girls camp: days one and two

after spending a few hours at the stake center loading up our cars and getting a few last minute things ready, we drove up to a campsite near the clints well area and set up camp.  as 6th years and 7th years we decided to go up a day earlier than the rest of the girls to go over certification and have a little fun, too.  i had no idea how much fun i'd have camping with these girls and getting to know them all better.  roughing it for one night also made us really appreciate camp lo mia when we got there.  not all of the girls were able to come up the night before, but in total we had twenty-two 2nd year ycl's!

we ate some delicious pizza dinners, played games, talked, roasted marshmallows and starbursts, and stayed up late talking in our tents.  i was serenaded to sleep by a few girls in the tent next to us.  i had the best night of sleep i've ever had on a camping trip.  i'm positive it was due to the awesome mat that erin lent me... unfortunately, she froze to death on the cot she slept on, while i was snug as a bug in my sleeping bag.

sarah, diane, paige and ashlee

ammah, leisha, brittany and tiare

madi, jaclyn and london

kathleen, sarah, michelle and cassi

the next morning, after a delicious breakfast, we packed up and headed for camp lo mia.  we didn't stay at the main camp, instead we were at orchard camp which is right next to it, up the road a little.  at first i was totally bummed that we wouldn't be at main camp, but now after staying there, i grew to really love it.  i might even venture to say that i like it better.  after setting up in our assigned cabins, we all met and hiked up a little ways to clearing where each ward unfurled their "ensign to the nation".  our ycl's had their own ensign, which read, "stand in holy places".  we were to unfurl it and say a little something about why we chose it.  the girls read off a scripture and another bore her testimony of this motto.

later that evening, we also unveiled our ycl flag, made by yours truly.  each ward was supposed to pick a mode of transportation and display it on their flag.  there were submarines, trains, cruise ships, hot air balloons, roller coasters, pogo sticks, a hippie van, and a bat mobile.  we went with shoes as our mode of transportation.

that night we enjoyed a delicious dinner by our camp cooks... in fact, every meal was absolutely delicious. i kept thinking what a difficult and busy calling that must be. i had much respect for our cooks the whole time. dinner was followed by the evening program, presented by our ycl's and unfortunately, us.  our girls took on a big load this year, they were in charge of every evening's program with the exception of sunday.  they came through and worked so hard for us.  the first night was great with a few hilarious mishaps and flubs.  

this is a terrible picture of me, but it's also the only one of erin and i dressed up in our safari outfits.  we were on stage way too much, the entire time.