Tuesday, June 30, 2026

June Shenanigans...Mountain Edition

We started out June with youth camp- it was stake camp and we had YM and YW camp both at Heber Valley at the same time, but not together. We were in separate camps and nothing was combined other than dates and location. Sandi and I cooked for the YW of the stake, and it was crazy and exhausting and a little traumatizing, but we pulled it off and have another bout in the trenches together. The morning of camp, we did the majority of the shopping so everything would be as fresh as possible and we wouldn't have to worry about storing food and keeping it cold. We cleaned out Heber's Walmart of parmesan cheese. We literally bought it all, and probably ended up using 1/3 of what we bought, so it was a continuous joke. 

A small fraction of what we purchased. 

Nils spent most of his time with the young men, I saw him for a few minutes here and there, and Ava would pop her head into the kitchen whenever she could. Sandi and I really didn't venture past the kitchen and pavilion, we were cooking/prepping/cleaning for about 18 hours a day. Totally nuts. 

After camp, we needed to get a couple of videos shot, so Nils worked on two projects; a mini-split install, and a solar demo install. Neither were small projects, but they're done.

We had a couple of sprinklers break and start leaking into Aani's window well, and it took a few days to realize what was happening since she doesn't live in there at the moment. A good 3 days were spent sucking up water, trying to dry out the carpet, and get the horrible smell out. 0/10 do not recommend. 

Aani had her golden birthday this month, and we got to talk to her 3 times in one week. P-day, her birthday, and then Father's Day 2 days later. And then we got to talk to her the day after Father's Day because it was P-day again. :) She's still doing well, has had 2 baptisms so far, and has 5 more scheduled. She's taking Kansas by storm. 

We went on a 9 day road trip to Sun Valley/Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho, and then we drove up to Banff in Canada. Both were beautiful. Idaho was way more chill, way less touristy and exceeded our expectations. Banff was jaw-droppingly beautiful, but totally packed and such a tourist trap. Anders and his 2 friends Alex and Don came along, but they drove separately, which worked out well. We had fun going on scenic drives, hikes, having a lake day at Stanley Lake. In Banff we saw Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and tons of stops along the Icefields Parkway. We drove and drove and drove, got lots of steps in, saw some of the most beautiful sites, and even saw a bear on our way out of Banff on the last day. 

Okay, here are pictures, in no order. I will try to narrate. 

Nils opened this can for me. It's hilarious. I don't open my soda can very wide, so he opened it as little as possible to mock me. 


Sending Aani's birthday prezzies back to her in the box she sent to us. 

This was not a great situation. 

Same day as the window well/room flooding, I went to Taco Bell to get lunch for everyone after we all handled the flooding, and the wind blew the bag out of my hand. I had my hands totally full, and it was already precarious. This is Anders' taco on the blacktop. Not the best day ever. 

We got locked out of our rental in Idaho, so Nils was climbing all the things to try to see if any doors or windows were opened. Then I literally picked the front door lock with a bobby pin and it worked. Who knew I was a natural burglar?

View coming out of the Safeway in Canmore, Canada. Not too shabby.

Babddie in Banff.

Skipping rocks at Bow Lake


We got to sit in the middle seats a lot while Addie drove. 

Hike around Stanley Lake, Idaho

Alex, Don, Anders at Stanley Lake

Ava at Stanley Lake

Nils at YW camp, nice shot. Woowoo! 

Red Fish Lake, Idaho

Somewhere in Banff

Somewhere in Banff

Moraine Lake Banff

Chocolate log roll for Father's Day. Nerm nerm! 

Either Lake Louise or Moraine Lake, Banff

Katrina, Stanley Lake Idaho



Talking to Aani on her birthday. We may or may not have been reenacting her birth. Don't worry about it, we're totally normal. 

Nils was a little spoiled for Father's Day.

Stanley Lake hike


Lake Louise, Banff. Just missing our li'l Aanster! 

The Bear!