Lloyd Family

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.

July is the Birthday Season around our house. We celebrate Heather (15), Zac (20), Kory (21), and Sara (22.) This year Sara and Zac wanted cakes in special shapes, so I did my best. Here they are, a pirate hat for Zac and a rocking horse for Sara:

July was a super-busy month for us! We went on three camping trips, celebrated 4 birthdays and 1 wedding anniversary, and suffered through a week of strep throat for Kory. Here are a few vacation highlights! Lake Walcott: we met Richard and Marlene Hall for a wet night of camping followed by an awesome day on the lake with a boat! The kids all enjoyed riding around on the tube. Kory and Richard showed off their moves on the knee board and water skis. Ezra fell asleep every time the boat got going, which was pretty funny to me. Bear Lake: we loved it! The lake was so beautiful, with sandy beaches, shells, smooth lake bottom, and ocean-like waves. As we walked around the campground trails, we saw many young cottontail bunnies. So cute! Salmon River/Redfish Lake: This was the annual Jensen family camping trip. We had a fun time, but wished Heidi and Richards families could have come. Maybe one of these years, huh? We hiked, ate lots, tubed/boated down the river, and swam/snorkeled in the ...