Boring Summer 'Never'!

Raising a fourteen year old girl, our Mariah, isn't a slow lifestyle,

we love it that way.

JUNE

Multi-Stake Luau Dance in Solvang

(Ventura Stake, Santa Barbara Stake, Santa Maria [us], and San Luis Stake)

Girls just can't help gathering in the bathroom for last minute touches. The boys just don't get it!

Now this is what boys do understand, FOOD

We have a tradition. Before a Stake dance our kids get together for dinner at our home.

Sleeping Beauty ballet with/SLOYS

The San Luis Obispo Youth Sympathy, SLOYS, played in the pit at Cal Poly University for a children's production of Sleeping Beauty. Mariah felt sorry for Sleeping Beauty she had to kiss the Prince [apparently he wasn't cute].

The music was fabulous! The ballet cute.

Camp Whitter in Santa Ynez

Young Women Camp was a blast!

Big change for me. For the last few years I have been attending camp as YW President with assignments and girls to watch over. Not this year. The Stake asked me to be the YW Camp Photographer. What a sweet job. I had the best of both worlds; I love camp & the girls without the responsibly. Can't wait for next year.

JULY

Youth Conference in Ventura
400 Strong

Leo chaperoned Youth Conference and took a lot of pictures.

The service project was amazing. The kids made thousands of stuffed turtles for the 'Painted Turtle' in Ventura. The Painted Turtle organizes summer camps for handicapped children.

Awesome dances on the beach

and at church

Plenty of cute boys!

EFY at BYU

Mariah and her friend Jason arrived at SLO airport at 5 am to leave for Salt Lake the Saturday before EFY started. Both kids were nervous flying and wouldn't fly by themselves. Mariah stayed with our good friends Roger and Bonnie Wilson in Provo.

Mariah loved her experience. She made lasting friends from all over the country, even California. Mariah said she felt the spirit all week while she attended classes and activities with other LDS teens.

Neither Jason or Mariah wanted to go home

Both kids can't wait for next summer

Timpanogos String Orchestra

This is Mariah's third year attending Timpanogos String Camp

Uncle Avard, Aunt Ruth, Mariah,

Sydni Dunn (one of my Laurels who is attending BYU), and Bonnie Wilson

Mariah, Syndi, and Roger Wilson

Last year when we visited Uncle Avard and Aunt Ruth; Mariah took her cello and played a few selected pieces for Uncle Avard. He had just came home from the hospital after having open heart surgery. This year we were excited to have them both attend Mariah's concert. It is amazing how good Uncle Avard looks a year later.

Salt Lake Temple

The spirit was strong at EFY and Mariah didn't want to go back to the 'real world'.

She wanted to go to Temple Square . . .

to pondering her very special week

-Vickie