Scout Camp

What do you get when you cross a rustic lodge, water balloon launchers, a service project, a giant hamster ball, and loads of good food?  If you spent any time around our house from February to the end of July, you would know the answer is scout camp.  This was the third year in a row that Eric decided to put on scout summer camp for his boys.  They held it at Nanitch Lodge on Mt. Hood. Twenty-four boys participated.

Nanitch Lodge 2011
Harmony and Lacamas Creek Ward Deacons

The Merit Badge Classroom - Citizenship in the World

Merit Badge Application - Fish and Wildlife

Building a Bridge - Pioneering Merit Badge

Carson's finished bridge - He trusts his work!

As in years past, Eric designed and implemented a 5 day camp.  During that time the boys completed 6 merit badges, spent part of a day at Trillium Lake performing service and played for several hours at the Alpine Slide at Ski Bowl.  Jon Jackson was the cook again this year and treated the boys to fabulous meals including his famous scones (aka: Sandy Tippett's scones).

Austin on the Alpine Slide

Carson in theHuman Hamster Ball at Ski Bowl (Multipor) on Mt. Hood

Camp got off to a rocky start however.  Carson was playing around on logs while the troop was unloading their things and cut open his leg on a sharp branch.  He and Eric spent about three hours at a hospital at the bottom of the mountain where Carson received six stitches for his troubles.  Austin was left to run camp while they were out.

Austin attended as one of four Jr. Leaders.  He served as the head camp counselor and Eric's right hand man.  

Water Balloon Launcher that turned into Rotten Egg Launcher

Those receiving what was launched

Marshmallow Gun Wars

In all Eric spent about 50 hours in meetings, planning and pulling together the games and activities.  He (and the rest of the family) was glad once it was all over.  This was Eric's third year developing and creating a fabulous scout camp for the boy scouts.  They will never forget their experiences here.

Service Project at Trillium Lake

International Travel

The day after we got home from the reunion Eric had another chance to travel overseas for work. The first stop of his visit was in Singapore. After finishing up with work, he was able to see a few of the sights. The city was amazingly clean. In fact, in Singapore it is illegal to chew gum in the city and you can be arrested for littering. The Singapore Flier (the huge ferris wheel in the picture above) was gigantic and amazing. 

One night before heading to bed, Eric made a stop at the Nighttime Safari. A tram travels through the wildlife preserve in the dark showcasing wild animals in their nocturnal habitat. He found the giant flying squirrel exhibit to be especially spectacular. As you might expect, the rules in Singapore were a bit different than in the USA - they actually allow you to enter the cage with the flying squirrels. They were just above his head jumping between the trees.  

The one regret Eric had upon leaving Singapore was not trying the fish pedicure. It is exactly like it sounds...a large fish tank full of thousands of little fish that eat the dead skin off of your legs while your feet are immersed in the water for twenty minutes.  I guess he will try that the next time he visits this pretty city.

Following Singapore, Eric also had a stopover in Hong Kong.  This was his second visit there in the past year. He then spent a day in China to follow-up the work he started earlier.  His trip ended with a visit to the Shenzhen Historical Museum to learn a little about the culture and history of Shenzhen, China. The kids were entertained by his picture of the traditional Chinese bathroom - polished, granite counter tops, chandeliers and a hole in the ground...no porcelain throne to be seen (unfortunately, I can't find that picture). 

No trip to Asia would be the same without some crazy food, and he definitively had that while in China. It seems like many of his meals included a chicken head or shrimp head as a garnish. Nothing can beat the hundred year egg that they boil and the bury in the ground to ferment before serving.   While half of Eric's time on this trip was spent on a plane, the fact his company allows him to fly "business class" makes the flights almost enjoyable.

First Ever Danny Tippetts Family Reunion

One of the highlights of our summer was the Tippetts Family Reunion.  This was our first official Danny Tippetts Family Reunion.  It was a lot of fun to be together for an extended period of time.  We all met in Malad to get our Grandma and Grandpa Bowen fix and to celebrate the Fourth of July with Marv and Dianne before we went to Bear Lake for the remainder of the week.

