Summer Adventure #3 + Other Shtuff

Scout Camp

Levi went to Scout Camp!  

He promised to take showers every day.  

And he probably did.  

But he admitted that only one of those showers was with soap.  

He DID earn many merit badges, build a shelter and sleep in it overnight, 

and get VERY tired.  

He is mostly recovered a week and a half later.  

Mark also went to Scout Camp for three days.  

He did not earn merit badges, but he did get tired, and (we hope) he showered with soap.

Gold Country Music Camp

Marta and Tess volunteered as staff at music camp.

They spent much time outside with 5th-9th graders and some high school peers.

It was hot.  Really hot.

It's a good thing they were fed many otter pops and candy bars. 

Tess, with drum majors from the Sonora Golden Regiment Band:  Brooke & Clancy

The music camp staff seems just a bit "changed" after the experience. 

 A Job for Marta!

Marta started a new job!

She's working a few hours a week at:

. . .which is also Sonora Music.  

We figure she's well-qualified for the opportunity,

playing clarinet and violin and being a good student and all.  

After the first day, she's been on-time every day!

Island Water Park, Fresno, CA

The gang at the water park. . .Soulsbyville Houghtons + Katherine Hohne, Siena Hapig-Ward, Lincoln Houghton, Riley Riffel, Kiera Jacob, and the Campbell family

 As part of our series of summer adventures, we went to the water slides,

with a couple of vans full of friends and family.

 There were slides, and water.

Levi looking like he didn't even get wet!

 And inner tubes.

 Did we mention we were excited to have friends join us?

 Woohoo!

 For the moms, a lazy river.

 Siena.

 Were they really having that much fun?

Mark snuck away to see his niece Holli, and procured 13 boxes of fruit.  

Peaches, nectarines, plums, and pluots.

Yum!

 A hungry crew at the end of the day, headed for. . .

 Pizza party at Costco!

 We had some tire troubles on the way home.  

Here's the "waiting to get the tire changed" crew.

 Luke and Mark figured out the tire changing intricacies in the dark.

Mom held the tire.  

And we arrived home before midnight, safe and sound!

(We love our "Swager [That is how it was spelled on the car] Wagon" and the
adventures it allows us to enjoy, even if we end up changing tires often.)

Signing off for this episode of Houghton Summer Adventures!  

Denise 

(and Marta as photographer, chief photo uploader, and instigator of posts)

Here Comes July

Last week we took a short trip with the three youngest kids, and Mom and Dad up to visit Camp Liahona (where we girls go for girls' camp each year) and to take a short hike.  We had a pleasant afternoon and we only spent 45% of the time complaining about the hiking part!! (I think that's an all-time record)

 Fortunately, our bucket of Muddie-buddies mix kept us going, and we had dutch-oven dinner at the end of it all.

 We missed Luke and Eliza, but had a good time anyway.

 I've noticed that Levi is really good at this face.

On a more serious note, this week, our country is going to celebrate the 4th of July.  There will be fireworks,  neighborhood barbecues, swimming parties, and red-white-and-blue colored food galore.  This year I was privileged to take a course on American History, and I learned a LOT about the really, really important meaning of this holiday.  

 When the great creators of our country fought for independence, it was not for themselves that they were fighting, but for their families, their children, and their grandchildren.  They gave everything they had, in many cases, so that we can enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today.  I believe they were inspired by God, to fight for liberty, and for a new way of life for the world.  It is so easy, as an American today, to forget their sacrifices and the blessings of liberty that I enjoy because of those sacrifices.  I am grateful for the people who created the U.S. and the government that I know today, which protects my liberties and the liberties of all its people.

 Of course the founding fathers, who signed the documents, were not the only people whose lives we celebrate.  We also celebrate the soldiers who gave their lives for liberty: American soldiers in the Revolutionary war, the Civil war, World War I, World War II, and wars today all fight for the same reasons.  As I've watched different documentaries and series like Band of Brothers about the men in these wars, I have gained a new appreciation for their sacrifices and for the easy life I so carelessly claim as my rightful inheritance as an American.

I've just been reminded of these things recently, and I think they're pretty important.

Have a wonderful time celebrating with your family this week!

Remember WHAT you are celebrating.

Love,

Marta