MDLP

Josh took World History through the MDLP (Mesa Distance Learning Program).  This is a online program for students needing to take online classes full time, or supplement their high school courses.  Josh didn't take World History as a Freshman because we were told that they were reserving those classes for the sophomores.  Josh took French instead.  When we went to register him as a sophomore, we realized that he needed to take French II to have the two year consecutive language requirement  There was no room for World History in his schedule, so the only option was summer school or MDLP.  We chose the latter.  It was hard for Josh, but he worked super hard and was able to finish both semesters of World History through the MDLP program.  Josh received an A in both semesters.  Good job Josh!!!!

Memorable MondayInstrument Change

Josh was asked to play the sousaphone in marching band this season.  He plays the clarinet and the sousaphone is a brass instrument which is totally different that a woodwind instrument.   Josh is thrilled for this opportunity.

I remember my senior year that I switched from playing the violin to the viola.  Our only viola player switched to the bass since we didn't have one.  We have an extremely small orchestra.  I was really nervous to be the only viola player, especially since the viola uses a different clef than the violin.  I remember writing the notes in because I never could get the clef right.  I also played the bass in Dixieland Band.  I loved playing the viola and I received one from my parents after graduation.  Learning to play the viola helped me grown and develop musically.  I hope switching from a sousaphone from clarinet in marching band will provide the same growth for Josh.  He plans on playing the bass clarinet in Honor's Band.

My beautiful viola

Band Camp

My kids loved band camp this year.  Its' great to see them working hard to get ready for another amazing marching band season.  They won the state championship last year, so the know that they have a target on their back, so they are need to work super hard this year.   There are kids who came up from Taylor who want earn their state championship, so they will work hard too.  It's fun to me to see my friends again as we prepare breakfast and dinner for the kids.

Band Camp moments

Color Guard

Boosters serving food

Throw Back ThursdayBlue Ridge 2007

Here is a picture of the girls and I when we went camping at Blue Ridge in 2007.  We just went there last week and it's been a while since we last visited Blue Ridge.

Memorable MondayMy Pioneer Trek

Pioneer day is in a few days.  I grew up in Utah where Pioneer Day is celebrated.  Often, we would dress up in pioneer outfits and parade around the neighborhood.  I had the opportunity to attend 2 pioneer treks sponsored by BYU.  Both treks went along the same path and were very similar.  I didn't know what to expect my first year, but knew exactly what would happen the second time.  I found an entry in my journal about the second time I went.

"This past week, I have been on the pioneer trek for the second time.  This time I learned a lot more.  I thought about how rough the trek was and how pioneers did it.  I also compared the trek to my own life.  There are ups and downs.  People need to help each other.  There are five guarantees of their program if you participate 100%.  One is an appreciation for your pioneer heritage; Two is a greater self-esteem; Three is an appreciation for your family; Four is to make new friends; Five is to gain a stronger testimony of the gospel.  So far, all five have hit me and I am glad that I went a second time.  My ma is Lori (Rachel) and my my pa is Mike (Jake).  Lori is going on a mission.  She is really excited.  There were 16 kids in my family: Jammin' Jeff, Jammin' Jim, Grandpa Jim, Marvelous Mark, Super Scott, Airplane Blaine, Jumpin' Jill, Daring Denny, Tremendous Trudy, Stompin Stacey, Cool Kim, Heavenly Hayley, Marty, Awesome Alisha, Neat Nat, and Terrific Tami.  All together, there is 18 members of the Treehorn family."

We met at the beginning of our trek on a Monday and started building our hand cart.  Our moms and dads went through our bags to make sure that we didn't sneak some stuff in.  We could only bring what was required plus one luxury item - toothbrush, guitar, etc.  If that item wasn't on the list, we couldn't take it with us.  We got started on our trek.  We were given a barrel of water to last us through the day.  We walked from 10 am when the handcarts were build until 1 am - almost 15 hours.  It was great to talk to our family members.  At one point, we were told that we needed to walk to total silence.  After a few minutes, the boys walked away and the girls had to push the cart all by ourselves.  The trail was really rough and our brothers walked alongside wanting to help but couldn't.  After some time had passed, our brothers gave us some flowers that they found along the trail and helped push the handcart.  We walked a little more and then paused to talk about the experience.  This was just a small part of what those family members of those husbands served in the Mormon Battalion went through. We stopped and sang "Come Come Ye Saints"  I remember watching the falling stars and feeling an appreciation for the pioneers.  We hadn't eaten since 10 am and we still had more waking to do.  When we finally arrived at our camping spot, we were given beef broth and a roll.  We were so happy to have food and we quickly fell asleep.  We were really tired.  In the morning, we had corn mush and walked again.  We didn't walk to long because our camp site was close by.  We set up camp and stayed there for a week.  I remember some fun activities - washing our hair in the creek, playing pioneer games, and shooting powder rifles.  We killed a turkey, plucked it, and cooked it under ground.  I remember walking in the woods near out campsite to find a place to read scriptures and write in my journal.  We had church meetings on Sunday.  On Monday morning, we packed up our gear into our cart and walked a few more miles where we were greeted by our family members to go home.  

