Youth Conference

Well I got invited to youth conference again. Bishop called me up Wendesday and asked if I couldn't go to youth conference to help out. It was at Camp William this year. The kids did all kinds of fun things before I got there including games, repelling off a tower, and swimming. By the time I got there they were just finishing up swimming.

As always it is a lot of hard work, here are some of our helpers in the kitchen. I mostly stayed with the youth, but did a little in the kitchen.




As you can tell we had good eats. Kids always make it fun but especially when it comes to food.





After the food came our guest speaker, it was Lavel Edwards. I can certainly see why he was a coach and a good one. It was quite motivating, and several great messages. After that a testimony meeting.




We Slept in the barricks at the camp. The adults and boys together, on the main floor and the Girls and their leaders on the second floor. It wasn't too bad. The next day packed up, cleaned up and went through the open house at the Oquirrh temple. Kind of a short trip, but worth while. I am glad the Bishop thought of me to help out.

The Perfect Day

Dad and I had a perfect day, believe it or not, and I wanted to share with you what it was all about. It started out by being woken by two little voices (Penn and Logan) talking to each other. So we quickly jumped up and retrieved the boys to our bed. We played with them for a little while, it was so much fun and brought back a lot of memories of when our girls were little and we used to do the same thing. Then it was time to help Mary Elizabeth feed the boys and then cook breakfast. Meanwhile Dad was downstairs helping Spencer hang some doors in the basement in preparation to getting their new carpet in. - See it was a perfect morning.

Then we headed off to Mantua to do some 4-wheeling. I haven't been able to go 4-wheeling since May of 2007 and I was excited to do so. We invited Dad Gudmundson and Judy to go with us. This is one of the first times that Judy has done anything like this. We put Grandpa and Judy on the yellow Honda 4 wheeler and we were on the red suzuki and off we went. It was on a groomed trail and a perfect day. All the way up the mountain I was telling Daryl that there had to be bugs in my teeth because I could not stop smiling I was having so much fun. So image my surprise when we finally reached the top of the mountain and Judy told me that she did not understand why people enjoyed 4 wheeling so much. To her it was miserable and she was not having any fun. We could not make it all the way to Inspiration Point becuase there was still way too much snow on the road. So we stopped for lunch (it was Subway sandwiches). I love subway sandwiches so that just added to the perfectness of the day. We took the following pictures and walked around for a little while.



This is the scenery from where we stopped for lunch. Notice the heart shape tree off to the right of the picture. It was beautiful. We could see all the way down into Pineview Reservior in Ogden canyon.


This is a picture of dad and I in the meadow.

This one is of Dad, Grandpa Gudmundson and Judy right after we reach this space. The sign told us we were at 9,300 feet above sea level. What a beautiful place.

After we ate lunch we traveled back down the mountain, where I relectedly let dad drive. So you can see we had a perfect afternoon.

Now it was time to head home. Dad and I were both so exhausted that we didn't make it all the way home before we knew we had better pull off the road and take a quick nap. We were on the Legacy highway and able to pull off at a rest area. We both laid back in our seats and were sound asleep. After awhile I woke up because it was so hot and had to move around to cool off. Dad joined me and then we were able to continue our ride home. As you can see it was the perfect afternoon.

Now the Temple was closed for cleaning this Saturday, June 27. So Daryl and I had decided it would be a great day to visit the Draper Temple and see all our friends that were transferred to that temple from the Jordan River Temple. I cut Daryl's hair and he cut mine (which added to the perfect day) and we got ready to go to the temple. The Draper Temple really is hard to find. You have to be on the right road or you cannot get up to it. Since this was our first trip to that temple, it took several wrong roads and extra time to get there. By the time we arrived the session was full so we did sealings (that was the only option available). But let me tell you, from the minute we walked into the temple we were bombarded with friends that we used to work with at the Jordan River Temple. It was wonderful to see them all again and feel of their love. We were able to do the sealings and then we went to the Celestial room to enjoy the Spirit and talk about Spiritual things. While in the Celestial Room, Sister Koch came up to us (she used to work in the Jordan River Temple) and told us that we would be eternal friends because of the relationship we had with her and her husband in the opportunity of being temple workers. You know we felt the same way. The Temple has the best people working their and it is a honor and privilege to be able to work with them. We have made many special friends while having this opportunity. - what a perfect evening.

After the temple it was late and we hadn't had time for dinner so we stopped by the Golden Corral for dinner which just added to our perfect day.

Baby Gavin

Gavin with grandpa

WE have some exciting news. Monica and Sean had a little baby boy on June 15, 2009. we were able to go visit them this past weekend and I must say that Gavin Kendall is absolutely beautiful and perfect and is way loved by his Grandparents. He weight in at 9 pounds 14 oz. and 21.5 inches long. We will be going up to stay with them to help out the end of July and I am already excited to be there. Grandchildren are the absolutely best things ever. Its your reward for having children.

