The Boys Are Back In Town

We've had a revolving door for the last few weeks. While most of us were on Hunt Rd. for anniversary celebrations, Darren and Emmett were headed to Scout Camp. Last Saturday afternoon, they arrived home dirty, disheveled and TIRED. Darren was bursting with stories of the Mogollon Monster, boys who woke up and wandered half-asleep around camp at night, kids who still can't tie their shoes (thanks to Velcro, the ability to wear flip flops year-round, or doting mamas, I don't know which) and old men who can't keep up with 12-year olds. When I asked Emmett what his favorite part was, he told me, "The staff. They're just a little bit older than us, and they talk to us like they're our best friends." I finally got out of him that his other favorite things were: horseback riding, rowing, whittling, talking, swimming, but NOT the polar bear swim (a lap in the pool at 5 a.m.) or the Tenderfoot run around the camp.

Early Monday morning, I took a load of kids to Payson. For Makenna, Griffin and my brother's girls, their trip ended there for two days of Ladybug & Cricket Camp with Grandma Hunt. For Cherise and her friend Becca, it was the first leg of the trip to EFY in Flagstaff. Before I returned home, I heard Griffin say a few times as he made cinnamon rolls and a nature shadow box, "This is the best day of my whole life." (Sounds like the Christine Lavin song.) My mom reported that as he climbed into my sister-in-law's car to come home the next day, he made it a little better, "These are the best two days of my life."

I asked for the EFY-bound kids to pose for a picture, and they stood stiffly with so much space between them that it was hard to see them all in my viewfinder. I told them to close the gaps, to act like they liked each other.

"Uh, not that much, Becca," Cherise corrected her friend.

Cami left for Girls Camp bright and early Tuesday morning. Yesterday (Thursday) was the day that members of the bishopric were invited to go up to hang out with the girls. Darren went with our bishop (bearing gifts of homemade toffee and Hello Dolly Bars--and leaving plenty for those of us at home. Not good for my waistline...or thighs...or backside, but they were yummy.) While he was at camp, a vivacious 17-year old that we know told him that Cami did a fabulous job in her skit with her part as a doddering, deaf, old king. I believe it! I wish I'd been there to see it. Cami gets home today.

And I have the fun task of being in Flagstaff by checkout time at 7 a.m. tomorrow to pick up Cherise and company, which means my alarm will be telling me to get up way too early on a Saturday morning.