Bingham Canyon Copper Mine

A few weeks ago, we took an afternoon and went to the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine (Kennecott). It was amazing to see the pit from inside. The visitors center is actually inside the pit.
The giant trucks that haul the rock look so tiny down in the mine, but this is a tire from the enormous trucks. It gives a little perspective on how big they really are.

This is just a loader filling the big dump truck. It was a lot closer to us than the rest of the trucks were. Down in the bottom corner, is also a line up of trucks waiting to get past on the blocked road.

They have binoculars that the kids can use to see all the mine a little closer.

And this is a truck full of rock to be refined. See those enormous tires?

I never knew what an amazing operation they had. I grew up less than 20 miles from the mine, and had never been there.

The Paris Ice Cave

On the weekend of the 24th of July, we tried to go up to Minnetonka Cave, but it was sold out by the time that we got there. So instead, we ended up at the Paris Ice Cave. This is a place that I got to rapell into a few years ago, and I really wanted to take the kids to.

When we got there, we saw several places that still had snow. This particular strip of snow is about 10 feet deep, and about 150 feet long. They had so much snow up there this last winter, that by the 24th, it still wasn't completely melted. This is looking down into the cave. It is a cave that has a hole from the top, as well as one from the side. It fills up with snow in the winter. There are parts of the cave that the snow and ice never melt off. Brian is sitting on a very large pile of snow inside the cave. This picture is looking down into the cave from the top. There were staff from another scout camp there rapelling. It scares me as much now as it did the time that I did it.

Unfortunately, because of some bad situations, we left camp two days after this. We loved our experience there, and were very sad to leave. I hope one day we have the opportunity to go back under different conditions. Bear Lake is a hard place to leave. It has such beautiful sun rises and sunsets, the lake is always a beautiful blue, and we will always miss it. But more than anything, we will miss the friends we made there. I will always be grateful to a few who were there for me when I needed a friend. They were true friends. I will also be eternally grateful to those who were such amazing examples to not only the kids, but to Brian and me. Many of the staff were mature beyond their years. They were happy, funny, spiritual, hard headed, tough, and loving. We miss them dearly. (But I may never miss the stupid songs from scout camp. The kids sing them daily, and know them all word for word by heart.!)

The 4th of July

On the 4th of July, we finally had some time to relax and play together with just our family. The kids wanted to kayak. I was sure that the boys were not going to be able to handle it. I was very wrong. They were all over the place, and as always, Les had to prove that he could get anywhere faster than the rest of us.
It was good to get away from camp and the stresses and frustrations, and to have time just for our family.

This is a look back at camp from the lake. When the storms rolled over the mountain, it was beautiful. We hurried to get out of the water, but it never rained.

At the end of the day, we went out on the dock to watch fireworks. Unfortunately, there were none that we could see really well, but it was still fun to watch all of the fireworks all around the lake.

Retiring Our Flag

Every Friday night at camp, as Scouts, we had the opportunity to properly retire the flag of our great country. Brian, Amber, Les and I all had the opportunity to directly participate in the retiring of the flag. Brian and I both had the honor of calling the ceremony, and Amber, Les, and I all helped in retiring the flags.
This is the ceremony that Brian called and Les participated in. Brian is in the top right corner, and you can just see Les to the left of Brian holding the flag with his head bowed.

After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag for the final time, it is refolded and prepared for the retiring.

Paying final respects to the flag.

This is the ceremony that I had the privilege to call.

The retiring of our great flag is a humbling ceremony. It quite often brought tears to my eyes. We are so blessed. I am grateful to have had that opportunity at camp. I am also truly grateful that my family had the opportunity to participate so many times, and hope they felt the respect for our country and those who have sacrificed and who are currently fighting for our freedoms.

Kids & Scout Camp

The kids loved camp. They took the opportunity to try or help with almost everything. The first week, Amber sat in on the sailing class, and picked up sailing immediately. From there on out, she helped to teach the class, and when needed, she worked with the scouts one on one to help them figure it out. Les and Zak loved the geocaching class, as well as the wood carving class. They also spent a lot of timeout on the lake.

Zak spent an entire day one day digging a big hole in the sand, and filling it with water. Then he would empty out all the water and dig more in the sand. He had a great time, and loved that lots of people stopped to help him!
You know that a little boy is in heaven when he can leave footprints like this wherever he goes!
One night, when we were doing "staff bonding time," two of the boys picked Zak right up to include him. As a mom, I loved that these were two of the boys that my boys looked up to. The staff at camp was amazing with my kids. They were great examples to both the kids and to Brian and me.

Amber had the opportunity several times to participate in Honor Trail. She was trusted with a lot of responsibilities, and she stepped up to all of them. I received many comments from staff and Scout leaders about all of my kids maturity and knowledge.

Another picture from Honor Trail.

Sunrise

The only thing good about waking up at 5:00 every morning all summer long is to see the beautiful sunrise over Bear Lake.

