Snow Camping Ain't for Whimps!

Well in my humble opinion, I think regular camping aint for whimps, so camping in the snow seems even worse! But as you look through these pictures you will see the 11 year old scouts along with their dads and leaders had a pretty fun time! This ward has just been SO FUN to be in. It is filled with good strong boys for our boys to grow up with. Actually, we have lived in the same house and have been in 3 different wards, so I'm sure this won't be permanent.....but while we are part of this ward, we will ENJOY every last minute! Ü

 

They left Friday after school and of course it was cold week here (like high 20's) which is cold for Arizona. I can only imagine what it felt like up in the mountains. So, looks like they have a nice blazing fire for the night!

Kyler Mellor pushing Mason on the sled. Already starting in on the fun!

 

Mason

 

Ryan Hawkins

 

Sam Callahan

 

Joseph Ritchie

 

Tait Brown

 

Inside the Bishop's Cabin...how nice, a little get a way from the snow. Actually this is where the dads and leaders slept. (kind of slept, amid the snoring and all. lol) I have to add that in cuz it's funny. I am the snoring person in our family and have kept people awake before. We really do try to NOT snore, but remember we're unconscious. Ü

 

Ryan Hawkins and Brayden Williams

 

Don't the boys look so cozy in their tent? Glad they have smiles on their faces. They all get along so well. Infact, one of the leaders talked about how well they all include each other. That makes a mom so happy....whether you're the mom of the nice boy that includes or the mom of the boy that doesn't always fit in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David is such a great dad! I'm glad he's so involved and part of the kids' lives. He actually loves to camp and since he's married to the bah-hum-bug camper, he loves to find excuses to go camping! Why not a father/son bonder right? Eli has a little over a year before he gets to start going on them. Ü

 

 

YEP...That is what you'd call YELLOW SNOW. Pretty disgusting, huh? I guess that's par for the course when you mix a cold night out in a tent and a bunch of 11 year old boys. I thought it was funny that David took a picture of this. Actually, David really did well with taking lots of pictures this time. A lot of times, he takes the camera and comes home with 2 pictures. So, this time I actually feel like I saw how much fun they had! Cuz you know, A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

 

 

 

This actually looks like fun. They said it was a nice, sunny day and as you can see....they just enjoyed themselves. One of the sleds Mason is on I have never seen before. He said it was super fast and fun! Those saucers are the ones that KILL your bum!

 

 

Bishop Williams...and also Brayden's dad. He's such a great Bishop. David has really enjoyed serving as a counselor under him.

 

 

 

 

 

I LOVE this picture of David and Mason. How sweet is this? Mason is a lot like David, that's probably why they get along so well. He has the same mild manner and is athletic too. It's interesting seeing Mason changing so much this year. He is really trying to gain some independence. Especially from me. I guess that's how I feel anyway. When I go into his classroom to help, he acts a little embarrassed. It kind of hurts my feelings, but I'm trying to remember how I felt at that age. To be honest though, I thought I was cool mom! Dream on, huh? Anyway, my whole point is that Mason seems to be really happy that his Dad is there with him!

 

 

Here they are in all their glory. What a GREAT looking bunch! Boys I'm glad for my son to be surrounded by. I'm a firm believer in good friends and how much they influence us!

 

Aren't they the most handsome guys ever? I'm not biased or anything. Ü

 

 

 

 

Well, looks like we'll have to get used to this being normal thing every month. Glad Mason thinks it's fun, cuz the scouts go ALOT! Have fun boys!

Since When was Bread bad for Ducks?

I think my mom hates when I go back down memory lane cuz she's sure that I remember the events worse than they really ever were. I do love telling a good story from my past. I really don't think I "embellish" the stories...but just for mom's sake, she would like you to know that I stretch the truth to make the story sound more funny. With that said, I have fond memories of things we did growing up. I do come from a family of 7 children, so Mom and Dad had to be creative with things to do with us that were fun and cheap......and PRACTICAL for that matter. We weren't big crust eaters, and when the bread got a little stale, we weren't big fans...oh and then sometimes the bread got a little mold on it too....which NO ONE likes to eat.....mom wouldn't want to waste....of course not, so she would nicely tuck all the bread into bread bags that we rejected....EVEN THE MOLDY STUFF....(this is where Mom would disagree) She would store them in the freezer so they wouldn't get any more moldy or old....and save them until there was a big grocery bag of bread and then as a family we would go to Utah Lake and feed the ducks! SOOO much fun! We always wished we brought more, those ducks were SO GRATEFUL that we chose to spend our Family HOme Evening feeding them....they would just quack and quack and eat to their hearts' content. They ate ANYTHING we gave them! Yes, even the moldy bread! Well, that was back in the 1980's before ducks weren't so snooty and picky about what they ate. I thought just people went on carb diets! lol So, you can see where I'm going with this, can't you? Ü We had a couple of bags of older hot dog buns...not moldy...maybe a little freezer burned...and a few other bags of bread. I remember that feeling of wishing we had more, so I went and bought 3 more bags of GOOD BREAD at the Bread Outlet and told the family we were going to have a fun night of feeding the ducks for Family Home Evening like I did when I was a kid! You know, it's good for the kids to know that we were kids once too! They were all so excited!

 

Look at that! So much fun! The kids picked the good loaves first cuz they were hungry too. So they would eat a piece and throw a piece. You know, eating dinner WITH the ducks! We were JUST getting started!

 

 

 

 

What? We haven't even BEGUN! Full already? You ungrateful Ducks! hahaha....just kidding! I really was BLOWN AWAY! I mean, c'mon....we haven't even gotten through our first bags and it's getting dark! How are we going to drive and find more ducks before it's dark? We should have opened the stale stuff first! My whole purpose in coming was not to waste....er spend time as a family! Ü

As you can see...those blasted ducks started to swim away...they had ENOUGH! Yep, enough! I started looking around....was anyone else surprised? I was determined to get rid of these bags of bread! So I said, "C'mon! Jump in the car! There is a lake outside of the Library, let's go there!" We drive as quickly as we can....and get there and Lo and Behold, there is a sign that says "Do NOT feed the ducks bread, it's bad for them. Feed them seeds or grain" (or something like that). Really? Has anyone else heard of this or is it just me? Is is a Utah/Arizona thing? Really? C'mon....this is crazy.

 

The kids went and got their football out of the car and we went to Plan "B"...which was play catch, and climb on the cement structure. Oh, and go to the Library and get a few books. I'm just wondering....Are we criminals to go and feed the ducks again? Should we just totally cross this activity off the list? Does anyone else feed ducks bread? Really.....

Mason for President!!

 

Well, while we're on the subject of not winning. Let's just keep it going.....Mason ran for Student Body President and didn't make it this year. He lost to one of his best friends....but I was really proud of him for doing it. He didn't want to do it, but I coaxed him into it. I know he is well-liked and a great leader. We just didn't have the "cool speech" (a rap) like his friend Tait did. Those darn clever people. Ü He's a great kid and I'm glad he's our son. I think there are great life lessons learned when we don't win everything. Sure, it's a let down and hurts the pride a little, but it gives us empathy for later in life, right?

He actually took it like a man. The two of them are still friends, as they should be....and he said he'd try it again. So, here's to better luck next year!