Camp Wild 2024

Camp Wild looks a little different now that our teens are older and most of the families we used to do canp wild with have other families that they do most of their summer activities with, and the older children have grown up and left home. I’m hopeful we’ll have a day at the waterslide with the OG crew, but for now, the triplets are asking for camp wild and I realized yesterday that I could call a fun day camp wild and they’re excited for it. 

We started with donuts, then took care of Grammy’s garden, then gymnastics, dinner at slim chickens, and inside out 2 with the Saumweber ladies. We made calzones and swam with them the other night. Any time with the “Saumis” is a party! Our kids line up really well. Another day we played with my cousin Mattie’s family and their new puppy. Another day we were invited to join a group of metfield friends for chair soccer and games at the church. The kids love all of it! Winning! Happy Summer! 

Corbin at fsy

Corbin attended Fay with the Bentonville stake. He had “the funnest week ever” and some powerful spiritual experiences. Here he is pictured with his company. He was supposed to room with Adam Keogh but ended up being a random add on to a group of 17-18 year olds. He said it was fun to be with older kids, especially his roommate, a fairly recent convert and his grad who is waiting on a mission call. 

My people

Corbin is home after a week at fsy and we had a minute where everyone was at home at the same time (except for Reese who is doing great in LA! We miss her so much). I was stretching my back out on the floor and was joined by my shadow, Q, and then the little girls wanted in, then best of course, then Corbin started steamrolling us, then aaron and Soren had to complete the selfie. It’s cheesy and I don’t care. I love these weirdos. Even when they are up in my face breathing my air. 

Soren is the Outstanding Citizen

It’s not every day you open your door on your first day of summer break and all of your middle school teachers are at your house. Soren was awarded the outstanding citizen award  for his team, and since the last week of school was cancelled due to tornado damage, they delivered the honor to him at home. We love Mr Schoeller (who also taught Reese), Ms Dozier (who also taught Reese, Quincy, and Corbin), and Ms Withrow! Mr Hipp, the principal, is Soren’s little bestie. I’m so happy that Soren’s kind disposition was recognized, he really is an outstanding citizen. 

Corbin is 15

How is this little bestie of mine 15? Corbin brings a lot of excitement into our lives. He is funny, smart, compassionate, clever, hard working, and relentless. For the past several years, I would wrestle Corbin 1-2 times a week and up until a couple weeks ago, he has never pinned me. Suddenly, the man child is freakishly strong and I no longer stand a chance. Even though he has been taller than me for some time now, he is no longer in my same weight class, and I don’t think he realizes that he’s putting in the same effort that he was months ago, but now I’m very much at risk of getting hurt haha no more wrestling, Corbin. He’s growing like a noxious weed, and is currently 5’10”.  He has a new interest in lifting weights, which has been a fun thing to do together. Aaron invested in a smith machine for the garage, and Corbin has also been lifting with Hyrum, Neal, and Brody at Tuckaway pretty regularly this spring. 

His cello skills are improving as well. He took on a book 6 piece, Rondo, for his Camerata audition. Quincy played this piece for her 10th grade spring recital and Chamber audition. He worked hard and learned it in about 5 weeks, made Camerata, and played beautifully at his recital with Sully Shaw and Peyton Thibedaux (10th graders who are both in Camerata this year.) 

Corbin got straight A’s this year in school, and bravely tried out for soccer, track, and basketball at BHS. He did not make any of the teams but he did play boys and girls club ball on the Steezy Boys with several friends. (Tate Gulbransen, Noah Hill, Chase and Landon White, Ryan Mains, Gabe Miller, Neal Ratsachack, Preston Gubler, and Hyrum Johnston, managed by buddies Parker Owen and Ammon Johnston and coached by his seminary teacher Kyle White) they did not win a single game, but gained a huge following and enjoyed the attention of their many female supporters. The Steezy Boys also rallied together the metfield ward youth in an important way. Corbin loved it all and he loves running around town with his boys as often as possible. 

Corbin played cello in church a few times, played 1st chair in Philharmonic Orchestra at BHS, made All Region Orchestra, Honors Orchestra, and 3rd chair in Arkansas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. 



A month ago, aaron took Corbin and Soren on a dream trip to LA where they saw Lebron play at a Lakers game. They also caught a Kings hockey game, went to the la brea tar pits, the beach, dropped off treats to the mission home to be delivered to Reese, ate at in n out, and hit up other LA highlights, including seeing the LA temple and Hollywood sign. 
For his birthday, he got a Spikeball set and threw the most epic party and teenager has ever had. 

It started with volleyball at memorial park. 35-40 kids pulled up. (Tate G, Ammon J, Hyrum J, Brody S, Noah H, Zoe Z, Charlie C, Calli H, Georgia S, Sydney G, Ariana D, Avery P, Brooklyn, James S, Pfeiffer, Shriya, Rhett, Chase and Landon White, Ada, Lucy, Preston G, Caleb and Roman M, Neal R, and like 10-12 more kids from school that I don’t even know, Quincy had a few friends David S, Zack V, Parker O, Elle R also join the shenanigans). At any given moment, kids were playing soccer, volleyball, spikeball, or just hanging out. Brody brought a Bluetooth speaker and kasey stopped by to hang out while I played DJ.  They had pizza, soda, prime, and cupcakes, and lived their best lives on the last day of school. 

And then the sky cracked open and a heavy downpour and thunderstorm whipped through. The fields flooded instantly, and once the threat of lightning was mostly gone, the 20 or so kids who were still there turned memorial park into a giant slip n slide/ mud wrestling arena. It was the most fun they’ve ever had in their lives, and all of them were still saying so days later. It was truly an unforgettable night of spontaneous fun. Zack Van Swerigen and Sydney Grover made all of Corbin’s wildest dreams come true and surprise dumped an ice cooler on him. Corbin felt kind he’d won the Super Bowl. Everyone was so happy. One friend from orchestra said “I’m not surprised so many kids are here. It’s Corbin. He knows everyone and everyone loves him. He’s the hype of the party.” What a night to remember! 

I sure love this crazy 15 year old.