WaTCH OUT--INDEPENDENCE MISSOURI here HE COMES!

My brother Brendon Berc Hutchings got his mission call to...

Independence Missouri Mission!!!!!!!

WAHOOO!

He will enter the MTC on February 11th--(one month after his 19th birthday)--and will be gone for 2 years!

He is such a STUD! He electively chose NOT to attend BYU this past semester so he could leave as soon as possible on his mission. He is also the only 3-4 yr. old I knew who electively woke up, got dressed, and waited by the front door w/ his scriptures to go to early morning seminary with his teenage siblings-NO LIE (he went a few times with us and would have kept going if my parents had not toned down the issue!)

He is the 8th of 9 Hutchings children to serve--he is potentially the last missionary to serve in both Dan and I's families...(since my 17 year old sister is pretty sure she is marrying Edward the Vampire before she can go!)

We are going to treasure having a missionary again in our family's-there has been a "break"!

We cannot wait to write letters and send packages!!!

We are so proud of the decisions you have made to get there!

WE LOVE YOU ELDER HUTCHINGS!!!!!

Colton is sure going to miss his 'older brother'!!!!!

GIRLS CAMP 2008-WAHOO!!!

GiRLs CaMp-2008

Heroes of the HEart

June 28-July 2

Camp LaMiA (West Camp)The whole camp battling it out with the shaving cream!

All right- I was BoRn to go to Girls Camp! I have WAY too much fun (even as a leader).

It was held at church-owned cabin sites up in the white mountains in Pine, AZ. We had the smallest camp available (about 50 girls went, not including the leaders) and it was on some good hills! I got a serious workout (it is too bad they fed us so good). I have had to go through some withdrawals coming home-they fed me, loved me, and the spirit was there! My kids cried having to leave the babysitter (I am not sure that says much about me!) I was one of the four leaders over the YCL's (the 5&6 year camp girls(their last years)-who are leaders in training so to speak). We had the largest group of girls there and they are PHENOMENAL spirits. They helped camp go without a hitch!
Here are some givens about camp:
1. I have RARELY been so DIRTY in my life. After an obstacle course/race gone bad (b/c the leaders WON)--we ended up in a SERIOUS shaving cream FIGHT! With a game of capture the flag (Nephites vs. Lamanites) on a mountain SIDE immediately following (I just let the shaving cream dry in my ears). Add in the constant sweat from walking the Hillsides to our cabins and some sun, as well as shower stalls that only come to your shoulders, and muddy floors. Throw a five mile (5 hour) hike and some repelling in there, and PoOF! You got one dirty momma! But as our girls said-it makes you appreciate your shower so MUCH more when you get home!

Janae Gordon helping "cinch" the win in the obstacle course against the girls!


For the obstacle course-We had to quick step it through some tires, jump over a bed of a truck, run through a parachute, shave a balloon and pop it (which turned into push ups)- only to run all the way back through the same way you came! Despite our competitive and athletic Girls (since the leaders aren't-ha ha)-the leaders pulled through with the WIN! Old hurt knees, bad backs and all!
Tandy Taylor (Camp Director) scaling the truck
Her partner in crime-Natalie Taylor (asst. camp director -and the family whom I answer phones for) showing she's still got it after 6 kids and over 40-wahoo!
The high council rep-Charlie Backus- pulling through for the team!
Sister Nickle in the blue shirt (the Gazelle) Leaping over the truck-I don't think she even touched the bed of it!

The girls certifying in the Ramada-passing off requirements for each of their years-- involving first aid, wilderness survival, etc.
My YCL's and I were in charge of getting the 2nd years passed off-we did it!


2. You are never too old to strengthen friendships at camp! It is a given that the girls bond in a way that they really can't anywhere else (unless they get to serve a mission w/ their friends) being with them 24-7 does something to your friendship. Of course, an added bonus to camp for me, was having 2 of my friends (Janae and Nicole Gordon) there as well. I can safely say I feel like our friendships were strengthened at camp somewhere between the 5 mile hike, skits, laughing until we cried, sharing towels (by accident), dancing, taking pictures, playing games w/ the girls, getting NO sleep..... it happens!

