Summer is officially over!

At least in my house as school started today. So with that said I guess I had better recap the summer.

Summer started off with YM high adventure. Garrett and Trent both went on this little team building trip. Actually the entire stake went this year and they separated the boys all into teams and then they had to do certain tasks or use their boys scout skills I should say to gain points. Some things they had to do; build a raft and get all the boys across a pond (I think), learn to rope a calf, build catapults (for water balloon launching), they rode mountain bikes and a whole lot of other things. Needless to say a good time was had by all. No pictures sorry I wasn't there.

Jubilee came next. This was a regional thing that all the youth 14 and up were able to participate in. There was dancing and singing, tumbling and fiddling. And both Garrett and Hailey were very involved. Hailey was asked to tumble in two of the special numbers that were done and Garrett was part of the fiddle ensemble. The fiddling number was a big crowd pleaser, I have to say they sounded awesome. They practiced and learned their parts for over 6 months. Then all of the jubilee events took place over three days with the final day being where they performed, not once, not twice, but three times. It was quite a weekend.

(3 of the fiddlers) Sarah, Garrett (isn't he handsome) and Megan

Next was girls camp, yes by this time it is the last couple of days of June and first of July and yes we still live in Texas, so yes it was very hot. Both Hailey and I got to attended together this year. A lot of fun was had as the girls testimonies grew about who they are and their royal heritage.

Allen 5th ward bunch

With less than a 24 hour turn around we were out the door and on our way to Utah. Spent a couple of weeks there visiting with my family. Garrett went to soccer camp at BYU, we also made a short road trip up to Idaho to visit my Dad and Trent's Aunt Paunie and Uncle Larry.

Trip up to Kennecott, Also visited a life size replica of the "UP" house

Our road trip continues, as next we jumped in the car and headed for L.A. where we spent the night with Trent's sister Becky and then flew off to Hawaii. This had to be the highlight of the summer. We first visited the island of Oahu. We rented a house on the North Shore right on Sunset Beach. We snorkeled, body boarded at many the beach, Pearl Harbor and of course we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. After of week there we flew into Hilo to enjoy some time on the 'Big island", Hawaii. Here we hiked to several waterfalls, did more snorkeling, saw black sand beaches and lots of sea turtles, gathered a rather large collection of coconuts, and visited Volcano National Park.

Polynesian Cultural Center and the Laie Temple

Sunset Beach

Sea Turtles and Punalu'u Beach

Coconut gathering at Punalu'u and Volcano Crater

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau and Climbing the Banyun Trees

ALOHA

Last stop for the Summer Ojai CA. for the Thomas' Family Reunion. A Great way to end the trip. Uncle Chet taught the crew how to surf, this was a hit. Hailey was the only successful surfer in our family. We pick oranges, swam, played volleyball, and last but not least spend quality time with the family. Tyler, Grandma and Grandpa were all back from their missions so it was good to see them again. In about a year we will be sending off the next bunch. We sure did miss Dustin and Shauna and their kids and Cody this year. Work schedules just did not permit the trip.


I have to say whew, and when I got home I felt like I needed a vacation.