YW Summer Activities

The fun with our young women ramps up during the summer. In honor of the Olympics this year we did our own version - the Wacky Olympic Games! Each girl made up a country where she was from and designed a flag to display during the Opening Parade.

Let the wackiness commence! Paper plate disc throwing...

hymn book hurdles...

hula hooping

and feather blowing...

broom hockey...

crab walking...

and the culminating event - the wacky balance beam routine! Most of the girls got very serious with their routine and had some beautiful moves but Savannah fully embraced the wacky ideal and came out squawking like a chicken.

Carolyn also realized the gold was for the wackiest and she and Savannah ended up in a tie.

All the girls won medals for their performances and I think they all had a great time!

Making some soothing galaxy jars.

An evening at Rock State Park, always a fun place to go.

These girls have become pros at the double jump!

Our fabulous girls!

Acting silly!

The annual end of summer swim party!

Enjoying the pizza and the company!

She can't jump in without plugging her nose.

Chicken fights!!!

We always have such a fun time with our youth!

Special Occassions

Our summer was filled with wonderful trips to the temple and even a wedding performed by David! We were there when our sweet friend Jeanette went through the temple for the first time-
Julie, Jeanette, me and Sheri

and with Logan when he went through before heading off on his mission to Idaho.

We also attended when Nikki Brooks went through but unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of that. We were also blessed to be at the wedding of my dear friend Christian as she married Kevin. A picture of their beautiful boys that I adore!

Her son Rayshod walked her down the aisle.

And look who officiated!! This was my first time seeing David perform a wedding and he did such a great job. It made the whole thing even more special!

Such a special day.

Love her and am so happy for her!

Off to the reception at the ward building. They did an amazing job decorating the cultural hall.

Someone did not appreciate the fact that I made her participate in the bouquet throwing event.

Yeah, she basically just stood there, ha ha!

Christian absolutely loves Savannah. She was her Sunday School teacher for awhile and she always teases Savannah that she's going to marry her son Rayshod. She refers to Savannah as her daughter-in-law.

After several years of waiting the Philadelphia Temple finally had its Open House! We were so excited to walk through this beautiful house of God.

It is such a beautiful temple which so much amazing woodwork and colonial style furnishings and decor. We loved our time there.

I was also able to fulfill a promise I had made earlier in the year to get some of my ancestors sealed by the end of the summer. Throughout the spring and summer I went to the temple multiple times, often by myself, just to make sure that I could get all the work done by August. As the end of the summer approached I did not think I was going to be able to keep that promise but with Heavenly Father all things are possible and, with a true miracle, those sealings took place the day before the temple closed for several months for maintenance. It is an experience I will always treasure!

Space Derby

We love the Space Derby because it's so fun and chill! Noah colored his rocket to look like a legit spaceship and we just relaxed and enjoyed the races!

Let's get this pack meeting started!

Noah and his "out of this world" smile.

Hangin' with buds...

and one of his fabulous leaders, Genny Berg.

The three musketeers! Gabe, Noah, and Jack are quite the trio!

Noah's spaceship.

Despite the fact that David was out of town and I had forgotten to grab several of the essential inner parts, Noah's little ship did just fine, especially with the help of some of the dads.

Success!

And he earned a few awards.

His fun pack!

All his belt loops. He's pretty proud of them and insisted we get him a belt just so he can show them off!