Food Rant

They just opened a brand new McDonalds near our house, and it's pretty nice!  It has a little bit of an upscale feel compared to other venues we've visited, and I was starting to get a little lax in my 'fast food is a necessary evil' mentality.  Instead of once in a blue moon, between Ty and I we ran through that kid food haven three or four times in a two week period.  On Saturday I took Maddie to get her ears pierced, but then we were late for another thing, so I hurried down an extra exit on the freeway to go home via the McDonald's drive through.  $4 later I had enough food to satisfy two and half kid's need for lunch, plus a guaranteed "on time" stamp for my itinerary.

Right after I patted myself on the back for being such a savvy Mom, Annie pulled a sliver of sharp metal out of her mouth.  Train derailed.  It was long and pointy on both ends, like a giant finger nail clipping made of aluminum.  I spent about 10 seconds imagining what that would have done to her intestinal track before I threw away the rest of her hamburger and realized that eating at home is pretty savvy too.

As busy as life gets, it's so hard to figure out kid food sometimes.  I know, I know, you have to just let them eat what you're eating whether they like it or not.  That philosophy earns me a lot of whining, and I get that in my day naturally, so...  It's much more satisfying to have taco night (again) and clear empty plates instead of dumping a bunch of more elevated food into the garbage.   Then I always end up playing room service at bedtime when everyone wants crackers, and for the love, I just have to have this day over right. now.  But really, I can only eat so many tacos.

Is it so bad that I wanted a brief window of food related peace?  It's not like it's going to kill them to eat junk every now and again (assuming there is no metal in the hamburger).  I am grateful for the reality check, however, when it comes to food.  It reminded me that no one is going to prepare a healthy and additive/metal free meal for my family except me.  It's the annoying truth.

I also realize that we live in a world with a lot of flashy food products that my kids see every day in advertising and on the school lunch table.  I can't just pretend that isn't happening.  We can make a lot  of good choices about food, but we can't eliminate the junk.  I hear all the time about "poor so and so" at lunch.  Her Mom only gives her carrots and a sandwich for lunch, so the kids feel bad and share treats with her.  Yeah, sorry health mom.  The birthday train is also ongoing at school, so good luck avoiding the processed sugar.  

just the best

I guess I will keep working on the food problem.  For St. Patrick's Day we made fruit rainbows.  I felt pretty good about that.  We also made lime sherbet floats, and then made them again and again for like four days.  Whatevs.  They keep needing to eat... and we repeat the process of figuring out what to serve.

Roller Derby

My house has totally turned into a roller derby.  All my kids (plus any others who venture into our basement) are caught up in roller blading fever, and it's the middle of winter...I'm going to laugh when it gets warm and no one EVER skates outside.  I taught two neighbor kids how to roller blade just this week because that's all anyone is allowed to do at this house anymore!

We now have three pairs of roller blades, thanks to Christmas, and the girls wear them around all the time like they're shoes.  Maddie wore hers to dinner the other night, and Alli was wearing them last night while Ty was playing Mario Kart with her.

It can get cumbersome.  Maddie actually thinks she's faster on her skates, but of course skating around the kitchen while you clean up dinner is more hindrance than help.  But my rising blood pressure and stubbed toes aside, I'm glad they've found a new love.

I might need to take a minute to apologize to the parents of the eight kids who just HAVE to have their own roller blades now after wearing ours.  It's just contagious.  We wouldn't be doing it ourselves if not for other kids paving the way.  It's funny to watch how mad kids get when they can't stand up straight while my kids are zipping around, but that's exactly what made my kids want to practice.

In fact, I was a little surprised that Alli took to roller blading after a lot of earlier failed tries at friends' houses.  But it all became clear when she told me that she was wearing someones skates (pretty unsuccessfully) and they said, "Well, you know roller blading isn't for everyone," and that was the moment that decided it all.  No, not surprised at all anymore!  That's my stubborn girl.  I love that about her, bless her heart.  It's such a good, and hilarious quality, that she inherited from me (you're welcome).