Janae, Nicole, and I on the five mile hike
The whole hiking crew


The five mile hike took allot longer than anticipated (5 hours). I have yet to go on a hike at girls camp that did not. I got to be one of the 'sweepers'-helping the girls that were towards the end of the group. I was so proud of them for making it, when some of them were VERY sure that they could not do it! I am not gonna lie... it was a good mountain climbing hike, and I was grateful some of them took it slow.We found this awesome butterfly bush (covered in butterflies), and I think sang this hiking song(Janae taught us) at LEAST 40 times! Left , Left , Left, Right, Left--I left my husband and 42 kids at the brink of starvation without gingerbread...I thought it was right, right-You get MY DRIFT!

The beloved butterfly bush with our little 'pack of characters' we hiked back most of the way with!
3. Young Women are amazing! Like I said, I was over the YCL's and they never ceased to amaze me with their acts of kindness. Each one was assigned a girl at camp that they were suppose to 'keep an eye on' b/c we had so many YCL's, this was easily done. I cannot begin to tell you the kind acts of service I saw these YCL girls do w/ no prompting from us. Nor hear their devotionals, testimonies, and love for one another. The future is in good hands with these girls being the next leaders and mom's. I was in LOVE with them!

Our YCL's performing Zero to Hero from Hercules (with the words changed) for skit night

4. Last but certainly not least, I have rarely laughed so hard or been so tired. I do have to say skits are one of my favorites because I get to 'bust a move' and let loose. I am afraid I did. When we played a game later that evening where the girls were mimicking me-I realized I could be mistaken for a genuine psycho-but as I said, "I can be crazy b/c my kids aren't here!" One day I will be able to embarrass my kids--just not yet!
And since we had 24 girls and leaders in one cabin (that was NOT made for that many) the leaders slept out on the deck under the stars (so pretty!)--however, that was the only place to hang out-so we could not pull out our beds until the hanging out was done. I averaged about 2-4 hours of sleep a night, and I wonder why I still feel like I need naps a week later.

Singing one of our camp songs together w/ the Bishops for Bishops night!
Nacho Libre and Incredi Girl making their appearance at skit night


Girls camp involved so many more programs and devotionals than I have mentioned. It was like every creative and fun idea I have heard of was wrapped up into a few days at camp. The spirit was there. I smile every time I think of camp. I am glad I took my "mom off" vacation days for this-worth iT!

Just a side note: Dan got a bad case of strep throat while I was gone. His mom rescued him and then our friend covered the rest. I was so grateful for his willingness to still go it alone, and others sacrifice w/ the care of my children. It kept damage control to a minimum when I returned to being a mom of 4!!!

Seminary Bar-B-Q!!!

(Missing the Westover Twins, in this picture, and their family who arrived later!)

On Tuesday(5/20) Evening we helped end Seminary with a BaNg!! ..and we had Dan's seminary class over for a bar-b-Q and some DaNcInG (dance, dance revolution) --to say our final farewells!!!

(we were glad that the seniors all made it, so Dan could say good-bye properly this time)Carly Blair 'tearing it up" on the dance floor--she 'schooled' us all...even holding Dacie below!

Sterling getting in on the action as well!

SICK-O DADDY-O

I know, I know-it has been 3 days with/out a new post!!We've missed each other. I'm not gonna lie-it does not mean that I have not been on other peoples blogs. I have officially fallen in love with the blogging world ( now I guess I can begin to understand my husband's 'could be' addiction to PS2 games). However, being a mom and such I have had to set some guidelines and limits. For instance, I can only check so many number of other blogs a day and I have to do certain household chores first. Well, with DAN being SICK there were allot of household chores today. Folding laundry, stripping sheets, sterilizing stuff, changing out towels, washing dishes, vacuuming.. and last but not least mopping our WHITE TILE (never get those in your home) floors. But, as soon as I started sweeping my little crawler DACIE found the piles of dirt and wanted to munch. I guess I have to blog (darn it) until she goes down for a nap. Yes, she is everywhere now. She officially crawled to find me in the bathroom today!! AAH! heaven help our Christmas tree!

