Back from Camp!

I can't believe camp is already over! This year was, as my girls would say, "Intense!" We had rain nearly every day, culminating in a spectacular storm on Thursday that spawned a tornado only ten miles away from us. I was a little extraneous as the camp Waterfront Director as we only had good enough weather for water activities early in the morning and on Friday. Luckily for us, Friday was glorious and sunny and 85F. Our intrepid Polar Bear Swimmers got up every morning at 6am to swim and kayak and enjoy the soft misty morning. Polar Bear Swim is my favorite because we don't really get that many girls, and we can see the loons and herons without scaring them off. We finish with hot chocolate, which this year was pink because my best friend brought me back some Princess Aurora hot chocolate from Disney World.



If you look carefully in the photo, you can see the babies and one parent of the loon family we watched out on the lake. Loons are fascinating and can dive for long periods of time. Often the babies would disappear underwater, and come up again yards and yards away. It was quite amazing. Their call is beautiful and haunting, and gave a lovely soundtrack to the glorious sunsets Tuesday and Friday nights. The lake has quite a lovely ecosystem, and many unfamiliar plants and bugs. I really like water lilies and the lotus flowers that floated on the lake were particularly lovely.

I want to share with you my greatest accomplishment this week (maybe of the whole year!) It will astonish anyone who knows me well....I started and maintained a campfire! I actually lit 8 or ten regular size matches and got a little fire started. It didn't go very well at first because all our kindling was wet and very difficult to light. I did get help from some of the priesthood brethren that were there and they got it going well, then I was able to maintain it. It was a small fire and it took a lot of care to keep it going in the rain, but I was pretty excited that I was able to take care of it without having a panic attack. ;)

My second proud accomplishment was today at our church Linger Longer. We had a chili cookoff in honor of Pioneer Day, with a blind judging panel (meaning, they didn't know whose chili was whose). I had worried mine wouldn't be that great since I didn't get it into the crockpot until 1am. I guess the addition of a pound of cheese pleased the judges, because I got first place! :D I was pretty excited. All the chili was great and we had some wonderful cornbread and desserts.

In all it's been a wonderful July. It looks like my mom and Jed survived the kids and each other relatively unscathed. We had Jed's company picnic yesterday and a mostly restful day today. We gave Mom her first Webkinz (a little black bear) as a thank you for her willingness to have the kids all week and we get to keep her for one more week, until August 5th. Then it's a little rest and recovery and we're on to Idaho! :D We're beside ourselves with excitement to see the cousins and our siblings and in-laws. Love you all and hope your summer is going as well!