We took the girls to Classic Skate a week or so ago, so they could try out their new skills.  After all, skating around an unfinished basement and kitchen sink is great for learning but not quite as accomplished as working up some speed.  Ty rented skates so he could go out with them, but when he was the only adult on the floor acting crazy and skating around, he felt a little sheepish.  At least I thought it was pretty amazing.

It turns out that wearing roller blades around like shoes for a month really pays off at the skating rink.  They did great!  Even Annie was able to go all the way around the rink without any trouble, other than the fact that she just refused to go the right direction.

In case anyone is wondering, that old guy with the striped ref shirt and the boss skating moves is still at the skate rink turning kids around who like to go against the grain and showing the teenagers how cool it is to skate backwards.   The good news is that Annie WILL listen to the random ref, even when it's exactly what I've just been telling her 18 times.  Yep, you still have to skate to the right.

Now I guess I need to learn to roller blade too because it looks so fun.

The Slumber Party Mystery

Alli turned 11 this weekend, and I can't believe how grown up she's getting.  We had one of those mystery theater parties where everyone has a part and tries to guess who committed a crime, which was a riot with a bunch of eleven year olds.  I got to play the part of the host/detective on the scene.  It was a slumber party mystery, and Alli's cousin Jaycee played the cheerleader who couldn't stop saying "Go Team!" and ended up stealing everyone's stuff.  Then they played Murder in the Dark, but whenever the lights went out they just screamed and giggled, so we didn't always catch the murderer. Grandma brought a Cold Stone cake because the one I attempted was, let's just say not edible...  I struggle with the cake part of birthdays, but I love Alli!

Ginny crawled all the way up the stairs at Grandma's on Alli's birthday, which was also pretty amazing.  Alli and I spotted her while she made those big moves.  When she got to the top she was so  excited, she started jabbering.  It's fun to see her try to communicate a little bit.  I think she was proud.

So Big

On Saturday night Ginny woke up from her nap, and when I went in to get her out of the crib, she was hanging over the railing trying to get a better look at the floor.  She looked up at me with her big toothless grin, and I got a little bit mad at her!  Why can't she stop growing up?  There will be no more pulling up on things in. this. house.   But a few days later, there she was pulling up on the stairs.

We all just adore the pants off this little girl.  Every time she does something new, like eat food from a spoon, or sit up for a second by herself, everyone cheers for her.  And then Ty and I look at each other like, where is the time going?  It's bittersweet, I guess.  The last time for this and that keeps passing us by.  I'm afraid that I'll blink, and it'll be my last kid going to college instead of just learning to stand up in a crib.  You want to be upright?  Whaaaa?!?  Next thing you'll want to live on your own, and that is not happening, sister!  Poor thing.  I won't ever let her grow up.  

Never Speak of it Again...

I haven't written a word in over a year!  Man that was a rough patch.  I just re-read all of my New Year's goals in the last post, and, funny thing, they're pretty much identical to the one's I just made last week that blew my mind.  Top of my list this year was getting organized, streamlined, and efficient so that I can HAVE MORE FUN...

Last year on New Year's Eve I wrote, "Have more fun" and "Find Joy in the Journey," and that would be an excellent lead in to this year, minus the 12 months that occurred directly after I wrote it.  No, we did not have more fun last year or find a whole lot of joy in the journey, but we did bring a healthy, sweet, and wonderful little girl into the world.  It's funny how those resolutions have a way of running away with themselves.

I'd like to say that I endured the whole ordeal with grace and style, my head held high, but mostly I just slouched uncomfortably around making everyone miserable.  Well, misery does love company.  If it's true that you can climb a mountain just by taking one step at a time, then that's what happened here.  We kept putting one foot in front of the other and hoped it was like a pass/fail situation instead of the graded type of life test, and hallelujah, we made it!  We have the sweetest, cuddliest, most precious little girl who brings with her a lifetime of joy and fun.  But it was really really hard.  I'm never doing that again.

