The Bats

 This blog post will tell you how far behind I am because back in Spring Jackson played his first season of T-ball. Jackson's team was the Bats and all the kids on his team were from our neighborhood. What a fun season it was! He will probably hate me one day for the picture above because his hair was so long that he looks like the 3rd girl on the team. (Just so he remembers, this picture was taken right before he decided he wanted to cut all of his hair off. When I made the appointment, Hollie was booked 3 weeks out and Jackson was already desperately needed a cut, so the extra 3 weeks of growth and team pictures equals this... Sorry buddy!) With the age of these kiddos they still don't keep score but they do rotate out field and in field. I thought soccer was fun to watch, but I changed my mind after T-Ball. Man can Jackson hit the ball! It was so fun to see him smack it over the coaches head in the outfield. When it was time to be in the outfield, Jackson seemed to always go to 1st base while the other kids gathered on the pitchers mound to fight for the ball. It was hilarious for us parents to watch the huddle tumble over each other just to be the one to throw it to first base. Jackson's teamed played twice a week and I always looked forward to our family outings to watch Jackson play. Andersen is already a good supporter of his brother and loved cheering Jackson on.

 A few weeks later his season was over unfortunately, and our cute team Mom Caryn and Coach Russ planned an after party to receive awards, team picture and trophies.

 Once again, Andersen is totally happy being dragged to Jackson's stuff as long as he gets treats! Good job this season Jackson...Can't wait for more games!

Miss Kim Swim School

 Jackson just finished up his week of swim lessons with Miss Kim! Last year we got lucky to find her through a friend and I am so happy we did her class again this year because Jackson loved every second of it. This year Jackson was refreshed on chicken, airplane, solider (which he stills needs some practice), blowing out his bubbles, and his favorite- jumping into the pool. Some of the new things he learned was holding his breath under the water, diving for a ring on the bottom of the pool, floating on his back and then rolling over to swim, some arrow swim (I missed this day because of work) and many more. Jackson loved playing ring around the rosies in the pool and the fact that he had to have goggles this year! It was a little different having Andersen be able to run around and play unlike last year. Good thing Parker and him are good buddies though because they spent most of the time playing cars- not even caring about their brothers swim lessons, while us moms enjoyed the hour to visit and watch the little guppies be silly and give Miss Kim a hard time!

Our CRUISE {Girls Camp}

 Last week was our girls camp. Thanks to our awesome neighbors, we got to use the Knotwell's family cabin rather than tents this year. We departed Wednesday August 10th and made the short drive up Provo Canyon. We were greeted by our YCL's as we boarded our cruise ship, "Harmony of the Seas". We spent the day getting settled in and getting certifications out of the way.

Later that night we did a little Karaoke,

 followed by a pirate attack!

 Day 2, we spent most of the day on our hike to Stewart Falls.

The hike is about 4 miles round trip. We hiked to the waterfalls, ate our lunches,

 and then it was time for our ducky derby! All the girls, leaders and priesthood had a ducky to race. We divided into 2 teams of 10 for the top 5 from each group. Round 2 was the top 10 racing for the top 5. Round 3 was the top 3 battling for 1st place. Way to go Lindsey... she had the winning ducky!

Then is was time for my favorite part! In my opinion you don't hike all the way to a waterfall and not play in it. So me and Amanda and a couple girls made it into the FREEZING cold shower under the falls. We kept going in and out of the waterfall but it was SO cold you could only stand under the water for a few seconds before you would get a brain freeze from the water. It definitely was refreshing though after the hot hike there, plus my wet clothes on the hike back kept me cool all the way back to the car.

We spent the rest of the afternoon rotating through the shower and eating dinner. To close the night we split into groups for skits and later enjoyed our midnight buffet.

Day 3 was my birthday and man was a treated like the birthday girl all day long!! With us staying up late the night before we let everyone sleep in and take it easy all morning. That afternoon we spent time making blankets for a service project for leukemia patients on their "new birth days". Amanda shared a great story about her brothers battle and how she has cherished her brother's blanket he received on his "birthday". Later that night was our Luau with the Bishopric and their wives. We started the party with Hawaiian hay stacks for dinner followed by some games.

 We had a pinata,

a limbo stick,

 and a hula hoop contest!

Then it was time for some birthday cake!

 And it just wouldn't be camp without a little prank. Lizzie was such a good sport and so willing to act out the leaders evil requests of smothering Robbie in cake.  Good thing Robbie was a good sport as well, because that could have turned ugly, but instead it was tons of laughs for all. Of course the night ended with a campfire, S'mores, songs, and testimonies.

 Saturday morning we were up and out of there first thing. We packed up, cleaned out and headed home. A huge thanks to all our Priesthood leaders that joined in on all the fun. I don't think they realized how much fun girls camp really is! Hopefully we won't have any problems recruiting help next year after we show fellow prospects what their responsibilities really are.

