Summer Scout camp

A couple of years ago my oldest decided that she wanted to work at a Boy Scout camp.  Since then her summers are filled with adventure, and she had gotten her brother to join her in her adventures.  This year they applied for a camp in a different council and are super excited to be working in the Unitas.  Erik even talked a couple of his friends into going as well.   Days are temperate...between 70 and 80 degrees but nights can dip into the low 30's.  Erik slept in a tent last summer, but this is the first time Nicole will experience a summer of that.  I am super excited about the daytime temps, because my kids don't tolerate the heat well, but I hope that they stay warm at night.  I bought a queen sized 3 inch foam pad on clearance and cut it in half and made giant "pillowcase" covers so I can take them off and wash them.  I hope that they have enough layers to sleep comfortably.  Erik is on a spring army type bed and Nicole on a camping canvas cot, both with a provided two inch mattress.  I'm glad I sent the foam toppers... for comfort and warmth.

I am really excited to have them home on the weekends so I can hear about all of their adventures, because I really miss having them around, but I know that this experience is making them better people.

Nicole unpacking

Eating area

Aspen groves are everywhere

the Lake...I bet it's cold!

Waterproof Canvas Shoes (Chucks, Vans, Keds, etc.)

We found this idea on Pinterest using an old pair of Vans, but we had to try it on a brand new pair of shoes.  It really works!  We bought light colored beeswax (light cream, NOT yelllow) and there was a subtle deepening of color,(I liked the darker red anyway) It really worked!

Brand new pair of Chucks with the laces removed

rub beeswax all over the canvas

Keep rubbing! It takes a while!

blow dry to melt the wax

the color will be slightly darker than the 

original

reapply wax where needed

do this to entire shoe

Inspect for lighter colored areas needing more wax  to be applied

water test... if it beads up and rolls off, it is a success!

Progress

Just putting up some photos of the progress with the kitchen/TV room remodel.  We got allot done over the Memorial Day weekend.  Erik and Nicole painted the computer Desk and Paul finished the wood floor so that FINALLY after nearly two-and-a-half years I no longer have appliances in the front room.  Happy Day!!!

Senior "CAT" tillion

 Nicole got asked to Senior Cotillion (Dance) this year and here are the photos.   We already had a dress that we had bought for $35 on clearance more than a year before, and then we got the matching jewelry at The Cannery in North Ogden.

Her date decorated her room

Full length of Nicole (and Lewis)

Nicole and Lewis

Meeeeowwwww!

Nicole and Morgan

These days teenagers go on "day dates" and so they went on a hike up Waterfall canyon and met up with their group for Laser Tag.  Morgan just got a new job and had to work from 4-8 so they pretty much descided that driving clear down to Layton and spending $45 for photos and one or two dances was dumb, so they just went to TGI Fridays and had dinner and watched the Lakers game.  I think I would have picked the food too!

Twenty Years Later

I can't believe that it's been 20 years since I got married.  It's crazy how fast time has gone by!  We started talking months ago about ideas for what to do to celebrate.  Cruise?? No.  Hawaii, Jamaica?? No.  Europe is out of the question with our remodel in full swing.  One day I suggested going to a rock concert since Paul has never been to one.  The only one I had ever been to was OMD... on the back row waaayyyy back in college.  So we started looking at bands that were coming to Salt Lake in April and were happy to see that Snow Patrol was coming.  Paul liked their popular song "Chasing Cars" and I would hear them alot on my Pandora... Plus they were coming out with a new album.  I bought the tickets and downloaded most of their songs.  Paul did extensive research on the band and we went out and bought "cool" clothes since our teenagers said we didn't have any.  By the time the concert came we knew all of the songs on their tour playlist and Paul could tell me who all of the band members were.

The concert was super fun and as soon as it started I forgot that my feet hurt from walking all over the place and the two hours in line.  I was happy to see that we weren't the only old people there Hahaha.  We got to be up front second row standing and I got to shake Gary's hand and the bass player tossed me his guitar pick at the end, but I am such a klutz that I dropped it Hahaha.  That's OK, the girl next to me picked it up and was ecstatic.

We stayed at the Hyatt at the Gateway and were able to just walk to everything downtown.  Temple Square on a quiet Saturday morning, City Creek shopping, and  fun at the gateway.  We had always thought that one of our big anniversaries would have been spent at the hotel we honeymooned at, but the Inn at Temple Square got knocked down to make way for City Creek. I had a great time away from everything with the best friend that I married.

Clark Planetarium.. had to go wash my hands after that hahaha

Paul was so sweet he told me I was the prettiest girl at the concert!

In line for the concert with our "cool clothes"

Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol

After walking all morning..... Crown Burger!!