Young Women's Girls Camp

I was the Camp Director for my ward this year. We had seven girls come this year. The MIA Shalome camp is owned by the Provo and Orem Stakes so they go to the same place every year. It has A frame cabins to sleep in which don't really keep the mice or other woodland animals out. It has a pond that the girls canoe on and hiking trails all around the camp. I didn't get to go hiking or canoing as my back was killing me from packing and unpacking the van with all the stuff. I should have delegated more of that stuff. We made tie dye t-shirts before we left for camp as our shirts this year. The girls had a great time and I loved being up there with them. Our ward was the "Ultimate Waterfront Champions of the world." They played a game where ducks, which had the values on the bottom of them, were launched into the pond and the girls had to collect a full set of the Young Women Values, of which there are eight now, and bring them back to the docks. The ward with the most sets before the time was up wins. Our girls kick it on a canoe. I even learned how to make Jewelry.

My Office

I've never had one before so bear with me.

It is located in the reception area of the floor, not that anyone visits as we are closed to the public, so people walk by my office all day. I'm pretty easily distracted so I blocked the window that looks into my office with my nature pictures that used to hang in my cubical.

I don't get to look at them but I have a better view these days.

The 4th of July

Why spend money on fireworks when you can spend it on rocket engines? Time again for our annual rocket launch. I love this activity that we do every year. The kids always like it, mainly for the slides at the play ground behind us.

Aaron fixed my launcher so that it actually works every time you hit the button instead of at random times. Nothing is more anti-climatic than a count down followed by nothing, then another count down followed by more nothing.

This year's first flight rocket was the SR-71 Blackbird. And it survived the launch, ejection charge and landing.

I also once again win the award for the closest landing to the launch pad. I launched from the pad on the left (my right hand) and it landed there.

Big Bertha survived yet another launch and remains the oldest rocket in the family. It's flight path resembles Corkscrew a little more every year though.

Diamond Fork

Typical of a Loertscher family reunion/camping trip, the Bumble broke down. Good thing was that it was only just a little way out side of the camp ground and Quinn's car was totally able to pull the Bumble and the trailer to the campsite. But to bad for Quinn he broke his tow rope doing it.

The kids had a great time together...
Playing with each other in and taking all of us down to the 'Beaver Cave'...

Playing a matching game in the trailer...

Popping bubbles...

Sitting around the camp fire...

Taking 'naps' together in the trailer..

Playing with the magnifying glasses that Grandma bought for them...












Lets go for a hike! We went on the Five Water Trail up to the "Spanish Fork" hot springs.

Where we learned why it is called Diamond Fork. Note in the next picture the Diamond Back Rattle Snake. Tyler saw another one besides this one and we also saw a Gopher Snake, at least Dad thinks it was a Gopher Snake.
My nature picture of the trip. Well I guess the one of the spring was pretty good.
I also used my charcoal chimney for the first time on this camping trip. Loved it. Not to mention that the smoke cracking on the inside is awesome.

Another one bites the dust...

Yep another roommate down. Here are some pictures from Jenn's wedding. It was way fun. Both Jenn and Randy's families are awesome and I loved hanging out with them all day. I actually caught Jennifer's bouquet which was saying something as she threw it really high from the top of a stair case so it did take some effort for me to grab.

Hot Springs

Jess was in town which means that we went on another adventure. We went to the Spanish Fork Hot Springs, Three Forks is the name of the trail and I think the springs are actually called Five Falls. Anyway, we started early so Krishna could come to, she had an appointment that afternoon. Ok so we had never been to where we were going and even though I had a GPS it was the first time I really tried to use it. Which means that we hiked, through snow at points, for about an hour before we met a hunter who told us we were on the wrong trail. In my defense I had just figured that out as the numbers on the GPS went one to far in the wrong direction and I thought about this sign we passed at the trail head. I didn't remember seeing our trail name on it. When we got back to the trail head we read the sign.

Unfortunately, because we were on the wrong trail Krishina didn't have time to go with us anymore. But this was going to be attempt number three for Jess and I to go to this place and being that close we weren't going to quit. So we started on the right trail. It was a great hike. The springs were ok. I'm a bit mad at them as I slipped while crossing them and got beat up pretty bad. Totally awesome bruise on my arm that everyone at work keeps asking about. It was strange because you could be sitting in one place and have half of you in cold water and the other in totally hot water. Grand time all around.

Family Fun

I've had the chance over the past month (March) to tend Zeke a lot. We have had some great times. Playing with trains, cars, tickle wars on the couch, watching movies and Inspector Gadget. Great times. I got to watch him during Manndi's sister's wedding and took some good pictures.
Then of course it was Ashlynn's birthday in March so we had a party. Which was great fun by the way. Thanks for hosting it Quinn and Dawnie. Tell you what Dawnie throws some pretty creative parties. This year was princesses. Grandpa was even there.
Ashlynn likes to take crazy pictures here is my favorite of the crazy ones we did that day.
Of course she wanted to pay with her new toys which were princess of course. But since she is the princess she hands me the prince and said I had to be the boy. Reminded me of the good old days when Skye would say the same thing. I didn't mind as I never really wanted to be the princess any way.
I also spent some time with my high school friends and Liz (Heather's college roommate) all of which I count as family. It was great to play cards and see them all again.