#fluffyshoes

I'd like to go back and have some cathartic recap of all the craziness that happened last year, but honestly, it feels like dead weight.  I gotta let it go because this next year is going to be amazing.  I can already tell that there is some magic waiting to happen.  I made about 80 goals I want to accomplish, and so far, after a whole 5 days, I am tearing it up.  That's a good sign, right?  I know, it's a little early to break into a victory dance, but I can just tell that between Ty and I, we have enough energy to make things happen in 2015.  If we don't accomplish everything, we'll conquer something we never intended.  What I'm trying to say is, I haven't felt this great in years!  That's worth celebrating on it's own because I've felt like 7 days in Lehi for an entire decade.  I haven't taken my asthma medicine for about a month now, and I've never felt better.  I was right all along: the meds were doing more harm than good!  Now someone sign me up for Doterra.  Just kidding.  Don't call me about that, I'm only joking.

I have made a lot of goals, and one of them is to write a weekly post to record the life and times of my kids.  I really hope that one sticks because they love to read the old stories, and it makes me sad that I've lost so much time.  So, cheers!  Here's to blogging in 2015!

Christmas Card 2014

Merry, Merry Christmas

This year has been filled with adventure.  We had a baby!  Ty started a new job, and we moved across the street.  It was like running a marathon, only life style.  And speaking of Marathons, Ty ran a few of those too.   He ran a lot.  In fact, he ran so hard that he now has a broken leg.  It’s kind of an accomplishment if you think about it.  I definitely couldn’t run myself into a stress fracture!

            

It’s been a crazy year filled with miracles.  We learned that we needed to move just 4 weeks before Virginia was due in May, and I was on bed rest for low fluid.  I wasn’t allowed to pack a single box!  The same week we discovered that the next-door neighbors were moving OUT and would be ready to rent their house on the very same day that we needed to move IN.  We literally rolled our stuff down the hill.  What a miracle!

Help came from everywhere.  It was like Angels came to take care of us.  In two weeks they packed all the boxes and then helped unpack them.  They cleaned the house.  We ate amazing meals that I didn’t cook.  I counted about 25 people who sacrificed in big and small ways to help us out that month.  I didn’t even think I knew 25 people that well, and truth be told, I actually didn’t know a few people before they showed up with a mop.  If you are one of those wonderful old or new friends, thank you again, and imagine me giving you a big hug!

The day we moved my fluid dropped so low that I had to have several tests done up at the hospital, and I ended up having our baby girl 7 days later by C-section.  She was beautiful and healthy—that day another Angel touched our lives.  She is so sweet and special, and really she must be after the category 5 storm her birth caused in our lives.  We gave her an extra special name: Virginia May after both of her amazing grandmothers.

As if all that wasn’t enough change for one year, Ty also took on a new job, so now he has two.  It’s been a great opportunity and a Miracle in itself.   In between working for two companies, Ty took Alli hunting this fall and is teaching Maddie how to ski, which they love.  He, as always, lives life as intensely as possible.

Alli (10), Maddie(7), and Annie(5) are growing too fast.  I wish they would just stop!  Alli is going to be in Middle school in another year, and is such a beautiful, talented young lady.   She is a whiz at school and wants to try out for the school play next month.

Maddie has re-discovered her long lost friend Ginny!  Whenever Maddie looks at her, she laughs.  Every time.  Either Ginny thinks she looks goofy, or they are reunited at long last, haha.   It also tuns out that Maddie is super fab at math.  Her teacher raves about her.  (She must get the math gene from Ty.)

Annie is hilarious.  One night Ty pulled into the garage after we’d eaten dinner.  As he walked in, he asked Annie what was for dinner, and she said, “we had chicken and rice and delicious beans.”  He was disappointed to find out that the delicious beans were black-eyed peas.  Annie and I love them, but no else does, bless their hearts.  New Year’s in non-negotiable though!  Good luck, and all that.

We love all four of our delightful girls.  They make life so amazing, and we feel really blessed this year.  Merry Christmas!  Hope your holiday is bright. 

Love,

The Hansens

I Hereby Resolve...

