One Smart Boy

Connor shares my love of the solar system. He drew this picture of the planets in order from memory:

The Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, (blue & green) Mars, (the red planet)
the Asteroid belt, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (we're still considering it a planet at our house)

Precious!

My five gkiddies in the tub at Nanajan's - enough said!

PFFW

PFFW (Parsons Family Fun Week) was a tradition started years ago when my nephew and niece, Jake and Dani, would come for a week each summer to stay with my parents, aka G&G and get to know their cousins. We haven't done it for years, since Jake and Dani are now married. But my sister and her four kiddies are visiting from Houston, TX this week so we have reinstated PFFW - thanks to the generosity of G&G!

So far we have had fun swimming at Riverside:

Chicken wars with Michael and Chase/Cameron and Connor

Uncle Brian and Connor showing off their sidestroke.

Thursday we all hiked to the Timpanogos Cave:

All thirteen of us ready to hit the trail

Andrew carried by Todd

Abby carried by Michael





Chloe carried by me.
(just part of the way up, Michelle carried her all the way down and Cameron helped, too)

Hindmarsh Clan at the top

On the way down

 Connor's ribbon

After G&G treated us to lunch at the Purple Turtle!

And today we're off to Seven Peaks so the fun can continue!

Fourth of July

Last year when we were watching the Freedom Festival parade in Provo and I saw the runner/walkers on the parade route, I thought: "I can do that, I'm definitely going to do the 5K next year." And I DID!

My friends, Clyda and Judy joined me and we had fun walk/running along the parade route. Next year maybe I can even beat my "lightening fast" time of 47 minutes!


Another fun part of our Fourth was having Trevor's Mom, Jeanette and his sister, Kelsie and her friend, Melissa with us for a couple of days. Kelsie and Melissa performed in the Stadium of Fire and had several rehearsals the days before. Trevor flew in for the Fourth of July and we all went to Stadium of Fire. On the fifth, Jenny and Trevor had their engagement photos taken. (check out their blog for the link, you can also see Jenny's amazing bridal photos!)

Young Women Camp

Our 9th Ward " SONfollowers"

July 15 - 19 was our ward's Young Women Camp. Have I mentioned that I LOVE Young Women Camp? Well, I do. I love everything about it, I love planning and preparing, including cutting, laminating and making cutesy things to give the girls. I love being in nature and being with my young women with no distractions (ipods, cell phones, tv, etc) This year was really great; fun and spiritual and everyone got along and had a good time together. And, of course, it is always SO beautiful at Camp Shalom: see above photo of the view from our camp.

Every year our "Fairy Godmother" (aka Karen Bodily) visits us and brings joy and a story to share. This year she brought us balloons to blow up and create pretty hats.

These are the 9th Warders who hiked to Lone Pine.
Julie Shipp, Bobbie Whiteside, Heather Shipp, Kylee Thurman and ME! This is my 10th time hiking to Lone Pine at Camp Shalom. It's kind of a YW Camp ritual for me to go there every year. BTW, it's not really a pine, it's a fir!



The view of Camp Shalom from Lone Pine, including the snowfield in the foreground.

Abbey Rutter and me in our canoe - this is as we were starting out, by the time we finished lake time we were completely drenched thanks to the antics of two lovely Miamaids: Madsion & Ina. There's nothing quite as invigorating as a water fight on the lake!

Madison and Ina

This is the "post-camp" garage mess I got to put away!

Pack, Peddle, Paddle

The "preachers" (teachers and priests) from our ward had a great adventure last week: Pack, Peddle, Paddle. They backpacked for three days in the Uintas, then took a 40-mile bike ride, followed by a day on the river in rafts and canoes. Michael was a participant in this event and I got to drive some of the boys and their packs in Michael's truck to the trailhead: 2 1/2 hours to Roosevelt, 1/2 hour east and then 1 hour on a dirt road going 25 mph. After dropping them off I turned around and made the trip home - an eight-hour round trip! It was fun to see them head off into the mountains with their packs.

Much better than the last time I was at this trailhead: 12 years ago I dropped Brian off there with the Scouts to hike King's Peak. It was pouring rain and I was leaving my first son on his first backpacking trip and everything he owned was wet. I cried most of the way home.

Girls Road Trip

1. Somehow I managed to get to the ripe old age of 50 having never seen the Grand Canyon. It has a been a dream of mine for some time to see this amazing natural wonder. My friend, Judy Richards, just a year my junior has shared this dream with me for some years now.

2. Jenny's sweetie, Trevor, is working hard for their future selling food storage in Mesa so, of course, wanted to visit him.

3. My friend, Clyda Thurman has two daughters and seven grandchildren living in Mesa, so she's always up for a road trip to visit her family. And her cute daughter, Kylee who is one of my lovely Laurels joined us.

All of which led to a really fun Girls Road Trip! So on June 27 the six of us headed out bright and early for Mesa, AZ - a 10-hour drive. I have never been to Arizona (if you don't count that little piece between St George and Las Vegas) so it was great to see new country. Our first stop was on the bridge next to the damn that creates Lake Powell. Judy, Jenny and I thought we should walk across it just for fun. After that we decided that we were the best "dam" friends ever!

We had a delightful weekend staying at Mandy and Aaron's lovely home, complete with swimming pool and fun grandchildren! We shopped a little, ate at the Cheesecake Factory, went to the Mesa Temple ( #22 for me) and visitor's center. I got to see Trevor's house and he even took me to a Fresh Produce store. (my favorite clothing brand) It was a really pleasant and relaxing trip.

On Monday we headed home via the Grand Canyon. We got there Monday night just as the sun was setting. We tried to do some stargazing, but it was cloudy. (darn!) Tuesday morning we watched an IMAX movie about the Grand Canyon and then drove east along the South Rim stopping at several view points along the way and even venturing a little hiking.

I have to say that after anticipating seeing the Grand Canyon for many years, it does NOT disappoint! It is awesome and amazing; beautiful and scary at the same time. These pictures definitely do not do it justice!

Thanks to my fun traveling companions, especially Clyda for being such a great and generous driver. It was a wonderful trip!