Lake Powell

We went to Lake Powell this year with all of the Abbott's except Jordan who is in France on her mission. It was amazing that all of us came and stayed the entire week. Here are Michael and Katie riding the waverunner. I always marvel at the spectacular scenery of the Lake. We had a great week!

The girls having a hair washing party.

I guess the hair washing was so exciting that no one noticed the boat floating away.

Matthew, Josh and David digging giant holes in the sand.

An un-named passenger brought Wyoming fireworks and we had a show every night! They were so awesome!

After the fireworks every night we had a different themed dance party. Ok, broadway night had some to be desired but Michael Jackson night was the best. Of course only necessities are brought on this trip, that's why the disco ball was the most valued item brought.

I guess this is a desert and we are camping at its edge but it is still unnerving to find scorpions, and rattle snakes at your door.

Caroline and Lindsey

Stephanie and Michael having a heart to heart.

Stephanie and Halle with shampoo hairstyles.

Michael, John and Grandpa wondering who stole their cool by showing up dressed the same.

Matthew, Michael, David, Justin and John hanging out on top of the houseboat.

Caroline, David and Michael waiting their turn for tube wars.

The huge holes became froggy land and now they are blowing up the bridges with fireworks. nice.

Caroline, Tara, Halle and Katie hanging out listening to the ipod.

Caroline and Nana

Nelson, Kirstin and Michael

I love rapid shot pictures...here are some fun ones...

Plop!

All of us with the view from our camping spot.

This year Stephanie got everyone excited to do music videos and we had a lot of fun lip-synching and videoing it all together. I am not sure family videos are worthy of posting, only the most discriminating would appreciate it.

Here are the boys putting the final touches to their video.

All 25 of us!

Summer swim team

David and Caroline swam at the Scera outdoor pool for Orem Summer Swim Team. Here is David swimming backstroke, his best stroke. He broke the standing record for summer swim team in his age category this summer with a time of 50:56 in the 50 meter backstroke.

I got this picture as David jumped out of the pool and Caroline was about to jump in.

She swam the 100 backstroke and the 100 butterfly. Her best times were 1:53.60 in the 100 meter butterfly and 1:50.50 in the 100 meter backstroke. Caroline is going to swim on Orem High's JV team this year so it will be fun to see how much she improves. Katie wanted to swim on the summer rec team but I wouldn't let her. I told her I didn't think she should because she has been on Orem High's team all year. I guess I should have let her because there were a couple of high school kids who swam after all.

Caroline and David with their heat winner ribbons. We were sad to miss the last meet. In the last meet of the year there are races where parents and other family members race the coaches. We were going to have a team with me, Nelson, Katie and Michael but we went to Lake Powell instead. It's fun to have a family sport that everyone enjoys!

Girl Outing

Caroline water-skiing on Utah Lake. We went in the morning so the water was good to ski on. Caroline usually wakeboards but chose skiing this day. I love how you can see the Y behind her!

Katie showing her stuff.

The girls invited some friends from the neighborhood to come with us. Here are Melanie, Miranda and Katie.

Miranda, Josie and Caroline.

So much fun!

Girl's Camp 2010

I am our ward camp leader and this year was my 3rd year. It's amazing how much less stressful it is when it's not the first time you've been to camp since you were a girl. Katie was a 5th year, or 1st year Youth Camp Leader and Caroline was a 3rd year this year. It is fun to be there with them. This picture is Katie on the confidence course. You have to close your eyes and let your guides lead you with verbal directions and not fall, hopefully.

Here's Caroline (plaid shirt on left side) and half the group of girls on the course. It's pretty scary up there actually.

We had a lot of fun taking pictures.

Cuties!

Brinnan, Sarah and Katie in their hats.

Value color fires are always a big hit. We throw in a copper pipe stuffed with a piece of garden hose and the colors go crazy.

Waterfront was supposed to be mostly dry boats this year because it wasn't really warm but by the end everyone was splashing it up!

Caroline and her buds Brinnan and Melanie!

Heather and Caroline

Aubree and Katie

The weather was...wet at times. Mostly when we were about to eat a meal. So, three times a day (at least) we grabbed all of the chairs, threw them under the awning and stood around to eat. Here's Aubree, Katie, me and Nelson up at camp for Bishopric night crammed underneath so we don't get soaked. This particular storm brought hail and a river running through our camp. It was sooo muddy!

Caroline and others at the other side of the tent getting food. We literally ate standing up.

The last morning we went on a sunrise hike. Katie sang a duet with her friend Nicole for the flag ceremony. It was pretty cool.

Here are my 5 YCL's this year. They did a fantastic job and made camp great for everyone!

Paper plate awards from the YCL's. We have a great group of girls and everyone got along so well and had a wonderful time. Camp is my life for quite some time before we get there so it's always such a huge relief when things work out and it's all over. Whew!