Family Campout

Well, we made it through the first week of summer vacation, but not without boredom, occasional sibling rivalry and frequent sightings of mommy monster. Robbie came to our rescue, however, and announced that we would be having a family campout on Friday. Since he wanted to do it in our backyard, I couldn't argue because my cool house and soft bed were close by. The kids planned a dinner of hot dogs, chips, and lemonade (mom added fruit and baked beans) Of course, Robbie planned a fireside and assigned everyone to give a talk. Rob and the kids built a fire in the fire pit, we roasted our dinner and shared it with the local insect community (probably even ingested a few members) We then pitched the tent with enthusiastic














help from Caleb and Aidan. Robbie patiently waited until it got completely dark (it happened to be the longest day of the year) and then called the family around the campfire for our fireside. We sang "We thank Thee O God for a Prophet" along with special requests from Aidan of "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam" and "I am a Child of God". After the opening prayer, Kirstin was the first to give a talk. Since she had no clue what to say she bore her testimony and sat down. Disgusted, Robbie hollered, "Hey! That's not a talk!" When Caleb copied Kirstin, he again protested. Dad and I made sure to give proper sermons to soothe the savage beast. Robbie ended with a lengthy but beautiful sermon of his own on President Benson's counsel to us to read the Book of Mormon. After a closing prayer, I cleverly exited the scene mumbling some excuse about cleaning up and put Aidan down for the night. Several minutes later Caleb came in crying because he clotheslined himself while running across the yard in the complete darkness and hitting the tent line. Now he has an angry red mark that looks like someone tried to strangle him. Mommy monster













fears that she might be unjustly accused. Caleb is his mother's son. Those of you who know me well know what I'm talking about. Kirstin came in sometime after that to get her MP3 player because she couldn't stand all the snoring in the tent. All in all, it was great fun and a good ending for our week.

* Also worthy of note, Caleb got his cast removed and replace with a smaller one that ends below his elbow. The doctor gave him a glow-in-the -dark cast so now Super Tisin has a sidekick--Glow Boy.