The 'UP' House

While en route to another fun destination we happened upon the Up House. We made a quick detour and took our own little tour of this famous movie house. The girls totally loved it and wanted to stay in the theater room in the basement and watch the UP movie as it was playing. See if you can find all of the 'UP' memorablilia found throughout the house.

Black Ridge Reservoir

Our oringinal destination for today was the new Black Ridge Reservoir in Herriman. It was actually like being at the beach, okay, almost like being at the beach. I could dig my toes into the warm sand and the girls could play at the shore line, for being only 15 minuntes from our house that is beach enough for me. Thanks for sharing this afternoon with us Schar family.

1st day of 7th & 9th grades

Heart Full of Gratitude and Love

It's late, and I should be in bed - but my heart is full, and I wanted to get some of my feelings down before I retire for the night.  Today our small community came together to help a family that is in need.  Aubrey's friend Bryson, was the sole survivor of a horrible car accident last Wednesday that took the life of his grandma, step-grandpa, and 16-year old cousin Mackenzie while on route to a family reunion.  When we first heard about the accident we immediately began to pray for him by name.  We have a lot of faith in the strength and power and comfort that can come to others, as well as ourselves, as we pray for them by name.

Aubrey, as well as many others who know Bryson, were wondering what they could do, beyond their faith and prayers, to help him and his family during this difficult time.  The thought came to have a Bake Sale to help cover some of his mounting medical expenses.  The Scharman family joined forces with us and then began several days of intense facebooking, phone calling, planning, organizing, and texting. (Oh, what would we do without technology)

Today was a culmination of all of those efforts.  So many people donated baked goods and so many people came out to support this family.  Teachers, crossing guards, strangers, friends of extended family, friends of our family, teenagers, kids, one man in particular who just seemed like an angel from the movie 17 miracles, everyone came out.  And their generosity was amazing.  In 3 1/2 hours, we raised over $3300.00 dollars.

Many prayers of gratitude have been expressed, but as I knelt down for my own personal prayer tonight, my heart runneth over with gratitude and humility for all those who served their God today by serving the Duncan Family.  There is much good in this world.  There is much light and truth.  I am thankful for a God, a Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers, though not always with the answers we desire.

I have a testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.  I know that he did live here upon the Earth and that He was resurrected and still lives today.  I know that though the Atonement of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, He truly knows and understands all of the pains and sufferings we may experience in this life. And because of that, He is always there and is the only person who can truly 'succor his people'.  I am thankful for a testimony of the Savior.  I can not imagine my life without that knowledge.  It is my anchor and He is the rock upon which I build my life.

I express heartfelt gratitude for all of the good people in this world. Good Night.

Bake Pics

A few more bake sale photos.

This simple bake sale started by an 'Ordinary Aubrey' (referencing the book "Ordinary Mary" - a great children's book worth reading)
brought a small community together and brought in over $3,300.00 for the Duncan Family.

Bake Sale Prep

The Scharman Family hosted a 'Poster Making Party' complete with pizza, and plenty of fun, on Saturday to get ready for Monday's Bake Sale. I believe the kids made 38 posters, and Sunday night we spilt up and canvased the area with the Bake Sale for Bryson Duncan signs.

Aubrey was a pro with that staple gun.

B wasn't really big enough to help put any of them up, but that in no way kept her from being part of the action.

This one was posted to the Duncan's mailbox.

An up close view. I really like the picture they chose of him for the posters. He's got his 'Skull Candy' headphones around his neck, his hat on backwards, smilin', just a great picture.

So we went to bed Sunday night feeling pretty good, until we were awakened about 2:00 am to lightening, thunder, and a serious downpour of rain. Oh, our poor signs!!! Oh well. We were up at 7:00 am trying to repair and salvage some of them, but them just moved on to the many other tasks at hand.

Our day was brightened as people started bring baked goods over. More and more and more baked goods. It was amazing! The CEO of Rhodes Bake N Serve donated tons of product and his daughter volunteered to Bake N Serve each and every one of those cinnamon/orange rolls. Some of Bryson's young men's leaders brought a snow cone machine and a fresh popcorn machine, all with generators to run them. Those were big hits. Friends of our family, who don't even know Bryson, came and donated cotton candy (another big hit) and other baked goods.. One of our neighbors drove his golf cart over and was doing 'trash runs' for us. Everything just came together. It was a great example of how "Many hands can make a heavy load light". You can read more about Bryson and his recovery at the "Get Well Bryson" Community Page on Facebook.

Midnight Run

We got home from Lagoon about 9:00 pm, changed our clothes, and headed out for the Midnight Run just after 11:00 pm. There wasn't quite the same excitement in the air as in past years. 1 - We may have been a little tired from all the water slides and rides of the day and 2 - we normally run this race with a lot of our neighbors and this year they are off running an overnight relay from Logan to Jackson Hole, so it just seems mellower.

Here's a few tired girls on the drive up to Alta Canyon.  Don't you love Lindsay's mask. 

The pre-run glow! Last year Emi had a really cool baseball cap made out of glow sticks. This year we found some cool eye masks.

Here's where the race got a little 'not so fun'. Kayla got a bloody nose (fairly common occurrence since breaking her nose) about mile 1 and had blood on her hands, bib, and new shorts. Then Emi took a fall at a point where the route transitions from road to trail. She got scraped up a bit and got to sit in the ambulance at the finish line to get bandaged up.
Time wise, it was a really good race for me. I just tried to keep up with Robert and Kayla - and with that strategy I came in 1st for my age division. Kayla also won her age division. This is a fun course and especially fun to run at night. I'm sure we'll be back again next year.

Lagoon

We spent a fun day at Lagoon with my cousin Laurel and her girls. I'll let the pictures tell the story.

BYU Cheer & Stunt Camp

Aubrey spent this week at BYU Cheer and Stunt Camp. She has been looking forward to this camp all summer. She loves to cheer and she REALLY loves to stunt.

She stayed in Helaman Halls (Taylor), ate at the Cannon Center, and hung out with BYU Cheerleaders for 3 days. It was quite the camp. And though she was a little envious, she really liked her coach Whitney, who is Jimmer's girlfriend.

Aubs was one of the top 'fliers'. She excelled at 1-1 Coed Stunting, but has many scratches and bruises from some of the boys who are still learning to do it. She much preferred flying with the BYU Mens Cheerleaders as they had better form in throwing her up and getting her back down. It is something she would like to do again next summer. Good Job Aubs!!!