I have always loved girls camp as a youth but as a leader it just gets better. I laughed so hard over these 4 days and that's due to these amazing and fun ladies I get to serve with! Thanks for all the fun pranks, hilarious inside jokes, and the life long memories and friendships that are created by sleeping in such close quarters for a few days in a row.  Love you girls!!

And I love these girls too! Man did we have WAY more drama than ever before, but when looking back on the 4 days its hard not to smile and laugh at all the fun times we had despite the lingering damage control. These girls are the reason I do what I do. They make my calling so much fun and worth every sacrifice and I am so grateful I get to serve them because they teach me more than I could ever teach them!

Bring on Camp 2012... I already can't wait!

Youth Conference {Our Book of Mormon Journey}

Where do I even begin with explaining our Youth Conference experience this year! I don't even know if there are words to describe it, but hopefully through a good summary I will be able to remember and hold on to the feelings that were had over these few days at camp. This years theme was "Our Book of Mormon Journey: A Generation of Promise". As a stake they challenged all youth and leaders to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover, knowing at Youth Conference they would be seeing a handful of these scripture stories come to life through mini-skit productions and activities. We started on Monday July 25th meeting at "Jerusalem" {Stake Center} where we got to see our Stake President act out the scene of Lehi prophesying of the destruction of Jerusalem and commanding that those living there should leave behind all belongings and journey in the wilderness with his family. That is when we packed up into our cars as a "Tribe" and journeyed to our stake property, Beaver Ridge right by Park City. Once we were settled and camp was set up we watched another skit about Nephi and his brothers as the were trying to collect the brass plates from Laban. After that was over we made it back to our camp to find a "Liahona". This Liahona was our guide on where to go and what activity we were doing later that afternoon. The youth spent a few hours rotating through many team building activities.

 Later that night our Tribal Leader {Bishop Jenkins} talked to the youth about the Title of Liberty and how important this was to Captain Moroni. After Bishop was done talking to our family, the youth got to decorate their own Title of Liberty for our tribe. Being the Legacy Ranch Ward, our YCL's gave us the tribe name of the Ranchites!

To finish the first night off, we had dinner and then one more combined activity learning about the Iron Rod and Lehi/Nephi's vision of the Tree of Life. The Stake leaders built this incredibly long path out of sprinkler pipe for the youth to hold to as if they were actually holding onto a rod. To add to the effects of people taunting them to let go of the rod on their way to the tree of life, they were blindfolded and the rain showed no signs of stopping. Our youth were covered in garbage sacks but that still didn't prevent them from getting soaked. After all families had made it along the Iron Rod and made their way to the Tree of Life, we met back at the pavilion for some closing thoughts from Brother Sorenson. I will always remember his words he shared because he made those few chapters come to life for me. I won't be able to read those pages again without remembering his thoughts on Nephi's vision and teaching us to take notice of the many times when Heavenly Father tells us to "Look" at different points in our lives.

Day 2, our Liahona directed us to more activities and skits. Some of the rotations consisted of Helaman and the stripling warriors, King Noah, his wicked priests and Abinadi, Ammon and his sheep, and one of my favorite skits with Korihor, the anti-Christ. After lunch, it was free time for the youth and it was time for me to go pick up Nate in Park City so he was up at camp in time for his skits. As soon as he got there Nate needed to do dress rehersals, so I went back with my Tribe as we were called on "missions" to share and receive messages from other families at camp. Funny story that happened during this was when we were visited by another family and they taught us about unity. After their spiritual thought they had us play the human knot game. Well my side of the knot was untangled rather quickly, so as we were all holding hands in a semi-circle waiting for the rest of the knot a conversation was had with a teenage boy next to me. We talked a lot about where he went to school and what his school goals were when he decided to turn the conversation to me. He then proceeded to ask, "so do you go to Herriman High??". I had no clue what to say, but the first things that came to my mind were "oh, you sweet thing, I am married and have 2 kids". The look on his face was priceless! Good thing the knot was almost untied because he was ready to run back to his camp as fast as he could if it wouldn't have been too noticeable.

Later that night it was one of the 2 scenes Nate was in. Nate played a Gadianton Robber during Samuel the Lamanite scene. This also was the beginning or setting up of the scene to come in the morning as camp was coming to a close.

That night the prophesied destruction, thundering, and darkness were acted out and, as youth and leaders, we were told to go back to our camps and wait out the darkness. During our Tribe/family time we talked about 3 Nephi 11 preparing them for the next morning. Our youth were awesome! We had some good conversations around the campfire and then went to bed.

