This week we did something fun and went camping Sunday night so we could hike Sulphur Creek in Capitol Reef the next morning on Memorial Day! Sulphur Creek is a hike that the girls in our ward did for YW camp three years ago. That time, I started the hike and got sick, sick, sick. I promised myself I'd go back and do that hike! This was my chance. When I mentioned we were going, our friends, the Koger's volunteered to come with us! They even knew of a beautiful spot on BLM land really close where we could camp. So, Savannah, Beth, and Ben came with us and they brought their son, Max, and the Mila's: Claire and Annaliese.

Savannah enjoyed bonding with Beth and Ben in the car.

The Kogers made a fire in the evening and in the morning, and we enjoyed foil dinner and foil breakfast. Yum! Unfortunately, Beth felt really sick. We decided she better stay and wait for us to get back. Annaliese volunteered to stay with her and they did their best to entertain themselves while we were gone. The hike was absolutely beautiful! 5.8 miles through a river bed with towering canyon walls. I'm so glad I got to do it!

We got home to the last week of May and the first full week of summer vacation. Beth and Ben had a big week for karate that didn't allow them to rest completely! Tuesday and Thursday evenings they were preparing and Ben was writing essays. Saturday they had their practice exam for their black belt. You can't test for your black belt until you've passed a practice exam so it's a big deal! They had to run 5 miles, do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, perform over 20 forms from memory, demonstrate blocks, kicks, strikes, and one-steps, break 20 boards, and fight black belts--2 against one. We dropped Ben off for his run at 7am and they were done at 4pm. Crazy! So much hard work! Beth did all the same things but they let her do it over two weeks instead of all at once. I'm so impressed with both of them!

Ben also had tryouts for summer tennis league this week. They played Wave to decide teams and had ladder play the next day. They'll play M-F through the month of June. Right now he's feeling kind of ambivalent about it. I think he likes the idea of getting more play time but he doesn't know the kids on his team. We will see!

Afterwards, he mowed the lawn. What a rockstar!

Ben also found time to go on a run with his friends and then hang out all day afterward. Which is fun. I totally approve! Here's them on Friday having helped one of the friends get his (mom's) car washed.

Beth is doing great on her driving skills and we got some more days of practicing in! On Wednesday she even drove from Lindon State Street all the way home!

Savannah had a great time hiking with us! But, before the last mile, she took her sandals off to slide down a waterfall, landed on a rock, and cut her foot. It's been really painful! She tried work this week but couldn't stand on her foot! Poor gal! We're hoping next week is better! She did get to go to a play on Friday night with her friend Jessica and loved it. Also, she taught Sunday school today and did a great job.

Mariah came home from Hawaii this week! It was so fun to see her again! We went over Wednesday night to watch her and Kolby open wedding presents. What fun! People are so generous and that is fun to see, too!