Looking backward . . . starting with Girls Camp

Okay, so I missed blogging about some big events in our lives over the past six months.  Not that anyone out there cares or is anxiously awaiting the rundown or pictures, but I care. Because one of these days I will print out this year into a blogbook, and that will be our family history.  So, when I get a chance to blog over the next few weeks,  I'm going to look backward a bit.  Now that we are all firmly entrenched in autumn leaves and crisp air, feel free to skip over these blog posts if the glimpses of spring and summer are too jarring.

First up,  Girls Camp - July 2012.  I talked quite a bit about my thoughts about camp in this post last year.  I still feel the same. If anything, I enjoyed this year's camp even more, which is really ironic, if you know how much I like camping. 

But, there's something special that happens at these Girls Camps. This year was especially great for me, because I was able to attend camp with TWO of my girls.  It was Aubrey's first year and Bailey's fourth year!  I was especially lucky to attend because, as of May 2012, I was released from serving with the young women at church. Now I serve with the old(er) women, but our ward was short on leaders so I was able to come to help.  I stayed in a tent with four other women. I think it was technically a six or seven "man" tent, but we all know that means it barely fits four people comfortably. So, we were up close and personal and had a great time visiting.

My sleeping situation was actually the most comfortable that I have ever experienced while camping. I think  I've finally figured out the right combination of sleeping bag, cot, super thick pad, and extra blankets.  I was downright cozy and slept great every night. My girls were equally cozy in their tents - the Porters know how to camp comfortably!  And. . . for the first time that I ever remember, the girls didn't keep the leaders up all night, so we actually got sleep. That made for much nicer leaders, let me tell you!

The girls rode buses up - 3 1/2 hours to the camp near Mount Rainer.  I happily drove my car (like every year). No bus for me, thank you.  Plus, I like to have my car as my "home base," with a stash of chocolate and treats to keep me sane and a book to read when I need a few minutes to myself.

The day we arrived was "color war."  Aubrey was decked out in purple and Bailey was in red.  Below, Bailey and her friend model not only their color war outfits, but also the shower cap and goggles they wore for the ward skit that night.  Sooo attractive!

The skit involved some improved "synchronized swimming" moves, inspired by the summer Olympics.
 
In addition to ward camping responsibilities, each ward leader was assigned to help in different places throughout the camp. I was assigned to help with the outdoor cooking certification classes. Sigh.  I couldn't have been assigned to anything more challenging for me.  Let's just review the reasons I'm not technically a fan of camping.  #1 - the bathroom facilities, #2 - the sleeping situation (although I have that one figured out now),  and #3 - the fact that cooking outdoors is a pain in the neck.

At this stake girls camp we have a marvelous set of cooks who prepare and serve amazing meals in the lodge.  However, each of the levels have to take a day to demonstrate their outdoor cooking skills. There was a leader called to direct the girls in this certification, and I was assigned to help her. She was a very nice woman, and she did her best with a very difficult assignment, but some of the meals were embarrassing.  For instance, the level 4 girls (including Bailey) had to cook a pizza in an outdoor oven for lunch.  But they were allowed one pizza - and the pizza was the size of a refrigerator biscuit.  Needless to say, the pizzas took forever to cook and  one bite-size pizza wasn't nearly enough to satisfy the girl's appetites.  So, I had to pretend like I wasn't telling everyone to secretly run to the lodge afterward to find some scraps of leftovers. 

   

I'm also not sure how this cooking exercise was very effective, because we "cooking certification" leaders prepared these masterpieces of outdoor foil ovens out of cardboard boxes, foil, and wire hangers.  It took all of one evening and was quite an arduous task.  The girls did nothing to prepare the ovens - they just showed up and assembled their pizzas, and then the leaders actually cooked them since the coals were super hot.
 
The ovens did work eventually, but I'm not sure how the girls left the certification with any greater ability to survive on their own without electricity.  And, while I technically now know how to prepare a foil oven, I would only do so again if my life depended on it.

So, instead of eating lunch at the lodge every day I was laboring over hot coals in the unusually hot weather, helping the girls prepare pathetic meals which took an inordinate amount of preparation. Can I just say that I'm so glad I am not a pioneer.  Preparing three meals a day the pioneer way would make me give up and lay down to die on the side of the trail.  Okay, I'm done with my complaining. The problem is that I don't have an automatic way to be invited to go back to camp next year, as I'm not a leader anymore.  I'm pretty sure that if I volunteered for cooking certification duty again I would be able to go. So, I have to decide if it's worth it!

But, I'd have to say that these girls make it all worth it.

