Borrowkids beat the heat too

Another hot day - another chance to beat the heat - this time with the Borrowkids. I borrowed them while Ferf and Ryan went to the hospital for Ferf to have a test to determine if she has an ulcer - she does not. We hung out in the water and then checked out Never Ending Story and rested up until the folks got back. Then Moss, Christie and Brenden dropped by and we all visited and those who were hungry had dinner. It was fun and we are glad to find out Ferf does not have an ulcer - probably some gallbladder issue instead - they'll be looking into it.

Cooling off at the Town Square

The Smitherenes came over for a little bit this afternoon and we headed down to the best cooling off spot in town - The Town Square. It was so nice. Zade had to warm up a little to the idea of cooling off...he never did warm up to the splash pad, but he did have fun dipping and splashing with the little bootie cup that we found. Kaebri shot it up into the air on a water spout before Zade got hold of it and I saw Tasia take one little sip out of it before she decided it was really a hair wetting device. We stopped by the library first and picked out Lady and the Tramp II to watch back at the house while grandma made a healthy dinner of corn dogs, mac 'n' cheese and such. We all had fun and beat the heat for a little while!

Burned spot on the Red Hill

Old cement tank thing is at the top of the photo

Looking down on that little amphitheater

I finally saw where the fire was up on the Red Hill on a walk this morning. It's too beastly hot to walk up there right now, but I did go a little way - enough to see this. It's lame if someone started it, but maybe it burned up some Tamarisk and some trash. Another lame thing is that the Red Cliffs Reserve people have been up on the hill putting their little rock barriers all over the trail trying to get people to stay off for their revegitation projects. There weren't any plants growing in the middle of the trail anyway so what difference does it make? Are they trying to do away with the trail? Fat chance. I paid them no mind and finished my walk as I deemed proper and didn't kill one plant in the process. (These are phone pictures and not too good for quality and won't enlarge.)

Paul made it off to Scout Camp...life goes on

Finally all the chaos of getting everyone off to Scout Camp has subsided...and life goes on. It was hectic (you don't even want to know the whole story) trying to finalize which cars would be going and getting the tour permit and it was also a PITB getting the parents to get their boys physicals and getting the physical forms and health insurance stuff COMPLETELY filled out. "Does he really have to see a doctor - it looks like I can just check off all these boxes myself, don't you think?" Finally, at 5:30 am this morning Paul got out the door, hopefully with everything he will need. I got word from him that they had arrived, only to find that the person in charge of paying the final payment hadn't done it. Guess the Scoutmaster gets to cover the gas and the camp fee until he can get reimbursed. I don't know why I ever think it will be any different. Call on Friday last week, Scout - "Bro. Lillywhite, what time should I be at your house tomorrow morning?" Bro. Lillywhite - "No ------, camp doesn't start tomorrow. We leave on Monday morning at 5:30....that's am, and we are meeting at the church. Remember, Monday morning - not tomorrow morning - at the church! Don't come to my house at 5:30 am tomorrow!" Scout - "OK, I get it." Hope Paul will be able to relax and have a good time with a bunch of cute, but really dense 12-17 year olds.

Since I was up anyway I decided to get those apricots taken care of. I had already made some freezer jam and decided to follow Bryan's advice and make "stewed apricots" like his Grandma used to make, only different. (There's really no way to know how she made them since she doesn't even know.) After many apricots, some water, lots of sugar, chunk pineapple and juice, more apricots, crushed pineapple without juice, more sugar and some pectin I have created what I call Pineapple/Apricot Compote. If it doesn't end up being very good at being a compote (what is a compote anyway?) it can be downgraded to Pineapple/Apricot Compost. (I did have some for lunch with cottage cheese and toast and it wasn't half bad.) The apricots are done, the business paperwork and business and family bills paid and laundry drying on the line, cat let in and out too many times to count (he wants me to make it not so hot for him somehow) and part of the dishwasher taken apart/flushed of hard water deposits and hopefully put back together correctly. After that I did manage to get out of my nightgown and showered before lunch. Now I will get busy and get something done on that list I have lined out in my planner.

Legoday & birthday

We got to visit with Lou and Bryan and kiddies a couple of times this week. Wednesday was for mom and dad to be able to get to the temple and Thursday was for Ellie's #4 birthday celebration. Brady was in Lego heaven. After the temple Bryan and Brady managed to find enough of the right parts to put a tank together. Ellie had babies to tend and jewelry to model. It was a relaxing afternoon/evening.

Thursday evening Paul, Grandma Kurtz and I drove up to Enoch to join the birthday celebration along with Bryan's mom and dad. We had yummy dinner and then enjoyed presents, cake and ice cream. The cake, as is the tradition, was a masterpiece you weren't sure you should ruin by eating (who knew they made pink Whoppers?). Ellie got lots of fun stuff and Brady was happy to assist her in the present opening process. She could hardly decide which thing to play with first. I'm sure she will have a good time getting to know all of her new plunder. Thanks for letting us join the fun. Happy #4 Ellie!

Hiking, rapelling, scrambing, rock diving, wading...what a fun day!

Monday morning started with a take off time of 6:30 am. We got to Zion and picked up the permit and then headed off to the trail head for Birch Hollow. We soon arrived at the first of 11 or so rappels. It was a tricky one with a couple of overhangs, but under the expert tutelage of 3 climbing guides (giving their services for free thank goodness) we all got down just fine on that one and on all the rest. The longest one was just under 100 feet.

