The Great American

The Clark County School District issued a challenge to its students called the Great American Award. To earn the award, a student must:

1. Write the Pledge of Allegiance letter perfect
2. Recite or sing The Star-Spangled Banner
3. Recite the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
4. Recite in order of taking office the names of the Presidents of the United States
   
5. Recite the 50 states in alphabetical order
6. Recite the Gettysburg Address
   

Unbeknownst to us, Joshua decided to take the challenge. Needless to say, he accomplished his goal, and on June 25th, he and about twenty other students received the Great American Award, which was presented by his Principal, Jeff Hybarger.

Joshua and his classmates after they received their awards.

Aspen Grove - Day Three (June 6, 2008)

On the last full day of the reunion, Joshua, Allyse, Joseph and I decided to go tour Timpanogos Caves. After lunch, we headed up over the Alpine Loop and down American Fork Canyon to the trail head for the caves. At the time we started, it was still quite cool, which explains why the kids, especially Allyse and Joseph, were all bundled up. The jackets and hat came off as it warmed while we hiked.

Allyse, Josh and Joseph were about ready to pass through one of a few tunnels on the trail up to the caves.

Allyse climbed up on an outcropping of rocks on the edge of the trail.

On the other side of the rocks is about a 600 foot drop.

The kids, on one of several breaks on the trail up to the caves. The sun had come out from behind the clouds and conditions had warmed considerably since we started.

Joseph didn't want to miss his chance at the outhouse on the ledge. This lavatory sits on a cliff over about a 1000 foot drop off.

At last, we reached the entrance to the caves. Joseph, Allyse and Joshua were all excited to finally be able to start the tour the caves.

Timpanogos Caves most famous stalactite is "The Heart of Timpanogos." It measures approximately 5.5 feet in length and is about 1 cubic yard in volume. It is estimated to weigh over two tons. Also notice the intricate formations called helictites which are on the walls surrounding the heart. When I was a child, they would bathe the heart in red light.

Meanwhile, back at Aspen Grove, Aaron, Seth, Spencer and Julene opted to go on the Adult Ropes Course. Julene deciding to leave the ground was somewhat of a surprise due to her fear of heights. The helmets were quite the fashion statement! (Credit to Darleen for this photo and the climbing photos which were taken during the Timpanogos Caves hike.)

The course started with scaling a notched log. While it might not appear to be daunting, the notches were placed at irregular intervals, which made the spacing difficult.

In addition, the log was not secured at the base, which caused it to sway back and forth while she tried to climb it.

The log led to a narrow beam, which Julene had to get on top of and then balance on while she traversed to the short climbing wall.

The short climbing wall led to a platform up in the trees.

Upon reaching the platform, Julene waived to the cheering crowds. So much for the fear of heights!

From the platform, Julene rappelled back down to terra firma.

After dinner, there was a program in which the children were able to perform various cheers and songs they had learned during the previous days. Joshua's group, the Cougars, were probably the loudest, which translates into the best in the cheer culture.

Following the program, the little girls consented to a photo shoot. Unfortunately, it turned out to be like herding cats. These were the two most useful of the lot that I shot.

As usual, it was difficult to get them all looking in the same direction at the same time. No matter -- they're still cute.

I don't even know what this dance was about. Probably some song by Wham! It's interesting how selective memory can be as a protective mechanism.

Darleen gets credit for the last two photos. Unlike my picture of the little girls, Darleen skillfully got the big girls to both look in the same direction at the same time -- and they're still cute.

Aspen Grove - Day Two (June 5, 2008)

Day Two started with the prospect of clearer weather, but Mt. Timpanogos was still shrouded in clouds.

Allyse, Sofia and Sabrina were gathering the troops to go horse around at the playground down the hill from the family cabin.

Once they had gathered, Joseph, Noah, Sophia, Allyse and Michael ran down to play on bars and slides.

After play time, the children went to their various groups. Sofia and Allyse practiced a song with their group, the Panthers, for the Friday night program.

Sabrina won the "Nanette of the North" award for the biggest and fluffiest parka.

Joseph seemed to enjoy his new friends in the Wildcats class.

Lauren wasn't so sure that she wanted to be in the Romper class.

Ella didn't look like she was much more enthused than Lauren to be in the Teen class . . .

that is until she noticed someone taking her picture!

Joshua and Michael were completely comfortable as Cougars as long as they remained submerged.

Even the little ones had their classes to attend. Nora made a new friend.

Things were getting a little crazy in Annie's class.

Eden had fun climbing on the playground equipment and posing for pictures.

Benjamin showed the younger babies how to do tummy time.

On the other side of the camp, Noah proudly displayed his basketry project . . .

while Joshua (center) and Michael (left) tested themselves against the climbing wall.

Joshua eventually made it to the top, and then he summited the other side of the climbing wall for good measure.

Meanwhile, the derelict teenager, preteen and wannabe teens were hanging out at the corner soda shop, looking for trouble.

They found it in the truant group at a nearby table. You can tell this group is bad just looking at them because they coordinated their colors.

The skies finally started to clear, and the clouds lifted from Mt. Timpanogos.

As the day grew sunnier, so did the expressions. Sofia and Allyse had some blindfold fun.

Stella managed a smile even though she was enduring the subarctic temperatures in June. So much for Al Gore's theory.

Even Lauren was smiling after six straight hours of swinging.

Even Benjamin was smiling . . . er . . . oops, that kid always smiles.

Following dinner, the evening activities focused on the Western Village, which featured numerous stores, a jail, a teepee, and various modes of wild west transportation, like . . .

the "train" that Eden enjoyed as it snaked around the field . . .

and the stagecoach, driven by Lilly and Isabel . . .

as Lauren rode alongside on a bucking bronco.

Isabel and Angelina (not visible because she was too short to see out the window) languished in jail.

So Darleen and Stella took to some fancy shooting outside the jail . . .

and aided Angelina in a jailbreak.

Meanwhile, the Waites (and Lucas Meier) were enthralled with the stories of the mountain man.

Down yonder from the camp of the mountain man was an authentic Native American teepee.

Josh, Angelina, Joseph and other children went inside the teepee to listen to stories by the dreaded Utes. We spent hours afterward deprogramming them so as to ensure that they never have a desire to wear red and sing a silly song by the name of "Utah Man."

Later, Joseph, Angelina, Benjamin and Julene found some candy corn at the general store.

Joseph was all smiles after getting a shave and a haircut at the Barbershop.

Benjamin was still smiling (behind his pacifier).

In keeping with Western tradition, Aaron explained the finer points of solving the Rubik's Cube while Jonathan and Camille took copious mental notes.

Joshua, Noah, Sabrina and Joseph lined up to take a turn at the shooting gallery.

The family finished the eventful day by gathering at the family cabin for a devotional by Grandma Kathleen that featured some of the grandchildren putting on the whole armor of God.