It was a great experience and I'm so glad that I remember so much of it.  It had an impact of my life.

Camping at Blue Ridge

• Day 1 - We went camping this year up at Blue Ridge again.  It's such a beautiful area with well kept campgrounds.  Lisa and her kids came along for the day.  We found a great campsite and went exploring.    The kids set up a hammock and playing with that until it broke.   We brought up a wagon and the kids went on numerous wagon rides.   Brittany and Danni went on a photo shoot and practiced their flags.  The Clawsons were  very helpful in setting up camp.  We were sad to see them go and they were too.  That night, Jim and I  played Phase 10 under the canopy with Josh and Danni while it drizzled.  It was so fun to play and laugh together.

The younger girls

The boys

Opps!!  I think it broke!!

The wagon was well used

Britt and Danni

"We are top of the world"

Danni tossed her flag

We were right next to the rim 

The girls took a great shot of Josh

Lunch

Jim and Josh cooking dinner

I think dinner was a success

Emmy and I

• Day 2 - We went for a walk around our campsite until Emily fell and got hurt, so we turned back.  We went for a drive to view the lake and watched some cliff jumpers.  Before we headed back to our campsite, we found a local store and bought some goodies.  The girls bought huge suckers that might last forever.  We headed back and relaxed before dinner.  After dinner, a huge storm rolled in.  We found shade under the canopy, but that wasn't enough.  The storm got closer and was right above our head.  The thunder was so loud and the tents were blowing around in the wind.  Emily thought that we were going to die.  When the storm calmed down a bit, we headed toward the car while Jim and Josh checked out the tents.  The tents were staked down really good, so they were in good condition, but sleeping bags were wet.  After awhile, we took the kid into the tents and got as warm as possible and slept.  The girls were still very anxious that night.  It was hard to get a good night's sleep because it continued to rain and we had a hard time keeping dry.

Emily

Angela and Emily on hike

Danni carrying Emily after she fell

Josh, Danni, and Emiy near the lake

Yummy suckers

Happy Mom - loving this camping trip

Josh and Emily - they have a sweet relationship

Danni

Danni with a butterfly

• Day 3 - We woke up and cleaned up camp.  Everything was dirty and would need to be cleaned when we got home.  We stopped by Sonic in Payson for lunch.  We had an amazing trip and learned so much about this camping trip.  We learned that we can play and work together.  We like to be with each other and we can weather the storm together.  I love my family and this is a camping trip we will always remember fondly. I hope there are more camping trips in our future.



Sonic lunch is the best way to end our camping trip.

Throw Back Thursday Swim Lessons in 2000

Josh was 3 years old and after swim lessons, they had the kids jump off he diving board.  This was at Mesa Jr. Pool

Swim Lessons

Angela and Emily took swim lessons again this year with their Pace cousins.  Angela, Brandon, and Alyssa were in the same class.  Emily was in a class with one of Grandma's foster kids.  They had a blast, especially the day that they received the blow up globe.   Grandma and I were so busy talking, that I didn't take many pics of them in the pool.  I'm so glad that my girls have a chance to go to swim lessons with their cousins.  

Memorable MondayOracle Caves

When I heard that the youth went down into some caves for Youth Conference, I remembered the time I went into the Oracle Caves.  The young adults in our stake planned an unofficial trip to the caves.  I remember climbing down into the caves and sliding though my stomach to get to some of the cave rooms.  When we would turn off the lights, it would was pitch dark.  It was scary, I admit.  It was weird to think that we underground.  A remember that Jim was with me on that trip.  I really liked him at the time, so I tried to impress him by going deep into the cave.  I have fond memories going into that cave, mostly because of the people I was with.  