Here I am going off the first one

Here's part of the really long one

This one had a cool boulder stuck part way down

We had several chances to just scramble, chimney or dive down some of the short drops during the hike too.

Here's Jamie taking one of the water jumps

The combination of lots of really fun (and funny) people - Supe, JJ, Jamie, Leo (our photographer), Raymond, Paul, Bonnie and Wayne - made for a great day and we got out around 4:30 I think.

People went up to bring back the cars while the rest waited at Zion. Then we went to a park, where Moss, Christie and Brenden met up with us, and had dinner and birthday pie - a day early - for Supe. It was such and fun day. We were all kind of sorry that the rappelling didn't last longer. It seemed like we were just getting over having the fantods and getting pretty confident when they ended. I have to say that some of the scrambling, chimneying and diving off rocks to the pools below were more scary to me than the rappelling was. Thanks JJ, Leo, Supe and Jamie for a really fun day with your skills making it possible. Thanks Wayne for being a good sport about being invited and then having to drive, buy a park pass and losing your watch. At least Paul did rescue your glasses (and find another pair besides) thank goodness! Thanks to Moss and Christie for coming up with ice cream to go with the pie!

Our route of travel

It looks farther than it is. We decided it was probably 8-10 miles. Wading in the Narrows was the hardest part for me. People must have thought I was a drunk the way I was stumbling around. I think I did furnish Leo and Jamie with quite a few laughs since they were the ones bringing up the rear. We ran into very few people until we got down close to and into the Zion Narrows. We didn't see anyone until we were into the Zion boundaries.

Dinner at Pine Valley

Friday night Paul was off on a camp out with the scouts, so some of the rest of us decided a dinner up at Pine Valley would be nice. Moss and Supe were the cooks, Brenden was the lead hiker while we waited for it to cook. (Chrisitie and Bonnie were in charge of procurement of all supplies.) It was lots cooler than being in town, the food was good and the scenery beautiful. Thanks for a tasty dinner Moss & Supe. Thanks everyone for keeping me company while Pop was gone with the scouts.

July 2, 2010 - a sad day

I was so sad to hear that Nickolis "Bugs" Ronald Siever, a little guy in our kindergarten class last year, had passed away in a fire along with his grandma. He was a cute, smart kid with lots of energy and was full of fun. He spent quite a bit of time at my table doing his work when he couldn't stop visiting with the kids at his table. He was "wise beyond his years" in some ways which was sad to me, but he was full of life and friendliness. He was so excited the day he got to bring his pet chicken for Pets Day. He was so sad the day no family could attend his school program - there was no consoling him or getting a smile from him which was seldom the case. I will miss having him stop by to visit next year at school and will miss having the chance to watch him grow up. Heaven will be brightened by his presence.

Plenty of good times lately...

The Toomey's came for a visit. Supe, Paul and Jamie took them climbing on Saturday and they all made it up - some with weeping, wailing and climbing shoes that pinched their toes - but they made it! It was fun having them visit. Thanks to Robert for giving me lots of things to learn about on my laptop!

We got to spend an afternoon with some of the grand kids at the Town Square. It was lots of fun and very cooling!


Here's the last day picture from our two summer school Pre-K classes. We had a lot of fun and got acquainted with some of next year's students.



Paul and I used our Christmas present - tickets to Much Ado About Nothing - and enjoyed the play explanation lecture and Green Show as well as the beautiful campus at SUU. The play was very enjoyable. Thanks Jay and Brynn:o)




We got to stop by Bean's work/mission and meet/visit with a couple of his bosses. They say he is a "perfect fit" there and has far exceeded any expectations they had for him. They say he is even learning to put tools back where they belong after he's done with them! It's a great mission for him and he seems to love the people and the work there.


He doesn't look it, but Bean is very excited to have moved into his first apartment. We took him a bed and a few other essentials. He's getting settled in with room mate "cousin" Sam Wecker. They both seem very happy to be there. It will be nice to see it when they have it all put together and decorated.

We redeemed the family name by attending the Lillywhite Family Reunion at Uncle Bob's cabin up by Bear Lake. They were so glad to have us there after all the years of non-attendance from our branch of the family. What nice people - why didn't we ever make it before?

We got to go to one of the fireworks shows that Jay helps with. Bean and Sam got to help this time too. It was a great show with added excitement from airplanes buzzing the golf course and parachuters diving from the sky thrown in to boot. The sunset was beautiful and Brenden was pretty funny hiding out under his blanket pretending to sleep through the all the "rockets red glare".


Now here's the real reason we went up north in the first place - to attend Madi's blessing. Jay did a really nice job. The after brunch was very tasty and visiting with the everyone was fun. The kids, especially Brenden, enjoyed chasing the chickens too. So glad that several of you could make it. So happy to have Madi as part of our family. We just wish she was closer so we could enjoy her more often.


Didn't think we would have time to take a 4th of July hike, but the Weavers provided us with the opportunity, just a day late. We took a little hike up the beautiful Deuel Creek up behind their house in Bountiful. It was so nice with lots of water in the creek and we even found a cherry tree growing wild and we also spotted a flag way on top of the mountain. The kids had fun trying to fill in the creek with rocks and we all felt refreshed from a good chance to enjoy the outdoors. Thanks America, thanks Heavenly Father for all the beauty, opportunities, blessings and most of all for the wonderful family and the chance to visit them whenever and wherever we please. We love every one of you.