"At Your Age"

Craziest thing. Jer was playing this:

Okay, so he was coaching the 11 year old boys and made a sweet move on one of the kids when suddenly he was shot in the back of his leg. Well, not really, but it felt like it! So it's not a gunshot wound, but it is a tear in his gastrocnemius which feels like you've been shot.


He went down and tried not to scream like a little girl in front of his team. I had to have my mom take me out to the practice field so that I could drive him to the insta-care (of course, it's his right leg). The doc gave him some pain meds and other pills then wheeled him out to the car so that we could go get his crutches. Best part was watching Jer suffer through sitting in a wheel chair. So funny. He hates letting people baby him. Instead he used these:

His timing couldn't have been better. I had to leave for girls camp 3 days later. Aside from the humor and sarcasm, I will say that thanks to the GREAT people in our ward (not to name any names - our Elders Quorum President and our Home Teacher) the crutches didn't last as long as originally thought. These fine men came over the night he injured his leg and gave him a blessing and reminded us of the miraculous things that can happen with faith through the power of the Priesthood. Yesterday at physical therapy, we were told that Jer is two weeks ahead of schedule as far as his recovery. His work has not been affected (just his ability to run the field with the boys).

When I got home from camp (7 days after the injury), this is what his leg looked like:

Isn't that the coolest? It's all shiny 'cause we've had to keep IcyHot on it, but that bruise is amazing. It keeps getting better every day. I'm going to be bored when it's gone.

Initially we were told 6-8 weeks for recovery and 2-4 weeks before he would be off the crutches and driving again. Needless to say, he was back to driving and walking within a few days. It still is going to be several weeks for anything else (which is frustrating given he's been losing weight like crazy and now this puts a damper in his exercise routine) and he won't be back on the soccer field until Labor Day. While this injury is quite common for soccer players, it may have been avoided had he not gone from work to Scout camp to soccer without a water bottle (he was dehydrated). So while you're all LOVING the 100 degree weather, don't forget to drink WATER.

Bananas Unite

Genesis, Ivy, Brielle, Tasha, Alyssa, Katie, Carli, Jessie, Sydnee, Taylor, Kaetlyn, Jill, Jackie,
Ashley, Tammy, me, Kristin, Maddie, Hillari, Whitney, McKel, Aubriel, Tegan.

Flushing toilets, running water, air conditioning, a real bed, clean feet... these are just a few of the conveniences I am glad to be back to. You know it's been a good week when you walk into the Park City Wendy's and the girls get excited about how "nice" the public restroom is.

Girls Camp is seriously one of my favorite things. I know I'm a nerd. I loved it when I was a Young Woman, and I love it still. Aside from having no water this year, it was an awesome experience. I love camping. I love the dirt and the grime and cooking in dutch ovens and feeding the leftovers to the chipmunks. But, most of all, I love the girls. I know. Sap. I don't usually get all cheese head on my blog. But, there's such a rewarding feeling when the girls stand up to share their testimony and you realize they really have been paying attention - that it all hasn't been for not.

We had a huge group this year - lot's of young women and and lot's of great leaders. There's a lot I could say and details I could share, but I think I'd rather summarize with pictures. Bare with the appearance of us all - this is one time when it's a good thing pictures don't smell. 4 days + 24 girls + 7 leaders + 3 mile hike + 4 hours sleep at night - water and flushing toilets = ew.


The last couple of years, we cover the tables in plastic and let the girls design them with sharpies. Love it.

This is moments before I experienced my first fire roasted twinkie. Thanks Maddie. And roasted Starburst (tastes like a warm fruit gusher - pretty cool, actually).

This is Tammy experiencing camp for the second time - she's now a professional when it comes to songs around the campfire. BANANAS UNITE - and you peel to the left and you peel to the right... my mom gave me a dime so I can buy a lime, but I don't buy no lime.. I buy me some BUMBA CHICKY CHICKY BUMBA...


These are the leaders that are teaching your daughters. Sad but true.

Tammy, Jill, Ashley, me, Kristin, Jackie, Hillari and Maryanne

I had the best Secret Sister. On day two, I got a bundle of dark chocolate and a poster of Taylor Lautner (Shark boy/Jacob). And, me being Team Edward, thought I would give it away. This was the highlight of girls camp. A bunch of screaming teenage girls as I unrolled the poster... begging... drooling... wanting. It was great. From that moment on, I was getting back rubs, foot massages, special cookies frosted for me and love notes. I worked it.. took advantage.. made them suffer a little. And, at our awards party, I will give it away. (note to girls: no decision has been made. I'm still open to some brown nosing.)

Tasha and Alyssa are both fourth year campers/youth leaders and needed to pass of "dutch oven cooking." It was fun to teach them. I think I will put it to the test and see if Tasha really knows how to light charcoal, cook in the dutch oven and then clean them. .

Overall, camp was awesome. It always is. Even though I'm a complete waste at home now and can't get caught up on my sleep. Until next year...

He's a "Keeper"

I realized I haven't spent much blog space on my Josh in the last while. He just is so consistent with who he is that I guess I take it for granted. School ended and he came home with a packet of awards as well as a report card with all A's on it. Sadly, at this point, if he came home with anything less, I would be disappointed. He is my overachiever and it makes life easy for me. I used to stress about keeping up with him, but he has passed me up in so many areas that now I just let him teach me. It's a good thing I'm not a home schooling mom.

Besides being awesome at school, Josh is awesome on the soccer field. I love it. He loves it. Jer loves it. I have to laugh when friends with little one's tell me how their little guy just stands in the middle of the field and won't even run. There is hope. The first time Josh played soccer, he stood out in the middle of the field and bit his fingernails. I was so embarrassed. Now he's almost 12 and makes his mama proud every time he plays the game. We ended our season with a Fathers vs. Sons scrimmage. It was most entertaining to watch Jer and Josh on the field together. Josh had save after save ... he never did let his dad score on him.

The last week of May provided some serious stress for us. It was tryout time. Jer decided it was only fair to take Josh to a couple of clubs. He took him to the Utah Glory tryouts and was not thrilled with the club itself. And, he took him to the USA tryouts. Josh has been playing competition soccer for two years with USA and the plan was to stay with his team and scout out a few new players. After 3 nights of "performing" for 4 hours at a time, Josh had coaches fighting over him. Jer has been coaching so if Josh was to leave his team, that meant Jer had to leave as well. In the end, Josh was offered a position on the Utah Glory Premier team, his current USA Blue team and the USA Select team. Decisions. Wow. Jer and I finally decided to do what was best for Josh (versus keeping the old USA team together). It was tough and it really pulled hard on Jer's heart strings. He has coached those kids for two years and didn't want to leave that team. But, do you hold your own kid back or do you stay loyal to the old team? In the end, Josh went with the USA Select team. We left the Blue team and decided that was the best thing for Josh. He loves the game more than I've ever seen a kid love something. Jer was asked to coach along side Tim Ruff for the Select team (which is flattering for Jer). The team is excited to have Josh and has already started with 60 minutes of drills a day, 2 team practices a week and 3 tournaments this summer. This is serious now. :) I am thrilled for Josh and so proud of him. Soccer has been such a passion for him and now he gets to take it to the next level.