Well, summer is over and it was a BUSY summer, with lots of comings and goings!
Jerika & Tori each enjoyed a week at EFY. Especially For Youth is a week long camp hosted by our church at various universities around the country. It gives the kids a taste of college & dorm life in an atmosphere with BYU standards. For the activities, besides dances, they have lots of confidence and team building classes and workshops. Tori went to NAU in Flagstaff with a friend and Jerika attended out of state for the first time at the BYU-Provo, UT, campus. Jerika had quite the adventure with her group of friends ... after her week at EFY they drove up to BYU-Idaho and toured the campus there and visited Yellowstone Park, among other things. On their return trip to AZ, they stopped at BYU-Provo again for a guided tour of the campus. Jerika had a GREAT experience and is gearing up to fill out college applications this fall.
Gideon & Tori playing cards, "Ol' West" style with their IBC root beers.
What goofy kids!
Kyler went to Scout Camp for the first time this year.
Jerry went too.
Kyler, working on the Rifle Shooting merit badge.
Jerika received
Stratego for her birthday -- Watch out world!
Jerry's family likes to have campout reunions. This summer we met up at Fish Lake in central Utah. Our kids loved playing with their cousins.
Jerry & his brother Ken.
The kids enjoyed playing cards together - Nathan, Jerika, Kresten, Kyler & Sara.
Gideon with Grandma Vickie.
The cousins played the card game "President-Scum" more than any other game!
Jerika, Ketton, Tori, Kyler, 2nd cousin Joelle (Samantha's baby), Nathan & Gideon.
Tori took this shot of me. She enjoys photography.
A windy walk around Fish Lake! Don't get blown away!
Mitchell, Jerika, Kyler, Tori, Uncle Ken, Gideon, Nathan & Jerry.
Jerika, Mitchell, Nathan, Kyler & Gideon boating on Fish Lake.
Jerry was the pilot. (I'm the historian :)
Jerika, Tori, Mitchell, Nathan, Kyler & Gideon working on the fort at Fish Lake, UT.
We spent the 4th of July in Pleasant Grove, UT and toured Timpanogas Caves with Wittern cousins. Cousin Amanda is a ranger there.
Jerry & I visited my Uncle Jim & Aunt Linda Hartley in Murray, UT. Jim is my dad's youngest brother. I hadn't seen them in years and it was a great visit.
This year I was asked to be our ward's Girls Camp Director. I enjoyed working with the girls and helping them prepare for our Stake Girls Camp. It was my first time attending camp since I was a teenager and I loved that I got to see Jerika & Tori there. It was Tori's 4th year at camp this summer so she participated in the High Adventure trip - overnight backpacking, canoeing, and repelling! Tori's high adventure group joined us at main camp on the 3rd day. This year Jerika was a Youth Camp Leader at Girls Camp and worked on certification with the 1st Year girls. Below is Jerika with 2 of her YCL friends. I was a cabin mom for the 1st Year girls from our ward. I loved that I got to see Jerika on our 1st Year hike!
Jerika with some of the girls from our ward on the 1st Year hike.
Our "last hurrah" of summer was our ward campout, so needless to say, we got our fair share of camping in this summer between Boy Scout Camp, Girls Camp, Family Reunion Camp and well, the Ward Family Campout.
In fact, we are the Camping Maniacs, and we are, officially, camped-out!
Gideon, on the 1st day of 2nd grade!
Kyler decided to be artistic with the back lawn and "carved" a smiley face.
Happy 15th birthday Tori!! 
Aunt Stephie with newest niece, Baby Nora Hartley! So cute and kissable!
Happy birthday Jerry! 
Kyler received his 2nd Class Scout rank and pins his mother.
