Band Camp 2009 - Bison Ranch, Overgard, AZ

Hayley's trip:
My first year in Color Guard! Our school Color Guard and Band left at 5:15am for a week of intense practice in Bison Ranch. It was a lot of hard work. We worked in the sun for 8 hrs a day. 5 solid days! The first day we got there, it was raining, and hailing, with crazy lightning and thunder! Kind of scary! I had a lot of fun too. Nothing like being with my friends! Funny story...Gabby's deodorant said "Sexy Intrigue" (and her body spray) so it became the inside joke that once we were sprayed with it, we were "Sexy Intrigued". ;-)
I tripped, fell and ran into the door...nothing out of the ordinary! We were very happy to get home at the end. It was exhausting!!!

Fourth of July Fun!!

We got together with our Hall side of the family next door for the fourth. We went swimming in their pool and had BBQ shrimp, salmon, shishkabobs, and chicken. It was very good. Later we drove to the AZ Army National Guard and sat in the parking lot near the Chandler Airport and watched the fireworks. It was soooo hot! Kris turned off the car and so we sat for almost an hour in humid heat. (Probably 98 degrees that night.) Our clothing was drenched with sweat by the time we left to go home. But it is always great to sit and reflect on the miracles and perseverance of our founding fathers and all the great things they helped bring to pass. It would be nice if it were still the same.
Below are some pics of our evening out watching fireworks. We went in our van and Mike drove his Pathfinder filled with Kimberlee (his wife), Alyssa & Maddie (their kids), and Grandpa Hall. Unfortunately Nanna Hall couldn't come, she had to work that night.

Hayley with her Ipod.
Maddie and Grandpa Hall trying to stay cool in the back seat.
Alyssa being silly.
Sydney was busy playing with her camera taking pics of herself.
Kimberlee and Mike. Mike was passing the time with his new Ipod Touch. Cool.

Hayley - YW Camp 2009 (University of Values)

Goofin' off in the tent

Here she goes!

Oh ya! I'm first!

The infamous Purity Princess shirt.

This was Hayley's 4th Year at YW Camp. She went to Big Lake in the White Mountains in Northern AZ and camped out. Only the 4th year campers went here. Everyone else in the stake went to another camp.
The girls went boating and repelling. Hayley had a blast! She went on a boat with two other girls. Unfortunately they all wanted to be in charge of rowing in the lake. A power struggle ensued. They ended up spending their time rowing in circles just to get to the middle of the lake. They got to the middle and were worn out. Her other friends were in another boat. They didn't want to row. They weren't sure how to do it. They ended up stranded in the middle of the lake by drifting there. None of them took the lead and got themselves back to shore. Hayley and her friends on both boats had to be towed in! There's a lesson there...you can't have all leaders on one boat and all followers on the other! ...You won't get anywhere.
Hayley was the first in her group to repel. She did a great job. She almost forgot to leave her feet down and began to rotate upside down. Fortunately a leader caught sight of what she was doing and she corrected herself with his help. Wouldn't that have been a good story?! ;)
After a couple of days, the 4th yr girls headed over to Girls Camp near Workman Creek to join the rest of the Stake. The day they left to join the other girls, they wore hot pink shirts that said on the back "Purity Princess!". It went with their theme this yr. The adult leaders with them (male and female) also had to wear them. Hayley had to go to the bathroom really bad! They stopped a few times for her. They all headed to a nearby a gas station for the girls to take their turn in the bathroom. There, the male leaders were laughed at because of their shirts! Poor guys! Eventually, she had to go again! So the female leader driving them pulled over at a small run-down "cafe" and let Hayley and her friend run in and use the bathroom. Once Hayley and her friend Sierra walked in, they realized it was actually a bar. There were "scary men" staring at them. As they walked quickly to the bathroom, the men started to chuckle looking at the back of the girls shirts. (Remember they said "Purity Princess!") Hayley and Sierra smelled throw-up in the bathroom, but quickly did their "business". As they walked out, they noticed the scary men were standing in a half circle near the bar eyeing the girls as they walked by. Oh no! Suddenly, one of the male leaders from camp entered into the bar. (Now remember he was wearing the "Purity Princess" shirt as well!) He quickly ushered Hayley and Sierra out of the place. All of the guys in the bar were laughing! ...Phew! Close call! Hayley and Sierra were feeling really scared in there. The male leader refused to let the other girls go in there. (Thank goodness.)
Word spread around camp about the "4th Year Bar Girl"! When our ward's young women found out it was Hayley, they were all excited that they personally knew her. Silly girls! ;)
Hayley had a lot of fun! I'm just grateful it turned out okay! :)

Sydney's MDA Camp Experience June 2009

Thanks to all of those who donate every year to the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon (Labor Day weekend with Jerry Lewis), Sydney got to go to camp for free! She had an amazing time. Many, many thanks to all who come every year and volunteer. A special thank you to Lindsey Day, Rachel Hull and Firefighter Derek De La Torre (and many others) who made sure Sydney had a great time. She had so much fun she missed camp right after she got home!

Hayley's School Made 4th Place

Hayley's school made 4th place in State Competition this year. (Really something good since they only just got into that division a month and a half ago!) Way to go WFHS!
(Hayley is third to the end of the line with her friends Tori and then Bobby behind her.)

Sydney won First Place

Sydney (and Dad) constructed the German Castle Neuschwenstein for Sydney's History Project. She won First Place out of 3 classes of 6th graders. Bravo Sydney!

New Challenge...

I have been wondering if I should post this or not. I'd almost rather not, but maybe it will help me or someone else going through a challenge. I was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. No, its not the same thing as Muscular Dystrophy like my husband and youngest daughter have. That's been the number one question asked of me. Sometimes MS can be triggered by traumatic events, low Vitamin D and B's, Omega 3, etc. They are not sure how it starts. Anyway, I have lost partial sight out of my left eye from Optic Neuritis. My body attacks the coating around my nerves. It decided a couple of months ago to attack my optic nerve. So I hope to get the sight back eventually, but its also likely I have permanently lost that part of my sight. I am looking into alternatives to help me lessen the symptoms and the frequency, so we'll see what happens. Anyway, I'll let you know what I find works. Wish me luck!

Williams Field Winter Guard Competition 2-14-09

Hayley had a Winter Guard Competition at her High School this last weekend. They moved up two classes in one season to "Scholastic A". They got promotional pins. They made 4th place out of eight schools in that division. They were only five points away from first place out of 35 schools. Way to go Hayley!! Go WFHS!

Sydney's Pics from her birthday weekend

Sydney celebrated for two days for her birthday. She went to Rainforest Cafe for dinner, she was "Heart Attacked" by her Beehive class in our front yard, got her first professional haircut, got her ears pierced for the first time, got a makeup makeover at Sephora store, had her hair highlighted by her Aunt Erica, and had a great cake with a beach scene on it made by Aunt Tanya and Aunt Erica! She made out with a bunch of great gifts too. She had a great time!

Sydney's 13th Birthday!

Sydney got a new haircut, her ears pierced and a Sephora makeover for her birthday this year!

Hayley

Hayley Nicole

October 2008

Sydney

Sydney Ann

October 2008