Top Flight Gymnastics Camp

Emily has wanted to attend this camp since she saw it advertised during competition season.  It was a two day camp in Boise at Wings gymnastics center.  It also happened to be at the same time Grandpa and Grandma were in town, so they went along with us.  Emily was now doubly excited because they could see her skills.

On Saturday it was a full day, starting at 9 and ending at 4.  There were 80 girls attending, and some really phenomenal coaches.  One coach, Daniela Silivas - Harper won a total of 6 medals at the Olympics (including three gold) competing for Romania.  At the end of Saturday she talked with the girls, answered some questions, and even let them see and touch her medal.

getting coached on beam by a gold medalist

listening to Daniela speak

looking at the medal

After camp, it was off to Wahooz to play some arcade games with Grandma and Grandpa.

Sunday's camp was a little more low key, but she still had a great time!  She also made a lot of improvement, especially with the back hand spring!

"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it is always June."
                                                                                                  - LM Montgomery

Another summer seems to be slipping away quickly.  Emily already has her third grade supplies tucked neatly into her backpack, and we are trying to enjoy the last few lazy, unplanned days we have left before the crazy school schedule starts again.  

 We made a trip to the pet store where Emily picked out a new collar and a couple toys for Millie.  Then we dug out the small kennel Gerda arrived in and gave it a good scrub.  Emily is pretty excited for her puppy to come home.

 And look at this attack dog.  The only thing in danger here were the bubbles Emily was blowing.

And our first attempt at a water blob.  Some improvements are necessary, but it wasn't bad for the first try!

4 weeks of freedom left!

Summer Riding

Last Friday was the start of the summer riding program at Swiftsure.  Emily is on Drifter this summer, a 12 year old quarter horse (but this is subject to change, there is a new Appaloosa pony named Hoppy her instructor Kristy wants her to try).  After a quick warm up of core strength exercises, it was right back into independent riding with a focus on the two point position.

Meet Millie

Life has been a bit calm lately, so we decided to add a puppy to the household.  Actually, it all started when Emily asked Grandma for money for her birthday so that she could buy a puppy.  And she saved all her birthday cash instead of spending it while on vacation for one.

So meet Millie, born June 1st, joining our household on August 14th after Emily and I get back from our Iowa trip.

Emily didn't know that she was getting a puppy.  When the breeder returned Aaron's phone call, I asked Emily what he was talking about and she thought it sounded like he was buying shoes.  So, that's what we continued to tell her and when we left last night to go pick out her puppy, she was not too happy about going shoe shopping.  

There weren't a lot of females left in the litter, so the breeder already had in mind which one was ours.  When we arrived at their house, they weren't there yet but the puppies were outside.  Emily picked up the female with the blue ribbon and had it in hand when the owners showed up.  Turns out the one she wanted was the same pup they thought we'd like!

Now the waiting game!  

Swimming

In between gymnastics and road trips we have had several days at the pool.  This summer we were lucky enough to have a friend give us a visitor's pass to their homeowner's association pool.  Emily loves it because it's the only pool we've had access to with a diving board!

Road Trip!

After Emily's practice ended on Monday, the two of us headed out of town.  Our destination was Colter Bay in the Tetons on the northeast side of Jackson Lake.  We were to meet up with my friend Lynn and her family.

As we got closer to the Colter Bay village we had our first wildlife spotting, a herd of bison.

We arrived just in time to meet up with our friends for a late dinner and ice cream.  Then Emily grabbed her junior ranger book and got to work on earning her badge.  One thing we had to do was attend a ranger talk, and the only one that fit into our schedule was a fireside talk at 9:00.  At first she wasn't too happy with the late night talk about the Shoshone's use of plants as medicine or food, and the air was thick with mosquitos.  When the bats came out she was entertained for awhile.  Then a black bear strolled by, and it was all worth it.  It all happened so fast I didn't get a picture of it!  

the marina at Colter Bay

 Our accommodations for the night was a tent cabin.  It has two log sides and two canvas sides with 4 bunks and two shelves inside.  There was also a pot belly stove that we didn't need.

 It took her awhile to be able to fall asleep.  When the wind blew the canvas sides, she was pretty sure  it was the bear.  But once she fell asleep, she slept all night.

 The kids wanted to do push ups after breakfast.

The next day we were to rent canoes at Jenny Lake, but were told once we got there that the kids had to be 9 because the water level was so high and it was so cold.  The kids were devastated.  But plan B was to head to Teton Village at Jackson Hole to ride the tram and go on the ropes course.  The aerial tram holds about 100 people and took us to the top of Rendezvous Mountain at an elevation of 10,450 feet.  

Drew and Emily

The kids were so happy that The Ropes is something they could do without the grown ups!

By the time they were done with their three rounds, it was time to get out of Jackson Hole.  The Bonds were headed to the Orcas Islands and we were headed home.  We made it a few hours out of the park before we all met up in Idaho Falls for dinner.  Emily was pretty bummed to finally say goodbye to the boys, but this is the second year we were able to meet up at a National Park (last year was Yellowstone), I think this is a start to a new tradition!

Gymnastics Camp

The 6th and 7th were spent at gymnastics camp, days that went from 9-4 with a short performance at the end.  Emily loved spending all day at the gym as she is working hard at her aerial cartwheels, back handsprings, and tucks.

Emily is in red and black -
upside down, of course!

4th of July

Once again Emily was on the gymnastics float for the parade.

 Here she is doing her bar routine as the float traveled down Main Street.  It was a hot day, of course!

 Our afternoon was spent at Riverfest.  I volunteered my time to work at the Kid's Carnival put on by the gym, while Emily enjoyed playing with friends on the inflatable obstacle course, bouncy houses, water slide, and various other little rides.  Bands played and many kids from school came to say hello.  After dinner at home, it was off to spend a couple hours as the Days of the Old West rodeo.

Our evening was spent in the driveway as Emily learned the important life skill of setting off fireworks.  Our neighbors came out and brought their's as well.  And then we just pulled chairs out to watch the town's display, as well as many neighborhood displays.