Pioneer Night Fun

 

 

28th Birthday

My 28th Birthday landed on Sunday this year so we waited to get together with family and friends on the 23rd.

That didn't stop Alex from giving me a little birthday surprise after church.

Good thing he's cute

We had a yummy BBQ in our backyard and all the little kids swam while the adults talked and ate. I got a lot of birthday love and enjoyed spending time with people I love. Bryan was in charge of the camera to take pictures but we didn't take the camera off video from the one above so all we have is video of me opening presents. He thought he was taking pictures lol.

I will just put up one. Alex gave me a gift card to my favorite clothing store, Down East. Matt hid it in his hiking boot to throw me off.

 



10 Year High School Reunion

Yes, Matt and I are old and both had our 10 year High School Reunions.

For those that don't know, I grew up in San Diego, Spring Valley to be exact. I went to Monte Vista High School. Home of the Mighty Monarchs. No, we weren't the butterflies as Matt loves to call us :). We were Lions.

This is the only picture I have of my alma mater. Fun times with friends there but wasn't able to attend my reunion due to our busy schedules. I heard it was fun. I hope to be able to catch the next one.

Matt grew up in Spanish Fork and went to Spanish Fork High. Home of the Dons (snigger). Even the late President Gordon B. Hinkley wondered who came up with that mascot ;). No it was a great mascot. All of Matt's siblings are Dons and my brother Ammon.

They had theirs at the school. I don't remember who catered but it was really yummy! We were too busy having fun to remember that detail.

These are two of Matt's best friends growing up, Travis and Weston.

 Matt with other friends

 We had a little too much fun taking pictures.

Time flew these past 10 years and before we know it, our 20 year reunion will be here. 

Philmont Day 7 and 8

Thursday was our last full day at Philmont :(.
Matt woke up bright and early to go on a hike with the Perry's and Sis. Strain. They woke up at 4:00 to hike Lovers Leap to watch the Sunset. I would have loved to come but I love my sleep and I didn't want someone to have to take care of our boys when they woke up, so I got a full nights sleep :).

When I woke up, this day had to be my favorite morning.

I was worried about leaving Alex because of what happened yesterday but the head Nursery Instructor reassured me that he will be fine and they will make the best of it. They're awesome! Matt also helped by telling me that he will go get the boys from their classes before he goes to his second meeting just in case I didn't come back in time, which I didn't. This was my first activity outside the compound. I got picked from the lottery to ride horses :) We got started late due to some scouts out riding during almost half of our time there but I thought it turned out great because it didn't make us be on the horses for a long time to make myself hurt. I didn't walk funny :). I had a lot of fun on my horse named Dragon Fly. She was beautiful!

 It was a beautiful day too!

Here's the group of ladies I got to ride with.

 

Luckily I got back before Matt's next meeting. I just played with the boys waiting for him so we can eat lunch together. Alex had a great morning in Nursery so there was nothing to worry about.
After Lunch we took the boys back to their classes and I headed to the last meeting for the spouses. There I got my picture and a cool patch. They talked to us for a little bit and gave us instruction on another meeting that we got to attend with our spouses. During that meeting Matt and everyone else was recognized for completing Philmont Training. He got a certificate, more patches, a scarf and a fun Bolo Tie. His is of a Scottish man named Scottie. It's fun that he has that because his father went to Scotland on his mission and he has ancestors from there.
All the guys had a photo op with all their Philmont souvenirs.

After that meeting we had a final meeting with our Stake and a few other wards and had a Testimony Meeting. We all got to bare our testimonies.

Till dinner we had free time. We bought more patches and souvenirs to remember our trip. After dinner they had an Closing Ceremony where everyone had the opportunity to do a skit with their groups. Evan did a little patriotic skit. Alex would of been up there with him but he stayed with us of course.

A lady from my group made up fun lyrics to the Book of Mormon Stories tune

Matt and his group sang a beautiful song from the Hymn book. At that point it was too dark to record.
The rest of the night we got our stuff ready to head home in the early morning.

Day 8
After Breakfast we got our remaining possessions in the car and headed home. It was bittersweet for all of us. Well Matt and I really. We were excited to get home and get back to our routine but sad to leave such a fun place. Evan had too much fun and just cried as we were leaving. We hope we will be able to return again some day. We made great timing getting home. We didn't caravan like we did on the way up. We got back into town early enough to stop by our parent's place to tell them about our week, give them presents and Matt's dad was able to tell us about the Thompson Reunion that we missed. Matt's dad proposed to Lin :). We're having a wedding in September!
 

