final 10 hours.

We could tell when we were getting close...

...and I couldn't resist taking some "through the windshield shots" of the scenery as we went through Moran Canyon just outside Jackson Hole. It was breathtaking to me.