FEATHERVILLE with the DAHLBERG's

Every summer we have gone to Bryan's cabin with my sister, Michelle, and her family. This year was just as fun as the rest! We played in the hot springs (in Baumgardner), swam in the creek, climbed in the tree house, and skied like crazy! We had a great weekend...it was hard to say good-bye, and go back to the real world!

~Jake at Baumgardner~

~Popsicle Pond at Baumgardner~

The kids thought it was so fun to balance on the edge of the hot springs enclosure. I'm not sure it was such a good idea, and I am not sure why I let them???

Hailey learning how to shoot her new gun that Grandma and Grandpa Miller gave her for her birthday.

~Playing at the Creek~

When we went boating at the lake, the kids wanted to spend hours swimming. Good Times!

~Mom Surfing~

Amber got up all by herself, and even danced in the water to a few songs! When her favorite songs would come on, she would tap her leg to the beat of the music! I thought she would never stop-she had a ton of fun!

~ Bryan Skiing~

Hailey's bravery convinced the other kids that skiing was fun, and possible! She was the first kid to get up all by herself, which convinced the other kids to try! She had so much fun skiing!

VISITING Grandma and Grandpa ELKINGTON
August 18, & 19

We went to visit grandma and grandpa Elkington, and had tons of fun riding tractors, going to the zoo, and riding horses. In addition to fun activities, the company was good too!

When I was little, hauling hay was a chore. My kids definitely live in the city, because they were having the time of their lives doing what I use to deem as "work"! Each one wanted a turn riding with grandpa on the tractor! Jacob was so enthralled it made being on the farm so much fun!

~Piper and Hailey on the Tractor~

~Jacob and Grandpa Stacking Hay~

~Amber & Uncle Brent Hauling Hay~

~Grandpa, Amber, & Jacob Helping with the Hay~

~Farm Boy in the Making~

GOING TO THE ZOO
After spending all morning on the tractors, we spent all afternoon at the zoo!

~Cooper, Danner, & Amber at the Petting Zoo~

~Danner, Hailey, Piper, & Cooper at the Petting Zoo~

~Group Shot~

RIDING HORSES!!
The next day we went to the ranch (Bone, Idaho) to ride horses, and play some more with grandpa!

~Jake and Mom on the Horse~

~Amber and Mom on the Horse~

After riding once with me, Hailey wanted to ride all by herself! She was a bit nervous, but after she did it, she was so excited!

Uncle Layne took Amber and Jacob on a four-wheeler ride to the top of the mountain near the ranch! They had tons of fun!

RED FISH LAKE
August 14, 2009
We were invited to go camping with some friends. It has been a long time since Bryan and I have gone camping. We always go to the cabin when we need a quick get away-it takes less prep work, and it is still in beautiful nature. However, this experience reminded me why I use to love camping! There is just something about sleeping in the great outdoors that brings feelings of peace, and love for family. I felt so connected to my family! I resolved that camping is one of those things that takes a ton of work, but is well worth it in the end.

~Tyler Fuhriman in Background; Starting from Front-Parker, Amber, Lizzy, Jackson, & Londyn~

~King of the Mountain~
Jacob loved going from tree stump to tree stump shouting, "king of the mountain"! He wandered everywhere...someone always had to have an eye on him, or he would wander completely away from camp.

~Jacob Wandering~

~King of the Mountain~

~The rest of us roasted marshmallows, but Jakey preferred eating marshmallow after marshmallow without taking the time to roast them.~

My kids were bundled! I brought a ton of blankets, coats, hats, snow pants...you name it--I brought it! When I checked the weather report, the nights were predicted to get into the 30's, so I wanted to be sure we stayed warm. In the middle of the night, I had to tuck Jakey in with me, so he would stay in his blankets, but that was our only difficulty with the cold weather! I got a few laughs, but in the end, we were all warm!

Amber and Hannah on the boat!

~Aubrey, Hailey, Ava, Hannah, Bryton, Jacob~

~Couple Shot~

~Group Shot~

Jacob Takes Swimming Lessons
August 2009

In the beginning, Jacob wouldn't even get into the water, but slowly and surely Stacey (his swim teacher) won him over, and he began to try. By the end of swimming lessons, he was blowing bubbles, kicking his feet, and sitting on the top stair (which were all huge accomplishments). It was so fun to see Jacob progress! Thanks Stacey!

FINALLY LAGOON...

Every summer the Miller family goes to Lagoon. We arrive as the gates are opening, and we leave as the gates are closing. In June we attempted a trip to Lagoon; however, when we arrived at Lagoon, it was closed. Our spirits remained high as we drove another hour to Seven Peaks all the while promising our disappointed children that we would come back to Lagoon (we had already purchased tickets, so there was very little choice). Finally, on August 1, we succeeded in our attempt...we went to Lagoon!

~Jacob, Logan, Truman Riding the Helicopters~
I love the Lagoon tradition simply for the opportunity it provides for my children to play with their cousins!

~Jacob, Ava, Aunt Michelle, Carly, Aunt Kathleen, & Mike on the Swings~

~Aaron, Uncle Jonathan, & Tim on the SKY COASTER!~

~Mom, Dad, & Hailey getting ready for the SKY COASTER!~
Hailey watched her cousins and Uncle get ready to ride the Sky Coaster, and decided that she wanted to ride too! I think her daddy also wanted to ride, because she didn't even have to plead with him to pay an extra $15 per person...he just smiled and said, "only this one time".

