This week we camped at Palisade once again!  We sure love it there.  This summer is very full of camps and reunions, so in the spring, I told the kids, "Maybe we don't have time for Palisade this year."  My pronouncement was met with wailings and protestations!  I realized that having a tradition is like making a promise to your kids.  It's a promise I want to keep!  So, we just went for two nights this year, but we went!  Kevin couldn't go, but my friend Jen, came down for one night, and my friend Robin came for a few hours.  Hannah and Rebekah and Jakob all came for part of the time, too, to swell the teenager ranks!  We only had one full day to swim, so everyone made sure to get sunburned the half-day before, to get a head start.  There was much rock jumping, dock pushing, raft-floating, canoeing, and minnow catching.  Ah, summer bliss.

 

Wednesday Bethany officially turned 8 years old!  We got back that afternoon in time to have a birthday party at Grandma and Grandpa Gazdik's house!  She wanted weiner boats for dinner, and Grandma graciously complied!  She got presents and we sang and ate cake!  She was a happy girl!
I am a happy girl that she is part of our family!

Canada present from Savannah!

That night was also the last softball game for Cali, Chey, and Kevin!  It was a late game from 8:30 to 10 so they got to finish up with a game under the lights.  They both hit and they both got to pitch!  It was Chey's first time and she did great!  It's been a fun season.

Thursday night was Ben's last Tball game.  He got to pitch, too, though with an imaginary ball and he mostly threw with his glove hand, but you know!  Megan came for the first time and laughed through the whole game.  She wants to be a Tball coach when she grows up now.  Too bad it's all volunteer!  We all had a great time watching Ben and he had a great time having us there!

Friday, Cali and Chey had their girls' day camp again.  This week was Skit Day!  They all had great fun.  Later, Beth painted her nails and put on the nail stickers that Savannah sent to her from Canada!

Saturday was Bethany's baptism!  Grandma and Grandpa Skinner came, and Uncle Matt and Aunt Lynsey with their family, and Uncle Michael and Aunt Aftyn with their family, and Grandma and Grandpa Gazdik.  It was a nice turnout.  Beth and her friend, Siena, were both baptized Saturday from our ward.  I made a dress for Beth to wear after the baptism that she picked out, like I have for all my daughters.  It's strange to think I don't need to make any more baptism dresses!  Also, my mom made a white dress for me to be baptized in 35 years ago, and Bethany wore that to be baptized Saturday.  It's the 5th time I've got to have one of my daughters baptized in it.  Good work, Mom!  Bethany played a song on the piano and sang along for the musical number and she did great and it was precious.  She is a precious girl and it was a lovely day!

 

Our neighbor made Beth this cake!

 

 

 

Afterwards we had a barbecue in our backyard with all the extended family available!  We feel very blessed.  It was a great day!