Philmont Day 6

Happy 4th of July!

During our morning Family Programs the boys got to do their normal free play, play with play dough, snacks, sing Beach songs for Beach day and play outside.

 I took a Dutch Oven Cooking class, which was a lot of fun. They put us in 3 groups and each group made a different dish. My group made Al Gratin Potatoes and the other groups made Monkey Bread and Cherry Cobbler. We got to talk amongst each other while we waited for them to cook and once they were done we got to eat them. The Potatoes and Monkey Bread were really good! I'm not a fan of Cobbler so I didn't have any. They gave us a packet of different reciepes. I'm looking forward to trying them. The class took the entire morning program.

I got the boys and waited for Matt to get done. We had lunch together and Evan fell asleep again :). Matt took Alex to Small Fry and I stayed with Evan so he could sleep a little longer. I had a Women's Meeting in the same room so it worked out perfectly but I ended up waking him up before it really started so I could get him to his activities. When I dropped him off I saw that Alex was asleep on the floor while they were watching a movie.

I went back to the meeting that was taught by the Becks. Another wonderful meeting that inspired me. The last 5 minutes of the meeting I received a phone call from the Nursery. When Matt dropped him off he wasn't too happy about it and cried until he fell asleep. When he woke up he cried even more and he just wasn't having any fun. The only reason they really called me is because they thought he was dehydrated and he wouldn't drink his water. There was still another 30 minutes till it was time for them to be picked up so I just stayed in there with them. Alex calmed down and started to play.

Evan still loved to rough house with the male nursery instructors.

We met Matt at the Handicraft place because while I was with the boys they told me that Evan went and worked on an apron but Alex didn't get too so we were able to do that with him. Evan painted his hands and put them on his apron. Alex didn't like the idea of using his hands so we did his feet. Turned out really cute.

Every time we go to Handicraft, Evan always poses by this green dude :).

We then followed them to the play ground. They took a break and went and got hot chocolate. Yes it was hot outside but it didn't stop them.

 I wanted to take pictures of them in their 4th of July shirts. Evan was being silly and started the Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil and See No Evil with out me telling him too.

 But instead of the See No Evil, he gave me a nice smile :)

They played a little bit more and then we had to take them to the Greensward Lawn so they could get ready for the parade.

It's a good thing I got pictures of Alex in his costume before hand because he lost interest while waiting for it to start and didn't go. We got another kid to wear it. Actually we got more then one to wear it.

Sis Esplin and her presidency were at the front of the parade.

Bro. and Sis. Beck followed close behind. Since all the kids were in the parade, they were throwing candy to all the parents :).

I missed it but this little cutie wore Mator in the parade. She is the Strain's youngest daughter. She wasn't too happy because we took her bottle away so we could put it back on her.

 Andrew Jaramillo had fun wearing it the rest of the time.

After the parade we had dinner out on the lawn. They served Buffalo Sloppy Joes and Chicken. We just stayed on the lawn and visited and played with frisbees that they gave us. We also went to the branding station that they set up and got other leather bands that we bought branded.
Before the group broke up we took some pictures. Alex is actually between the both of us. We had to laugh seeing that he isn't in the picture at all.

I stayed with the boys a little while longer as Matt and some of the other guys went and took the tour of the Villa since they don't get as much free time as us women.
We had another relaxing evening in our tent with the boys while they had a Western Dance. Evan did go to a little bit of it with Matt while I went to the Dinning Hall so Alex could get his cereal before bed.

Philmont Day 5

Thursday started off like Monday but before breakfast we went and got our family picture done.

 We went to the Flag Ceremony and then dropped the kids off at the Small Fry Center.

Instead of Matt having his training in a classroom, him and his group got to get on a bus and have their morning training meeting in the mountains.

This was the day that I scheduled nothing for myself and decided to just relax under the shade in the Greensward Lawn. As I was getting my stuff I had the impression to do laundry first so I got the dirty clothes and went to the building with all the machines. Doing laundry is such a mundane thing but it was so nice being able to do all our loads all at once and I was able to talk to a very nice lady from Idaho while waiting. I got the clothes cleaned just in time to relax on the lawn still :).

