Lindsey's Art Show Entry

A few weeks ago we had "Steele Days" which is American Fork's summer celebration. Part of that celebration is an Art Show featuring local artist's work. Lindsey took an awesome picture in Central Park while she was there last Fall. She decided that maybe just maybe she should enter it in the Art Show.

We are proud to announce that her picture received an Honorable Mention in the High School category. You can view her picture right here on our blog. Just go to our entry titled "Lindsey's New York Trip" it is the picture of the lake, with the fall colors. Way to go LINDS!

Summer is almost over!

Summer is coming to a close quickly. As a mother I have mixed feelings. It will be great to have the kids back in school. They are better entertained, and seem for the most part to really enjoy it. I really enjoy the peace and quiet that exists at the house during school hours. No fighting over the TV or computer, no lunch mess, less complaints about dinner, and 8:00pm bedtime (YES!).

I realize though that this will bring to end staying up late for sleepovers and movies in the Living Room, playing outside till it is dark, running through the sprinklers, and heading up the canyon for hot dogs and s'mores. AAAH, Summer is the best!

Lindsey will be starting High School and Drivers Education(aaagh), Ashley will be "alone" at the Junior High and Nathan will be in 6th grade, his last year of elementary. When did we get soooo old?

Girls Camp

We have just returned from Girls Camp. What a great experience it was! Bartley and I both were able to go (Thanks Grandma Mary:) and be there with Lindsey and Ashley.

I just want to say how wonderful, fabulous and terrific MY Young Women are. The media would have us believe that the world is falling apart and that teenagers are just lazy losers who are out to either kill each other or mooch off the world as much as possible. My Young Women are proof that the future of the world and church are in good hands.

My favorite part was sitting on the hill at the Manti Temple talking about Captain Moroni. It was a spiritual high that I will never forget. Some of the other activities I enjoyed were; Improv Night (Sis Frandsen and the Lemon HA! HA!) standing on the dock in the moonlight with Brianna, Value Hike, water fights on the paddle boats with Courtney and Nicole, Sister Smith and everyone jumping into the lake on Friday (it was fun to be a spectator) and of course Testimony Meeting.

Since my Young Women read my blog, I just have to say I LOVE YOU! Thanks for making Girls Camp the best I have ever been to!

Busy

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activities for our family. First, we had Nathan and Bartley at the Dodgers baseball tournament and my Sellers Training in SLC. Then I took 3 kids and went to the Murdock Reunion in Carey, ID. Bartley and Lindsey did Band Camp that same week. Lindsey and I have just returned from Youth Conference this past weekend. Bartley and Nathan were in Rexburg for the All Star Tournament. Maggey and Abbey stayed with our wonderful neighbors the Vigues, and also with Grandma Mary. WHEW! We are so busy!

Youth Conference was soooo awesome. Some of my Young Women read my blog and so this is for you.... I love you all so much and couldn't have been prouder of you than I was at Youth Conference. Our youth were in charge of a HUGE activity(a dramatic "plane crash"), right before testimony meeting. (NO PRESSURE!) They took on the challenge and completed it perfectly. If I could hand out an Academy Award to each of you I would! Thanks again to my YW! I am so lucky to serve with you!!

Coming up next week Lindsey, Ashley, myself and Bartley will be attending girls camp. We are excited to be going to Palisade Lake(our favorite camp site). Nathan, Maggey and Abbey will be staying at Grandma Mary's (Thanks, MOM) and they are super excited.

I am hopeful that after girls camp things will settle down a little and we will all be able to relax before school starts in mid August.

Ashley will be coming home tomorrow, and we are excited to see her. She has been gone a long, long time it seems. She has been lucky to have this opportunity, and we are grateful to Dan and Julie for opening their home to her. She says that she doesn't really want to come home. (Surprise-not!) She knows that we miss her. So does half of our ward, they want their babysitter back!