It's New Year's Eve!  Where did this year go?  I've got these three great girls that make life go by super fast...And the thing is, well, we're going to have FOUR great girls.  That's going to be our family forever. Four. Great. Girls. And just one boy (Dad).

We had our ultrasound today, and Ty is a little sad.  I feel bad for him, but I also love the idea of four sisters who will be BFF's forever.  For a girl like me who never even had a sister, it seems like pure heaven.  Sure, they fight... a lot, but in the end they will love each other straight through the ups and downs of life.  I can't think of leaving a more wonderful legacy.

This has been a year full of funny little girls doing their girly thing.  Last week we had this conversation in the car after listening to the fox song:

Dad:           Mom is smart like a fox.
Maddie:     Foxes aren't smart, worms are.
Dad:          What? Worms aren't smart.
Maddie:    Well, besides owls, worms are what I always see graduation hats on.  And what about book                 worms?

Maddie says the most hilarious things with a straight face.  Like: "A boy tried to kiss me at recess, but I put my water bottle in my mouth and walked right past him."

Annie turned four this month.  She likes to say, "Mom, I'm shy,"  but I'm not buying it. Anytime an adult gives her a second of attention, she starts talking and won't stop.  The other day we were at a friend's house with a dog.  It was a cute little dog, but she was scared of it, so we told her we would hold the dog.  Every time she realized it wasn't in someone's lap, she came marching over saying, "why did she put the DOG down!" like she owned the place.  Someone should teach her some manners, geez.  Then there's the fact that she dropped out of preschool, so I don't know, maybe she is shy. 

Alli piped up the other day in the car while we were all driving somewhere together. She'd been reading the latest and greatest from the Percy Jackson series.  She put the book down and said, "This part is kinda gay."

I started to explain that you shouldn't say that, and Ty suggested she say it was "lame" or "dumb."  Then I asked her why she thought it was "lame."

"Well, there's these two guys who like each other..."  Oh.  I guess she used the correct terminology after all.  When did I start having a daughter old enough for these kinds of conversations?  

With a New Year and a new girl coming into our family this May, I have a few resolutions to make about paying attention to the small things that make life so great.  I hereby resolve to:

Hug More
Yell Less
Have fun
and Find Joy in the Journey

Happy New Year!

Hero of the Summer

Tomorrow is the very last day of Summer break, so I'm feeling sentimental.  I have a tan for the first time in years because of all the time I've been spending at the pool.  Kids are doing chores around my house. Everyone is getting gold stars at piano for actually practicing.  It's my best dream come true, and of course I'd  like to take all the credit.  After all, I work pretty hard, right?  

Well, actually, I can't claim Hero of the Summer status because there is another, much more deserving person who has made all the fun possible:  It's Alli!  She is like 9 going on 18 this year.  While I was putting my feet up to catch some sun, she was playing "sharkey in a basket" and letting her sisters play lifeguard while she pretended to be hurt.  She was the one who constructed complicated Polly Pocket games to entertain her sisters all afternoon and walked Annie down to the culdesac to ride her bike.  After, let's say, 100 hours of kid play this summer, Alli deserves a certificate in conflict resolution and recreation management.

I love hearing her say things like, "Oh, look!  You want this toy, not that one," while deftly intervening in a fight.  It makes my day. What would I do without someone to turn on the TV show, help Maddie practice piano, help cook a meal, or even put Annie to bed?  She's amazing! 

Even more amazing is what a lovely young lady she's turning into.  It seems like just yesterday she was a baby.  I used to think it was so annoying when adults said that.  I was in a hurry to grow up while they seemed to want me to stay small forever.  It probably dates me, but I've joined the slow camp.  I wish I could pause time for a bit and keep her forever!  I know I can't though, and I'm excited for all that lies ahead.  

Yesterday we talked about some big ideas about the world, and it was cute to see her give her opinion. I felt lucky to hear her thoughts.  She has a lot to give this world, and I'm humbled to spend these precious years with her before she takes it by storm.

