Hang on a Second... I've Got to Catch My Breath

Whew!  What a week.  I feel like I was caught up in a whirlwind this week.  I have been gone more than I have been home.  I am so grateful to Sarah this week for all the service she gave me babysitting her little sisters.  Lauren was ill at the beginning of the week and gone at the end.  Steven was here physically but his mind was in Rubik's cube  land.  The obsession over the cube overwhelmed his sense of responsibility leaving Sarah the bulk of the childcare.  She came through for me with flying colors.  I don't think I could have pulled off this week without her help.

This was our first week of summer vacation and it was nonstop activity.  William was attending Cub Scout Day Camp, Lauren had Youth Conference, we were hosting Youth Conference kids in our home and Steven and Ralph were getting ready for Scout Camp.  That was what we planned for the week.  Throw in some illness and quite a few doctors appointments and I felt like I just could not get ahead of the schedule.  I always felt like I was two steps behind where I needed to be.

Wednesday was my turn as a Den Walker at Cub Camp.  William was thrilled that I was coming and reminded me several times to bring my camera so I could put some pictures of him on my blog.  So here some are:

William showing his form in archery.  This was the first session.  Once he learned to get that forearm straight he was better at hitting the target.  On the last day they attached balloons to the target and the boys tried to hit them.  William popped two balloons.
In Arts and Crafts he got to make and paint a rocket.  This was Wednesday, on Friday they got to shoot them off.  
Here William is holding up his target from shooting the BB guns.  He got two BBs into the target.  
I think that this picture sums up how William felt about day camp.  He loved being a part of it and all the things he learned there.  If you still need more pictures from day camp you can find them here.

In other news, Lauren saw a few doctors this week.  The first because we  thought she had strep again (That would be the third time in three months) and our doctor was good enough to get us an appointment to see an ENT.  I had an ENT appointment scheduled for later this month but our doctor felt we should get in sooner and called the office himself.  We now have Lauren scheduled her to get her tonsils out on August 17.  That should give her enough time to recover from the surgery before school starts again.  

Friday evening our neighbor had his annual fireworks show.  It was a little early this year because his son was accepted to the Coast Guard Academy and was leaving on Saturday.  They are excited about his appointment and the opportunities it brings.  

Ralph and Steven did make it out the door to Scout Camp at 3:30 am on Saturday morning.  He was driving 5 boys and a trailer full of gear.  The rest of the young men were coming up later after the Youth Conference testimony meeting.  It has been a challenge for Ralph to get all the boys and their medical forms in order to attend camp.  There have been quite a few last minute additions and changes.  It seems that all is in order in the end and the boys will have a great time at camp.

Lauren enjoyed Youth Conference even though she was not feeling well this week.  She probably should have spent the week in bed but she didn't want to miss out on all the fun activities that were planned.  She got to spend a day at the Washington DC temple and visitors center.  They did baptisms and learned a lot about the temple and the purposes in having a temple.  On Friday she missed the service project because of her doctors appointment but we got her out to Harper's Ferry in time to go tubing down the Shenandoah River.  The youth conference was well planned and kept the Youth busy non-stop for 3 days.  Lauren was surprised that the dance on Saturday evening was not as well attended as she had thought it would be.  I wasn't surprised because I think that a lot of the youth were just exhausted and decided that going to bed early would be a good idea. 

I am grateful that today is Sunday and I get a chance to catch my breath.  After all, tomorrow is the second week of summer vacation and looking at what has been planned, it is going to be just as busy.