If you can believe it, I didn't take a single picutre in the month of July, so you'll just have to use your imagination to create the visual images....
4th of July
This year the whole Morgan clan got together for a barbeque dinner, homemade ice cream, sparklers and fireworks. It was fun to see everyone again. The cousins had a wonderful time playing together -- thank goodness for a big backyard! The weather was great -- the hot hadn't really hit yet and I think only one child accidentally touched his hot sparkler after it went out -- not too bad considering we were working with about 10 kids! Melinda and Jared get kudos for making the delicious ice cream...maybe they'll make it and bring it to your party!
Cub Country
Clark got to spend 2 days at a day camp called Cub Country. The general idea is that he heads off really clean each day with a sack lunch and water bottle, spends the day learning and playing and then comes back really dirty and tired. He had a lot of fun with his friends earning some patches and awards.
Basketball
Elliot is playing recreational summer basketball. He wants to keep improving his skills with the thought that maybe he would like to play for the Waterford 6th grade team. He is always trying the get anyone in the family to go out and shoot baskets with him -- lately, we have to wait until the evening when the front yard has shade because it has been so hot.
Volleyball Camp
Tess and Madeleine spent a week torturing their bodies at the Waterford volleyball camp. They are getting "warmed up" for tryouts and workouts in August. They had fun going together this year. We are hoping that Madeleine might make Jr. Varsity and be able to have the same schedule Tess will have on the Varsity team.
A Day of Celebration
The highlight of the month for our family was having Madeleine and Tess participate in what was called "A Day of Celebration." Our church is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith, our first prophet. The event was held at the University of Utah football stadium and involved over 16,000 youths from all over the city. They were both dancers and spent many hours practicing -- the dress rehearsals were outside in temperatures well over 100! There were so many youth involved, that there wasn't room in the stand for the families, so we all went to our Stake Centers to watch it via satellite. It was a great program with lots of dancing and singing. A lot of people spent many many hours putting the whole thing together and everyone felt it was a great success.
Jazz Camp
Elliot along with playing basketball has been learning to play drum set. We even got him some cool sunglasses, so that he will "look" like a drummer. So, Waterford offered a Instrumental Jazz camp and Elliot spent a week learning how to improvise on the drums and on the marimba. Unfortunately, Alan and I were out of town and didn't get to hear the concert, but I hear from his sisters that he did great.
BYU Athletic Training Camp
So, I guess it was the month for camps. Tess is thinking she might like to study sports medicine in college, so she decided to attend an athletic training camp down at BYU where she got first hand experience learning how to tape wrists and ankles, fit a football helmet and oh so much more.... At the end of the week, she was still interested and is glad she got a "taste" of what it might entail. They also told her all about the program and what is involved scholastically. So, we'll see if in another year or two, if this is still what she wants to do.
Shakespearean Festival
We haven't been for years, so when we found out our friends had never been to the Shakespearean Festival, we decided then and there that we needed to spend a weekend with them down in Cedar City this summer. We saw Romeo and Juliet, Camelot and Dr. Faustus. It was very relaxing and fun, even if it was kind of a short trip. I think our friends the Lundgrens really enjoyed it too. If you like Shakespeare and haven't been, you should give it a try.
24th of July
We celebrated the 24-25th with the Morgans and the Browns. My sister Melanie had us all down Sunday evening for a visit and then the next day we were all at Pat and Wally's to swim and enjoy a barbeque. This year Alan's sister, Diane, was in town from Minnesota and his niece Jessica was visiting from California, so we got to "catch up" with them.
The College Boys
Phillip is getting ready to finish a Summer term at BYU. He and Loren moved off campus together for the summer. He has really enjoyed his classes -- he tried a few new fun things like folk dancing, but overall he thinks these 8 weeks classes are a bit rushed and stressful. I think he likes Fall and Winter semesters better.
Loren went Spring term, but took a break from school during Summer term and has been enjoying a new job working for BYU Catering Service. He does everything from barbeques to EFY dinners (1400 kids!) to ambassadors from Iraq. They supply him with the appropriate attire each time -- cool, huh? No laundry! And, leftovers are up for grabs. Pretty good job all in all.