Thanks, Alli, for making this summer so great.  You are my hero!

To Camp or Not to Camp

True or False?  The Hansens went camping this weekend.  Well, I'll let you decide after you hear the evidence.

Friday Morning: 8 am
Ty packed our car with sleeping bags, a tent, and about a dozen other 'necessities' for camping (Yes, an air mattress counts as necessary.  He packed 2.  He knows how I roll.)  I began packing bags and food.

Friday 9 am - 11 am:
I convinced three girls to take off whatever they had on in exchange for pants, socks, sturdy shoes, and pony tails.  That nearly derailed the whole trip, but I carried on.

Friday Afternoon:
As I pulled in to pick up Ty from work, it started to storm.  Let me not mince words: I saw a huge tree fall over into the road.  It was like, a micro-burst or something.  There was enough lightning that not one of my girls asked "WHERE?  WHERE?  I missed it"... It was everywhere, and they all saw it.  They cried.

We drove down to Scofield hoping to outrun the storm, but the rain followed us.  By the time we failed at fishing and ate all the candy I had in the car, everyone was tired and wanting to go home.  When we got out of the car on the property, I immediately got stung four times on my hands while I tried to swat an angry wasp away from my baby girl.  #animalattack

Friday Night: 7 pm
With every means at it's disposal, the Universe said, "Go Home!"  So we did.

I'm stubborn though, and if I said I was going to camp, by Golly, I'm going to camp.  Watch me, Universe: I'll show you the best camping anyone's ever seen.  Oh, it's on.

Saturday Night: 4 pm, My Backyard

I cooked the tinfoil dinners that we were supposed to eat up in the mountains on the grill.  They were the best tin foil dinners I've ever made!  And half the food wasn't charred.  One point: Mom.  Then a bee started chasing us around the patio and we all ended up eating inside.  Universe: #toomanytocount

Still Scared from Yesterday's Attack

Saturday Night: 6 pm
We made s'mores and played around in the tent.  I was feeling pretty good at this point. We were having fun and no one was even getting dirty.  Win/Win. .

We tackled Dad

Making the Memories People

Saturday Night: 8 pm

We went to bed.

No one's buying this, I hope.  There was no sleeping.  Only pretend sleeping.  Then there was pretend waking up.

Seriously.  I thought there would be more real sleeping.

Saturday Night: 10 pm
Annie came inside to "go to bed" but ended up playing dolls in her room until 11.  Alli and Maddie, after coming inside a dozen times, finally fell asleep in the tent.  Yes!

Saturday Night: 10:30 pm
I went outside to sleep, as promised, with the girls.

Saturday Night: 11 pm
I came inside... Mom fail, I know.

Sunday Morning 7:30 am
I woke up to a bunch of really excited girls.  "Can we do it again tonight?!?" (No way)

The jury is still out on how legit this "campout" was, but we had fun pretending!

Annie's Gangham Style Dad

Some kids have imaginary friends who like tea parties in princess gowns.  Annie likes tea parties and dressing up like a princess, but her imaginary friend doesn't:  his name is Gangham Style Dad, and he is a pudgy Korean rock star.  He wears sunglasses and dances like he's riding a horse...

The thing about Gangham Style Dad is that he is sooooo much cooler than her real parents.  Whenever we tell her "No, you can't have candy for dinner" or "Sorry, sweety, but you don't need a new toy today," she pouts and says, "My Gangham Style Dad would let me."  I also hear that he lives in a huge house with a pool and it's made out of candy, and....and it's fun there.  Oh, and there's no bedtime either.  

Annie's imaginary friend Psy

It's really embarrassing when she starts singing, "Hey....sexy lay-day" at the top of her lungs and dancing gangham style in respectable places like the Dr's office or grocery store (read: not Wal-mart).  I just look people straight in the eye and say, "What?   Your kid doesn't have an imaginary Dad?"  

Ty was a little offended at first, since he's not imaginary and also super fun, but it's hard to have bad feelings toward Annie for long because she is so dang cute. She just smiles her little smile and says, "Daddy, I want you to put me to bed tonight,"  and it's all better.

