Pick, Pick, Pick

We've been wanting to buy blueberries for a while now...

they're just so summer-y, yanno?

But we just can't bring ourselves to buy them when they're expensive!

(Which is always... so we never do...)

BUT we found a "Pick-Your-Own" blueberry place!
(Which was REALLY just some blueberry bushes in some guys front yard, let's be honest)

 Which is a perfect thing to do in Mississippi during the summer time.

 It was a little slow going...

 But after an hour,

 of searching out the best ones we could find...

 We had a gallon :)

 $8 for a gallon of blueberries = perfect.

Now excuse us while we go make...

this

and this

and this!

A Camping We Will Go!

So I just got back from Girls Camp with the Houston Young Women...

I think we averaged about 5 hours of sleep per night and then played hard all day. 

Those girls know how to par-tay!

And I am wiped out!

Tuesday we drove up to camp Cho-Yeh, about an hour and half north east of Houston.

 They have their stuff and are ready to go!

Confession- we slept in air conditioned rooms.

But I'm not ashamed one bit.

Being outside all day in 100+ degree weather and 80% humidity-

they deserve those AC cabins!

 Me and Kim Ellsworth- we all wish she could have stayed longer!

I'm pretty good at weaseling my way into going to Girls Camp every year.

Truth is- I love Girls Camp and still wish I could go as a youth every year!

I've decided it's kind of hard growing up...

as a youth I had girls camp, EFY, youth conferences, etc. to look forward to every summer...

And these experiences were imperative in building my testimony.

Then there was a mission... which was full of testimony strengthening experiences.

But now I'm just old and boring and there aren't week long Relief Society camps to look forward to!

And let's be honest...

if there were, they wouldn't be NEARLY as cool as Girls Camp!

We went swimming...

 made crafts...

 went swimming in the lake!

 

Don't worry- we didn't have any fun at all...

The lake only had a blow up trampoline, teeter totter, slide, zip line, and blob that you could bounce each other off of.

 Ok, I lied. 

The lake was DEFINITELY the highlight of camp!

SOOOOOO much fun!

 Drying off...

 These girls rocked the ropes courses!

Michaela did the hardest one...

 Selene did amazing!

 and they all did awesome on the rock climbing wall!

 Did the fun stop there?

Oh no!

Now do you see why I have Girls Camp hangover?

Not only did we stay up until 1 every night...

but we played hard all day!

We had a lip-sync super jam which was hilarious!

I didn't know so many Justin Beibers lived in the Houston South Stake!

 We gave ourselves pedicures...

 Cute toes!

 Sister Eccles taught us how to cook in a Dutch oven...

 We did lots, and lots, and lots of french braiding!

The theme for Girls Camp was "The Amazing Race"... 

and yes we did re-enact the show with lots of crazy challenges.

Like wrapping each other up in toilet paper...

And cutting and tying blankets for a children's hospital...

 ANND it looks like I didn't take many pictures of the Amazing Race!

Hahaha oh well...

We did find a nest of daddy long legs.

Can you say "DISGUSTING?!?!"

 Funny story-

This guy Randy was staff from Camp Cho-Yeh and was in charge of taking us to all our various activities. 

WELL, since he was the only boy around- all the girls decided they had crushes on him.

What a lucky guy.

A 22 year old with a bunch of 13 year olds after him.

The last day- they chased him down and made him take a picture with them...

As they chanted "We love Randy!"

Put 80 girls in the wilderness for four days and I think they go a little crazy without boys!

And here are some pics of the amazing girls.

Aren't they beautiful?

I think so.

 Cristina...

 Gracie...

 Joselyn and Gracie...

 Desiree...

 Brianna...

 Michaela...

 And the goof- Alejandra

I'm gonna miss these girls while we're in Mississippi!

Wonderful Sisters

My sisters have been here all week with me.

It was been WONDERFUL!

We love having visitors... it's SO fun and gives a good excuse to party 24/7.

So of course we DID party 24/7... duh!

Checking out the Galleria...

Swimming...

Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory...

 Milking the cow...

(Some old man informed me afterwards that I was on the wrong side of the cow to be milking it... oops?)

 

Very large sample- oh yeah.

On our way back we discovered a huge outlet mall.

Love, love, love.

These girls know how to shop.

We went down to Galveston!

AND of course rode the ferry...

Where we saw dolphins :)

AND then of course- played at the beach.

 

Paddle boats at Hermann Park

Afro ducks

The Chocolate Bar... delicious.

 

Chocolate cake, chocolate cookie, chocolate dipped pretzels, chocolate dipped strawberries, and more chocolate... yep we didn't order TOO much...

Alligators!!

Don't worry Rachel.

They only eat 16 year old girls.

Oh yes- there is a restaurant that sells fried alligator.

And YES we did get some.

And yes we DID enjoy it ;)

More swimming...

 

And lounging...

 And playing dead...

(This is Jon's favorite game. To float like a buoy and see how long he can last. The only problem is that it gives me a heart attack every time I see him like this!)

And we had to take two nervous girls to the airport this morning :(
(it was their first flight EVER!)

Bye Jay and Roni!
Our apartment is so lonely without you :(
Come back soon!