Ward Youth Conference

The Youth in our ward went to the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course. Josh didn't really want to go with the youth, because he is afraid of heights, but he went and had a great time.  Danni had a blast and pictures tell it all.  After the course, the lunch at pizza in Flagstaff and went to tour a nearby cave.  Josh and Mele Larson provided some great pictures to share with us.  It's great to see what my kids are doing on youth trips.

Josh on the course.
 He did the first level and then took
 pics of the others as the climbed.

Danni on the course

Sis. Johnson, Melissa, and Danni

KBP Youth just outside the cave

Throw Back Thursday

Since Instagram is new, many haven't seen my kids when they were young.  Here is Emily and Jim on the 4th of July.  I'm starting to introduce Throw Back Thursday into my blog since I use it in Instagram and Facebook.  It's a single picture that throws me back to the past.  Usually there is an event that triggers a memory.  I plan to still do my Memorable Monday posts.

Memorable MondaySLC Family Reunion 2007

We had our family reunion in Salt Lake City in 2007.  I love going to Salt Lake and it was so fun just to be a tourist.  We stayed at Steve's house in his basement.  Rachel and Steve are great hosts and we really appreciate them housing us on this reunion.  We had a hard time planning things in advanced, so we planned on a day to day basis, Here are a few things that we did at our 2007 Wall Family Reunion.

• We spend a lot of free time at Steve's house and the park.  We often saw visitors at Steve's house.

  

  Steve's house

  

  Park near Jeff's house

• We went and toured Temple Square with the family.  Lisa's and Debbie's family went to see the Beehive house, while we explored the church museum with my parents.

Temple Square

Family near Log Cabin

Church Museum

• Another day we went to Kennicott Mine.  We learned a little bit about how the mine works and then took a tour.  My dad used to work at this mine and we toured it when we lived there.  I loved going again this round with my children.

Checking out Kennicott

Check out the size of tire that the trucks need

The family at Kennicott

• Jeff took Josh and Danni to the lake to go fishing early in the morning.  We picked them up before we headed to Lagoon to meet the Paces.  Josh got the only fish caught that day.  Good job Josh!!  The lake that the Jeff went to was just a few towns away from where Grandma and Grandpa Wall's lived  I remember passing that lake when we went to visit them in my youth. 

  

  Fishing Trip

• We had a great time at Lagoon with Grandma and Grandpa Pace, Mardy's family, and Jon's family.  With Josh' broken arm, there wasn't a lot that he could do.  He played Miniature Golf with his dad and went on the rapids.  We covered his arm really good so we could enjoy that ride as a family.  We lost Angela for a short time during this trip to Lagoon.  I found her in line for a ride.  She didn't even know that she was lost.  I kept calm until I saw her and then I started to cry and rode the next ride with her.  It was a huge blessing to find her.

Lagoon

• On the Fourth of July,  we started off the morning at the park next door to Jeff's house for breakfast.  Then, we went to Liberty Park.  Jeff took Josh and some others to explore the park. With Josh's broken arm, there was only so much he could do.  We went on rides, and talked,. Grandpa bought snow cones for everyone before we left..  That night, we lit fireworks which was the first for a lot of Arizona kids.  It was a great day for us.

• The last day was spent with Mardy and Iralee down in Spanish Fork.  It was so fun to do sparklers with them.  We couldn't do sparklers in Arizona back then, so this was so fun for us to do with our kids.

Sparkler fun

We had an amazing trip and hope to go back to Salt Lake City soon and spend some time with Jeff and Steve. 

My Birthday

For my birthday, I got a smartphone.  I really wanted one and was so thrilled to get one.  Danni helped Jim pick one out for me. I did my first Instagram post, with Danni's help.  I'm getting caught up in technology.

Danni and I - 1st Instagram post

We started the morning off with the traditional ward breakfast and neighborhood parade.  I had to get a snapshot of my birthday buddy and I.  His wife always sets up a cute table with desserts for our birthdays. LOVE her!!

Birthday Buddies

We went to Firehouse for lunch to celebrate my birthday.  I got a free meal for my birthday - awesome, sharing with the family - priceless

My yummy free sub

My kids and I

I'm so lucky that my family could spend the day with me - Who could want anything more??