The Jaredite Experience. Canoe Trip 2012

For the Last year our troop has been planning the canoe trip of summer. We wanted to go from Edmonton to Marwayne, down the North Saskatchewan river. We knew going into this camp that the boys would have to do some serious preparation. Since last October we had the boys start doing push ups and sit ups to help strengthen them. We spent the week leading up to the camp watching the water levels. The levels were border line too high so we made a quick back up plan to Meadow Lake Provincial Park Just in case. The river water level was dropping so we tried to bring back the original camp, but after talking with some experts, we decided to play it safe and head up to the park.

Day 1: Tuesday, July 3, 2012
We left the Church Parking lot at 10:00Am and headed North. The Saskatchewan highways of the north are less than what a normal Albertan would call Highway but they work.  We loaded up our canoes and were on the water just as the weather went down hill.
The Wind was blowing hard from the east, which was the direction we were suppose to go, but with loaded canoes and white caps we decided to go west with the waves.

 Our first Camp was BT 4. Nice beach and decent camping area. We spent 2 days here and had a blast. The weather kept us off the lake, but we had back up games. We played a confusion game where 2 boys were leading a chain of blind folded boys to go left, right, forward, and stop. These Commands were given in a different language and the boys had to decide which direction to go to avoid any hazards, or obstacles. This game kicked off our Jaredite experience, with the language confounding. Even though it was raining and wet we were able to get a fire going and our tents set up.
Also, with a bit of time on our hands, I had made up 100 questions from Ether to give to any boy who wanted to participate. The first one complete all 100 questions would receive either a knife or a head lamp.

Day 2: Wednesday, July 4, 2012

The day started with more wind and rain. We were able to get the fire going and we headed out on the unladen canoes and tried to see how we would do. The wind was from the west this day and so our little cove was calm, but when we went around the land to open water, we found some good waves. This proved to be pointless to try to canoe in so we headed back to our cove, and practiced maneuvering, by playing keep away with a beach ball. The boys did very well at avoiding collisions. I even saw some very nice speed burst to catch an unmanned ball. As we all got a little wet, we decided to play some water melon foot ball near the beach. This is were we grease up the water melon and throw it in the water, and 2 teams, who cant bring the watermelon out of the water, try to get it to the other teams end zone. This game proved to be incredibly fun as the watermelon is only slightly buoyant and when it is passed through the water, it will sink out of sight and everyone stops, awaiting it to re-surface and then the game continues. Stupendous game.


Left: Mark Takes the Melon in for the touch down. with Seth, Thomas,Ian, Dean, & Shawn.  
Right: teams wait for melon to surface


So after we all got dried and warm,  we went for a hike and found a bunch of  wild Strawberry's. The boys had a healthy portion of mini berries( very good).We concluded the afternoon with a game of unknown origins, with one empty 5 gal pail set apart 30 feet  from a full 5 gal pail. The water can only be transported by sponge. First team done wins the immunity challenge. Red team lost to a very fast and determined green team.

Thomas, Robert Mcfadsen, Jaymen,Jeffery

To conclude the day we found Rocks, to molten and prepare to have them shine in our vessels.We Painted them with a glow in the dark paint. These rocks were to represent the brother of Jared's rocks.







Day 3: Thursday, July 5, 2012

We started the day very early, took down camp, ate breakfast, and loaded our canoes for the journey up river to the next camp site. With full canoes, our little group of 14 men and 7 canoes forged through the mild waves on the open waters of Lac Des Isles. This was no easy feat, but after a few hours of paddling we made the voyage to the river that would connect us to Lepine lake.  This river started out through reeds and lily pads.  pffff, no big deal, we pushed up the windy calm waters, until we actually found the mouth of the river with a definite current.  This river would compare to a Waterton River, in size maybe a bit smaller with slightly less of a current. We had to paddle hard and as a team to make it past a few of the rapids, but for the most part it was very do-able. 3km took us 2 hours. Exhausted and ready to set up camp for the night, we had some bad news. BT 3 our campsite was burned out last summer, and would not be a very good site for camp. As a group we decided it would be best to carry on to Pierce Lake. Off we went. We traversed across another lake and up a wide connecting wide Stream that took us underneath a bridge then adjoined us with Pierce Lake.

