May 25-31 2015- A Pioneer Trek at Happy Jack AZ

School is out! Happy Day. Summer started out really busy this year. Memorial Day (Monday) we went for a hike in the morning, up a trail that CJL had seen off of Brown Road, on the way to the Canyon Lake.

I remember going to Preston, Idaho many times on Memorial Day to decorate graves. There was Grandpa's little brother Donald who died as a baby, Uncle Richard who died young in a car accident. And later there was Pres. Benson's grave, and Aunt Marilyn's. Finally Grandpa and Grandpa Tanner although I haven't been back since Grandpa died.  I would love to have the opportunity to go to the Whitney cemetery again. Maybe this summer we will do that.



After the hike we came home and hopped in the pool! It was fun hanging out as a family in the pool, with the music playing, goofing around! We got macaroni and potato salad from Fry's which I think is an awesome tradition! I like macaroni salad on Memorial Day!


We had a two days to get ready for Citrus Heights Stake Pioneer Trek. We flew Rosie in on Wednesday, and she stayed with the kids while we were gone. We went to a taco shop on Gilbert Road, and then Bahama Bucks. Super fun to catch up with cute Rosie, she makes me laugh!

Check out those cute kids and Sadie's underwear!!

Rosie and Jonah

Thursday morning we left for the Trek at 8 am. We met at the church and carpooled up to Happy Jack, north of Payson, Strawberry and Pine. We got there, got our families assigned to us, ate quickly, and packed our cart. Pa LaClaire was awesome at packing as usual. We got everything in and off we went. Our kids were: Mikane Faraoni, Peyton Everett, Tristan Covington, Ben Smith, Dakota Karen, and Jordan Williams. Girls were McKenzie Godfrey, Hope Callister, and Katie McNight. I grew to love each of these kids and was so impressed with them as we walked along and worked together.

Still smelling good when we met at the church Thursday morning! Didn't last long!

Cute Pioneer Girls

Handcarts lined up in a row…

 

 Hitting the trail and Rocky Ridge

 

Mikane was awesome.

 Ben, Jordan, McKenzie pulling hard!

 Oh yes it was dusty.

 Bishop Wood and Lindsey were always smiling.

 Water break… LaClaire's water was the coldest!

 The Ma's- Dana, Demi, Becky, Sarah, Rachel, Lindsey, Synda

 The Pa's- Greg, Shane, Ryan, CJL, Bishop, Graham, Mel

These cute ladies on horses were always so helpful! 

 Lunch was a welcome break! The stake did a great job feeding all of us.

 Melvin

There were caterpillars dropping from all the trees and ants and little spiders kept us company.

 Mikane and Katie!

 Gotta keep going!

 Hope!!

Hanging out with the Turleys. Second day we got into camp early and had time to set up camp, rest, and then there were some games, a few scones and homemade butter were eaten, and the hair washing station was busy! A happy memory of mine is eating scones with the ma's and pa's and laughing my head off at some of the conversations that were going on, it was so much fun. I found myself wishing we could stay just a little longer. 

Yes this really happened! I had to pull CjL all by myself! Thank goodness for a few angels in the back! 

 Garrett and Dakota at the fireside on Friday night.

 The fireside by the stake presidency was inspirational. Pres. Bawden talked about receiving what you should say in your testimony in the moment you are bearing your testimony. How a testimony is strengthened by bearing it.

 Ward testimony meeting around the fire was beautiful.

 Walked away from the fireside on a spiritual high. Many testimonies were shared. Most of the LaClaire kids got a chance to bear testimony. Then McKenzie and Katie laughed the night away inhaling fumes from the can of whipped cream we emptied on our pie! They couldn't stop laughing!

Next morning was cold. We had scriptures in our sleeping bags, and then the Pony Express arrived with letters from home. We had time to write a few thoughts, eat breakfast, and then we packed up for our last few miles on the trail.

Ben, Tristan, and Jordan were fabulous sons. I loved their conversations. 

 All packed up and ready to go home.

 Peyton Everett- the quiet cowboy.

Love those cute faces! These kids are the best.

Hope and McKenzie

The Miramar Ward as we pulled out of camp for the last time.

These guys were practically running to get back to the cars! I could hardly keep up with them!

The spray bottle was well used. 

 Katie and I finally made it! We got a little behind because Katie had a sore toe. But she did it! What a trooper! We unloaded carts, loaded up trailers and cars, and headed back home. I wish I had a picture of Cjl and I jumping in the pool in our dusty pioneer duds, it felt so good. Happy reunion with our LaClaire kids at home. So tired and dirty, but loved our Trek experience. In my journal I wrote the words 'Dig Deep' to remind myself to gather the strength from this experience, from pioneer ancestors, and to keep living the gospel through hard times, doubts, and sometimes when I am just tired. As President Monson says: You have a heritage: Honor it.

Last Week of School 2015

With baseball for Eli and Jonah and end of the year projects and concerts it has been pretty hectic! What a great year for Eli, Jonah, and Janie. They all had teachers who saw the best in each of them. We are getting to know 'Hale the Jail' better and feeling invested in what is happening. It's a good feeling especially because we have been the new family at so many schools! Ethan had a good year at Stapley, really enjoyed choir and woodshop. Ethan is learning how to study and work hard in new environments. He has moved schools the most and has learned lots of different ways of doing things. I think that will be valuable for him. Love these cute kids.

 Jonah and his teacher, Julie Hagar, on the lat day of school. Jonah said that Mrs. Hagar was his favourite teacher. Pretty sweet.

 Boys had a piano recital. All 3 of them did a great job performing. Camille Green is their teacher and we enjoy her alot.

 Ethan played soccer for Stapley this spring. It was a short season, fun to watch him play.

 The Kindergarten concert was absolutely the best! Janie learned so much this year!

At Miramar Ward's Court of Honor. Ethan got his star. He is moving quickly with Curtis' help!

 Spent alot of time at the baseball fields watching Eli and Jonah. They both progressed alot. They had excellent coaches and really loved it. I hope they'll do it again next year.

 Eli was Walt Disney for 5th grade Wax Museum. He got 100% across the board on his paper.

 Mrs. Knoles class was so fun. I did treasure box every other week so got to know the kids.

 Yes it was panama day.

 This is perfect wedding video material. Navy socks completed this ensemble.

 Eli got a triple at one of his last games. I was late and missed it! He felt really good about it.

 And got the game ball! He had alot to learn, the last time he played baseball was 1st grade. He did great and got alot more comfortable with it. Proud of him for sticking it out.

 The Mariners (Eli's team) went to the Final game. They played the Tigers two games in a row. Won the first game, lost the second. Had a snow ball fight afterward. It was disappointing but a good season. So happy Eli had this opportunity.

 Paul turned 30! And we ate chocolate cupcakes!