“There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.” ---Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

WARNING: MEGA-POST AHEAD...OODLES OF PICTURES!!!

So, yep, I'm home.

Had a silly pre-camp-campout with our girls from church.  (Taught them first-aid.  We were loud & goofy---those poor other campers as we had whipped cream mustache wars, they enjoyed fettucini alfredo for dinner **WHO EATS THAT WHEN THEY'RE CAMPING?!**, water fights, and some great smore time around the fire, complete with songs & stargazing/navigating by the stars.  Batteries went dead in the camera, so this is all you get.)

Had a great week at Jr. Grange Camp.  (What a week of feeding rowdy boys & girls during the day, and playing co-warden at night!  The kids had all sorts of fun doing all sorts of campy things.  Daisy sang "Loathing" from Wicked for the whole camp.  We were treated to a Ghetto Ballet.  I got tricked into sitting on a huge, wet sponge in front of all the kids.  Daisy was crowned as one of the camp's princesses at the end of the week.  And we cooks gave out our very first "Golden Spoon" ((a large glittered yellow stirring spoon)) & "Biggest Kitchen Pest" ((glittered & bejeweled fly swatter)) counselor/CIT awards for the counselor who had to wash to most dishes & the one who was the biggest pest for snacks & goodies.  Good times, no sleep, came home exhausted!  Slept 16 hrs the first night home, battled a sore throat & then packed for Girls Camp.)

Met my husband's welcome-home-from-Jr. Grange Camp-you-awesome-wifey gift:
Rodney the Rooster!  (Isn't he stunning?)

Had an edifying week at Girls Camp.  (Camped at Camp Zarahemla, old-school-style, in tents---hallelujah!  Had squirrel visitors on a regular basis.  Even INTO the leaders tent.  One sat on my foot while I was writing in my journal!  I think he loved us for the peanut M&M's the YW Prez had stashed inside.  The theme was "Be of Good Courage."  Went on the 3rd year hike.  Crossed a fallen log just inches above a raging, glacial river!  It made me miss all my friends from Girls Camps of my past.  They were all on my mind: Rosie, Hauni, April, Jessica, Wendy, Ginger, and so many more!  I got to teach our FHE lesson on "You're Never Alone" based on how Heavenly Father's always with us in so many different ways & all because He's told us in D&C 18:10.  It was a privilege.  For our ward's skit, the girls put on "Zarahemla's Got Talent!"  Everyone of us participated in one way or another---one girl & I were security, clad in 70's-ish paper handlebar mustaches & aviator sunglasses.  Our "Paula"--the YW Prez--just about stole the show.  Leaders from then on were referring to her as "Sister Abdul."  Was awesome!  We even learned a bunch of stuff from the "Manly Men."  And the stake's skit was a blast as they "camped out" all sorts of Christmas songs.  By far, the cooks' synchronized swimming routine won us all over.  Made me want to make them all some gold medals!  Thoroughly enjoyed THE best youth fireside ever, where we experienced Lehi & Nephi's dream firsthand.  Felt like Heaven.  Even came away with my own fruit of the tree!)

Celebrated our nation's independence, welcomed a newly-minted teenager  into our lives, and witnessed a new meetinghouse's dedication.  (Happy belated 4th of July to all, and we're very excited about the completed & beautiful Parley Building.  As for the teenager, the jury's still out & my worry lines are already starting to mass produce!  Oh yeah, and this new teenaged Mini-Me got the perm she's been begging for.)

 

Spent a well-deserved week off just at home, "uncamping" my life.  (Did nothing noteworthy besides worked on the dog kennel, watched Farmer LKP & Mini-Me de-sagebrush some of the property & create a new driveway outlet to the property, avoided the world-except for volleyball, survived a sweltering week of extreme temps on the ranch, caught a minor league ballgame...oh, and prepped a RS lesson on the Atonement.)

Learning to rock the fresh-faced look, since it's too hot for make-up.  Also, fell in love with a miracle-in-a-tube.  (Neutrogena's got a special place in my heart for this one.  The skin around my eye area feels so soft, like a million bucks!  And that's a problematic area for my face normally.  Now if they can bottle sleep for me, I'd buy that too!)

Prepped and packed and got Mini-Me off for our ward's week-long YW camping trip to the Oregon coast.  Literally they're camping in tents only a couple hundred yards from the beach!  Matter of fact, I just about fell over when I read the packing list, it said: "personal flotation device if you plan on going deeper than your knees into the ocean"...What?! Who would want to do THAT?!  And on the Oregon coast no less?!   (I reacted that way since I'm petrified of being in the ocean---well, mostly I'm scared of what's in it that I can't see. Mini-Me just said, "Mom, not everyone's afraid of the ocean." My retort was, "well, they should be!")  Add to that list "wetsuit, otherwise it'll take 10 minutes until you're numb from the 50 degree water, at which point it won't matter if you have a wetsuit or not"...Again, what?!   Oy vey!  Well, I'm figuring, she might as well enjoy it.  I may be terrified, but she shouldn't be, I guess. 

So, that's how things have been back at the ranch...er, uh, well, or AWAY from the ranch & back again!  Hope you've all had a great few weeks.  Missed ya tons.  Am still trying to get caught up on reading about your lives.  If I haven't said hi yet, consider it done right here & right now!

And since the kid's away, the parents will play.  Off for a Monday night date night.  (Those NEVER happen!)  So, toodles!