June and July 2009

I wasn't sure they'd make it, but Brett's scout troop completed all 50 miles of their week-long hike. His feet were blistered and sore for days afterward, but he earned every single mile of that merit badge.

He also earned himself the nicknames "The Wanderer" and "The Wayward Son" by getting separated from his troop and spending 24 hours lost in the Oregon mountains all alone. His leaders were very happy to find him (can you even imagine?) but not as happy as he was to be found. It's not an experience he ever hopes to repeat. Luckily for me, I was happily oblivious until after he had been safety recovered.



Jeff has kept cool in the water this summer. He also had fun at Cub Scout Day Camp . . .








And both he and Brett LOVED having their cousins David and Aaron visit for four days from Alaska.



Bryce has mostly been working, but he still finds time to play at least a little. He and Jim went with the Priests on the High Adventure in June. They spent a weekend at a cabin and went boating, water skiing, and four-wheeling.




Here's Jim after his four-wheeling adventure. The picture is a little small, but we were laughing at the fact that dirt stuck to his face where he had applied sunscreen.



My little garden has produced its first harvest. A teeny, tiny tomato. It may have been small, but it was delicious. Fortunately, friends and neighbors have kept us supplied with fresh produce. I'm hoping gardening prowess is not a pre-requisite to the celestial kingdom.




Kimberly's time in Jerusalem is winding down. She has only two weeks left and then she'll be home for a few days before Fall semester starts. She got to visit Petra, the city with buildings carved out of the stone mountains. She says it's not just one or two buildings, either; the city goes on for miles. The Treasury is one of the more famous buildings:



If you're on Facebook, check out her profile. It's pretty cool to see her sitting in the middle of Jerusalem wearing her Anderson reunion t-shirt. (The photos are too small to re-post here, sorry.)



We finally got rid of our money-pit of a van. I am so happy to drive a car that doesn't threaten to stall every time it comes to a complete stop. I've been praying through every stop light for the last month. When the repairs cost more than the van was worth and when the government wanted to give us stimulus money, we decided the timing was right. We are the delighted new owners of a Civic Hybrid that gets 45 miles per gallon! 45 miles!

I think it's a rite of passage to no longer need a minivan. We're down to three kids at home, and usually no more than two travel with us at any given time. Two parents and two kids do not require a minivan. It's a little strange to have your family start shrinking when you were so used to growing for so many years.

Overheard at Home

Marilee: Where did Bryce go?

Jeff: He went to a party.

Marilee: How do you know? Did he say he was going to a party?

Jeff: Well, no, but he took a shower and put stuff in his hair.

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Jeff (describing identical twins): There are these two girls at school, and they look like someone made a copy of them.

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Overheard at McDonald's

A mother and several children are sitting at a table next to Bryce. The children want to play on the playground, but one child forgot to wear socks. The mother hands $1 to the oldest child and sends him to the counter to buy toddler socks. He comes back several minutes later, looking confused and still holding the dollar. The mother says, "Didn't you buy the socks?" The child shakes his head, holds out his hand, and says, "They just gave me this. " In his hand are two packets of . . . tartar sauce.