The morning of our last day we were gathered by "believers" telling us to come with them because the darkness had lifted and more prophecies were being fulfilled. This skit was by far the highlight of our Youth Conference and I am lucky to be married to the lead role. Nate got asked to play the role of the Savior a few months before so as a family it was extra special to prepare for this moment. The skit consisted of the story of Christ visiting the Nephites in the Americas during 3 Nephi 11. What an indescribable feeling as Nate appeared to the youth and gradually descended down the mountain side. I still get chills just remembering that moment. I know the youth were overcome with the spirit that was felt during this scene.

 It was hard to hold back the tears wondering what it might be like to actually meet the Savior face to face and have him bless you and your little ones.

After this scene, Mormon asked the youth to write and share those things that they know to be true on their very own brass plates just like prophets of old. And to finish the conference Moroni gathered the plates and buried them in a rock to be restored later to the Prophet Joseph Smith {This happened during our fireside a few weeks after we got back from Youth Conference}

This Youth Conference was by far my favorite activity I have ever done as a leader or youth! and I was even more grateful I got to be there with Nate for one of the days. The 7 weeks of  watching him grow out his beard and hair was totally worth it after a moment like that. This was just the beginning of many more youth activities I am sure we will be doing together, but it gets me so excited for what is next. I am sad my beehives missed this experience because I know that this experience strengthened the testimonies of the youth that were able to come more than us leaders realize. We had such a fun family/tribe and this was definitely one campout I didn't ever want to leave! Thanks to all those Stake Leaders who sacrificed so much time for all this to be put together. Every aspect to this activity was executed to perfection!

My {27th} Birthday!

This past Friday while at Girls Camp, I celebrated my birthday. When we were planning camp and deciding what days to do it, the only weekend that was logical and would work for everyone's schedules was the week over my birthday. I figured, why not? It will be a fun and different birthday experience, plus if I am not with my family the 2nd best people to celebrate with are all these fun YW girls and leaders. With all of us staying up late every night at camp, I started my birthday off right with a "Happy Birthday" song at midnight from all the girls and leaders. That morning I was swarmed with birthday accessories including the sash and tiara, and a cute book filled with sweet nothings from everyone. As the drama intensified I started questioning my willingness to celebrate my birthday at camp. It was quickly turning into the worst birthday EVER. I was at my peak of emotions when I got a surprise visit from Nate! I was shocked and I think I probably held on to him and cried for a good 5-10 minutes just SO happy he was there. Instantly everything was better and I was ready to party with our Bishopric for our Luau on the last night of camp. Later that night, thanks to Alli and Amanda {Camp Directors}, we had cake and ice cream in honor of my birthday. Despite all the drama from camp, it was a day that will definitely be remembered for years to come. Thanks to all {Tina & Paul for watching the boys over night so Nate could come and all the leaders for initiating the surprise and inviting him to come!} that made my birthday unforgettable this year.

Mrs. Kofoed! {8.6.2011}

I am probably 2 months behind on summer updates, but this tops the list on favorite summer highlights so it is worthy of skipping ahead. 6 years ago Amanda was celebrating my big day with me and Nate and over the weekend it was our turn to celebrate hers!

Amanda and I have been friends since 10th grade. I didn't know her too well until we sat next to each other in Spanish class {Senior Lago? AKA Gummy Bear... remember him Mandy?} All these years later and all the different paths our lives have taken us we have managed to stay good friends even though we've been miles apart forever it seems like! 

With Amanda living in Texas the past few years she chose to forgo the tradition wedding reception and focused on the Sealing and luncheon with close family and friends. We started the day down at the Salt Lake Temple for her 9am sealing.

Nate and I were glad we got to be apart of it all. I don't think I have ever seen a prettier bride walk through those Temple doors. Amanda looked BEAUTIFUL and her dress was amazing!

We stayed around the Temple grounds for a couple hours doing pictures until it was time for the luncheon.

The luncheon was at Heritage Gardens where more friends and family joined to celebrate. We spent a couple hours eating, laughing and enjoying the excitement of the newlyweds

 And before you knew it the happy couple were on their way... that is once they made their way through the thick fog of bird seed being thrown at them.

 I don't think I have ever seen Amanda this happy!! I absolutely love it and its icing on the cake that Tyler is just as great as she is.

 These two are perfect for each other! I remember a specific phone call Amanda and I had months ago. We hadn't talked in a couple weeks so I was checking up to make sure everything was ok and just in her simple hello I could see the huge grin going from ear to ear telling me there was someone special in her life and she was in love! Watching her heart be broken time after time I was so happy for her that she had finally found someone that she deserves. Everything was history from there because it was obvious what the future would hold for the two of them.

Everything about Amanda's wedding was BEAUTIFUL including her! I am so grateful for Amanda's friendship. She has been such a great friend to have all these years. Who knows where our paths will continue to go as our families change and grow but I know our friendship will always be there no matter where we live! Love you Mandy!