Well, another BIG reason for my lack of posting is that I have had a SICK HUBBY these last three days. He got sent home from work on Wed. and was on fire. We took his temp. that registered 101.7 orally. He took some meds. and went straight to bed. I got an appointment set up, and soup, and so on. The Dr. said he did not have strep (which all our other children have had the last two weeks) BUT after another day and a half of no broken fever, even with ibuprofen ~we plead with our physician assistant friend who sent in a antibiotic prescription. After two hours into the second dose-his fever broke and he was a NEW man this morning...so he is back at work. He said that I should be happy that he was home (ha ha-not that kind of home dear). He now has less time off at Christmas for this little 'bout' of sickness, Bummer. It has been a hard couple of days for me. I have a great hands-on husband and when he is not hands-on, four kids can get a bit overwhelming (in addition to his extra needs). It was hard to understand how playing video games would make him better. But, I guess it is like me snuggling up on the couch to a movie when I am sick, and cannot fall sleep because I am on fire and have the chills. We are two different people (duh!).
As some of you know and don't know, Dan teaches early morning seminary everyday. There are no approved subs at this point-so when he came home Wednesday ,we quickly called the class members to cancel. Some of his sweet class members came early the next morning and left this HUGE card on our doorstep. Dan makes it look like mug shots of him (he hates getting purposeful pictures taken). The last picture I told him to do something funny because he felt so much better this morning (I got some crossed eyes out of him). He was able to talk with the stake and find a sub for the next day, but I have to say their sweet card worked! Thanks seminary--
Talking about seminary reminded me of one last story for this post. Dan has warned his seminary class all year that there would be a good chance that one day he would sleep through his alarm (his alarm is so soft, and he has hard working dad hours). Since he is the only one at the church building (the younger grades get to use the institute/release time bldg. across from the HS) if he does not show, the students will be locked out, and some travel 20 plus minutes from Sedona. Well, it happened last week...he slept through his alarm and woke up as seminary should be starting. He was in a panic (since he leaves straight from seminary to work) he had to be showered and dressed. I calmly told him I would open the building up and have them work on make-up work until he came. Well, most of his class is girls, and most of the girls were the Young women I worked the closest with when I was YW president in the other ward. I am so in love with them! I got distracted playing with them and we ended up talking until Dan came (about a 1/2 hr. later)-oops! I had to drive home quick. The kidlings were still asleep thank heavens. So the seminary bonus quiz question that week was, " what color are Sister Sorensen's pajamas?" If you answer right you get and extra point!

It's FINISHED!

The Primary program that is! As some of you know there are MANY MANY hours put into the program the children in church put on once a year. Colton with his 2 speaking parts and Sterling with his 1-memorized them and did great! I thought I was in the clear for awhile from doing them as I was released as the president of that auxillary-BUT its not so, I was then put back in as the primary chorister in the summer (so beyond my comfort zone) and I was back in the saddle getting ready for it again. It has then become my responsibility to make a children's choir out of the 40 kids who attend primary weekly. I have to admit-music does touch your heart quickly, and ecspecially children's voices. You always worry about how it will turn out-but then it DOES, and as someone wrote on a comment today after the program, " I heard angels sing today!" It is true, they did great! My heart was full and dry eyes were hard to come by in the last song.

I have to admit that I almost "lost it" as Colton in his best sunday suit stood "dancing" wildly in the front row, as he had to go to the bathroom so bad (that is the LAST thing he EVER wants to do-it is such an inconvenience to him) . So I was standing and conducting all the while trying to motion to him to go to the bathroom NOW! ha ha. We clebrated our success by visiting our sick songs in the hospital (all the songs we sang for the program were admitted to the primary children's hospital 4 weeks ago when they had a panic attack because they heard the program was coming soon-the children had to sing and get each song evaluated by the nurse before being released). We brought balloons (popping them to see what song we were going to sing to them) ending with the happy news that they were all released from the hospital today! Yeah! HOWEVER, the children were all sent home with a prescrition of singing pills for when they felt their songs were starting to get "sick" again! Thus the pictures of our pill popping adventure-the boys and I had fun filling and drawing on all the donated medicine bottles! It was a successful day.

BUT with the good comes the bad, and our sweet Dacie caught the flu that has been going around (I thought we were in the clear, since we do not get out much). She threw up right as we were leaving and Dan missed the majority of the program, he snuck in for the last song and slipped right back out. She has been throwing up and having diarrhea since then. She is not sleeping well.We have been able to get with other friends to get a recipe to make home remedy pedialyte http://rehydrate.org/solutions/homemade.htm ( which she has kept down for a bit! cross our fingers- 11/12 she did! and that is what she has been living on today) It is suppose to make its rounds through our entire family-so all the boys went to bed with buckets tonight (and a practice drill). Aaah-don't know how much I will be writing this week. I HATE the flu BUT love the primary kids!