Lloyd Family

So the Lloyd birthday season is over until March. Zane turned 8, which was a very exciting birthday for him! He had a huge list of requirements (wishes?), including a suit and a scripture Quad. He didn't get everything he wanted (such as a pocketknife), but he did pretty good. I made him the sailboat cake he asked for, and it turned out pretty good! Sadly, on the day of his birthday Zane came down with a high fever and finished the day by vomiting. But he was all better the next day (weird) and ready to enjoy the presents he'd forced himself to open the day before.

On August 21st we got together with Kory's brother Ross and his family fo r a little campout. We met in Hagler Canyon, which was beautiful and grassy, with just enough dirt to please the kids (a lot). In the evening, when it was dark, deer literally came right through our campground and one even seemed to bump into a tent and get spooked! Our time was spent cooking over the fire, hiking, shooting b.b. guns and bows and arrows, and visiting. It was very fun! So much fun that by the time we left for home, Sara had fallen down a hill and skinned her chin, Zac had gotten hit on the forehead with a b.b. gun barrel, and Ezra had fallen off a picnic table and banged his head. We felt lucky to be going home in one piece (well, 7 pieces, right?) Still, we're looking forward to next year. Maybe we can get some more of the Lloyd family branches to join us!

Our family is mad for cookie dough! (Well, Kory prefers it cooked.) Even though I grew up sampling regular cookie dough, and had no resulting harm, I still like my kids to avoid raw eggs. We searched the internet for a good eggless cookie dough just-to-eat recipe and found a simple one we all love. We call it Zane's Cookie Dough since he was the one to copy the recipe by hand off the internet. Try it! Zane's Cookie Dough 4 Tbsp butter, softened 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup white sugar 1/8 tsp vanilla 1 cup flour 4 Tbsp water chocolate chips Cream butter and sugar, then mix in all other ingredients. We like to eat it with baby spoons so it lasts longer!

Recently, in his calling as Young Men's Pres., Kory took a group of leaders and youth and hiked to the top of Cache Peak- the highest peak in southern Idaho (10,339 ft). The excursion took about 11 hours, including travel time. It sounded like everyone had a great hike! Here Kory is, about 500 ft below the peak, looking at Independence Lakes. Also, if you want to see what the summit looks like, but don't want to actually climb up there yourself, here's a shot. There is some wooden totem-like object on the top, and one of Kory's young men fastened a wire to it to make the summit just a couple feet taller.

Kory and I now have had our fourth sibling (or sibling-in-law) join the Air Force: my brother Richard!! (First three being my sister Heidi, her husband Adam, and brother-in-law JayC.) Richard is at basic training right now and seems to be doing well. He is surviving, anyway, and has gotten to call his wife a few times, which is a good sign. Making that commitment and going through basic training are hard things to do and I am so proud of my brother! Here he is, front and center and nearly bald, on his first day in Texas.

I figured I may as well confess that I got braces a few weeks ago. I am so excited- it's something I've always wanted. (Well, I was not very excited during the first week when I was in a lot of pain, but I'm feeling good now.) Better late than never, right? I was going to post a picture, but I tried to take one myself just now and I couldn't get a decent one. Maybe that will happen in the future. . . and maybe not!

This was from a few months ago, but I came across it on my hard drive and just had to post it.