Busy, busy, busy...

Camilla played her last volleyball game as a senior. A bitter-sweet year for her and her teammates.

Where do I start. Camilla was Homecoming Queen. Here she is on orange and black day with king Spencer Jones. Volleyball is over. Camilla's team earned Regional and State championship titles. We were able to go to both championship games. It was fun to be there, and very stressful too.

CJ's funeral

CJ was the youngest son, of the youngest son in the Jones' family. He has a lovely wife, Amber and hasn't been married long. He was in Ellie's class at school. We got to the church straight from Billings at 2:20pm. The funeral was to start at 4PM. I put our children and the nieces and nephews to work. Setting up chairs in the Relief Society room for the viewing and the over flow, and tables and chairs for the dinner. We finished at 3:45. The funeral was very nice. Mr. Peter Davidson gave the sermon. He was CJ's science teacher, and encouraged him in chemistry. It was nice to see Craig's, Uncle Fred's family. It has been a long time. CJ was laid to rest in Otto Cemetary, close to his father. During the family and friends dinner, a slide show was shown. Because CJ was the youngest of 11 children, the older children didn't know much about his life and the slide show helped. School friends also inserted fun stories about CJ (Danny Brunko, Don McNiven, and a college roommate Igor from Russia). It was a nice evening of visiting, but we picked Halli and Camden up from Mom's around 9pm. A very long day indeed.

Last Saturday of August

This was a crazy weekend. Friday was tournament for Camilla and Brinna in Byron and Lovell, WY. Adam, Connor, Stevie and Halli started piano lessons again after the summer break. That required a trip to Basin. Craig took Adam to Greybull first to get his new glasses and then brought him to lessons. Then the three had sports practice in Burlington at 3PM, so Craig rushed them to Burlington. Then he and his mom went to see the games. I stayed home to get ready for Saturday. First I went to the church to take up paper cups and silverware for the funeral the following afternoon. I was told the supply was OUT, and the lady that is responcible for the supply has moved. ( I got to the church in a round about way, as the highway is having a chip seal applied.) Got there, and there was enough, it had just been moved. Took Halli and Camden to my mom's to spend the night. I visited with mom some and went home. Craig and the girls got home around 10:30 pm and we had to get up at 4:20 AM. We got up and got ready to go to Billings for the youth temple baptisms. We needed to be in Billings at 7:30AM. Our 15 passenger van (the bus) was having battery problems. So I helped Craig jump the battery. Then we were on to pick up the Jones and Call nieces and nephews. When we got to Bridger, MT we stopped and turned of the bus. When we piled back in to head on down the road, it wouldn't start. So, I asked a nice gentleman if he would give us a jump start. (So glad we brought the jumper cables with us!) We got to the temple in a round about was as they are doing considerable construction on the Shilo road to the temple. We arrived at 7:50AM. We made it! Adam, Connor and nephew Bridger had their first experience at youth temple baptisms. They were very awed and had a tremendous experience. After the temple, we again had to be jumped in the parking lot, so we headed to Sears to get a new battery. When is says Express Battery Service (they lie) it isn't what it says. After 9 teenages tried out all the exercise equipment, touched all the cameras and tech stuff on display, oooed and awwed over the lawn and garden, and sat in every chair on display, I was embarrassed! We got our battery and went to Golden Corral, because Bridger had never been and had heard soooo much about it. Then we flew home for a funeral for Craig's cousin, CJ Ray Bigler Jones.

