Playing in the river...

Playing in the river is on the summer bucket list! We came to the bridge by the settling ponds and played in the river underneath. We had a scary experience when we first arrived. The river narrows and waterfalls just after the bridge. The current is stronger there and I told the little kids to stay upriver, away from it. Juliet wanted to play close to the waterfall and started to get swept away. Jack tried to help her but she bounced over the rocks on the way down. Mikayla thought they were playing and went over to go down as well. She got swept over the boulders and kept getting swept downstream. Luckily she had her life vest on and I was scrambling on the shore, trying to get to them as quick as I could. Mikayla finally got to the side enough to stop herself but she was sad and banged up.

After we regrouped and calmed down, we had a fun time.

It was plenty hot and the water was a good temperature.

I got sand in all the places.

Anchovies!!!

I've always wondered anchovies taste like on a pizza!!  It happened today!  A few of the kids tried it out but they said it was super fishy.  I couldn't taste the fishiness because I wasn't smelling very well today so I could taste the saltiness.  The texture was a little weird as well. All the little bones are still in the anchovies so they were a tad crunchy.  I'm glad I did it, I don't think I'll be doing it again.

A girl in our ward works at the Dominos pizza where I got the pizza and she said everyone working there hates making anchovy pizza.  It makes the kitchen smell and they have to switch out the pizza slicers.  

Our last Pioneer Day parade...

These are my peeps. These are my girls. Mandy, Libbi and Valerie. We were told we are going to be released some time. Our callings in the primary presidency have been hard but it could've been so much harder. Where I was weak, they were strong. When someone couldn't be there, I'd show up. Libbi could talk to any inactive family like they were old friends. Valerie kept all the attendance rolls and assignments on track. Mandy was organized and kept us doing what we should. We served and became awesome friends. I am so lucky to serve with them!

Since we are going to be released some time, we won't be in charge of the parade next year! This is parade number 4 and it's plenty of work. Val and her husband did an awesome job on the trailer. I was just in charge of the wheels.

Lib was in charge of all the cute signs.

There was even enough room that I could ride on the float this year! We usually have to walk. It was so hot, even for 8:30 in the morning. I got to wear Maxine's trek outfit and looked so cute!

Selfie Saturday...

As I raid everyone's phones for pictures, I get to come across fun selfies! So that no one is embarrassed, I'll go first!

Merril's in St. Louis! He didn't have enough time to go up the St. Louis Arch but he wants to.

And I just love this one!

Merril and I have been trying to send each other more selfies when we are apart. I love seeing his smiling face when he's away!

Campbell Family Reunion

This is the Campbell Family Reunion in Glendale, UT.  We are hanging out at Grandma Swapp's house and it was hot.

There was a jam session.  Maxine's getting so good at the guitar.  She kind of just picked it up this summer.

We took the RV and camped on Mason's property.

Daddy and Jack rode mountain bikes at Thunder Mountain with Mont and Adam Campbell.

Sleeping kids are the cutest.

There was this rope on Mason's property that had knots in it to climb.  Julie climbed it.

Then Mikayla. That girl has no fear. I was a little afraid she would slip and fall but she's strong.

Independence Day....

Independence Day started with some good 'ol rock climbing.

We lit some sparklers.

Julie and her friends dressed up like pin up girls from the 50s. 

For the love...

Last time we used the RV, we noticed the water supply line to the toilet was leaking. We were going to take the RV to the Campbell reunion and I really wanted the toilet working. It's important. So I watched the required YouTube videos and figured out how to get the dang thing off. I went to an RV store in Washington and way overpaid for a new water supply valve. (Money could've been saved if I had enough time to order from Amazon but I needed it today.) It's fine. I was able to put it back together after spraying the whole toilet off and BOOM! Worked like a champ, no leaky leaky!  

I know it's dumb, but I really find joy in fixing things.

Just an update on Maxine and her job. Yeah, it's not working out. People swear, there's no management, they leave two 15-16-year old kids to work the afternoon shift. They have to take orders, cook the orders, and keep the dining area clean. There was a creepy old man who would hang around that the female employees warned her about. And the last straw was management told her to clock out at 9:00 p.m. but stay and clean until everything was done. I'll say it, Maxine's not a fast cleaner. Especially after an 8-hour shift. She'd be there until 9:30-10:00 p.m! If they didn't get everything done, they'd be in trouble the next day. You can't have kids stay and work and not pay them. We told her to tender her resignation and give her two week's notice. It's fine because she earned money and we have the month of July to play. Good riddance. I tried not to be the crazy Mom on this one but when they are breaking labor laws, it's time to go.

Water day...

We have 3 reunions with Merril's side of the family 3 weekends in a row. Maxine and I played hookie from the Laub Ranch. To help with swim team, we went out to sand hollow to swim early in the morning. Brrrr, it was a little cold for my liking and a little creepy. We swam out to the dock that's halfway to the rock island. When we got done, we were cold and a little itchy. We were fine after we came home and showered.

Merril took the other kids to the Laub Ranch and snagged this picture.

My bestie Emily came to visit for the high school reunion and brought her daughter, Caroline.  Juliet is good with kids and Caroline took a liking to her.   

We took them to Quail because I'm always afraid of the swimmer's itch. We visited some of the old places like the Brigham Young Home. She visited her cousin Andrea Palmer one of the days.

Then we came to the reunion!

We chatted and laughed with the old gang. We're as dumb as ever.  

Emily stayed for the long weekend and we stayed up and chatted.  I took Caroline and Emily to the shuttle so they could catch a ride to Salt Lake to meet her husband Aaron and her two other kids.  They were going to continue to a reunion in Idaho Falls.  

It's funny how close I can be to her after all these years.  It's fun to be in the same room though. 

Maxine's pioneer trek...

There was trek for youth conference this year. I never did one. Maybe I feel like it's silly to haul handcarts when we have cars but whatever. I made Maxine a bonnet, skirt and shirt.

Jocelyn and Jared and Amy Hummel were there. Maxine was in Jared and Amy's "family."

The weather was crap. Crazy flash flooding forced the teams to turn around so they ended up hiking way farther than they were supposed to. And they were wet, soaked to the bone.

They found snakes so I guess all was forgiven.

Maxine wouldn't be Maxine without awesome hair. 

The first night, Maxine was trying to dry out her shoes by the fire and melted them like crazy. When she tried to grab them, she burned her finger on the melted rubber. She ended up borrowing another leader's extra pair of shoes. I don't know what she would've done otherwise. 

She says it was hard, like really hard but was also good. Whatever man, I'm just glad she's home safe.

Juliet's 11th Birthday!!!

Summer time means Juliet's birthday is right around the corner.  Merril took her to Bear Paw for the awesome waffles.

We spent the afternoon seeing a movie!  We saw The Incredibles 2!  It was maybe a little scary for Mark.

Because Juliet loves making cakes, I didn't have to make one for her birthday.  She made it herself. 

This girl gets it done.  If there is a task at hand, she jumps in.  She's very organized and a terrific babysitter.  We love our Julie.

Circus circus...

Merril had to do some work in Vegas and offered to take the kids down to Circus Circus for the afternoon!

I haven't been to Circus Circus in a long time but I remember it being ghetto.  The adventure dome looks nice from the pictures.

Kids don't notice things like that anyway.

Summer splash pad...

Yay!  We made a summer bucket list and we are making our way through it!  A splash pad was on the list.

The weather was perfect!

I think Maxine was at Girl's Camp.

Good times.