When it was time to pick the boys up, I learned that Evan got to ride on a Pony! He was so excited about it. I wish they took pictures! They also played a lot, sang songs, had stories read to them and had snacks.

Matt was still in a meeting so I got to wait with the boys. Having no naps was starting to take its toll on Alex so he wasn't the happiest camper. He really wanted to play full on in the water in the fountain but not only is it not allowed, it's dangerous. I had to pull him away and it caused a very nasty 2 year old with no sleep tantrum. I wanted to just pick him up and leave but that meant I would have to leave Evan because he's not the quickest kid to follow me and there was no one I knew personally to help watch him so I just stayed and hoped it wouldn't last long. It felt like an eternity for me but I think it lasted 15 mins or so. I had to protect Evan from him so my upper arm was bruised and scratched. He stopped once Matt came. He such a Daddy's boy.

Anyways, lunch was right at that time but I really wanted to just take Alex and put him the car so he could nap but he was calmed down enough so we went to lunch. After being in there eating for about 15 minutes, Evan falls asleep.

 About five minutes later, Alex falls asleep.

 Such a tender mercy from the Lord lol!

As I cleaned up Matt picked the boys up and carried them to the front Villa lawn so they can nap under a big tree.

That allowed us to rest with them for about 40 minutes till a worker came to us and asked us nicely to move because they had to mow. Just my luck I guess but he felt so bad because he has kids at that age and knows how it is.

Since there was no Family Programs the rest of the day, it was all Family Time. The boys were doing fine so we took them to the Trading Post up the road that's located on the Boy Scout Camp area. I got the boys big ice cream cones while Matt went in and got his Belt and belt Buckle that he's been wanting. When he was done I was able to go in and get my souvenirs. I got a CamelBak water bottle with Philmont on it. I was hoping they had them so I was happy they did. I also got our magnet and our Christmas Ornament for the year :).

Before heading back to the Training Center we took a drive.

We still had more time before dinner so we went back to Handicraft, bought leather arrows and let the boys decorate their own. Matt and I also did one for ourselves.

In this picture they aren't stained yet because we had to wait for them to dry. Alex really got his wet :). They boys enjoyed the little project.

At this point it started to rain a little bit. Evan and Alex had fun playing in it with Justin.

While we were eating our dinner it was raining pretty hard but lightened up so we could get back to our tents. Luckily it stopped shortly after so we were able to get the boys all cleaned up for bed. They were having a movie night for everyone but we decided to have our own with the boys for them to fall asleep too. Worked like a charm :).

Philmont Day 4

Monday was our first day of Family Programs. It's when the Philmont Staff entertains the wives and children of the men while they're in training meetings :).

After breakfast we all went to Flag Ceremony. I then took Evan and Alex to the Small Fry Center because that's where their groups are. Alex is Nursery (2 weeks to 2 years) and Evan is Small Fry (3 years to 4 years). Evan and Alex were together 95% of the time the whole week but Evan was able to go out to do other activities.

I was worried I wouldn't be able to leave Alex since he's hasn't been wanting us to leave him in Nursery at church. It took me 30 minutes to find a way to distract him and it was the drinking fountain. The kid loves water. I got to slip away without him crying and I went to my Orientation Meeting.

They explained the different activities that were available to us and we were able to sign up for anything that we wanted to do. I was hesitant to sign up for anything that would take me away from the Center just in case I was called to get Alex. I thought I would just relax and do my project when I didn't have anything scheduled. I thought that was a great plan :).

After we signed up for activities we took group photo's that we got at the end of the week. We had the biggest group ever for LDS week so they had to split us into 3 groups. Matt and I were group C.

Matt and our Stake were in the bottom row.
From left to right: Pres. Jaramillo, Bro. Strain, Pres. Parry (sign) Pres. Sabin and Matt

Me and the other wives weren't all together but Sis. Strain was next me by the sign, Sis. Parry is behind her in the green, Sis. Sabin is behind her in the blue and white shirt and Sis. Jaramillo is on the right in the back and wearing a hot pink shirt. She has the lighter hair of the two.

Evan and Alex's group. Evan is behind the Staff Member that's sitting and Alex is in the back being held by a Staff Member.

