Summer Fun

When the school year winds to a close I always get so excited for the relaxed schedule of summer.  There's time to play and have lots of fun.  We bought a season pass to Seven Peaks and Trafalga, and even though we only made it there twice, we had a great time.  Here are some pictures of our first trip there in July.

Chris missed out on this trip because he worked all summer at Island Park Scout Camp.  He had a great time and earned some money for school, but he was sad to miss swimming.  We promised him we would go again after his work ended.

In August, Maren decided to enter things in the fair again this year, even though we only remembered about it the night before entries were due.   She made whole wheat bread, pumpkin bread, and gingersnaps and entered a quilted bag she sewed and a few items in antiques and photography.  She was a good sister and also picked out some books and antiques to enter for Emma since she was visiting cousins in Boise, and she surprised her later with a couple of blue and red ribbons and prize money.  Emma thought that was pretty great!   

Maren's entries did terrific!  For the set of New York Times magazines from 1935, she got the rosette for best overall book entry!  She has reminded me repeatedly that she wants to inherit it someday, so she was really proud.

We also talked Layla into entering items at the fair, and she was glad she did!  Layla's corn won the rosette for best vegetable in her age group. Her grandpa was so proud of it since it was grown in his garden with a little of her help.  He offered to pay her $15 in exchange for the rosette, and she thought that was a great deal!  She also won blue ribbons for herbs and a red ribbon for snickerdoodles.  She was feeling quite rich when she added up her winnings.

Each of Maren's baked goods got the blue ribbon for her age group, 15-18, and her gingersnap cookies took the rosette for best cookies overall!  We sent some of her cookies to Trevor and Megan in Afghanistan in a care package, so we hoped they appreciated getting the official best cookies!  Maren was really excited to do so well, especially since she is saving every dollar so she can go to EFY in Provo next year. 

At the end of the summer we helped Katherine move in to her dorm at BYU and then went to Trafalga and Seven Peaks in Provo.  Maren was excited to see what the dorm rooms were like since she wants to be there in a few years.

 We had a great time riding go-carts and playing miniature golf, although none of us were particularly good!

Even in go-carts people drive the way you expect they would.  Megan was a crazy terror and Maren was careful and cautious.  The boys were all somewhere in the middle.  Becky and Dave have decided that Megan will have to wait a few more years before they let her take driver's training.  Boise's streets are just not ready for her, yet.

After playing at Trafalga we headed over to Seven Peaks and spent the rest of the day swimming.  Great day!

Mindy's the one in red.  Anna is the one with the attitude and goofy expression!

To top off our fun day, as I was leaving to bring my car up front, I passed a cute, petite, blonde and thought, "That looks like Mindy Gledhill!"  She is one of our favorite singers, and we saw her in concert last December at the Performing Arts Center and then met her after the show.  When I came back with the van to load the kids up, Emma started shouting, "You're never going to guess who we just saw!"  I said, "Hmmm. Let me guess. Was it Mindy Gledhill?"  Becky had noticed her, too, and with her quick thinking, arranged a group photo that included an unknowing Mindy!  Thanks for photobombing our family picture, Mindy!  We love your music!