Annie running around crazy at Target

Annie is our hipster child, I guess.  Even when she first learned to talk, she was quick to pick up on kid slang. Last year she went through a phase where no matter what you said to her, she would reply: "Not funny.  Not funny at all."  

One day I said, "What do you want for breakfast, Annie?"

She glanced casually in my direction and replied, "Cool.  That sounds fun."

Less cool is how she's really taken to the "Bloody Mary" story.  Some lame kid showed her a Google video of Bloody Mary and she's never stopped talking about it since.  It's totes presh when Moms call to tell me that their little girl came home asking who Bloody Mary is after playing with Annie for an hour.  Yes!  Mom of the Year right here.  I can't wait till I get "the call" in a few years from her school- the one after she beats up a kid for messing with her big sister.

Annie with food on her face...

She's not all macabre and Korean rock loving, though.  She's got the whole sugar and spice package:  she brings us all joy every day with her cute little personality.  One time I found her trying to pick up three pairs of my shoes at once.

"MOM!..." -labored breathing- "I need help!"

I don't know what I was thinking, but I just said, "why?"

"Because I'm trying to be like Jesus."  

After I carried them to her room for her, she sat down on her little step stool and tried on all three pairs of shoes.

She's just a funny kid.  I love her so much.

Memory Lane

When Alli was born I started not one, but two baby books.  They had places for me to record the dates of all her "firsts" and fill in the blanks of sentences like, "Baby's favorite books are______ and Baby loves to________," alongside glued in pictures.  I had a really hard time filling out those generic sentences, but I kept my shoulder to the wheel because I loved my new daughter and wanted to do the Mother-thing right.  Alas, once Maddie and Annie came along I had already thrown out the rule book, and no baby books will be forthcoming...  Instead, I've tried to write little snapshots of their life.  It isn't as thorough as I'd like, but I hope they know I love them all the same.  Here is an apology for time lost and an anthology of conversation snippets I recorded last year:

Since my girls love to pretend, I'll start with a couple in that vein.  Over the past few months, even Annie's learned the lingo, which happens to all my girls at about t-minus 3 1/2 years old.  I've observed that to initiate a pretend game, you have to first set the stage for the players, assign parts, and use a lot of past perfect conjugations like, "So pretend I was the monster and you were scared..." In fact, at breakfast this morning Annie said, "pretend you were my mom, and I was your baby?" said in the characteristic valley girl uptalk used to initiate a game.  I replied, "Um, I don't have to pretend.  I already am?"  I recorded the following two conversations from car rides during the beginning of 2012.

      "Pretend we were teenagers...?" Alli began.
      "Ok, pretend I was getting married to Batman," Maddie replied.
      "We're teenagers, Maddie.  We're too young to get married."
      After thinking for a minute, Maddie finally said, "Fine.  Pretend I was getting married... tomorrow."
      This was enough to totally derail the game.  Alli was ticked.  "MADDIE! You can't just get married.  You have to date and date each other first."
      I have a feeling I'll hear this exact conversation again in 20 years.

      Another day, Maddie started the game with: "Let's pretend you're the Mom, and I live in an orphanage with Anne."
      This time I couldn't help interjecting, "why are you in an orphanage if you have a Mom?"
      "You aren't our Mom yet.  You have to come buy us." (What a lovely commentary on adoption.)
      Alli got involved at this point, and there was some disagreement about who was going to play what, so Maddie had to amend her original plan. She tried again with, "Pretend I'm 16, and I have a purse...because I'm big enough."
   
My girls are really intrigued by orphanages for some reason.  I tried to tell them that kids in orphanages have to scrub floors all day and don't get toys, but that only lead to them scrubbing our floor while singing "it's a hard knock life..."  Just call me Miss Hannigan.

