Pioneer Day

This year the Primary sang, "Whenever I Think about Pioneers" in sacrament meeting. Their chorister taught them that singing Hosanna was like saying "Yippee!" or "Hooray!" So they sure were loud and excited when they sang :).  That's kind of how I felt about getting to go visit Trevor's and Lisa's families for Pioneer Day. Yippee! We went to the drive-in, swimming, barbeque, and fireworks.  Hooray!

Whenever I Think About Pioneers

Children's Songbook, Pg 222-23

Whenever I think about pioneers,

I think of brave women and men.

I like to remember that children came, too;

I would like to have been a child then.

Yes, I'd like to have learned to play the games they played

And joined them in their fun.

And I'd like to have slept under bright starry skies

When each day's measured journey was done.

I would like to have sung with the pioneers

When voices rang out loud and strong,

"Hosanna, Hosanna, we've found our new home,"

Joy and thankfulness filling their song.

I would like to have sung with all the pioneers,

With voices loud and strong,

"Hosanna, Hosanna, we've found our new home,"

Joy and thankfulness filling their song.

Ward Summer Party

So my latest news is that I got a new church calling. They released me as a Family History Consultant, which I'm very sad about. I enjoyed teaching the Family History class and helping others with their research. My new church calling is the Activities Chairman.

They set me apart on June 27th, and then we had a ward party less than two weeks later on July 8th! In case you’re counting, that's only eleven days! They already had the location picked out at Harris Pond, so that took care of activities and games. The previous lady suggested sandwiches, so I decided to order several six-foot long sandwiches to keep it simple. By the way, I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I went to pick up my six six-foot long sandwiches and they walked out with six one-foot long sandwiches. We worked it out and they put together enough sandwiches to feed 150 people, so it turned out perfect.

As for trying to plan the activity, advertising was our biggest challenge. It was in the ward bulletin... but on a holiday weekend. The Activities Committee was super helpful, and we split up the ward list and called EVERYONE. The ward clerk did a head count for me, and he estimates that in total we got about 150 people out to our party :). Yahoo!

I was hoping it would be a party to fellowship and make new friends and have some fun. And, boy!, did we have some fun :). We had dinner, swimming, canoeing, visiting, paddle boats, a giant swing over the water, a water slide, a zip line, slides and baby swimming pools for toddlers, and all sorts of great stuff. All in all, my new church calling means that I get to work with some super people and have some fun doing it!

In observation of Independence Day

Because the Fourth of July fell on a Sunday, I managed to do something to celebrate on Friday, Saturday, Sunday AND Monday :).

Josh has been visiting this week. I don't know if it's planned or an accident, but for the last three years Josh has been in Burley for Independence day. We have managed to pick up a few new traditions with him. We like to go to Rupert because they have several things going on for the Fourth. Friday we went to the Rupert Square for dinner and the melodrama at the Wilson Theatre. This year they did "The Vile Veterinarian, Or How Much Is That Doggy in the Window." They're still in the process of restoring but this year they let us into the auditorium. They roped off the scaffolding and put up some folding chairs, but the performance was hilarious. Sometimes for the wrong reasons, but I personally loved the villian. He was awesome! They had a puppy they named Darn it, Darn it! Isn't that funny?!

(Photo borrowed from The Times-News)

Saturday was a very full day. Tricia, Josh and I got an unlimited pass for the carnival at the Rupert Fairgrounds. It's pretty small but we had fun and rode almost all the rides before we decided we should have taken a Dramamine for lunch! I got lots of great pictures, and we all really enjoyed the carnival. Especially the cotton candy at the end.

Chris met us later that afternoon for a matinee of the Last Airbender. People that are fans of the cartoon loved it. Me? I laughed a lot but probably at parts that were not supposed to be funny :).

Later we met at mom's for dinner and a movie (Percy Jackson). Chris and Tricia found this fun nail polish so to show sister power we all did each other's toes during our movie. It's a seriously cool purple, but at church it felt more like grape popsicles :).

Saturday night we did fireworks. We love it when Josh comes to visit for the Fourth since he's so good at lighting all the fireworks with Grandpa's blow torch and we don't have to stir from our camping chairs. I think he really, really likes fire :). Boys! Tricia had a headache, but being the good sport that she is, she put on dad's ear protection (they look like head phones) and some sunglasses for fireworks. She looked fantastic ;). 

Sunday we got to sing some patriotic songs, and then everyone came over to our house for dinner. Chris cooked steak wrapped in bacon on the George Foreman with potato salad, fresh cherries, and I made a scrumptious salad (greens, fresh raspberries, candied nuts, Feta cheese and a raspberry vinaigrette). Yum!! I also got to take a four hour nap, which after my crazy week was very nice. Plus, Monday was a court holiday, so I got to sleep in. All in all a stupendous holiday!