More Fun in Utah

The plan was for Natalie, the kids, and me to drive to Washington the day after the baptisms.  However, a friend of Kent and Natalie's pulled a few strings and got Ethan into the Jimmer Camp, so of course, we stayed in Utah for the week so that he could attend that.  He wouldn't have missed that opportunity for the world! 

The camp lasted five days.  Ethan was excited because one of the missionaries in the Guatemala mission when Kent was there had his son in the Jimmer Camp, too.  So, Ethan was in the same group as he was which made it really fun.

They had very qualified instructors who helped the kids with fundamentals and conditioning, as well as showed them films to help with their basics. 

Every day they had little contests in the groups which gave them challenges.  One day they had all the kids from first through fifth in a free throw contest.  Out of over 200 kids, Ethan came in the top three!   

Jimmer would pop in daily and give motivational speeches, just like his brother, Tj did for him.  Tj is a rapper and did some raps for the kids.  Jimmer said he always plays Tj's raps to motivate him when he is practicing.   

On the last day, after Tj did his raps, he introduced Jimmer and the kids went wild.  He asked if they wanted to see Jimmer shoot from half-court.  They all yelled and hollered that they did.  So, Tj said, "Now don't be disappointed if he doesn't make it.  He doesn't make it 100 percent of the time, he hasn't warmed up, but he'll give it his best like he always does." 

(My video isn't as good as the one Natalie took because I wasn't sure it was filming.  Put my music selections on the bottom on pause so you can hear this video.)  Anyway, the kids started chanting, "Jimmer, Jimmer," he stepped to half-court, shot it, and . . .

it swooshed through the basket!  It was so exciting! 

Then he gave out some awards and the camp sadly had to end. 

 Oh, but each kid got a personalized signed picture from Jimmer before they left.  Ethan will treasure his forever!  He started telling his teacher six months ago that he wanted to be called "Jimmer" at school . . . and he named his pinewood derby car "Jimmer" for Cub Scouts which he won 1st place with.   The kid has a one-track mind!

Ella enjoyed watching her brother from the spectator gallery.

Other fun times:  Taking the kids to the Sno-Shak. 

Going to lunch with my sister Natalie, my sister Joyce, me, my daughter-in-law Angie, my daughter-in-law Natalie, and my neice Michele from New York (whose two sons were, also, in the Jimmer camp, but unfortunately not in Ethan's group, so I really didn't get to see them play that much.  But, it was so fun to see Michele there as she, also, took her kids each day to the camp.) 

Joyce with her granddaughter, Brielle--Michele's little girl.

Michele's youngest--he is such a good little guy.  They just propped his bottle up with a book, and he just looked around at all of us. 

Three sisters.

Michele getting to know baby Cannon.

Other days, we took the girls shopping.  They loved to get all dressed up.

Hannah and Ella are the best of friends. 

All in all, a great week with lots of fun activities.  Directly after the last day of the Jimmer Camp, Natalie and I loaded the three kids (who were so sad to leave) in the car and started for Washington.  It would be an 11-hour journey (Nothing like Cameron and Anne doing 16 hours with four kids non-stop when they left to go back to Dallas, but it seemed like forever to me!)  I don't know how we got across the pass--about 45 miles--with the gas needle on empty.  We had been talking so much, we didn't even check the gas.  Believe me, there is no gas station on that pass, especially at night.  All I know is that we were very blessed, made it to the other side to get gas, and continued on our way.  I can tell you, both Natalie and I were pretty tired when we finally got into Sunnyside at 1:30 in the morning, glad to be home.