      On another day in October, Maddie was again pondering marriage.
      "I can see my future, Mom," she said, seriously.
      "Oh, really?" I laughed.  "What do you see?"
      "I'm going to get married and go on a mission.  I'm going to live in the best house... and I'm going to live in Florida."
      "Oh, great.  I'll visit you there," I told her with a big smile.  Wouldn't that be the best?  Grand kids to visit in Florida?  I was liking this conversation.      
      "Wait!" She said suddenly, interrupting my idyllic twilight years fantasy.  "Does Santa come to Florida?"
      "Yep.  Yep, he does," I said.
      "Ok, then, yeah.  I'm going to live in Florida."

I love Maddie's sense of humor.  It's so funny because it usually involves her saying hilarious things in all seriousness.  It's really endearing.  My favorite Maddie one liner happened last summer when we were driving past a brick storage shed next to the Draper Temple.  The workers had the garage door up so we could see the lawn mowers and tools inside.  Maddie turns to me and asks, "Is that Jesus' garage?"  We laughed for days after deciding that, yes, it was his garage.

Having three girls has been quite an adventure.  I've laughed and cried lots with them, and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

     

Totes Girls Camp

Three months ago I was called to be the Young Women's secretary.  A week later my Dr. diagnosed me with a thyroid condition, and I realized why I have been tired, sore, and generally feeling like the molasses swamp monster for the last 15 years.  I started taking a TSH hormone pill and the "brain fog" went away.  It's a good thing too because my new calling, I quickly realized, is not for the lethargic.

Then two days before I left for my first ever Girls Camp Leader experience, my Dr. increased my medicine and I felt even better!  Let's just say you have to dig deep at Girls Camp, so it's a really good thing I had that boost...I don't think I can overstate how amazing this pill has been for me or how much I LOVED every minute of camp in Heber Valley, but let me explain:

Every morning our camp director, Stacey Goodman, woke us up with a cheerful greeting.  After a long chatter filled night, one of her, "WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING, GIRLS!" jolted me ten feet off my bed.  And I had ear plugs in.  I just got up and thought, "thank you, thank you, for TSH."  I would have added a, "well, YOLO (you only live once)," but Kylie hadn't taught me that yet.

Taylor Burningham on the rope swing

I paddled around a beautiful lake, swung from a massive rope swing, ate way too many carbs, and learned that you can give CPR to a squirrel with your pinkie finger.  I saw deer up close every day and listened to my new friends' stories of mayhem and love.  I felt the spirit testify over and over again that I was in the right place.

Brinn Jensen, Haddie Todd, and Syd Gooch

There was a camp nurse who kindly advised us the first day to lay off candy because it can induce altitude sickness from dehydration,which made me laugh and start saying silly things like, our girls can "hold their candy."  Not True.  Oh, yes.  There was plenty of puking going around by day three.  I'm feeling a little queasy myself, thinking about it.  The sicker everyone got, the more I had to laugh.  Not at the girls, but just at camp life and all it's foibles: there was homesickness, best friend drama, fear in the dark, and bad attitudes (I love you girls)...  I got a touch of altitude hysteria or something because everything was suddenly hilarious, and one time Syd and Kami made me laugh so hard at it all that I peed my pants.  Just sayin.  It was funny stuff.

Wing Butler, story teller extraordinaire 

I got in touch with my inner teenager- I was light hearted.  I started to realize how my kids must see me, running around yelling at everyone.  From their carefree perspective I must look like some demon troll who needs to get a grip. You know, "you're like totes crazy, Mom." Then again, it's not hard to feel free when you don't have to grab keys, phone, diapers, snack, money, blanket, shoes....for a five minute drive to pick up at the school.  Really, it's no wonder I'm insane.

Carolyn, Samantha, Libby, Karlee, Grace, and Kami Tripp

You see, there's no place like girls camp.  These girls touched my heart with their joys and their fears.  It was a priceless experience to hear them bear testimony on the last night.  One girl found the spirit again.  Another found she had friends.  One girl who likes to keep to herself gave every single crier a hug and a tissue while she bore her testimony.  It all made my heart sing.  I will never forget the spirit they brought to camp, and I am undeniably blessed.