We're all a little Nutty

I had the fun experience of being a cook at girls' camp this year.  There were 5 of us there the entire week, cooking for 180ish people.  We got up around 6am and were in the kitchen nearly the entire day until 7pm.  We laughed and chopped and visited and sliced.  We learned new tricks for cooking for large numbers and we celebrated when our estimates for how much food we'd need were just about right.  The best part was that, unlike the other adult leaders, we didn't have to worry about all the other stress and emotional drama that come along with girls living in close quarters for a week. When dinner was cleaned up, we visited, played games, did yoga, and learned Spanish.  In our rare breaks in the middle of the day, we napped or read books or had adventures together.  I was grateful for the chance to break away from my usual responsibilities and to be able to get to know such fun and interesting ladies. Lizzie was at camp with me but didn't v...

Our summer vacation this year began immediately after school got out so that we could be back in time for swim team starting, girls' camp preps, and Sam leaving for her summer internship.  We drove a counterclockwise loop around Colorado, beginning in Mesa Verde and ending at Colorado National Monument.  We went to 4 national parks and 1 national monument.  Here are some highlights: Day 1 - driving to Monticello, Utah, with a stop in Arches National Park It is better if mom sits in the back.  Notice the bobblehead on the dashboard.  He was our trip guardian...he kept us apprised of dangers on the road and nodded in approval or shook his head in disapproval to help us know which way to go and what to do.  We named him "Strong Man Noriega" because that is the name Lee requires us to use when we ask him to open jars or lift heavy things for us. Hiking back to the car in Arches National Park  Day 2 - Monticello, UT to Durango, CO We loved ...