 

Cute 1st year girls showing off their tent,which they kept scrupulously clean (Aubrey is on the left).  They also held their own scripture study sessions every night. And then they woke up so early and got ready before the rest of the camp, so sometimes they held another scripture study in the morning!  They were amazing 1st years.
 

McKay gave me a nickname:

 

Sharing dinner with the newly called Bishop (who is our good friend), who came up for the testimony meeting on the last night of camp.

If you look closely, you can see both of my girls here. Bailey at the top (in a blue headband and white shirt) and Aubrey in the middle (in a blue headband).  Also pictured are many of the other girls in our ward. This picture was taken during one of evening flag/program times in the amphitheater.

Okay, this is the worst picture in history, but I included it to document a fun moment.  Every night the whole camp gathers for a program.  On the last night Bailey received a special "F.B.I. Award" for being funny, beautiful, and intelligent - the only award of this type that was awarded during the entire camp.  Go Bailey!  I was so surprised when they called her name that I jumped up to take a quick picture, and obviously didn't take time to focus.  

Bailey is such a Girls Camp fan - she loves everything about it. And this year she finished certifying, and next year she will be one of the YCLs - Youth Camp Leaders. She'll do a great job of that.  But wait - that means that she is really growing up and only has two years of camp left. That means she doesn't have much time left at home . . . . I refuse to think about this right now!
 
One of the group hugs after a fantastic testimony meeting. Not sure why half the girls are giving me an angry look.  I think maybe they thought I was asking for a silly face picture?  It was a great testimony meeting, and afterward the love was just flowing as we lingered and shared treats for an hour before heading back to camp.

 This year camp was one day shorter than normal.  I thought it was perfect.  Tuesday through Friday.  Anyone can survive three nights of camping!

I loved this year's camp even though I was certainly glad to get home to my clean house and soft bed.  But, I do hope to somehow find my way back next year. . .

Flotsam and Jetsam

Aubrey very happily gave up laziness this last summer and instead attended a musical theater camp for 8 hours each day from mid-July to mid-August. At the end of the month the group performed the musical "Little Mermaid." Aubrey was cast as one of Ursula's wicked and very green eels - Jetsam.  The director purposely cast her in a role very different than her last role - Belle in Beauty and the Beast.  I think she had fun slithering and conspiring with Flotsam and Ursula about how to trap the poor, innocent Ariel.  It was so fun to watch her!

 After two of the three shows.

With her friend and fellow eel and with Ursula (a 15 year old who did an amazing job belting out Ursula's wicked songs).
 

  Aubrey's spot in the "leads" dressing room.

After the play on Saturday night we stopped by Wendy's for a treat. We brought with us all the friends who had come to watch the play.  Aubrey, you're looking a little scary there . . .

 That's better.

 

Service feels great

During the summer Aubrey set a personal progress goal to make treats every Sunday and then deliver plates of goodies to people.  We would brainstorm about who would enjoy a treat, and then she and I would take off and drive around and find people to visit with. 

After four weeks she had met the requirements for her personal progress goals but was enjoying it so much that she has continued. 

Almost every Sunday she makes something delicious all by herself. Her signature recipe quickly became "Oatmeal Fudge Bars", sooooooo delicious.  She makes a card to go with each plate of treats.

 

We always have leftovers, which is awesome and problematic for those of us with no self control where sugar is concerned.

She will often make an origami flower to go with the card and treat.

Aubrey is an amazing young woman - talented, smart, and kind.  It is a privilege to be her mother.  And I am so glad that she is learning that giving service feels good and is addictive.  And, as she stands on doorsteps and visits with neighbors, friends, and acquaintances, I'm glad she is learning that it's easy to make someone's day with a kind word and so much fun to meet and learn about all different kinds of people.

Our Favorite Soccer Player

We have had so much fun watching Joseph play soccer this year.  We found the perfect league and team for him, and he has thrived.  He is the tallest kid on the team:

and also one of the best players.

 He has improved leaps and bounds over last year and is gaining a lot of confidence.

 I love this picture.  Apparently the little girl was terrified of the ball?

 I love the intense facial expression Joseph gets when he is playing. 

 This was funny - one of the players on the opposing team is one of his friends from school (the girl in blue), so they did a little dance when she guarded him to keep him away from the ball which was being thrown in. I could tell that he was playing *extra* great on this day because Mari was watching!

 

 

Watching Joseph score goals is fun, but it isn't even my favorite thing. I just love to see the look on his face as he plays this season.  He smiles a lot, and is also completely focused on the game.  It is clear that he is always thinking about where he needs to be and where the play will go next.

 

 

 

 Joseph most enjoys playing forward and has become good at "challenging" the players on the other team and fighting for the ball.  He is also a good defender and effectively keeps the ball away from the goal.  He doesn't love playing goalie - the pace is too slow!