The Archer Family Blog: July 2009

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Vacation on the Fourth of July weekend

We decided to spend the Fourth of July away from home, sort of. We had a great time at Sea World. We haven't been in years. Erin has never been and Kimberlyn hasn't been with us. She did go last year with her Girl Scout troop. We went for two days. Sea World didn't close until 11pm. We arrived at about 6pm the first day and the second we went home about 7pm. Everyone was getting tired and a little sunburned. This is also an updated family picture as well. As you can see Mike and I are looking as young as ever!! Jessica is almost as tall as us. She is 13 yrs. So she is still growing. Kimberlyn is 8, and she is fun to do things with now that she is getting order. Erin is 3 1/2 and is almost as tall as Kimberlyn. She is also my little trouble maker in disquise. A typical 3 year old. But very loving a the same time. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Starting off.....

The first pictures that I have to share our from our trek back in August of 2006. I know if was a while ago, but an experience that I will never forget. We were there for a week. I went on the cooking commitee. We prepared meals for be breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks on the road for the youth. We had over 400 youth and leaders and that isn't counting us (food committee), equipment committee (Mike was on), and first aid specials. I was up at 4am helping with a bunch of us to get breakfast on by 6am so that the youth could be on the trek by 7am. We would take turns making breakfast, lunch and snacks for the youth. They had to have there lunches with them and snacks needed to be ready when the time for delievery was needed. When everyone was done with breakfast, the BIG CLEAN UP and pack away so that we could get to our next destination before dinner so that we could set up and cook before the youth arrived from there 16 miles of walking all day long. Somewhere we still needed to find time for us to eat too! If we were lucky we were to bed by 10 to 11pm at night. Not much sleep, but I don't remember much of that. We did get a chance around 12noon to 2pm to explore a little. The first day we were all able to go on a special hike up above the Sweetwater River, to Martins Cove. We heard stories of how the pioneers lived and struggled through these times. It was a beautiful, humid day and I am glad I had the chance to be with Mike that day. We didn't get to see much of each other except for meals and bed time.
Mike as I said before was on the equipment committee. He was up around 5:30 to get everyones gear put on the trucks and moved to the next location. Remember that was for over 400 youth and leaders. So there was tents, sleeping bags, pails(each persons supplies), and also to help with awnings and some kitchen equipment too.
I remember one night that the youth had a fireside where they did square dancing. It was awesome to see! 400 youth and leaders dancing around. I remember them practicing weeks before in my own ward. I wish I had my journal to write more but I have it packed away. I will make comments on pictures that I add. It was a wonderful week!

The funniest memory on the Trek