Back to School

School has begun. Last Wednesday was the first day. Tuesday night Craig gave the children each a father's blessing. Camden was determined to be first! So, the children took their turn youngest to oldest. I can't believe we have a Senior. Our first. And my baby is in Kindergarten, and sooooo excited! Camden gets to ride the bus to school, and home, eat lunch at school, and gets 3 recesses! He has snack time and library too. It can't get much better than that. Halli is 3rd grade and is required to have and use a planner. She thinks that is pretty neat. Her class got to create their own classroom rules which she thought was cool. Adam and Connor are 7th graders and in junior high. Football started the first day and they love it. Stevie was glad to see her friends but not the early morning thing. After a summer of anywhere from 8:30-noon, 6:30 is VERY early for her. (The noon thing was on Mondays when I had to be at work and wasn't here to MAKE her get up). Brinna and Camilla rode the bus the first day of school, as there wasn't seminary. Camilla was very nice about it until she came home from school and told me about all the others that got to drive! (I was just trying to save gas!) We had our first round of volleyball matches. Brinna and Camilla had a tournament in Byron and Lovell on Friday and Saturday. Craig and his mom went on Friday to watch a few. On to the next week!

Trip to Denver

Brinna, Craig and I went to Denver to go to a Colorado Rockies Game over the weekend. Brinna invited two of her friends to go with us. This is how it started... Camilla had to be in Cheyenne, WY on Thursday night, to catch a bus to Denver International Airport at 5:30 AM on Friday. Another girl from here as well as a girl from Thermopolis rode with us. (They will be gone 8 days and had big suitcases :) Then we had Brinna, and her friends. We put a luggage carrier on top of the Expedition to get all the luggage to the other end of the state. It was a bit crowded, but we managed. Thursday we stayed in Cheyenne. Friday, Brinna, Lindsay, Bethany and I traveled to Denver a few hours later than Camilla (we didn't have to go through security!) to pick Craig up at the Denver International Airport. After two trips around the loop we got on the same level Craig was on (I had no idea there are 6 levels to arrive/depart too!). Craig had to work Thursday, and we decided to save the wear & tear on the vehicle and have him fly down. We drove umpteen hours and he flew one hour. So not fair. We then found the Denver Temple and walked around the grounds. Then we found some brunch and our hotel. Craig did well! He tried priceline and got us a posh hotel for small bucks. We stayed at the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa. We knew nothing about Denver and did alright. The 16th street mall was one block from our hotel, with a free mall bus that drives up and down the mile long mall and stops at every block. It was perfect. We didn't have to drive anywhere else! We also could take the mall bus down to the end and walk 4 blocks to the ball field. We did some shopping on Friday afternoon and went to the game. It was sooooo fun to be there. Brinna was hyperventilating! Lindsay and Bethany were good sports to tag along, not knowing much about baseball. Saturday we went to the Denver Art Museum and then Craig and Brinna had tickets to attend another game. So I took Lindsay and Bethany to the movie, Night of the Museum II, chinese food and some people watching. We then headed home on Sunday morning. Did you know it is a looooong way to Denver?

By the way, Camilla is having a good time in Washington DC on her all expense paid trip (the best part) by the electric co-op. And mom to the younger 5 children to Washington State to see Jory, Nicki and their crew for Camri's baptism. We were spread from one end of the states to another :)

Summer Vacation begins

The children were out of school on May 22nd. Last week flew by. I hope the remainder of the summer doesn't fly so fast. Memorial day picnic that was suppose to be at the Otto Park (that we worked at for several hours mowing, painting, trimming, etc.) got rained out to the Fire station in Burlington. Base ball has begun. Brinna is in Babe Ruth and loves it. She had her first game on Saturday. She caught 2 pop flies and scored every time she was up to bat. Stevie, Adam and Connor have a double header on Tues in Worland. Halli and Camden start tomorrow.
The children claim that dad is trying to recreate the Yellowstone Ecosystem on our 5 acres. We have planted many more trees this last week. We've been planting in the garden as well. Our asperagus has done well, and we have enjoyed many meals and put some in the freezer as well. Strawberries are flowering and putting on little green berries, hopefully soon....

I was released from YOUNG WOMENS today!!!! So nice to have a change. I enjoy the girls, but was burned out. I will miss going to sunday class with them, though.

And now on to week two...

I've made it through one Prom now on to the next. At least Camilla has agreed to wear the same dress. Her Junior Prom in on May 8th. I get to be the Food Chairman.