While in Malad we had our Cousin's Birthday Party.  All Pirates were invited to come and celebrate their birthday.  It has been hard to celebrate all the kids birthdays the bigger and busier the family has gotten.    By having a birthday party at our reunion the cousins were able to do a gift exchange, sing happy birthday to one another and eat birthday cake together.  We also played party games and went on a treasure hunt.  This was a fun birthday everyone will remember.  Thanks for planning it Tricia!

Pirate Tanner and Annabella

Pirates at the Pirate Party

Carson, Reese and Kylie  reading clues to find the treasure.

Austin helping Grace, Mira and Pia look for the treasure.

Spin the bottle to see who opens their birthday gift next.

Tanner got Danny a set of cars he was pretty excited about.

A birthday cake and candle for everyone:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COUSINS!

Besides the birthday bash we enjoyed the Malad City Parade and Firework show.  We were able to stuff our faces at the 4th of July Pancake Feed and celebrate our heritage at the Welsh Festival.  As if that wasn't enough to kick off the reunion, we also put on our own family talent show in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard.  With limited beds the boys bunked under the stars in the Bowen's backyard and the girls set up a tent behind the Pett's home.  Given a few more nights of that I am sure we would have had a few pranks to document, but each night we all fell into bed quite tired from the days activities.

Once we got to Bear Lake we didn't slow down much.  As activities director, I made sure there was something for everyone to do anytime they wanted it (and sometimes when they didn't):

Our hike to the rope swing at Bloomington Lake turned into quite an adventure.  Rather than swimming in a refreshing lake, we got to play in the snow!

We couldn't even make it to the Lake.  The road was closed about a mile away from the trail head.

Jason and Keri

Of course their were crafts to do:

Family Quilt Squares

Bug Necklaces

Friendship Bracelets

We took everyone geo-caching and traveled ALL over the valley following different navigators:

 We also did a little golfing, gaming, puzzling, four-wheeling, marshmellow roasting and BBQ"ing": 

Puzzles and Games

Marshmallow Roast

Eric and Keri ready to ride.

Quite the adventure.

A BBQ Chicken Sandwich and Four-wheeling...Heaven.

And you can't forget about just hanging at the lake:

Shalyce and Reese

Frisbee anyone?  Jason?

Tricia and Bella

Grandma and Mira in the shade

Some tunes and some sun...Heaven.

All week the food was great (thanks, Shalyce) and the company even better.  I'd say the reunion was a huge success.  Look at the smiles on these faces:

We definitely made some priceless memories.

Austin's Especially For Youth Experience

The week following Austin's broken foot he was scheduled to attend Especially For Youth (EFY) at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah.  Eric and I both being graduates of this university were familiar with the campus and were concerned with his ability to get around and participate in all the activities this event had to offer him.  We worked hard to find a medical supply store in Provo that would rent us a knee scooter for the week to ensure Austin's mobility around campus.  Thanks to Tash and Allen Johns (our life savers) we were able to get the scooter before the Fourth of July holiday and had it ready for Austin to check in to BYU.  Between the scooter, his crutches and the first-aid staff car Austin made it around just fine.  He was bummed he had to sit sideline at some of the mixer activities, but it didn't seem to hinder his ability to make friends.  He had a great week at EFY with one of his best buddies, Griffin Lake, as his roommate 

Griffin, Alex (their EFY Counselor) and Austin hanging in the quad after lunch.

Austin getting tips from his EFY Counselors before the dance.

Austin and Griffin with their Director, Brother Hall

Austin's EFY Top 10

10.  Learning the difference between anti-perspirant and deodorant

9.  Watching the variety show

8.  Crashing the scooter while trying to pick up on chicks

7.  Talking to Alex about his mission

6.  Lessons by Brother Kerby

5.  Messing around in the dorm at break time

4.  Griffin being my waiter (What a good friend!)

3.  Morning devotionals by Brother Hall.  He is very inspiring and very funny.

2.  Dancing with all the cute girls at the dances

1.  Hanging at Jamba Juice in the Wilkinson Center with Ari, Miranda and Griffin

Best of all:   Spiritual day with the sharing of testimonies