We found a niffty camp site on the south side of the lake. Nice beach and access up to a slanted area underneath some spruce and poplar trees. There was little growth of grass or other veggitation so that clean area became home to Lloyd 3rd. This  was not a designated camp site, however with some minor touches it could be. the young men brought huge rocks from the beach up to the common area for our camp fire barrier. There was lots of dry wood and area further up the hill for tents. Our Bear vault became an old pine-less spruce tree where all our buckets of food  were soon hanging from any available limb. Because this site had no facilities, it was imperative that a latrine be built. We had to be very innovative as no one brought a shovel. After a little improvision using a paddle, a stick and a hatchet, there was a hole deep enough for a few piles of rubbish. We had a little bench, branches for cover and lake front view. Prime Real estate for any Latrine. After dinner everyone was exhausted and ready for bed. Before bed, Shawn Cousins gave a wonderful devotional on the Aaronic Priesthood. I was very impressed with his fireside. There could be no stronger way to present the importance that the Aaronic Priesthood plays in every aspect of preparing young men for the future. The spirit was there to testify. For all those in attendance, I hope they remember the feelings felt.
 We were on the water for around 12 hours this day.
Day 4: Friday, July 6, 2012
Today was a lazy day. We were very slow to get out of bed. By 1000am the camp was busy with activity. We were making breakfast and preparing for another day. We concluded to use this camp site our final night, as it was a great location with fine amenities.  We piled in our unladen canoes and headed out. Our destination was sandy beach, for lunch and then let our bodies, weather and time determine where to after that.
The beach was nice and busy. The camp ground seemed like a nice place to take the fam for a good time. We got to the beach and enjoyed lunch and then a little game of watermelon foot ball. This time we had to end due to a break in the game ball. The melon had split wide open. Oh well, it was the best tasting piece of sports equipment I have ever ate.
After an hour or so we headed back to camp, where we continued our Jaredite experience. Darius talked with us about the final battles among the Jaredites, and we would get to re-enact them (kind of). We  separated into our colors, with red team being Coriantumr and Green team was Shiz. Beans and straws divided out the battle began. There were 8 battles and each team won 4.  Green team starte out with the blitzkrieg  attack that took red team extinction in seconds. To finish off the ammo we had an all out, no holds bar-go till you are out of beans- assault. The close up shots to open skin can do some damage. My neck was pelted. At one point, everyone thought it was a good idea to gang up on me. Well I got my fair share of welts from that little engagement.
Obviously we did not work the boys hard enough, as there was alot of singing and noise making late into the night.

Add caption

TEAM SHIZ Left to Right:Jeffery, Ian, Grayson, Dean, Shawn, Joey

TEAM CORIANTUMR: Left to Right: Strong John, Seth, Jaymen, Mark, Micah, Thomas, Darius, Robert

There are many more pictures that I would like to add, but there are restraints.
After Bean wars, John,  Jeffery, and Shawn finished up the 100 questions and I was forced to give up some prizes. Great Job Guys! There were others who participated, and they did a good job as well.

Day 5: Final Day. Saturday, July 7, 2012.

Back on schedule we were up, ate, packed up, cleaned up, and on the water before 8am.

NO wind, only heat. Even though we made great time we all were exhausted. The lakes were calm and mirrored the surrounding shore line. The river that took us 2 hours to go up, only took 15 minutes to go down. Our canoes cut through the long lakes as if they were air planes, moving through the bluest of skies, leaving a single line behind us. We were at the trucks around noon. Most of the boys hate canoeing, well they enjoyed the river but will not do lakes. Really too bad, as it was physically demanding, the sites and beauties that meadow lake provincial park had to offer transcend the minute pains induced by a little hard work.
Before we ended our trip we stopped at a little musem in Good Soil to meet all the requiremnts for the venture badge.

I am very proud of all the boys and the efforts that they put in and the challenges that they conquered.

SHOTS!!

Such a brave girl my Macie was today as she got her 3rd set of shots. She did not cry at all and even gave the nurse a smile when she rang her little bell.

Macie is doing so great and the health nurse is so happy where she is developmentally.  As is mom.  Can't lie in saying I love hearing that my little girl is at the top of the charts for everything.

She also got all her measurements done today and was
14lbs 15oz's and in the 19th percentile for her weight
25 3/4 inches and in the 50th percentile for her height (that one went down quit a bit from last time)
and head circumference was 42.5cm's and in the 38th percentile.

F.H.E

Tonight the Low's had us and the Fyfe's over for F.H.E to play some minute to win it games. First we started with a song and lesson by Graham. Short but sweet about Time and how if we speedily obey our Heavenly Father we can receive blessings quicker. Then it was time for some Minute to win it games. It was a blast and the pictures will say it all.

thumbs up for destroying everybody at the dice game.

blow the cards off the cup except leave the bottom one.

you had to bounce the marble in the thimble 3 times

pulling kleenix out of the box.

love marks face in this photo

filling  a bucket with water from a water gun

which of course turned into this

and some more of this.

WHILE DADDY'S GONE!!!

A whole week without a husband for me and a dad for Macie. At first I was terrified, especially as the week before Macie had the roughest week since being born, sick and so fussy. But on Monday when we went to the zoo my little girl was back and I was hopping she was here to stay.

So what did we do while Mark was gone. Had FUN that is for sure. I made sure I had lots of stuff planned everyday to fill our time and keep Macie busy and happy. We went for lots of walks, did lots of singing time, played in the pool, read many books, worked on crawling (almost there), sold our house, kept house clean for showings, had friends over for dinner on Wednesday and a surprise visit buy my brother on Thursday.