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The other day I was driving the van home from work and one of the ladies in the van was talking about how she has made it a goal to work in the yard for 15 minutes a day. I thought what a great idea and so Daryl and I decided to implement it. As any of you know, that know my husband, he is a hard worker and once he gets started he doesn't quit. Anyway we have been working in the yard, I work for 15 minutes and Daryl just keeps going until it gets dark and he can't see to do anymore. The best thing about this is that tons of stuff is getting done around the yard. We have pulled all the weeds in the swimming pool and put black plastic down to keep the weeds under control. We have pulled weeds by our few raspberry plants and planted 6 tomato plants- which I am way excited about. Daryl has moved a fence post so he can construct a gate into our back yard and has cut down branches off a pine tree that gets in the way. He is currently working on a new flower bed in our front yard under the guest bedroom which is staring to look really nice. I think the thing I love the most is that the front flower bed by the porch is now finished and boy does it look nice. He did such a wonderful job, I am so proud of the look, I know it adds alot to the front yard. Hope you all can see what a great job he did.

Scout Court of Honor

Last night dad received an district scout award for his service as a Scout master. It was really neat for him to be recognized in this way - he sure deserved it. He has been involved with scouting for 30 years now and has had a influence for good on more young men then I could possibly count. But last night after he received his award he paid special recognition to me and I thought I would like to share it with everyone. I cried all the way through it. I have married a great man and one that I love dearly. Here is his comments:

We all know the role parents, especially moms play in helping these young men achieve their goals and advance in scouting. Thats why a mothers pin is awarded at each rank advancement. It is a way to say thank you and to recognize their efforts in the success of their boys. Tonight I would like to thank someone who has helped to make me a success as a scout master. Someone I have depended on countless times, someone that has sacrificed for many of your boys over the years. That is my wife Gayelene. Whenever I have needed her to help with an activity, a campout, a court of honor or when I get discouraged with the way things are going or to help me to figure out the needs of your boys she has been there over these decades. She has listened and help me to prepare countless lessons for mutual and priesthood meetings. She has gone with me on several summer camps to cook for the boys, or gone grocery shoping, or prepared food for camp and packing before the camp, or clean up after the camp. She has driven hundreds of miles to bring me parts for my vehicle when we were broken down and stranded, she has run to the scout office for patches and tour permits or help to drive the boys around for activities. She has made flyers and calenders for parents. On many occasions she has been our photographer, then later made posters for our bulletin board. She has set up tables or donated her kitchen table for scout projects. She has sacrificed vacations for summer camps or outings. I counted up over 400 nights, she as sent me off over night and was left at home to sleep alone, many times for a week at a time, sometimes without a vehicle, so the souts could go on these outings. She has waited patiently for her distracted husband to finish the endless hours it takes to run a troop, or talk to a boy or work out a project. Every week she has to eat alone on mutual night and then warm my dinner, late at night after our activities. Many times she has been the other half of two deep leadership, so the boys could even have an activity or meeting. She has sustained me, helped me, counseled me and worked with me. Yet she has never had a son in a scout program to be proud of, or received an award, a pin, a patch, or recognition of any kind for her many efforts. I would like to take this time to honor her and say thank you, I only wish there was a badge of honor I could hang around your neck for her 30 years of devotion to scouting, the young men that have passed through our home and hearts, but mostly for what she has done for me. If I have been successful in scouting at all, I owe a great deal of that success to my wife Gayelene

California trip

I was looking at our blog and realized that I had forgot to blog about our trip to California to visit Candis and Joe. We really had a good time and on the way got to visit with Alan and Liz - they are such great hosts and we really felt welcome. Joesph provided the entertainment with bagpipes and it was fun to hear how good he is at that as well as the piano. Keep up the good work Joseph.

We visited Hollywood. I always wanted to go to Hollywood and see the Star's star on the sidewalk so this was pretty exciting for me. Just to walk around and see all the stars and who has a star. They were all over the place.



We also went to the Hollywood Wax Museum. It was not as impressive as I remember from when I visited as a young child. But here are a couple of pictures. Candis and I in front of Pirate of the Carribean.



This picture is of the actors that betrayed James Bond and then the 3 Charlie Angels.



We went on a hike to see the tidal waves. It was a beautiful hike with the ocean in the back ground. We hike up a hill by the ocean, around the hill and then back down the other side. Here is a picture of Candis, Alexis and I at the end of the hike. Coming down some steep stairs.



This is a picture of us during the hike. As you can see it was really pretty with the ocean in the back ground.



One day we just spend hanging around the complex and enjoying the exercise room and the swimming pool. It was a relaxing day. I wish I had taken a picture of this because it was a nice set up and Alexis really enjoyed being outside. I did get to feed Alexis by the pool and that was fun. I can't get it in fast enough.

The last day before we came home. Candis, Daryl and I had the opportunity to see a taping of "The Doctor's". It was interesting to see how it is done. the show actually aired and Candis was the only one that saw it. She said it was the same at the taping expect for a few minor changes.

Sean's graduation

We had another great week. Sean graduated from paramedic school. He graduated on April 1. We are so proud of him, it was a lot of hard work and from what Monica tells us he learned so much. Way to do Sean. Here are some pictures that we took of the event.




Here is a priceless picture of Sean and Ayden right before the graduation. They sure look good together - father and son. Ayden may not hear what you do, but he certainly sees what you do




Monica surprised Sean by having a special tee-shirt for Ayden. Here is a picture of him wearing it and his dad's hat and glove. Picture was taken right after the graduation.




Logan and Penn even got into the fun and had their own tee-shirts.




Becky is a wonderful Aunt. You can just see how much Ayden loves the tent that his Aunt Becky bought him. At first he would only let Aunt Becky and him in the tent. After a while it was - "Do you want to see my tent? Come play in my tent?" He really loved it.