After taking pictures I went to a Women's Meeting that was taught by Sis. Espiln (wonderful!) I got a better vision for our boys in what I want for them as they grow into Young Men. The meeting ended in time for me to pick up the boys. When I got there I saw that Evan was having a fun time rough housing with the men Staff Members. Alex was in the bathroom playing in the children sinks. He was wet but he at least was happy and having a great time. 
Matt was still in his meeting that went till lunch so we waited and played by the fountain and pond.
After lunch I took the boys back to the Small Fry Center for the afternoon's Family Program. Leaving Alex was easier this time because I put him back in the bathroom so he could play in the water :). I let the staff know of course.
For the afternoon I toured the Villa.
Just a little back history. Waite Phillips and his wife Genevieve owned around 300,000 acres of land in Cimarron. They built the Villa as a summer vacation home. Their main residence is in Tulsa Oklahoma which they also donated. There were wealthy with more money then they needed so they would donate big portions of money to different organizations a year.

Waite learned about the Boy Scouts of America and donated the smallest piece of land out of the two biggest pieces. After the donation he observed the BSA closely and saw what they were doing with the land so he donated the biggest portion where the Villa sat. The smallest piece was donated from another generous gentlemen with the last name of Norton. Sorry I don't remember his first name. The house is now a memorial of Waite and his family and only used for tours. 95% of the furniture inside is all original and used by the Phillips that they purchased in Europe.
I was able to fall back in the group and got some good pictures of the place.

Living Room

These rugs aren't original but replicas. They are beautiful! All hand woven.

 Originally this was their front entrance when it was built but the Phillip's changed it to their Breakfast Room.

 This is the Phillip's cattle brand. Waite wanted a W but it was already taken so he used the double U's. Clever...

 Stairwell

 Stained glass in the stairwell

 Their library that used to be the sewing room, but changed it because of the view of the mountains.

 Master Bedroom. The time of twin beds!

Other side of Master Bedroom

 Sun Room that was once open when it was built but was closed off because of the extreme weather.

 Genevieve's vanity....Spoiled!

 Her closets

Master Bathroom

Shower with 7 shower heads. Amazing for that time!

 Waite's dresser with some of his personal items still there.

 His closet

Their son Elliot's room. He is still alive and visits often.

Their daughter Helen's room

 Nannies room

The front door. It's next to the structure that houses their cars so it only makes sense that they changed it.

 This is where Waite entertains his guy friends.

Him and his friends put their initials on a table in there. Such a guy thing to do.

Game/Trophy Room

 Another view of the room

His collection of guns

 More guns and game

On their front porch

After the tour I talked with friends on the lawn till I needed to go pick up the boys and meet up with Matt and had family time. The boys seemed to have a really fun day. I learned that they got to play a lot, sang songs, stories, had snacks, watched a movie and Evan got to go hold chickens and see goats.
For Family Time we visited the Handicraft store to see what was available for us to make with the boys when we had more time. We also wanted to wait and see what they also had at the Trading Post but we went there on a different day.
At dinner Alex was showing signs of exhaustion. He could of fallen asleep but he hated being filmed so he left :). Earlier he would close his eyes for a little bit before I started filming. But it's still very funny and you get the general idea.

So after dinner was our Family Home Evening and our Family Banner Parade. On our way to the Program Bowl we saw a snake!

 We watched it for a little bit

It was pretty cool to watch because it would stop at every crack to examine it. He was looking for a way in. Kinda creepy to think that it could go by our tents (which weren't very far away) and easily get in. Luckily it's just a gofer snake!
During the Program we got to introduce our family and show off our flag that we worked hard on before coming up.

While we were watching other people go up we sat by the Pony enclosure to keep Alex entertained. He ended up touching the barbed wire fence and it scared him so he started to cry a little bit. Matt went to go comfort him and while he picked him up his water bottle ended up hitting his lower lip hard enough to let his tooth go completely through his bottom lip. There was blood everywhere and he started to scream louder. We hurried him off to get cleaned up and I went to go find a nurse with no luck. Luckily it stopped bleeding on its own so he didn't need any further medical attention (thank you!) I took Evan back to the program and Matt and Alex found the snake again to calm him more down. Matt filmed this funny but adorable video of Alex. If you look closely at his bottom lip you can see his cut.

Not sure if his cut had anything to do with him waking up in the middle of the night but it was probably the cold. It dropped down into the 40's every night.