Soccer and Goonies tour

I missed Robert and Isabelle's first soccer games when I was at girl's camp last week, so I was so glad I could go this week.

Robert and Isabelle's games were at the exact same time at fields right next to each other. So, we had to keep moving the whole time to catch both the games, but it was very fun.

Isabelle scored some goals! (For her team and for the opposing team)


Robert was so much more into it this year than last. It was so fun to see him want to run fast!Later this week Austin pooped in the potty for the first time. I could tell what he was doing and I asked him if he wanted to use the toilet. He said, "No Mom, I'm going poop!"

I took him upstairs anyways, and: success!
On Saturday I told Rob I wanted to go to the coast. He found some fun places to go in Astoria, Oregon where they filmed Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, Short Circuit, and Free Willy. So, we went on a movie tour!This is the house where the boys lived in Goonies. I couldn't believe how popular this location was! Within the 10 minutes we were there, there were about 4 other groups of people who came up to see it as well. I am surprized that after 20 years, this film is still so popular. I still like it!
This is the school where they filmed "Kindergarten Cop". I was impressed that the production crew paid to have these murals painted. They were cool.
They also paid for new playground equipment for the school and put a fence around it. What a boon to the community:)
Next we visited the Astoria column. This was said to be used in Goonies, K-cop, teenaged mutant ninja turtles etc. I don't really remember it. Maybe it was just used for the views. It was awesome! It is definitely a historical landmark.Our kids made it up all 164 steps. It was pretty steep and even I got vertigo. Robert got really scared up there, but the views were fantastic!
This is the house from "Short Circuit". We are all trying to do 5 for "Jonny 5" , the robot in the movie.
We went to the jail in the film Goonies. Here are family is acting very angry and criminal. I was surprized at how tiny the jail was.
Right next the the jail is the Flavel House. It was the place where the dad worked in "Goonies". It was a very fancy old house from one of the old sea captains that lived in Astoria. I loved the architecture!
When we got home Austin and Isabelle went to bed, but Robert, Rob and I all watched "Goonies". What a fun day!

Girl's Camp

So, I went to girl's camp as ward camp director for my second year in a row this year. There were three Tricia's in just our ward (including me). I was glad all of us Tricia's got along. We all slept in a row, and on Friday we had a Tricia canoe with the three of us. How fun!

I love the girls in our ward. They are fun loving, sweet to each other and kind, and have strong testimonies and try to do what is right. How much more could I ask for?

The other leaders there were so fun to be around! They made up for my lack of creativity and all other areas I was lacking. I loved talking to and bonding with them. They are amazing ladies that I definitely look up to. It is amazing to me how much easier it is to bond at girl's camp than any where else.
We had a superhero theme at camp this year. Our ward's theme was Virtue and we had "Virtue Woman" as our mascot. (She was later renamed Ugly Betty).
This is our girls in their "camp identity".

We played a fun game at camp where we were suppose to try to steal the other ward's mascots and put our ward's stickers on them. We had a lot of fun with this.
In my research on Virtue, I learned that it is not just about chastity, that it entails a lot more. The costume represented service and hard work (gloves), Speaking kind words, great worth (red for rubies), and purity (they were going to wear white shirts). So we gave devotionals each day on one of these aspects. Marissa spoke on kind words, Sue on hard work, and I gave the one on modesty and chastity. Not that that is the most fun subject in the world, and not that I wasn't embarrassed to speak on it, but I do think it is important. I hope the girls got something out of it. I at least know that they remembered when I talked about "winky winky; smiley, smiley; handsy, handsy; peach, plum and alfalfa... When Bro. Steven's came up the last night the girls played a game with him, and warmed up their mouths by saying "alfalfa" over and over. It was pretty funny.

Here are some fun pics of the girls.
This is Nicole with her 1st years.This is the trust fall.We said Bro Steven's was like the sword of truth, and Kendra actually made up a really fun rap for him as well.

Overall, it was a very good experience. I am always impressed by the girls, and I always feel the spirit so strong there. It is just like a spiritual reawakening each time I go. I love to feel closer to my Heavenly Father, so I am so grateful that I have been able to have this experience.

My whirlwind life

So, life really has felt like a whirlwind lately, that is why I haven't written for a while. So, here is some catch up.

Isabelle had her last day of preschool, and last day of dance for the year. I ordered this costume for her not realizing we would be gone the day of the recital. She loved it so much!! But, she agreed to sell it to a girl who didn't have one for the recital. She really was being a princess.
She was totally posing for this pic, she didn't want to stand up or smile. She wanted to look just like this..:)

Here is Isabelle's last day of preschool. She absolutely LOVED preschool this year. Thanks Miss Connie!Robert won an award at school for improved handwriting.Robert missed his last day of school because we went to Utah!
Halfway through June our family took a trip to Utah and hung out with family and my best friend Wendy.

The kids got some good cousin time in.
We celebrated Heather's 2nd b-day.
We got to see the movie "Up" with Grandma the next day. On Tuesday we went to the Oquirrh Mountain temple to go through as visitors. It was such an amazing experience. I could feel the spirit so strong talking to my kids about the pictures of Jesus there and telling them about what we do in the temple. I am grateful for the experience.
I went there with my mom, my sister Katie, and her girls.Austin had fun skateboarding in the kitchen.

We went to the zoo with my friend Wendy and her kids.
Austin couldn't get enough of the giraffes.
We had a great time hanging out with Grandma Nan. The kids were so loving with her! The didn't want to get off her lap, or stop giving her hugs! I wish I could say that I planned it, but I guess they just love their grandma!!
We took her to the BYU creamery. I think we should keep that a tradition!
Wendy took us for a hike around a lake. The kids loved it!Especially the impromtu snowball fight!It was kind of hard to do Father's Day while away on a trip. But, the kids and I made Rob a fun card, I brought one Isabelle had made from her school, and gave Rob a fun book and some shirts. Wendy and I made our husbands breakfast.Wendy and I got dresses the same day. So fun!Then we were off to Colorado to hang out with Rob's family for a week!
I love that my kids each have a twinner cousin (cousin born the same week as them)

Austin and IsaacIsabelle and AbbyAnd Robert and LiamWe went to some dinosaur ruins the first day.
Another hike the second day.
We went to a park and played parachute games, soccer and tennis.
We had tons of fun in Heather and Jared's pool, just about every day.We went to a fun park with a train, a petting zoo, and a stream to wade in. That day, the Stephens gave all the grandkids some fun sunglasses. How cool is that!?!Robert did actually end up touching an animal at the petting zoo, but he REALLY didn't want to.The kids loved dressing up there.We celebrated Emily's birthday there.All the grandkids made bags for a memory. They all said the "French Frogs" and had frogs swimming in a pool. Great idea Robyn!
We had a family run day. Almost all the adults ran a 5k. They did some little races for the kids as well. Austin won the race for his age group.On the last day we had family pics done and the Stephens started an impromptu dance party afterwards.:)


Robert and his buds did this during the dancing.
We had a busy week this week. For the 4th of July, both Rob and I spoke at our ward breakfast on patriotism and the constitution. Then we headed off to a tea party rally!We had fireworks and homemade ice cream at home with the Ducette's. It was a fun night and neither Robert or Isabelle were afraid of the sparklers this year. Austin sure was afraid of the fireworks though.This week I am off to girl's camp. Wish me luck!