This week really helped build my confidence as a mother knowing I could care for Macie buy myself day after day after day. I had one frustrating moment Friday night trying to feed her supper and she was being really fussy, but other then that we just had fun and played. 

loved watching the other kids play

trying out her new swimming hat

loves playing with the horse her Grandma Hunsperger got for her.

SOLD!!!

And our house is SOLD!!!! Thank you for not taking months and months. Keeping the house clean everyday with a 6 month old is not easy. I totally new this was going to happen though. Mark left for young men's camp on Tuesday and the week before I had this gut feeling that I was going to have to deal with this craziness all on my own and hope he doesn't come home mad. Well it was way easier then I thought and we got the house sold for exactly what we wanted, so that man better not only be happy, but he owes me big time for having to deal with all the paperwork and tearing the house apart finding all of the information the bank and realtors need.

I guess now it is time to start packing and get ready to move into our new home. I am so excited, the home we bought is everything we wanted in a house and even though our mortgage is increasing, which we wanted to avoid, I still feel we got it for a good price.

EDMONTON TRIP!!!

 As Mark is heading off on a week long canoe trip and has been crazy busy lately with life we decided to head into Edmonton for the day for some family time. We started off by hitting the Edmonton Valley Zoo. It was a cute little zoo with some great animals. We got to see otters,  seals, snakes, owls, zebras, snow leapords, wolfs, and many other beauties. Next we headed to Whyte ave to try and find a fun bistro to eat lunch at, everything was closed for the long weekend until we happened to find this one little gem. It was called Under the Big Wheel and it was the most amazing food I have ever had. It was all made with whole grains and organic vegetables. We started off with the most amazing cream of mushroom soup ever, that had a delicious homemade bisquit. Then Mark had this pulled pork pannini and I had this spin wheel Quesidilla. We both devoured our meals and savored every bite. As well in this little Bistro there was a place that made home made gellato. As well it was to die for and absolutely amazing. I got Chocolate coconut and Mark got chocolate coconut and pistachio. We will definitely be hitting this place up next time we are in Edmonton. We then of course had to do a little bit of shopping MEC for mark and H&M for me and Macie. Macie was a sweetheart all day and just full of smiles and giggles.  Great fun family day for sure.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!

We'll it is not your traditional Canada day colors, but thought I should get pics with our family this morning before we left for church.

the best pic I could get of Mark, hence why there is only one. He can be such a punk sometimes.

at bud miller park

all tuckered out on the way home from our Canada Day festivities

KINDERMUSIK

Today was our last day of taking Macie to her sing class. It has been such a joy going every friday and making new friends, and watching Macie play and interact with the other babies. There was only 3 other babies in the program and they were all 6 months older then her so she mostly watched them as they crawled, walked, and screamed. It was so cute though watching her observe other kids. She loved singing and dancing but there was one song in particular that she loved. It had no words and we would dance around in a circle and do other motions and Macie would giggle and smile the whole time. I am excited for more of these kinds of activities in the future I am thinking swimming lessons is next on the list.

Tiffany and Evelyn, Me and Macie, Janice and Hudson and the teacher (Katherine's) son Noah.

the little ones

love how it looks like she really knows what she is doing here.

liked to suck on the shaker more then actually shake it.

watching the instructor dance and sing all crazy

1:25AM

Why is it 1:25 in the morning and I am still awake, because my husband is dropping of a young man at home that lives an hour away after having a young mens activity (party) at our house tonight. They started with pizza, then bounce house and hot tubbing. Then decided to play fugitive in Kitscoty until 12:30 at night. So this means there is still another whole hour before he gets back. Again why am I not asleep, because for some silly crazy reason I just can't fall asleep without that man by my side. I remember when we were first married  it probably took me a good 3 months before I got a really good sleep as I just found it so weird and different to have someone in my bed with me, every time I tossed or turned I would feel him and it would freak me out and I would wake up. Now almost 8 years later I can't fall asleep without him there. There is something comforting about tossing and turning and feeling his arm or leg, it makes me feel so safe. It will have to take total exhaustion for me to finally fall asleep which at that point knowing my luck Macie will wake up or he will get home. I can't wait for his camp next week and the lack of sleep we will both be receiving.

Side Note: what do you do at 1:25 in the morning and you can't sleep, I will tell you. Eat yummy unhealthy cake. read over your friends blogs from the day they first started blogging. view everything on pinterest and  dream about that perfect house, you know the one that is big enough for your family and all your stuff, a huge backyard, an amazing kitchen, a master bedroom to die for with a walk in closet and ensuite oh yeah and that perfect price tag of $300,000 or less (hence why it is only a dream).

PLAYTIME!!!

miracle I got them both to look at the same time

kissing and petting

close up

Molly and Lily playing

Macie playing

again Molly and Lily playing

and Macie playing