June 2016

Mom's 60th birthday cruise

Our dinner table

On Catalina Island with Meg

ziplining sisters

At a show on the ship

Exploring La Bufadora

Ensenada wasn't that impressive but it was fun to be together.

Checking out the beach.  Ensenada was overall kind of depressing.  A pregnant lady and her three baby girls selling souvenirs wrenched my heart.  I gave her some cash right as our bus pulled away, wishing I could do more.

Young Women Camp was right after the cruise.

Meilani back from her 4th year overnight hike.  She had the best time, and even encountered a little bit of snow on the trail.  It was such a wet winter we were worried that we might not pull off our camp plans.  Thankfully it all came together.  The stake that went the week after us got snowed in!

Our ward girls

The best ladies to plan camp with!

While we were at camp, Mom and Meg hosted Grammy Camp, tit dye and all.

At Gilroy Gardens.

Summer ice cream fun.

Sariah and her buddy Maloree.

Eli and his scout troop off to Camp Mensinger for the week.  

Eli ended up scraping up his face on the wall of the pool early on in the week.  It brought him quite a bit of attention.  At the end of the week the camp leaders awarded him the "Cool Dude" award for being an all around awesome guy and exceptional camper.  He earned 9 merit badges in the week.

Jam making day...blackberry and plum.

Sleepy head at a friend's house.

A friend and neighbor invited us to use their Tahoe cabin for a week!  Their son goes to MHHS and each year he chooses his favorite teacher to gift the cabin getaway.  This year we were the lucky recipients and had a fantastic week making memories and family bonding.

We went on a hike up a dry glacier bed the first day we were there.

The hike culminated in our own little private waterfall.  Such a blast!

Nature calls...the kids were cracking up, and the water was freezing!

Spent another day at the beach.

A different near by lake with a big rock to jump off of.  Ben paddled the little kids back and forth on the raft countless times.  I even made the swim and jumped just to prove to the kids I'm no chicken.

Daily lunch making while at the cabin.

Emerald Bay Beach on our last day.

So thankful for the time together, and the tender mercies of the Lord to grant us an amazing vacation when we did not have the financial resources to fund one ourselves.  It's been a really tight summer financially.  I've been reminded more times than I can count that the Lord loves us, is watching out for us, and will always provide, whether in the form of family vacations (because he knows that was my heart's desire), a freezer full of food from friends, or unexpected resources made available.