Cousins' Camp

For three days all the SKT and DAT cousins gathered at our house (and elsewhere) for a safari/jungle-themed adventure. It was Anna's brain child and all the aunties (and uncle) helped make it a smashing success. There were passports, camp cheers, a camp song, story telling, pledges, a treasure hunt, crafts, blow guns, campfires, swimming, movies, lectures at the Bean Museum, T-shirts, an excursion to Hogle Zoo, great food, a birthday party for Colton, and it finished with a wild and crazy dance party in the back yard. Madeline made a great junior camp counselor and was a genuine help with the singing activities.

Millie managed the graphic design and
created this great pith-helmet/binocular flag

The aunties putting the finishing touches on base camp

Auntie Katy creating wild and crazy hair-dos for
the first day of camp

Voilà les cheveux!

Preparing the beads for necklaces

Ready, steady, go!

Base camp where goods were distributed to registrants

The cousins

Clara, Anders, Max, Lizzy, and Finn with their new gear

Uncle Pippy gets them ready for their orienteering
treasure hunt

Let the hunt begin

Aha! the first clue

The "lunch ladies" serving supper to the campers

The burritos were great

So were the chips

Pop Pop telling a butter-themed story

Time for more songs and cheers

Camp fire and marshmallow roast

Campers at the zoo

Colton's party at Big Springs on the South Fork
of the Provo River

Torrential rain could not dampen spirits

Colton cut the cake and ice cream

A conga line at the big-finale dance event

Beckham rocked it

Everyone had a great time: there was some excellent cousin bonding, remarkably little drama, and very few tears. Thanks to all who made the dream come true.

Thats's all for now.

OXO

D.

Fourth of July

The Fourth of July in Provo is loads of fun but packs a potential political wallop. A recent Harvard study found that children who attend July 4 celebrations are more likely to identify themselves as Republicans later in life. It's lucky we sang God Save the Queen under our breath in church on Sunday, keeping American exceptionalism and tea-bagger enthusiasm at bay . . . just a bit. In spite of potential risks, we joined in full-throated celebration.

Anna and Katy (official participants) arose early to join Phillip and Meagan (interlopers) in the 5K run. I went along to take photos. Several attended the parade in the morning, and the afternoon was filled with swimming and food at Emily's. In the evening we watched the kids race and dance before devouring Meagan's fruit pizza, Kris's chocolate-chip bars, and Emily's homemade ice cream, in three flavors this year. The major disappointment was rain showers just as it became dark enough for fireworks. Oh, and because Stadium of Fire was early, there was no flyover: bummer!

Pippy, Katy, Anna, and Meagan met at the corner

The girlies feeling the power of the blaring music
before the race

Taylor kids looking slightly less perky after the race

The Hastings kids on the way to the parade

Emily, Millie, and Anna lapping up the sunshine

Maria Magdelena and Lucilla Loqueta

Katy Kathryn doing something . . .

The Dude showed me "the face"

Uncle Phillip launching Anders into space

Auntie Meagan likely breaking down the
finer points of teen crushes with Madi and Lucy

Men's Club: sorry no girls allowed

These boys are good grillers

Supper time

The simple joys of smoke bombs with Uncle Gavin

Let the games begin

Katy reading a declaration of independence

"If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it"

In spite of political dangers, rain showers, and no flyovers, we had a great time. It was nice to have all the family except for Rob here. We hope he is surviving his faux bachelorhood.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here!

On Friday, 1 July (Happy Dominion Day, Canada!), the troops began to arrive: Maren, Gavin, and the boys drove from Phoenix; on Saturday Anna, kids, and Katy arrived from a five-day road trip across real America with significant stops in Nauvoo, Omaha (they say the Zoo is still the best), and lots of quality time in West Virginia. While they were navigating the last few miles, many of the rest of us went downtown to cheer Meagan and her dancing troop on at the Freedom-Festival performance tent. Meagan pleads that she is not a performer, but we enjoyed it all a lot. A trip to town wouldn't be complete without some carnival food. Stadium of Fire was that night so we completed the evening at the park watching some great fireworks.

On Sunday everyone split up between our ward and Emily's for church. We all met later at our house for Sunday Dinner which was followed by a BYU walk. Amy and Jeff dropped in and shared some of Katy's yummy brownies and Phil and Meagan's ice cream.

Maren and Em with their kiddos

Meags

Beckham thought the dancing was spectacular;
I'm unsure about Jayson's thoughts --
Beckham found his mother and her look-alike sisters interchangeable

The Soelbergs were there too

The cousins headed for the park

The unibomber making brownies

A traditional ant-war sighting

Checking out the ducks and turtles at the BYU Botany Pond

The group on the canal walk

Taking the concept of canal walk literally

How ya gonna keep em down on the farm . . . ?

Mountain Goats Are Us

They were very fun tonight

There will be lots of things to report by the time the day is over, so don't touch that dial.

This, however, is all for now.

OXO

D.