Pioneer Trek

 We had a one-day mini trek, several weeks before the actual Pioneer Trek, that the 12 and 13 year-old youth could attend.  Talmage enjoyed the potato sack races.

 Our pioneer trek was July 25th-28th.  We met at our church at 6am and loaded everyone onto buses to head toward Evanston.  In this photo, we had just arrived at Deseret Land and Livestock, and Brittney and I were getting used to the handcarts.

 This is our trek family:  Tyler, Stormy, Tucker, Spencer, Melanie, Anna, Nicole and Alyssa

 We're starting on our ten-mile trek on the first day.

 Melanie and Alyssa heading for dinner after a long first day of pushing our handcart.

 Our family enjoyed playing games together during our free time.

 We made sling shots and shot marshmallows at each other.

 Our family had a lot of fun creating our skit and performing in the fashion show.

 We won a trophy for our performance as the stripping...no Stripling warriors at the fashion show. (We only took off our jackets and bonnets, so don't worry too much.)

 We loved getting to know each member of our family.  On the last night of trek, we gathered as a family and everyone shared their feelings about trek.  Spencer and I are very grateful for this life-changing opportunity we had to attend trek with the youth of our stake.

Comment from Spencer regarding this photo, "I took this photo while I was hiding in the bushes waiting for the women to come up the hill for their "women's pull".  It is kind of hard to tell from this photo, but if you can see that little lighter green stand of aspen trees WAY off in the distance, that is about where the women started their pull.  You can't see the very steepest part of this pull as it is behind me in this photo... but those that did the Martin's Cove women's pull last Trek said that it was a "walk in the park" compared to this one.  I'm grateful for strong and faithful women in my life... especially my beautiful, wonderful, and AMAZING wife!  Nice job on the blog BTW  :o)" 

If you would like more details about our trek, I typed up the following report for our ward YW history:

We worked hard together:  We were split into companies, with three families in each company.  The first day, we met our new families and pushed our handcarts, mostly uphill, ten miles.  After we finally rolled into camp that evening, we were blessed with a delicious dutch oven meal.  Throughout the entire trek, I heard people uplifting, encouraging and helping others.  The second day we pushed our handcarts about six miles, which felt almost pleasant after the difficult day before.  We knew the third day would likely be the hardest because the Women's Pull was that day.  The final day we hiked about four miles and cheered as we reached our final destination.

We enjoyed fun pioneer activities:  We danced the Virginia Reel, We made sling shots and tried to fling our marshmallows at Brother Jones, We participated in a fashion show (my family won the trophy), We performed skits for our companies, We decorated our family flags, We purchased items with our beads from the Trading Post, We made braided wrist bands, We enjoyed a fun musical concert, etc.

We were humbled by spiritual experiences:  I think most people would say that the Women's Pull brought the spirit most strongly to their hearts.  On the third day of trek, we started along the trail and went about a mile until the men were called away.  The women went to hear a beautiful talk from Sister Adams, while the men went to hear President Adams speak to them.  After listening to Sister Adams, all the women felt ready to conquer the difficult challenge that lay ahead.  We started at a slight incline, and then the hill got steeper as we went along.  I was pushing, with my girls, as hard as I could.  As exhaustion started to overtake me, we struggled with our handcart around a bend, and an extremely steep mountainside appeared before us.  I almost lost hope as I stared at the steep incline, but I continued to chant with my girls, "We can do this!"  I could barely breathe as I stared at the ground while we continued pushing up the hill, when all of a sudden, our cart jolted forward.  I looked up to see my husband next to me and two sweet boys bravely pushing our cart up the hill.  One of our girls was worried that they were breaking the rules, but when she found out that President Adams told them they could help, we knew that they were angels sent to help us with an insurmountable task.  We continued up the hill, with our angels, until we reached the summit.  When every cart had been helped to the top, the youth were given letters from their family back home.  We then had some time to share testimonies.  I was able to share some feelings that I had that day.  I related our experience of the women's pull to me in my life.  As long as I am trying my hardest, struggling through life, the Lord will be there to help me through the rest.  I need the Savior's help to make it through this life.  He will always be there to answer my prayers and help me.

We were also blessed to hear the testimonies and teachings from several Bishops in our stake.  Among other topics, we learned about the story of the ten virgins.  The virgins' oil represents their testimonies and when the bridegroom came, the could not give their oil to the others without testimonies.  Everyone who attended the trek, received more oil in their lamps.  Testimonies were gained and strengthened.

The last night of trek we had the opportunity to hear two excellent talks on marriage.  Then we had another testimony meeting where many of the youth shared their beliefs.  On the final morning, President Johnson and President Adams spoke to us about taking our experiences from trek home with us and making a change for good in our lives.  The next Sunday, we had a stake fireside, where many other testimonies were shared and a fun slide show of trek photos was shown.  We will treasure these memories of sacrifice and perseverance forever.

Keepers of the Flame

 I love Girls' Camp!
We couldn't build campfires this year, but our theme was still "Keepers of the Flame."

Makayla, Chynna and I softened our faces with an oatmeal, mud mask.

 In preparation for camp, we enjoyed learning first aid from our own nursing hero, Kari Stone.

 We learned CPR, how to help someone choking...

 How to carry someone on a hike if they're hurt...

 How to be silly...

 and have fun!

At Camp Woodland, we enjoyed floating down the river each day, competing in lawn games, screeching at karaoke night, cheering at talent night, singing silly songs, decorating flags, making crafts, hiking around camp and playing other fun games together.

