Star gazing

Technically it was mostly planet gazing.  We wanted to go up to Snowbird to do their summer star gazing program, but it is closed this year because of construction at the summit.  Next year it will be back.  So Jupiter and Venus were close and bright this summer.  We often watched them approach in the twilight sky.  Hayden begged to be awakened to see it one night.  The first time I tried he sat up in bed and then promptly laid back down to sleep.  The next time I tried, after he begged me to try again, I carried him outside.  As soon as he sat down he buried himself in the chair and tried to sleep.
Oh well, so we stayed up late one night camping to watch stars and counted that.

Jupiter and Venus

Ram Mall

Today was Sawyer's turn for 4th grade Ram Mall at school.  He and his business partner decided to sell homemade popcorn.  They made a lot of fake money and he came home with a lot of fun stuff from the other businesses. 
The next day they sold pretty rocks, but they discovered there is not much of a market for that product.  Live and learn.

Baptism day

Hayden chose to be baptized this month.  He had a beautiful day.  He looked so handsome in his little man suit.  He was calm and mellow.  He even chose to stay in his suit for most of the day, until I made him change.  After the baptism we had family over for a crepe bar.  It was a balmy 100 degrees outside so we mostly stayed in the house. He got a few presents for his baptism: a tie, scriptures, money, and a little book filled with well wishes and baptism memories.  I'm happy and proud that he chose this first and very important step on this path.  We love him!

Josh is hiding behind McKinley.

Father's Day Camping

Camping was...dirty.  There was a lot of dirt.  Sawyer was covered from head to toes within the first hour.  We need showers in the wilderness.

We went to the spot past Wallsburg again.  Our usual spot was blocked by a lovely beaver-chopped tree.  So Kent axed part of it away, then we pushed and pulled and levered the rest until it was off the road.

As we were sitting around the fire that night we were surprised by a big Bull Moose coming through for a visit.  That put us on edge.

That night the sky was clear and the stars were beautiful.

We did archery, BB guns, reading, kids messing around, and most importantly, no electronics!

I only got 2 stinkin pictures, both blurry.  One of the moose's backside after I felt safe.  The other of the night sky, without a tripod so the blur of the camera shutter is evident.  Oh well.  It will spark a visual memory of our trip anyway!

'The Mountains are calling and I must go'

Our FHE activity was a picnic in the mountains.  Our first destination, Albion Basin, doesn't open up until July 1.  So we headed over to Snowbird and ate out of the back of the truck while we watched 4-5 deer feed on the side of the mountain.  We took a little hike up the trail, played in some snow, and enjoyed a lovely, cool, mountain evening.  Josh wants to go back again today.

Josh liked collecting rocks.  At the end of the evening he found a rock named Dewey that he told he "missed him so much!"  Dewey came home with us and is now resting safely in Josh's room.

The older boys were enthralled with the tiny trickling stream.  They would have been soaking wet if they had their way.

Hayden's 8th birthday

Hayden turned 8!  I can't believe it.  We started the day with church, despite his request to not go on his birthday. He asked for French Toast for his breakfast.  He ate 4 pieces. For lunch he asked for hamburgers, and hot dogs for dinner.  Despite the fact that he doesn't really eat cake, he wanted me to make one anyway.  So I made a nice tall cake for him.  He ate 1/2 piece.  

He asked for and received some Jurassic World Lego sets.  McKinley helped him put them together and then the kids all played dinosaurs with him.  They really want to see the new movie that comes out on Friday.  In the evening, Grandma and Grandpa Korth came over to see the birthday boy and visit.  

He wants to have his friend party at the rec center swimming pool, so we are trying to work out a good weekend to do that.

He is excited to be 8 and getting excited to be baptized!