Beautiful June

This year Curt and I were once again leaders on our stake's 4th year hike. It's our fourth 4th year hike together. We went to Naturalist Basin in the Uinta Mountains. We've been here before with our family and it was fun to go back to the same beautiful country. We packed approx. 6 miles in, set up camp, did a 5 mile loop the next day, then left on the third day.

 I wish my camera could capture depth better. This is so much steeper and dramatic than the picture shows.

This group of girls did really well. Only one had backpacked before, but no one complained. I did ask some of the girls on our second night if they would go backpacking again.
"No!" they all agreed.
"Okay," I said, "what if in the future a really cute boy said he was getting a group together to go backpacking and..."
 "Yes, yes, we would definitely go then!"
When you're fifteen, everything's better with boys.

I came home from the backpacking trip, slept in my bed for 3 nights, then went to girl's camp for the next four days. Here is the tent that Erin and her friend decorated as part of their YCL (Youth Camp Leader) duties. The thought of decorating a tent about sent Kevin into shock. Girl's camp is NOTHING like Scout camp.  He should have already realized this when he's heard us talk about the food and seen the crafts that have been brought home in years past.

The morning after camp, Curt, Camille, Rachel and I left for the Graf reunion in Pine Valley. Here are all the Garry Graf family that attended.

Here's a group of Sylva and Sylvan Graf's grandchildren.  Visiting with everyone and seeing relatives that we haven't seen in years was a lot of fun. Many more group pictures were taken and will be posted on a private Facebook page set up by one of the cousins.

A tour of the old Pine Valley chapel was a treat. I had been to church here a few times and didn't realize that it had been restored recently. This building is one of the oldest operating chapels in the church.

The next day we headed out to Bluff, Utah, by way of Monument Valley.

 Goosenecks State Park and the San Juan River. This country is rugged, desolate, and extremely beautiful.

Kevin's Graduation

Kevin graduated on June 5th. The cords are for Math, English, Science, and Honors.

We are grateful for his many good high school friends.

They must be on a slope. Kevin's friend on the end is not that much shorter than him. These three will be attending Utah State in the fall.

 Kevin wanted to eat some place that had a buffet and Tuscanos fit perfectly.

Next, on to Utah State and a mission!

Memorial Weekend

We had a fun, family-filled Memorial Weekend. Friday was Nicole's open house and Saturday was the wedding. It was a privilege to be in the temple to see this wonderful couple sealed together. The ceremony was tender and everyone was so happy.

 After Nicole and Jordan's wedding dinner, we didn't want the family togetherness to stop, so we saw the 10 o'clock Avengers movie with a group of family. After dreaming about Hulk smashing things all night, I taught YW the next day (where I told the Laurels all about the wedding and was able to use it as an example of the importance of temples). Then we had a birthday celebration for Nate and Alisha's 6 year-old Kylie that evening. I didn't break out the camera for that party. Instead I took pictures of our Mount Grandeur hike the next day. The beautiful weather inspired about half of the valley to head for the canyons, so it really was a "veritable freeway" on the trail.

 These cute cousins loved chasing lizards and even caught a baby one.

The weekend was capped off by a barbecue at Brian and Sharla's cabin. Good food and great family all weekend--summer's perfect beginning!