YOUTH CONFERENCE - CAMP WILDWOOD RANCH!

 Last year at girls camp the girls all told me they wanted to do a youth conference this year with the boys in our ward because for a lot of them - it would be their last chance. I talked to the Bishop and we decided to go ahead and do it. We booked the Church camp in Ramona, CA called Camp Wildwood Ranch! It was perfect! Cabins for everyone, a kitchen, eating area, amphitheater, soccer fields, basketball courts, softball fields, hatchet throwing, arrow range, ziplining, rock wall, pool, etc! We drove up Wednesday and all the girls hopped in their vans and the boys hopped in their vans and we were off! We got to camp, ate lunch, set up cabins (me and Emily shared a room and then Katy and Quinn joined us), then played a human soccer game with a 6 foot ball, ate dinner and then Emily and I did a devotional with balloons and taught them if you are always looking for your own happiness you'll never find it, but when you are helping others you'll find yours along the way. Then we ended the night with a glow in the dark dance party - we were hoping to break down the walls and get people out of their comfort zone. The next morning we did 2 different rounds of mini Olympics and then it was free time. Tyson and some boys drank some Dr Peppers that weren't theirs but they didn't know it. They lied about it so they wouldn't get each other in trouble and because they lied to us about it they had to take a 5 1/2 mile walk into town to buy replacement sodas for the family. Meanwhile the rest of us did ziplining, etc. That night Emily and I did a game show with everyone. They had the best time trying to beat the leaders and each other. They really got into it and we loved it! The next day was the beach day! We hung out at the beach all day, played football, made pyramids, played duck duck goose and watched several of us eat it in the same spot, then our van broke down while we were driving back to camp and while it was getting fixed the boys entertained themselves by pelting each other on the back with these blueberry things they picked off the bushes. That night our devotional was about the Book of Mormon. Each youth got a copy and it had the leaders testimonies printed inside, they got to write their testimonies on the inside and then we had a testimony meeting. Saturday we packed up camp and headed out to the Mormon Battalion Museum. Then we went took everyone out to lunch at Coyote Cafe and hit the long road home. The twins were so mad about going! They wanted to go to the beach with Nash Hall, but we couldn't because of this. But in the end, they were so happy they went! Everyone became friends with each other! In their free time they spent it all playing cards together forever! By the time we headed to the beach there were no longer boy cars and girl cars, they were all mixed together now. They created group chats when the camp was over and some of them even hung out on Monday together. I hope they can continue these bonds together now that they have formed them. I have our next mutual set to be a combined game night to keep that going and then we will have a General Conference Viewing Party at my house to hopefully continue those bonds. I am sad Jared and Eli had to stay home because of baseball. Although, Eli ended up living his best life dog sitting at Nate and Jenn's house and having his friends over every night and playing video games to who knows how long, basketball, whiffle ball, etc. I love my calling and getting to hang out with the youth and spend time with them. I might not be feeding them the most spiritually, but hopefully I am conveying a message of how much we love them and care for them! One of the girls has popped by our house randomly in the last 2 weeks and stayed till 11pm. Our doors are always open to anyone who needs it! I am also so grateful for Emily and being my go to girl for everything! 

ST GEORGE TOURNAMENT!

 Eli got to go with the Varsity team to play in a tournament over the weekend against some really tough Utah teams! The team rented a VRBO and the coaches and players all stayed there and then Cindy and I would come in every day and cook all their meals for them! On the way over they stopped in Vegas and ate at a restaurant, then hit the batting cages as soon as they got to St George. Eli had a great time with his team. He only got to pitch 1 inning and did a great job! He was mad and sad that was all the playing time he got, but then I had to point out there were other players who didn't get to do anything!! He was one of the lucky ones! The good thing about them playing for 3rd or 4th place was their night ended early so the boys headed back home, ate dinner and then it was a free night the rest of the night and they hung out all night in the pool, messing around and just having a good time together! Sadly, I was in such a hurry at the end of every game to race back to their house and prep their next meal and then we would show up late right when the game was starting because we were cleaning up that I never remembered to take a picture with him - not taking pictures of my kids and with my kids is one of my biggest regrets all the time! We love this boy!! It's hard to play sports in high school and one thing we have learned through Emma and Eli is these sports are for sure making our kids better humans and stronger mentally - NOTHING is given to our kids at all. They have to fight for everything! So proud of him and all he has accomplished! 

ELI'S DOUBLE HOMERUN!!

 Second JV game of the season and second pitch of the game....Eli smacks the ball for his first ever out of the park homerun!! I couldn't see where he hit it because the players were blocking my view, but as I watched Eli running and then I saw all the players jumping up and down I knew he got himself a homerun....I didn't find out later that he hit it out of the park!! Then the second inning of the game....he smacks the ball again and the team is chanting, "double double" and then they start saying "he got a triple" and then you can hear them saying "he just hit another homerun!" it stayed in the field but he still was on fire!! After the game ended Jared and I went and got his ball and told him we couldn't find it, but now he will be surprised at the banquet! Last year Eli hit a homerun on the first pitch of the first game of the season - this was almost the same but even better cause it went over the fence! 

CAR WASH TIME!

 I told Eli he needed to wash his car. Him and Jackson did. I am pretty sure they just hosed it down and called it good. The next day it was so bad still so I made him and the twins go out there with a bucket of soap and get to it. These twerps worked together and cleaned it - not very good but better - but they added their own special flair to it and did it on their hover boards!