The Wet Ward Camp Out

We knew it would be raining July 30th a few months ago- why? Because we planned on camping that day. We have a curse; it rains on us every time we go camping; I am not kidding! We decided to go anyway, seeing that Kent was in charge of this ward camp out. It was Anna's first camp out too!

We got there at set up our tent on a pile of ants. But it was OK, because the rain washed them away.

Went wading in the creek as the storm clouds rolled in.

Anna loved splashing in the warm Arizona creek water and even helped us find firewood for the campfire.
Anna content as ever in her pack and play, out of the rain, enjoying the smells of the campfire and being in the outdoors.
This is Kent trying to make pancakes for the ward on a cookie sheet, which he discovered did not work very well, and reverted to a frying pan. They were very delicious!

We camped at Clear Creek, near Sedona and had a good ward turn out. Hot dogs and S'mores that evening and a campfire program. When we retired to the tent it was soooo hot and humid inside, our sweaty skin stuck to the outside of our nylon material sleeping bags. Gross!! Not to mention And Kent and I were squished to one half of the 3 man tent as Anna's pack and play took up the other half. It rained most of the night and due to the fact that we were so squished, and Kent is foot longer then the length of the tent, we were touching the walls of the tent which allowed the water to come in. Yep, that morning pretty much every thing was wet except Anna in her pack and play. She slept great. Though we discovered she was wet too because her diaper leaked. It rained through the morning. We ate a delicious breakfast Kent cooked up with Derek from the elder's quorum; bacon, eggs and pancakes. Kids were running everywhere in the rain enjoying life. Adults stayed under the cover enjoying each others company. After a while everyone in the ward gave up waiting for the rain to let up and took their tents down in the rain. We dumped over a gallon of water out of our tent while packing up. It was a fun wet trip like always.

Talking

Anna is always babbling and trying to tell us all about everything going on.

My 30th Birthday

Yep, kinda weird, but I have officially left my 20's. When I was a girl I thought 30 was really old, but I don't feel old, just more mature and experienced in life. Being 30 is great. My brother Gabe mentioned to me on my birthday that this was the age that Jesus Christ began is ministry.

My 30th birthday was fabulous. I mean, you only turn 30 once. First of all I had a fun early birthday bash/swim party with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins last week. Then on my birthday to my great surprise, my old childhood friends, Anna and Frances, came passing through town from California and stayed with us for a few days! I hadn't seen them for years.

We had a fondue dinner the night before and my favorite Thai curry recipe that day.
The best part of it all is we brought our friends, left Anna with a babysitter, and went tubing/rafting down the salt river. I love love love tubing down the Salt River. And of course, because of our curse, it rain for a bit during the adventure. :)
The next day we went to the Desert Botanical Gardens too! It was so nice having old friends in town. And Kent made my birthday very special with all the work he did to arrange everything and make things happen. Yea.

Our Dinner Entertainment

We never have to go out to a dinner theater because every night we have our own personal dinner entertainer. Sometimes we get to see comedy shows and sometimes they are theatrical and full of drama. But every night there is a new performance.

Cousins and Babies

Within a month of Anna's birth 4 of my cousins on my mothers side gave birth also. Here are 3 of them with me with our babies. It's so fun.

Within a year of her birth I also had 3 cousins on my father's side have babies and one sister in law. That is a grand total of 8 cousins/second cousins her age. Yea!

Lips or turtle?

Since Anna was born she has always had nice, big, kissy lips. Just love them. But lately she has been hiding those lips!!!

Yep, when she realized that bottom lip of hers was juicy and plump she thought it would work as a good pacifier. So she has been sucking on her bottom lip.

I think she looks quite ridiculous lately, like a old lady who took out her dentures.

or like A Turtle. Oh boy.

4th of July

On Friday the 2nd we went to Mesa's freedom festival where we saw some neat exhibits, presentations, art work, and plays on the founding of the nation and the Declaration of Independence it was really neat.

Sunday night July 4th we went to the park down the street where we could watch some fireworks in the distance. And for FHE we read the Declaration of Independence. I am very grateful for those men who sacrificed much to give us the great freedoms we now have and I want to strive to maintain those freedoms.