Girls Camp!

The first day of camp was reserved just for our YCLs (aka Youth Camp Leaders.) Our camp director and great friend, the AWESOME Amber Reese, and I spent the day with the girls talking, laughing, learning goofy camp songs, and setting up camp. After our hard work was over we went to Silver Creek Plunge. It is a hot springs that someone has turned into a gi-normous pool. There are innertubes everywhere to float around on and it feels like a big bubble bath...without the bubbles and you have to wear a swimsuit. We enjoyed our time talking girl talk and just being silly with our favorite Laurels. It really set the tone for the rest of camp!


Here are our YCLs putting on a show for the rest of the gang that came up on Tuesday. Sara, the cutie in the middle wearing the white sweatshirt, surprised us all with her dance moves. She didn't earn the nickname Dancing Queen for nothing!

Any of you remember the camp song, "Sippin' Cider?" It's an oldie but a goodie! Jess loved this song so much that she made some cider and made me take a pic! Let's just hope SHE doesn't end up with 49 kids all calling her maw!

Part of our five mile hike included first aid training. The YCLs loved getting their "wounds" ready and running up ahead to set up the scene of the accidents. It was great fun and the girls like the intervals of breaks.

What a view from the top of the mountain! The hills, not me!

Two of our adorable first years enjoying their hand and foot spas after our five miler. Who says camp can't be a little on the pampering side?

What a good sport, Steff! Ahhh...I miss my girls already!

Family Home Evening

Now that's one they'll remember!

Our Favorite Brownies

I found a brownie recipe I liked and made a few modifications to make it ju-u-u-ust right. It is one of my husband's favorite treats and you won't find a better batter to lick anywhere!

2 cubes butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

Blend this well and take a taste...mmmm!

Add 1 cup sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa
4 eggs

Blend well and DO NOT take a taste unless you like eggy goo!

Blend in 1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour

Mix well...and enjoy the batter before you... bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
You can sprinkle the top with coconut and chopped pecans before baking for an extra special treat. Also good with Pampered Chef Sweet Caramel Sprinkle (as shown in picture.)

Enjoy!!!

A Walk to Remember

When visiting in Washington we went for a walk right by the place we used to live before I graduated from high school. It was fun to be there again with my family. My brother and sister-in-law, Beege and Lolly, brought their two dogs with them and Grandpa and Nonna brought Zoey. The kids were sized up and assigned to dogs to walk down to the river. This is Zack with Nanook, the big and sweet Malamute.

Owen got to walk Chinook, the cute medium-sized Collie dog. Like Lassie, she is pretty smart! Owen giggled the whole way.


Avery was in charge of the littlest, Zoey the Sharpei. It was cute to see the two of them walking along in the sunshine. I am not sure if they ever decided who was really walking who!

Avery loves to talk to Grandpa. He was happy to lend a listening ear, although I am not sure if he really knows much about the Littlest Pet Shop or Strawberry Shortcake.

Along the way Avery found a giant Queen Anne's Lace. She took a big whiff of it and was so disappointed that it didn't smell pretty. It is a weed after all, but it sure is beautiful.

We made it to the river where both kids and dogs couldn't resist the urge to splash and play.

Nonna looking cute as always! Love the jewelry - you must be really loved! ;)

Lolly enjoying the scenery. You can't see it but her shirt reads, "Cute, but psycho!" It's a cute little penguin all wrapped up in a straight jacket. She reassured us it was all about the penguin, not her!

What a fun day to enjoy summer. I love visiting family back home and creating such fond memories for my children to look back on.

I Love My Little Girl

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com


This is Avery and me in a nutshell! We are always dancing and having fun being girly-girls. She really is a light and joy in my world. Zack took these pictures last Sunday; he just grabbed the camera and starting shooting! They turned out so cute and fun. Thanks Zack!

Jammin' Sistas

My sister, Andi Sherwood, and I have a tradition to make raspberry and strawberry jam every summer in Washington. It's something I look forward to all year long. We talk about all kinds of girly things, listen to music, and get messy like kids again. Thanks, Dea, for the fun- I love you!

BBQ at Mike and Rose York's Place

The kids and I were able to see my mom, Granny K, and Grandpa Elvan at my brother's new apartment. I hadn't seen her and my step dad since they were in the hospital last December. Their burns are healing well and they are so hopeful to heal even more.

Zack, cousin Renae York, Avery, and Owen eating lunch together.

My brother, Brad York-the grad, and my daddio, Butch York.

My brother, Mikey York, and me. Thanks for the fun BBQ!

Christmas in July

This last week we went to visit family in Washington. Band-Aid Grandma and Grandpa York like to make things fun for the kids, so they did Christmas in July!

Avery received her very first musical jewelry box with a dancing ballerina inside. She was mesmerized by it! Doesn't that bring back memories for you moms out there?!

Band-Aid Grandma made personalized pillowcases for each of them as well. She is a great seamstress and now that I know this, I just might have some projects for her to do! (Made you laugh, huh, Mom?!)

4th of July!

Our annual ward breakfast proved to be the best yet. Pancakes never taste better than they do at the Ten Mile Ward 4th of July Breakfast! We had a great turn out and enjoyed the speakers, music, flag ceremony, and seeing all the kids decked out in red, white, and blue.

Following the breakfast we went for a bike ride to the fireworks booth. The boys and Jay stayed behind to clean up the tables/chairs while Avery and I got a head start. She did so well considering her set of wheels, but this was my view of Slow Poke Rodriguez the whole 2 miles (4 miles round trip.) Needless to say, I can't wait for her 4th birthday - you guessed it, a new bike!

After picking out our whopping $20 of fountains and flowers we went home to bake and get ready for our BBQ and fireworks party.

It was fun to have ward members and neighbors gather together to eat, share stories, swim (aka splash the girls), and light off fireworks. I couldn't believe it when I realized that my Zack (nearly 9 now!) was the big boy of the party lighting everyone's sparklers. What a great day to enjoy our freedom celebrating the events that started it all not so long ago.

Independence Day

May we take the time today to ponder and give thanks to our country's men and women who have greatly sacrificed their time, means, and even their lives in defending their liberty, rights, and our God. We now enjoy the blessings of freedom because of their selfless acts and I thank my Heavenly Father for such resolutely faithful forebearers. I love my country and will do my best to honor those who've gone before by remembering what they have accomplished for you and me. In God we Trust.

Kool Aid, Anyone?

Don't ever tell Zack he can't do something. If he has a will, he always finds a way. He came to me today asking for a table to set up his Kool Aid stand-he had everything else all ready!

Sweet Ride

One of my good friends came by the other day to drop something off. As you can see, she has a sweet ride! The kids were ooh-ing and ahh-ing over it so she offered them a ride. They thought they were pretty stylin'.