Camp Evergreen

Noah spent his first week away from home without mom and dad at Camp Evergreen with his scout troop. He had an AWESOME time and earned quite a few merit badges. He also has told us about a competition the camp had. His team elected him to lash together several poles to make a raft, then other scouts had to row the raft across the lake. Noah's raft was the only one that didn't come apart! I want him to tie all of my knots for me...especially if I am climbing a mountain.

Anderson Family Reunion

Every 2 years we get together as the Volney Blaine and Amanda Sylvia Cannon Anderson Decendants. This year it was my cousin Melica's turn to be in charge and it was a Luau theme at the church property up by Heber. We had tropical drinks and Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner along with yummy desserts that people brought. The wildlife was all around and comfortable with us invading their space. There were quite a few games as well. Aunt Ede helped to finish off the pinata, Elijah did the hula and participated in the talent competition (first volunteer)- he wiggled his nose, Uncle Jerry, Uncle Doug and Dad did the Limbo. Dad got up and told some jokes. I asked Aunt Ede if he was always this entertaining when they were growing up- She said he was just annoying. (ha ha) The best part is just being able to visit with people that we don't get to see very often...like Jef and his beard he is growing because he is going to be in a church movie, Kevin and his aspirations to visit those last few states in our nation, Loni and her bunch of kids all wanting to do different things (how does she keep track of it all?) and many more. Glad we got to visit with so many, but wished that more could have been there.

Senior Pictures

It all seems like a blur- a dream...my little girl grew up and is now going to be a senior in high school. When did this happen? Where was I when all of this was happening?

I took her to get her yearbook pictures taken. Funny, I can remember going to get my yearbook pictures taken for my senior year- was it that long ago?

She is going to have an AMAZING year!

Scout Camp- First time ever!

Elijah had been waiting for this for YEARS as he has watched his brothers go and heard their stories as they returned from scout camp...now it was finally his turn. He had an AMAZING time, but did come home with a black eye the second day- he had a fight with a rope, and the rope won.

Noah was busy doing his own scout stuff. He has set himself a goal to get ALL of the merit badges that are offered- a pretty lofty and somewhat difficult goal, but realistic if he works hard and sticks with it. He was working on the Textiles Merit Badge and I took him to tour a factory.

He also figured out how to make a loom for weaving.

Girls Camp- What an Adventure!

Just one day after our family vacation, Valesca and I went off to Girl's Camp at Camp Browning up by Morgan, Utah. This was a different experience for our Young Women as it was a High Adventure camp. Valesca was sooooooooo excited! She did rock climbing, repelling, canoeing, shooting, COPES course and more.

It was great to see the girls as they set goals to accomplish these scary tasks, and then met their goals!

I stayed at camp for the first 2 days and then left since I had been away from home for over 2 weeks straight and I had home and family to take care of.

I can't believe the courage that Valesca showed to be able to do all of these things!

I am so blessed to be her mother and have her a part of our family!

Family Vacation Part 9

After the festivities of Canada Day, we awoke to a beautiful day. We drove to Stanley Park and took a hike around.
It was a lovely place with gardens, trails, an aquarium and some people who had set up their art to sell.

After our morning at StanleyPark, we drove to Granville Island to have an adventure at the market. We even got wet at the mini water park there.

In the evening we drove to the Vancouver Temple.

We snapped our pictures, and I started not feeling so hot.

That evening I spent in the hotel bathroom. (SAD) I wasn't so sure if I could make it to church the next morning or if I could manage the drive across all of Washington that day, but I made it. We enjoyed church and listening to all of the different accents the people had as they bore testimony. It was a wonderful end to our trip.

Family Vacation Part 8- Canada!

O Canada...

We have finally made it to the border, and they actually let us in.

We thought it may be a little tempting to drive 100 mph, but we did ok- a little confusing at times if you weren' t concentrating. One of the first things we stopped to see was a steam clock- every 15 minutes it chimed and released steam- very interesting.
We were on the lookout for a real live Canadian Mountie, but this was as close as we got.
We actually arrived in Canada on Canada Day, and we watched their big parade that evening.

We made ourselves comfortable for fireworks over the water. (This is where our car was parked.) The view was not spectacular, but it was good. By the time the fireworks started, there were probably over 1000 people standing next to us and on our car. It took a good 30-45 minutes to get out of the parking lot that probably only held about 25 cars.

Not an amazing picture, but the camera that takes good fireworks pictures was in our hotel room. Anyway, the sky, and Canada Place, was lit up by "the bombs bursting in air". I had to giggle at the reaction of most of those 1000 people sharing our vantage point...they said "ohhh" and "ahhh" at the strangest times, but the applause was touching.

Family Vacation Part 7

We had a great day at Wild Waves!

Family Vacation Part 6

Spent the afternoon at the Aquarium.

Saw some beautiful fish.

Watched them feed the octopus= very interesting.

Touched some starfish. Watched the otters, seals and puffins.

Family Vacation Part 5

We took a harbor tour for a few hours.

It was nice to see the Space Needle from a different angle.

Family Vacation Part 4

We spent a while at the Pikes Place Market- a maze of enclosed and open stores and farmer's market that extended for blocks and several levels.

We wandered and had some fresh fruit and bread for dinner.

Then we visited one of the most disgusting destinations in Seattle- The Gum Wall.

People stick their gum to this area in an alley off of the market place. I got up closer that most of the people there. Actually, it was quite colorful.