Redlands EFY 2009

Megan taught me to compress pictures so I can upload again!!!

Catching up backwards... Our final summer adventure was 10 days in CA so Bethany and Brie could go to -EFY (Especially for Youth).

California was their 1st choice. Cooler weather (haha, CA had a heatwave that week) with the added benefit of a few days at the beach before EFY. (Have I mentioned how much we love Aunt Lori's resort lodging?)UC Redlands hosted EFY this summer. Williams Hall was Beth & Brie's home for week.Main floor room dorm, nearby bathroom, and LOTS of ants...And welcome notes from their counselor Emily. So what do 300 teens do for a week at EFY? Classes, scripture study, NINJA tag!

Of course, healthy meals - Bethany ate a lot of ice cream and cinnamon rolls. hmm.

And Dances - they were very proud of their "Utah" hairstyles - rattled and poofed in the back.

The dancing continued in the dorm hallways without the boys...

The pajama dance team...

Of course, there was also a service project.

The Girls

Their Group/ 'Company'

Other than catching a nasty flu virus, Brie and Bethany describe their week as "awesome, the best week ever - wish it was two weeks"

Bethany is a Nighthawk

August 6th - who starts school the first week in August?!?! Ironwood Ridge... Actually other Tucson schools started earlier. It's 108 so might as well be in an air-conditioned classroom?

Gratefully, the most important high school questions were answered a week earlier at registration - which lunch do I have, and do my friends have the same lunch? YES, whew!

Bethany didn't seem nervous or excited. Maybe our crazy summer of here a week, gone a week, didn't allow for much contemplation. Then the night before, it became real. "Mom, don't make me ride the bus on my first day of school, please..." Did I? Well if I did, I'm certainly not going to admit it and be harassed by her sisters who regularly accuse me of spoiling Bethany. Wait, I already did on Facebook. I'm as bad as teens for divulging secrets there... Yes, I cried as I watched Bethany bravely walk through those gates alone. She was excited and terrified - AND only got lost twice (but was never tardy). She has been tardy once since. Of course, it was locker related (PE). Middle lockers were not a pleasant experience for Beth. MANY tears in 6th grade.

The second day, Bethany wanted to ride the bus... The older girls hated the bus, but Bethany whines if I need to take her or pick her up and can't ride the bus. Seminary started the next Monday so that was her only AM bus ride. Now she only rides the PM bus.

Seminary - 7AM - they call it 'early morning', but those of us who had it at 6AM roll our eyes. Two weeks and not a tardy there either - even in a carpool. I give Bethany an A+ for high school transition!
And before her sisters start harassing her... Yes, the shorts went bye-bye (her idea). In case any decide to comment or give a lecture, I have plenty of scandalous shorts pictures - no daughter survived high school unscathed.