~Mom, Dad, & Hailey Riding the Sky Coaster~
When we were getting hooked to our suits, the lady informed me that because of weight dynamics, I would need to be the one to pull the chord. I was scared to death! It was one thing to be hanging high up in the air, and not have control of the situation, and quite another to be creating the situation. On the way up, Bryan kept talking about how high it was..."wow, we're high...wow...we're really high"! I finally had to close my eyes, and beg him to stop exclaiming how high we were, so I wouldn't lose my nerve.

~Jacob with Cars~

Amber has wanted to ride the Bat ever since Hailey was tall enough to ride! This year Amber was finally tall enough! They were so excited while waiting in line that I had to take a picture!

~Amber and Hailey Riding the BAT~

Summer Rec. Swim Team

Hailey and Amber participated in a summer rec. swim team. They swam on Borah's team, and had a fabulous time! Every day Monday through Friday the girls would wake up and swim. (I felt like we were living in our swimming suits.) They had five swimming meets throughout the summer. Both Amber and Hailey won ribbons in almost every event they entered! By the end of the season, Amber improved her time by 20 seconds in both her freestyle and back stroke, which is almost unheard of for swimming, and Hailey swam anchor in the 25 m freestyle for her relay team.

~Amber Ready to Start~

~Swimmers Take Your Marks~

~Amber Pose~

Amber swam butterfly in this race. Swimming the butterfly stroke takes a lot of upper arm strength, which still hasn't developed on Amber. She was able to swim everything technically correct; however, by the end of the race everyone in the audience knew her name, (probably because they heard our family cheering for her) and was shouting for her success! She thought it was fabulous, which made it all the more special that she completed the race!

Hailey and Amber became fast friends with Gracie and Ruby.

~Eliana, Gracie, Amber, & Hailey~

Arrow Rock
July 18, 2009
We were able to go water skiing with the Simmons', Wilkey's, and the Tolman's. We had so much fun playing in the sand, eating a picnic lunch, and playing on the water!

~ Bryan and Carrie~

~Three moms with three babies~

~Jake, Lizzy, Amber, and Hailey on the Boat~

I am up...

I am back where I am comfortable...

~Hailey Skiing~

Girl's Camp July 7-10

I had the opportunity of going to girl's camp this year, and although I missed my kids, I had a great time! Miracles happened at girl's camp to our little ward! I was so proud of our young women. They really went the extra mile. They were always willing to serve, and most importantly the reached beyond themselves, and looked to help one another! It was the best!

Our ward posing with our flag, and lighthouse. The lighthouse went along with the theme, "Anchor your Soul in Christ". The return to virtue flag is a symbol of our ward following Sister Dalton's admonition to bring us all to live more virtuous lives. Sister Dalton (the General YW's President) has admonished all young women across the world to RETURN TO VIRTUE. In her remarks she shared a story about her years as a youth when her leaders asked her to choose a symbol that could represent what she wanted to become. She chose a white rose, because the white rose grows more and more beautiful over time, and because white stands for purity. As a youth group, we are choosing our symbols for our lives...our goals...our aspirations...our individual motto's.

My symbol is a candle stick with a heart shaped candle holder with a yellow flame. My symbol symbolizes my desire to turn my heart to my Lord and Savior and to do His will (Hel. 3:35), and by so doing letting my light so shine (3 Nephi 12:16). It also reminds me of the parable of the ten virgins and their oil lamps. It reminds me to keep my "oil" full. Each color that I used also serves a purpose according to the young women colors. I chose the heart to be red, because it stands for the blood of Christ and it serves as a reminder that Jesus Christ loves me and died for me, and it also reminds me to turn my heart to Him as I seek Him. I chose the candle to be white, because it represents purity, and I want to always be pure. I chose the flame to be yellow, because it stands for good works, and I hope that my life will be full of good works as I strive to turn my heart to the Lord. I also used gold threading to represent virtue. This has been a great experience for the leaders as well as the youth!

We put on a skit for the young women depicting the parable of the ten virgins. The experience was amazing. The skit was set up in such a manner that the young women were able to participate as if they were waiting for the bridegroom. They visited ten stations. At each station there was a different virgin with a different story. Five virgins followed the Saviors teachings, and were ready for the "bridegroom". Five virgins represented our natural man tendencies that keep us away from our Savior and His love. As the girls reached the last virgin, the previous virgins gathered, and started exclaiming that the bridegroom was near. The five wise virgins continually admonished the young women to prepare, because the bridegroom was coming. In the midst of these proclamations, the five foolish virgins' oil lamps went out, and the five foolish virgins began panicking at their lack of oil. They begged the young women, and the other virgins for oil. I had the opportunity of playing the role of a wise virgin, and in this moment the skit truly came to life. I felt awful turning away women I loved, and being unable to share with them my oil (the oil being a representation of past good works, which truly is not something that can be shared). The foolish women cried, begged, and pleaded...at the last moment they left with great lamentations searching for a market in which they could buy more oil. Meanwhile the wise virgins entered the wedding. When the foolish virgins returned they were welcomed by a closed door. Each of the foolish virgins tried to enter, but the door was closed to them. One by one they begged and pleaded for entry promising to do better. One of my friends was playing the role of a foolish virgin, and the spirit was so strong as she literally cried at the closed door begging for entry. At the end of our evening the young women were offered as a gift to the Lord, and they were permitted to enter. The whole evening was amazing! I know the spirit was felt by the girls. As we returned to our camp fires, my young women bore testimony of the amazing event. Each of them felt the importance of keeping our lives clean and pure, so that we can someday enter into our Lord's Kingdom.