Camping

We went on an overnight camp last week up the mountain to Bountiful Peak. It was so beautiful up there! I think I counted 15 different wild flowers in bloom. It was amazing. It wasn't too hot, maybe 80 degrees but the bugs were out in full force.

Of course we took the ATV's and went on some awesome rides! We had a great time. Well, Sammie had her first little accident (Don't freak out mom!). We were going up a pretty rocky trail with a slope on the left side and Sammie hit a rock and leaned the wrong way and fell off her four wheeler on the slope side! I think she must have still been holding on the handlebars because the 4W rolled over and pushed her down the slope. Luckily there were a lot of trees that she was able to hang onto until I could get up there to come and get her. It was scary but she didn't even get a single scrape. I just can't wait till we can get her in the ATV class so many she can manuever a little better.

Reena (the dog) was begging to go with us so we let her come along. She was happy and trotting right along with us until about the last 20 minutes or so of the 2+ hours. Then she was really worn out and slowing down a lot. The next day the poor thing was so sore she could barely move! I felt so bad for her! It made it really easy to keep her around camp though. She is a good dog and fun to take camping.

We had fun playing catch, even though I am afraid of the ball! Sammie was really getting good. Felicity was so dang cute, I don't know where she picked this up but every time she would throw the ball she would say "whoa baby, baby, baby!" It was hilarious. She loved camping. And what's even funnier is she loved going down to the potty! That one I just can't figure out. The restrooms were absolutely horrible! I think it may have just been that every time one of us had to "go" all the girls went together. Of course, both the girls loved the fire and smores.

We had a great trip and amazingly didn't forget anything too important (like the sleeping bags, or the food!) I think we may be learning! We plan on going camping in two weeks and I hope it goes just as good as this one!

Samantha's Mystery Birthday Party

Well my little angel turned NINE this past July 4! I can't believe how time flies! She had a super fun American Girl Samantha Mystery party this year. She invited 8 of her friends and they all dressed in 1900's dress. They had a formal dinner with goblets and everything which they thought was really cool. They watched the Samantha AG movie and played some games.

I made some salt water taffy and we tried to do a taffy pull. Wow was that ever a horrible MESS! We had taffy from floor to ceiling and wall to wall! The taffy wouldn't pull it would just melt and run all over their hands and my floors! That was such a disaster and I don't ever recommend doing it!

The girls all read a mystery script that came with the AG Mystery game and solved a mystery by figuring out clues. Sammie is such a good little actress! She did really well acting out her parts. They had pretty fun. It was a long party but considering they watched it movie it wasn't too bad. Sammie actually wanted to have a sleep over but a lot of her friends aren't allowed those so the late night worked out great!

Sammie got some really excellent presents! Thank you millions everybody! Sammie was using her very best manners and thanked everyone immensely. It was really cute. I think she got 8 books total so she has been busy reading! Thank goodness because reading hasn't really interested her before.

J.W. and I gave Sammie a digital camera (I know she is totally spoiled, but she is such a good kid and so grateful for everything!), a sleuth kit just like Nancy Drew's which she has been carrying around everywhere, and a couple other odd & ends I can't remember at the moment. Gma & Gpa Hancey gave her this really cool costume designer kit which I just can't wait to get my hands on!

I am so grateful I get to be Sammie's mother. She really is my little angel. She is always trying to do the right thing and is so thoughtful of other people's feelings. I love you Sammie!

2008 Dance Recital

Sammie had her 2008 year end dance recital. She danced to the song "Walking on Sunshine". She did awesome! Felicity was sick and her fever really started going up the last half hour of the show so we had to forgo the usual ice cream parlor trip.

Sammie is looking forward to a summer with no dance and then in the fall she will reevaluate which classes she wants to take.

Happy 80th Grandma Spilker!

On June 13-15 we went to a resort on the east side of Zion National Park to celebrate J.W.'s grandma's 80th birthday! Happy Birthday Grandma Spilker! She is a great lady. J.W. loves the memory of when he was little and Grandma Spilker would take him and his brother swimming or something and then give them $1 or $2 or change and say "Now don't tell your Grandpa!"

We had a nice reunion with everyone. Marsha came down from SLC, Clark & Janet and all their kids except Nick came from St. George & Mesquite. Janna & John from Mesa, and two of their 4 kids. Mike and Ann from St. George and all their kids except the one on a mission. Chuck and Connie and 2 of their 4 kids from St. George. J.W.'s dad was the only child of Grandma Spilkers not there but we came so that was good. A lot of J.W.'s cousins are now married with kids of their own! It's crazy! I really wish we could do reunions more often.

We stayed at the Zion Mountain Resort. The have a huge herd of buffalo there! No kidding! Felicity liked the "Moose", I think she may be trying to say moos? Sammie had a fun time playing with her second cousins until the poor little thing got sick! She had a fever and just wanted to sleep, sleep, sleep and no play. Which anyone who knows Sammie knows she is all about play, play, play and no sleep! Luckily she was only sick for one day.

We went 4-wheelin at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes which we found out we didn't like. Too sandy and dusty and fast.

J.W. and I went on an absolutely killer ride on Sunday morning. Just the two of us, all by ourselves. I think it was the first date we've had in years! No kidding. The ride was cool, there was lots of rock obstacles, hard road and sandy road, lots of cedar trees everywhere and then we got down into the canyon and there were sheer rock walls shooting up. It was really beautiful. I want to do that ride again! We had a great time.

School's Out

HOOORAY! Summertime! Sammie is finally outa school. I am really glad (so far). I can't wait to have a super summer of vacationing and playing and camping and swimming and sun and all that fun stuff. I'll keep you posted on our summer adventures.