Bartley Boys

Hello All,
Nathan and I (Bartley) spent the weekend in Rexburg, ID. at a baseball tournament. If you asked Nathan if he liked the trip he say, "Yea, but we didn't win any games." We didn't win a thing. Outside of that we had a good time together. We took our bikes are were able to get a little riding in. Sat. morning we found my Great Uncle Steve's house. We visited them for about an hour. Many of you don't know, but my brother Sandy was with Uncle Steve when he (Sandy) died. I had never really known what had transpired when he died, other than he was fishing and started feeling crummy (I was on my mission when Sandy died). I asked Steve if he would share with me what had happened and he did.
We also were took a two mile ride along the Snake River. It was actually to the first mile marker and back. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to drive home. I told Nate he would have to drive. He was really happy with that.
I wanted to take an alternate way home so we stopped at Walmart to get a map. The world is soooooo small. I was looking up and down the aisles and I see Kyle and Stephanie Moore.
They use to live down the street from us. They built a house in Riverton and then we knew they had moved to Washington state. They have been living in St. Anthony for the last 3 years. We were able to visit for a half hour. It was wonderful to get the highlights of their life. It just goes to show that you need to behave wherever you go because you don't know who you'll run into.
The alternative route we took was through Preston/Cache Valley way. I stopped and visited my cousin Lisa. I have not seen her for a while and was good to see her and Blair. We use to tend Colton when he was very little. Now he is very big.
While listening to the radio we heard an announcement of a book signing from a 15 year old author. I am sucker for book signings so we stopped an bought a copy of the book and had the author sign it to the "Bartley Boys"
I took Nathan to the Blue Bird Restaurant in Logan. He has his Father's appetite for beef. He ordered a piece of Prime Rib. He was able to finish about 1/3 of it (with the help of his dad) and then nibbled on it all the way home.
Our hotel didn't have a swimming pool. We went to the hotel where most of the team was staying and swam in that pool. We had a good time.
The hotel we stayed in had a hot tub. You will need to ask Nathan his take on the hot tub.
It is late and I get to stay home this week. Thanks Heaven.
One last thought: I realized on this trip that I miss open spaces. I like to see open space between towns. I like to know where one city/town starts and another one ends.
Love to all

Bartley

Murdock Reunion

Today I have been thinking about the last few weeks and I can't believe how totally crazy it has been for our family.

First I spent a few nights last week at the Marriot for my Annual training with the Sellers Group. Lindsey, Maggey and Abbey were all able to come and spend the night with me. We were able to go to the Hogle Zoo (paid for by my employer) after hours and wander around with out any crowds. The little girls had a blast! They got to ride on the new carousel over and over and over and, well you get the picture. Lindsey is an animal lover and so we all had a good time.

On Friday, I quickly drove home from my training and picked up Jamie(my baby sister) and Nathan, Maggey and Abbey. We threw their suitcases in the back of my van and we were off. 51/2 hrs. later we arrived in good 'ol Carey, Idaho. (Carey, Idaho is a VERY small town in Idaho where my grandparents and four of my cousins live. My mom was born and raised there.)

We were able to attend my grandparents 65th Wedding Anniversary(WOW) celebration, which was wonderful. I am so lucky to belong to such wonderful, amazing, and inspiring people. It was fun to see my cousins, and to be in a place that has so many warm and wonderful memories. My mom's whole family is amazing. I love you all!

Saturday was full of MURDOCK family reunion, once again with my cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, second cousins (or is it once removed???). The usual family reunion stuff, games, food, THE circle game, visiting, etc...I had fun watching my kids make friends with my cousin's kids. It is a thrill to watch them make the connection...

Sunday was great, we went to church in my grandparents ward. My cousin is now the BISHOP (HA!). What a crack up,my older cousin Dan conducting the meeting. The same cousin who teased me until I cried, threw water balloons at me from the tree house, and infamously rode his bike through a family reunion with smoke bombs bombing,(or is it smoking?) is the BISHOP! :) It is funny to me that we are all such serious grownups, old and boring now.

I got kinda sentimental being there and wondering if this could be the last time I would visit my grandparents in their lifetime. I had to hold back the tears as we said goodbye. It was harder than I thought.

I will post more pic's later......

Another Update by Bartley

Hello once again.
Nathan decided to go to Carey. He is having a fun time except for the fact that he was bitten by Tade, Grandpa Duane's dog. From the sound of it he got bit on the lip. I have not seen it yet and won't until Monday. I think he is doing okay.
Ashley is currently at Lake Tahoe. Boy life is rough. They have gone camping for the weekend. She was able to go to see Wall*E at Pixar Studios on Thursday. She really liked the theater there. She is not going want to go see a movie anywhere around here.
Lindsey is very sore tonight. She has spent 22 plus hours with marching band in the last two days. She and her friend Emily have been riding their bikes to band to save gas. Lindsey has had a pretty good attitude about doing it. Way to go Lindsey. I watched them rehearse part of their show today. The way it has been described to me and what I saw today it will be fantastic. I am looking forward to seeing it.
Lindsey and I went to see Iron Man last night. I appreciate her spending time with her old dad.
My Mom has always wanted to go for a hot air balloon ride. Today she got to do just that. She was up in Heber and had a wonderful time.
Jen will update you on her trip on Monday or Tuesday and hopefully have some pics for you.
Much love to you all,

Bartley