Labor Day Weekend

We had a great time Labor Day weekend. I took two pictures, on of Saturday morning and the other one is Monday Morning. We enjoyed the weekend at the Bruneau Sand Dunes with Ed & Barbie Weigt and their three boys, Adam, Charles, & Cody and their friends. It was so good to spend time with all of them. Here are some things we did.

• Saturday morning Breakfast Burritos and several attempts at setting up the satellite so we could watch the BYU-Oklahoma game on ESPN. (this was one of several places tried but not the last & final spot that gained the signal and gave us the enjoyment of the game.)

Other things that we did:

• A trip to Walmart in Mountain Home
• Buying watermelon and cantelope from two cute little girls at a fruit stand outside of Mountain Home
• Lots of food
• BYU Football game in Barbie's motorhome
• More food
• Trip to the Observatory where we looked through several telescopes. Looked at the moons on Jupiter, a nova, and close-up of the moon.
• Searched and found scorpions with blacklights. Coolest thing ever, the scorpians are a flourescent green under the black lights.
• A nice quiet sunday enjoying one another's company
• A game with money moving all around the table a nd eventually into someone's pocket
• A visit with Justin, Becky, and Audrey. (you'd think I'd get a picture of them)
• Rick's Dutch Oven Cobbler (chocolate, it was amazing)
• Monday was Breakfast and a quick gather up to head for home.

Here is Drage, the next weekend just chillin before the big BYU-Tulane game.

Go BYU

Camping????

It's Labor Day weekend and we are camping. 'Camping?' you say but you are adding to your blog. I know. Crazy. This is not the way I grew up camping but I love it. We are at the Sand Dunes near Bruneau, Idaho. I am sitting in an air-conditioned motorhome watching the BYU-Oklahoma game and adding to my blog on Uncle Ed's computer. Ed & Rick spent the morning setting up the Direct TV dish so we could watch the game this evening.
Also, this is one of two state parks in Idaho that has free wifi for computers. How fun. We have all enjoyed checking our email and surfing the Internet.
Happy Camping.

Summer Vacation is over?

I have been overwhelmed with school. Starting a new grade has really thrown me for a loop and I have struggled getting it together. It's sad to look back and realize that summer is over and school is in full swing. Here are the pics I was going to blog about. Enjoy.

For Ari & Lyric:

This last weekend was the Vipperman Reunion. This family reunion is unique as we all come together on a Sunday afternoon and listen to some talented family play music. Others float the group, visiting and catching up. And, of course, there is always plenty of food. Some of you may not enjoy this blog but I know that Ariane and Lyric will love it.

Uncle Rod, Aunt Barbara, Aunt Carolyn & Uncle Don

(That's Sid Vipperman in the back between Aunt Carolyn

and Uncle Don. His son is to the right with Dale)

Becky & Audrey enjoying some dessert.

Tejay and Addey enjoying some quiet time. (Ashley didn't come)

Drage is enjoying his mom and dad's attention.

(That is Alexis White's head)

Justin & Chandra catching up.

Your Aunts enjoying one another.

We missed you girls. Maybe next year.

Handcart Trek

This last weekend, Rick and I was invited to be a Ma and Pa for our Stake handcart Trek. It has been a concern for me every since I found out that we were going. A few years ago, I was over a 4th year hike and made a real fool of myself. It was very embarassing and I certainly didn't want to have it happen again. so, I tried to prepare for the trek. I asked lots of questions, and proceede to do some walking around the neighborhood. Here are some things I learned while on the trek.

• Knee-high hose works!!! I wore a pair of knee-highs and then a sock and shoes. NO BLISTERS!!!! (which is more than Rick can say. H said he should have worn them)



• This picture if of a friend of ours in our ward. He went barefoot the first and last day of the trek. Pretty amazing.




• When I hear any stories about Rocky Ridge, I know what they are talking about. Although ours was not as long it was tough.



• Ice cubes thrown into a stream doesn't come close tot he actual Sweetwater Crossing. However, Young men carrying their young women peers across a stream brought tears to my eyes, imagining the sight from the past.




• I can't imagine taking small children across the U.S. in handcarts. I thought many times about my grandchildren and how hard it would have been having them along.



• Four ounces of flour makes a very boring, small biscuit. When the gave the kids their 4 oz the leaders made them believe that was dinner. We were all glad to see the BBQ pork later.



• Tears streamed down my face as they called the 'men' to be a part of the Mormon Battalion. Not for fear of what was ahead for me but what the men were doing for a country that had betrayed them. When the the prophet had asked them to do this, the men stepped forward to serve their country, their prophet, and their God.





• When the leaders tell you the 2nd day should only be 6 miles, don't believe them. We walked 10 miles the second day.



• Justin Elmer, a young man from our ward who is soon headed to St. Petersburg, Russia for a mission , is unbeatable in the stick pull.



• Yes, the latrine truck can get stuck in the mud. (clear above its axles!)







• One of my 'daughters' said, " I think if we had been in a handcart company that left early in the year, I probably could have been a part of a handcart company." I agree. Although we hear a lot about the trials of the Willie and Martin handcart companies, there were many who walked the trail and made it safely. They must have become very close as a group and were thrilled to arrive in the valley.



• As we walked and walked and walked--and walked-- I thought how the saints must have felt knowing that each step led them to Zion and to a prophet of God. How exciting it must have been for them.





• The youth of this dispensation are awesome!! Their testimonies are so strong. I personally had my own Sweetwater Hero in our family. He pulled the cart 90% of the time and bore a strong testimony at our devotional. The Lord's church is going to be in good hands.

The trek was trulya wonderful experience.

Early Father's Day

Rick got his father's Day gift early. It arrived today and

the kids (Marc, Ashlee, and I) couldn't

wait for him to see it.

It's a tie!!

But wait, what's on the tie?

It's pictures of his Grandchildren!!

Grandpa is so excited!!

Look at those beautiful kids.

Happy Father's Day early Grandpa!!
We all love you!

Memorial Day weekend

Grandchildren pictures on Memorial Day Weekend!!

This is a little long but has some fun spots in it. (This is proof that I shouldn't plan a career in filming)