 We also took part in spiritual activities:  listening to guest speakers challenge us to commit to following each of the Young Women values, choosing a bad habit to throw into the "bad-habit bonfire" (neon glow sticks because of the ban on real fires), devotionals and flag ceremonies each morning, and sharing a beautiful testimony meeting together on the last night of camp.  We talked about striving to always have the spirit with us.  We all learned and sang, "Keeper of the Flame" by Julie de Azevedo.

Bailey and Lauren enjoyed making a mess of Monica's face.
My personal favorite activity was karaoke night.  All of our girls encouraged and cheered for each other.  They rallied around each other and built each other up.  Every leader and girl at camp got up and participated in the performances that night.  I love seeing everyone let loose and feel like a star!

The Collier Clan Reunion

 We had such a fun time at the Collier Family camp out this year!  My Dad reserved his stake Valley View camp with the lodge and grounds.  My Mom and Matt made a bow with arrows for all of the kids.  They loved shooting the sponge-tipped arrows everywhere.

 Hadley and Leia loved shooting the arrows at targets Grandma put up around the lodge.

 We had several fun games of ultimate frizbee.  We had to throw the frizbee to someone in a pool before we could score a goal (or touchdown or whatever).

 Both kids and adults joined in on these fun games.  Watch out Porter!

 We had a little rain on our camp out.  Ammon and several other kids decided to run out in the rainstorm.

 We had a family dance one night.  It was so much fun!  This photo shows the kids dancing to YMCA.

 Happy, cheezy Leia and Peter!

 Our kids had so much fun playing with their cousins!

 Natalie taught us all an embarrassing song she learned at girls camp.  I think it's called "A Toota Tat".

 We all enjoyed contorting our bodies in strange ways.  I later used Natalie's song to embarrass our Bishop at my girls camp the next week.

 Each family performed a silly skit one night.  Our family sang a song and acted out things each member of our family likes to do.  Peter chose playing video games.

 Leia chose swimming.  We all had a great time!

 Gabe, Ammon and Peter performed a sword fight for the audience.

I'm pretty sure Gabe was not injured, it was just part of the performance. 

We played several games and relaxed together.  We played a game we call "Pirate Dice".  The last two people standing were Leia and Matt.  Matt barely ended up winning, but we were all proud of Leia's skill at playing the game.

We absolutely loved this fun trip with the Collier family!

Rollins' Bear Lake Tradition

 We love making our annual trip to Bear Lake each summer.  Leia, Caleb, Ammon, Spencer and Luke worked hard to make a nice sandcastle village.

 We always make the hike up Bloomington canyon to play on the rope swing and look at the beautiful glacier pools.  Dan's leg got caught in the rope while swinging this year...he was lucky not to have fallen head-first into the rocks below.  We're glad he survived with just a scraped and bruised leg.

 The water is soooo cold in Bloomington Lake, but we all got in just to show how tough we were.  We missed watching Talmage on the rope swing this year.  He was at Camp Loll with the scouts while we were at Bear Lake.

 We took everyone to the Paris Canyon ice caves this year.  Leia liked hiking with uncle Clint.

 Spencer and some of the big boys explored deeper into the cave.

We all enjoyed playing together and were exhausted at the end of each fun day.

Don't pass on pass of all passes

 Last fall we bought POAPs for our family.  We have totally taken advantage of those passes.  We have enjoyed so many activities that we probably would not have tried otherwise.

 We've made many fun trips to Trafalga (the one in Lehi is newer).
We've enjoyed the Seven Peaks water parks (the one in Provo is much nicer).

 We took our family skiing and ice skating for the first time.  At the ice rink, Ammon and Peter liked holding on to cones while skating so they wouldn't fall so easily.

Next time we go ice skating, we need to remember to put tall socks on our kids.  They all went home with blisters just above their ankles.

We talked my parents and Spencer's family into getting the passes also.  So we enjoy playing with our families for most of our activities.

We've enjoyed attending many new sporting events:  Utah Grizzlies hockey, Utah Blaze indoor football, etc. We're planning to go to a Bees baseball game and a Real soccer game too.

So, if you're considering buying passes, you should.  Then you can come play with us too!

The Big Twelve

 I can't believe it, but I now have a 12-year-old son!  

The weekend before Talmage's birthday, we took four of his friends to an indoor football Utah Blaze game.

 Talmage had a great time cheering and eating with his friends.

 The weekend after Talmage's birthday, was the Father & Sons campout for our ward.  Spencer and the boys enjoyed a fun night at our stake campground.  

(Leia and I enjoyed our night together by going to a Snow White movie.) 

That next Sunday, Spencer was able to ordain Talmage with the priesthood.  Both sets of grandparents came to support Talmage in this important step of his life.  We are so proud of Talmage for the wonderful example he is to us and for the good choices he is making in his life.

"It's my Easter Birthday"

 Peter's 4th birthday was on Easter this year.  He loudly informed everyone that it was his Easter Birthday.

 We enjoyed a fun game of bowling with just our family.

 Then we headed down to Trafalga to celebrate with the Rollins grandparents and cousins.  Peter loves going up and down on this frog ride...especially while riding with cute Leia and Shaylee.

 Peter, Grandpa and Caleb battling bugs and wild animals.

 Greta, Leia and Talmage flying together.

 We're all excitedly awaiting our turn to play laser tag.

We adore our sweet, darling Peter!