Catch up time... again:)

So I really had good intentions when I started this blog, again....  But I am just not very disciplined to sit down and do it on a regular basis!  So here is another catch-up:)

A lot has been going on in the Volcansek house the past few months...  we ended a 10 yr career in the USMC active Duty, started a new job, joined the USMC reserves, ended another school year, prepared and went to YW camp, and had a marathon family vacation.  It has been really busy the past few months- but we all have smiles on our faces:)  Here are some pictures to catch you up on our clan.

Jack celebrated his 5th birthday in March.  Complete with ponies to ride and "cows" to rope:)  Can't believe he is 5!
 

Abby had her dance recital.  She is such a beautiful dancer - so graceful!!

 Next we headed to Bandera for a few days.  We LOVE that place!!  We keep our trailer at an amazing park - a gorgeous pool, wildlife, we even got to pick fresh produce:) 

Next Abby and I headed up to Goliad, an historic park, for YW camp.  It was hot and we were in tents - but I can honestly say that no one complained and all had smiles on their faces!!  We had a great time, as always!!  Sorry there aren't any pictures - but my motto is - "What happens at camp, stays at camp:)"  

Muleshoe started our summer family tour:)  We were in charge of the Lange reunion this year.  We love going to Muleshoe and visiting with family and pretending to be farmers for a day:)  Uncle Butch arranged a hay ride for us out to a local dairy where we got to see all the ins and outs of dairy farming - not something I would want to try:)  The kiddos loved it!  Here is Max, Jack and Mimi on the hayride...

Not sure what kind of conversation was happening here!

Sadie and Abby - such good friends and cousins!!

After the reunion in Muleshoe, we headed to SLC to visit Grandy for a few days.  It was so great to be back at her house - soft grass, Laird park across the street, good food (did I mention she is 90 and lives by herself, plants her own garden, swims 3x's a week, and hosted us for 4 days!!) great visits with family and friends, etc....  Andrew and his family were able to overlap for one day - it was so great to see them!  

We went to Temple Square (or square temple - as Jack calls it!).  There was a huge rainstorm, so we hid in the tabernacle for a while - such an amazing building ...

Love the flowers at Temple Square!

After SLC, we headed to Breckenridge, CO for a Volcansek family reunion.  It is such a beautiful area!  We had a hail storm we would drive in and out of as we went up the mountain - kiddos were so excited to see something white:)  This picture is of the gondola ride up the mountain in Breckenridge - BEAUTIFUL!!

All the grandkids- we missed David's kiddos!!

A fairly good family pic:)  They are rare in our house!!

 We spent the 4th of July watching fireworks from the hotel window in San Angelo, TX:)  Jack came down with strep throat, so we headed home, but had to stop to take him in to the dr:)  We were all so happy to be home, but had such a great trip!  We are looking forward to a quiet rest of the summer!

YW Camp Kick-off 2011

Well, Camp is coming up and I am serving on the stake Camp committee with 2 other amazing women!!  We were so excited to get the YW ready and pumped for camp this year, and i think we were successful:) 

The theme for this year is B.O.O.T Camp - building on our testimonies...  So the YW started off by making a boot print on a backpack....  Always gotta have crafts:)

We then did other things like skits, songs, and of course, boot-camp exercises!  This picture above says it all - Frederick leading them in a cadence run, and all the YW smiling and having a great time - although I think the Marine had more fun pretending to be a drill instructor:)  Even Abby is smiling!!

Abby is pretty excited to be at camp this year - I love this girl!!  Wish us all luck - as we are tent camping in South Texas in June!!

My First Little Garden

I never would have thought such a tiny little red ball could be so delicious!!  This little cherry tomato is the first fruits of my garden!  I have been wanting to plant a vegetable garden for years!  I always had excuses for not starting one - and finally this year, I really felt the need to learn how to grow vegetables... 

and here is the fruit of my labors!

During Conference weekend, I decided to go ahead and buy the materials and just put it together.  I had done a bit of research, so I went to the garden center and bought the supplies.  What I didn't realize was how hard it was going to be to get the dirt and 4x4's in to the back yard:)  Luckily a friend saw the job ahead of me and called her hubby and brother to come over and help - 20 min later I had the supplies ready to go (Thanks Libby, Josh and Jeremy!).  I cut the 4x4's to dimension and went to building the container (just like big lincoln logs!)  The next day between Conference sessions, Frederick, Jack and I went out and put the soil and compost in.  Jack loved dancing and stomping on the soil....  We then planted the veggies and herbs.  I am excited to say that I have had fresh flowers, I have cooked with the basil and dill and have eaten 1 cherry tomato!  Pretty soon I will be able to share it with someone:)  

But for now - I am happy with tasting the one bite!  

And as Jack said - 

"We will NEVER have to go to the store again!"