Staff Week at Camp Hunt

We spent most of this summer working at the Boy Scouts camp, Camp Hunt. The first week that we were there was just staff. We were there to get camp set up and ready for the scouts.

The water was too cold to play in, but the kids found plenty to do. On the first day, the kids made bows and arrows. I was impressed. They did a really good job.
They also found animals to play with. There were plenty of snakes around camp, and there was also a cat that had its kittens in the wood pile. The kids checked on them every day!

This is my staff. These girls were amazing. They worked hard and made the kitchen fun!

Rachel, Rebecca, and Michaela

It was also Tuesday of this week that Les got stitches in his finger.

Happy Birthday to My Little Man

So I'm a little behind on my blog right now, but I am still trying to catch up from the summer in so many ways. Hopefully, I will be up to date in the next 2 weeks. But for today, I have to wish my little man a very happy birthday.
It has been 7 years since this little man came into my life. He is an amazing kid. He is smart, funny, witty, comical, spiritual, entertaining, and tender hearted just to name just a few of his characteristics. I love to snuggle up with him and let him read to me. He is very good at creating or just being creative and silly. I love you buddy.

Stitches

Just 4 stitches, but one proud boy! He has waited 9 years for this day to arrive. Both Amber and Zak have had the opportunity for stitches, but even with all the effort a little boy gives it, it took Les 9 years!

After the stitches were removed.

Les also felt very tough that the camp medic took out his stitches instead of the Doc. It must take more courage to have a friend do it and not the doctor.

Camp Life

There's not a lot of time for pictures, but here is my Camp ID picture! I was one of the lucky few who got to do my hair and put on make-up before I got my pic taken!
And there is one amazing benefit of having to be up at 5:00 every morning....The sunrise is BEAUTIFUL! Both of these pictures are from this morning.

I hope all my friends are having an amazing summer! See you all soon!

Pictures of the stitches in Les's finger to come soon!

Camp Hunt

We are having an amazing time here at Camp Hunt. One week down, a few more to go. I wake up at 5:00 AM, and fall into bed exhausted after midnight. I'll try to update on the weekend. Miss you all.

Day 2

Day 2 of camp, and we officially have our first stitches of the summer! I knew this was the year!

Les was working very hard, and sliced his finger with his pocketknife this morning. There are 4 stitches in his right index finger! He is very proud to finally have that accomplishment under his belt!

Pictures to come!

Pulling Teeth

clear back last June, Zak had to have his two top teeth pulled. The permanent teeth didn't push out or losen the baby teeth. The dentist let him do it himself! He thought that was very cool, and he was very brave.

Last Day of School

The kids all had amazing teachers this year, and they were all sad for the year to end.

Les with his 3rd grade teacher!I have never had a kid cry when the school year was over, but on the last day, Zak had a rough day. He is really going to miss his teacher, his friends, and filling his brain with knowledge.

Zak with his 1st grade teacher. Amber with one of her best friends, Emily.
Amber with a few of her best friends.

Zak, Amber, & Les on the last day of school.

And Amber with her teacher and another of her best friends, Sarah!

I can't believe that Amber is going to Jr. High next year. She is going to accomplish amazing things. She is also turning into a very beautiful young lady.

What am I going to do?!

1st Grade Awards

At the 1st grade awards assembly, Zak received the Scholar of the Year Award.
He takes his school work very seriously. He is very sad that the year had to end. He really will miss learning every day. He is one smart kid.

At our house, we refer to this as the "Smarty Pants" award!

Les also received the fastest runner award in the 3rd grade. They didn't do an assembly, so I didn't get pictures of him.

6th Grade Awards & Graduation

The 6th graders at our school are a great bunch of kids. You simply couldn't ask for a better future than what these kids have to offer. the 6th grade class is about 100 kids.

At the awards assembly, Amber received the Hope of America award! She deserves it. She is an amazing girl and a good example to me.

(They didn't tell me I had to be in a picture and I came from working in the house and garden all morning in my nasty clothes and hair not done, but look how beautiful Amber is!)
Amber also received the Presidential Academic Award and the National Fitness Award.

She has one proud Mama!

More SG Tri pics

Here are just a few thumbnail size pictures from the race. It really is beautiful country that they race in.

St. George Triathlon

In May every year, Brian does the St. George Triathlon. This year they had a kid race too, so Amber raced also.

They camped the night before at Sand Hollow.

Amber's race was first. Swim.

Bike.

Run.
Amber took 2nd place in her race category. But because of some confusion, another girl took off with her award. We are waiting for a new one to arrive in the mail.

She finished just in time for Brian to race.

He took 5th in his race category. He was very happy with his results. He always wishes he had time to train more, but reality doesn't let him. Not too bad considering all.

And since me and the boys had to stay home to finish the soccer season, Brian and Amber got to have some Daddy/Daughter time. I think that they both enjoyed that.