VANDEMERWE REUNION

Thursday, July 30th- Sunday August 1st

Our family reunion was held at the East Canyon Resort in Utah. I couldn't make it down until Friday, but it looked like everyone was having loads of fun!! The theme was the Olympics, and with the Marchants in charge you know there was lots and lots of games to be played!!

Our team at the closing ceremonies.

Grandpa is famous for his stories- can you guess what this one is about?

Thanks to mom and dad's generosity- we were about to go on a horse back ride on the most beautiful trail in the mountains!! In this picture is: Corban, Sierra, Mom, and Teneill

High On The Mountain Top!!

Corban, Sierra, and Teneill- you can see Park City ski slopes in the background!

Me, Mom, Teneill, Sierra, and Chelsea

SISTAS! (minus 2)

East Canyon Lake- Love it!

This lovely bird was just outside the sliding door on the back padio! It was cool to watch her feed her babies!!

SIERRA'S VISIT!!

Saturday July 25- Tuesday, July 28th


Sierra went to EFY in Utah, so I was able to pick her up on my way home from Andie's wedding. It was so fun to have her come and visit! We did so many things- it was non-stop AWESOMENESS!!!

We stopped at the Malad Gorge- the freeway goes right over this thing (you can kinda see it in the background) You'd miss it if you didn't know it was there!!

You can't see this big crater until you're practically right next to it because it's so flat. Sierra had no idea what we were going to see, until we were right over it!!

Jason's job was having an open house- allowing people to swim in the club house pool. You can see how busy it is!! It was nice to have it all to ourselves... ahhhhhhhhhhhh

Monday morning, Sierra and I went to a Zumba class at my gym (obviously I wasn't going to put a nasty sweaty picture of us on here). And then we went white water rafting!! (we're the two in the front of the raft) It was very exciting- and Sierra even rode the bull through one of the rapids!! She is my HERO!!

Come again soon Sierra!! I miss you!!

ANDIE GOT HITCHED!!

Thursday, July 23rd

ANDIE ROBINSON GOT MARRIED!! WAHOO!! Andie is my good friend from Cincinnati, and I wouldn't have missed her wedding for anything! She got married in the Salt Lake City Temple to Trevor Seal on the most beautiful day EVER!! The weather was fantastic! Crystal Lyman let me stay with her- she was in charge of all the flowers and center pieces, which were BEAUTIFUL!! Here are some pics from that fabulous day:

Crystal and I, waiting for the newlyweds to come out!

And when they did... Andie was on CLOUD NINE BABY!!

(can't you just see it?!)

The gorgeous bride bouquet that Crystal made- isn't she talented?!

Andie's mom was my Laurel Advisor in Young Womens, and her dad was my Bishop!! I was practically surrounded by the Robinsons growing up... but they rock, so I didn't mind :)

Andie and Trevor were "workin it" the whole day!! Oh yeah, you go girl!!!

So there's this picture from about 10 years ago of the three of us making this face... fast forward and we haven't changed a bit!!

Technically I guess Trevor should be the one under the veil... what can I say though- we wanted to take a cool picture and it ended up being corny! HAHA!

Yeah I know- Trevor should be the one holding Andie's leg too, but Crystal and I just couldn't get enough! ;)

By the way- I am in LOVE with Andie's dress!!!!! She looked so stunning!!

The Cincinnati guest table- way to represent!

And of course the car- don't worry, I held back everything I really wanted to do!! Boy were you lucky Andie!! Sorry about the mannequin in the back seat... I didn't know Trevor's brother was going to be in the car with you guys!!

CAMPING- BOYS ONLY!!!

Thursday July 9th- Saturday, July 11th

Every year, all the boys on Jason's side of the family go on a camping adventure- and no matter how many times I beg or how different I ask, the answer is the same- NO GIRLS ALLOWED!! I don't know if they think I could hack it or what, but one of these years I'll get in! :)

So this year they went camping around the Livingston Mine in Central Idaho. I think they just try to pick the most random, desolate location they can, drive into the mountains and camp when they reach a flat spot. Sounds exhilarating, I know!

From the left: Ryan Raymond, Ryan Richards, Ron, Tate, Jason, and Jared


The steep climb.

Yup- still steep!

Family pic

Jason wishes he was TARZAN.

Apparently when you camp in the middle of no where- there is no dress code! :)

A view from the top of the hike- BEAUTIFUL!

FOURTH OF JULY!!

For the fourth of July, we went over to my sister-in laws, sister's house. (did you get that?) We had a blast! There was a delicious barbeque and TONS of food! Plus we put on our very own and very LEGAL fireworks show!! Gotta love those shooting fountains!!

Don't ask me how they played flag football on totally FULL stomaches! See Jason's harsh competition? It was an INTENSE game!! :)

STUD.

While the guys were playig flag football- the rest of us played WACKEE 7. But it was just as much- if not more- of a workout!! With some hard core concentration baby!

Braden, Jared, and Joy- my inspiration for matching Fourth of July shirts!

YAY FOR HOLIDAYS!!

THE TRUE FACES OF A RAYMOND :)

(now you know the real reason why jason & i haven't had kids yet... we fear what they will look like with those raymond jeans in his blood!!!)

GIRLS CAMP!!

June 15-19

This was my 10th year going to girls camp!! Man, that makes me feel old! So this year I went as the nurse and had a blast! Luckily nothing huge happened that I couldn't handle :) It was a week filled with bugs, no showers, mosquitoes, stinky outhouses, and I kid you not- nearly 3/4 of the girls were on there period that week! HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN??? We kept running out of "supplies" and spent about $115 total buying pads!!! Anyways, lets just say I gave out a TON of midol! Here's some pics...

As always, the week started with "THE RUNNING OF THE COWS" (Idaho style!) where this HUGE herd of cows gets moved up the mountain and goes right by our camp! This video gives you an idea of how loud they are- and I totally learned something new... cows CAN run! Every time I drive by a field of cows they look so lazy! But look at them MOOOOOVE! I totally under-estimated them!

Our theme this year was "Sweet is the Work" (Hence the candy-land background) Every ward was assigned a different candy as their mascot/theme. So being the nurse, it only made sense that I was a LIFESAVER!! (Hence my awesome outfit). As the nurse, during the opening ceremonies- I have to go over a couple of ground rules to keep everyone safe... so I decided to make a rap song! It pretty much rocked- you'll have to call me if you wanna hear it :)

Amy*Brook*Karrie*Lacy

These were our incredible Stake Camp Directors! And they were lucky enough to be my roomies for the week! We had WAY too much fun together!

I had to teach a first-aid class that included CPR. So this was my dummy! I had all the girls make one so they had something they could actually practice on.

Me and my mad skills teach first-aid.

One of the girls (Taylor) doing CPR compressions... she saved a life!

The night activity committee put a lot of hard work into making this temple. This picture, we were putting the last finishing touches on it. It was located in the very back of the campground where the girls were not allowed to go. And it was saved for the very last night during the faith walk which was at night time.

(Peaking inside the windows of the temple... hehehe)

THE FINISHED PRODUCT!! Looks just like the real thing huh? Talk about going the extra mile! The whole faith walk was about going to the temple. There were 4 stations with different speakers that everyone went to that talked about different aspects of getting to the temple: repentance, having high standards, listening to the holy ghost, and preparing to go to the temple. After those, they walked down a path holding candles and passed through a lighted archway where their Bishop was standing and he would hand them their temple recommend. Then down at the end of the path was our replica of the Salt Lake Temple! It was an incredible night, and everyone could feel the spirit so strongly. What a way to end the week!