Merritt Family Reunion 2016

For Dustin's family reunion this year, we revisited Utah's Dinosaur Land in Vernal, UT. The last time we went was the summer of 2008. I only had 5 kids then. I had a lot of little kids, so this trip was a lot different this time, kinda like Disneyland. As your kids grow, you have to learn to enjoy them at each stage and not just when they are little. I will admit, it is harder, sometimes.

We did stay at the same KOA. This time we stayed in their cabins. They were nice and very accommodating. We visited the quarry. They supply most museums with their dinosaur bones. We also visited the museum in downtown Vernal. Britten really enjoyed the dinosaurs. The older kids loved the pool! Win, win! 

And, a shout out to Wendy for taking a few photos for me. i forgot my camera...

Dinosaur Museum

Dinosaur Quarry

Campground

Girl's camp 2016

This year I two girls attend our church's Girl's Camp. I have so many great memories of spending a week out of my summer with the girls my age from church. Leaders too! Kate was a 1st year and Grace a 3rd year. Kate gets super homesick, so I was glad Grace was there. Dustin was asked to spend the week as a priesthood leader. That was even better! I know they had a great time. The theme was, "Be the Link." Each ward was a decade. Our girls were from the 90s. Made me chuckle! Glad they started their summer off right!

 The before

The after! (girls felt the same)

Pioneer Trek 2016

I had three kids go on Trek this year. Trek is a modern-day reenactment of the Pioneer trek west. We do it in honor of our ancestors who were seeking the freedom to practice their religion, the LDS (Mormon) faith. It usually requires pulling handcarts across the plains, or desert in our case, for miles. My kids averaged 10 miles a day for a three day period. They also had to dress the part, full 1847 attire. Boys in light pants and long sleeve shirts. Girls in long skirts and button up shirts. When I did mine, we wore jeans. It was the middle of the Nevada desert in summer. I think the skirts were a blessing for the girls, lots more breezy!

Ryan, Aaron, and Grace got up early and were at the church by 7:00 am. They were excited. Each were assigned a "family." Ryan, who had done a trek before, knew what was in store and still chose to come! It speaks volumes for what you experience. It is a hard, difficult, stretching thing. So is life. I think there is lots to be learned from the experience. I was happy to send them, knowing that much could go wrong, but faith that all would be well.

When they came back, they had blisters, were tired, and sore. I asked them how it was and they all said hard. And, they were all grateful that they didn't have to do it for real!

Aaron

Grace

Ryan