ASL Club- Silent Weekend and Lagoon Day!

I am a high school ASL teacher. I plan tons of fun activities for my ASL Club. Recently we went to Lagoon and Silent Weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't get my student's parent's permission to post their pics on the internet, so here are some generic shots.

For Lagoon day, on May 13th, I let my students go off on their own. They are good kids, very responsible. That means I have to bring someone with me to play on the rides. My sister, Kim, came this year.

This is me and Kim on the bus.

Me and Kim on WICKED!!!! My favorite ride!
The Spider!

Near the entrance, at the end of a long day at the Goon!

Thanks for coming to play with me, Kimmer!

Now, Silent Weekend takes a little more planning. It all started last summer, when I agreed/volunteered to take over plans. Every year we take high school ASL students from all over Utah away for the weekend. They vow turn their voices off and use their signing skills to communicate 100% of the time. It is a great experience. This year we went to Camp Williams on May 6th and 7th. Our theme was A*S*L Boot Camp. We had 14 schools attend: 90 students, 15 teachers, and 17 volunteers.

Here I am with the other 2 leaders: Tressa and Lori. It was a lot of hard work to plan the weekend but the 3 of us pulled it off.

Friday night we put the students into groups where they had to create a squad name and banner, and perform a military-style cadence. It was so much fun to see what they came up with. This is the enormous meeting hall.

Saturday morning we used Camp Williams' Leadership Reaction Course (LRC). This is a shot of our M.C. giving directions to the group.

My brother, Jason- who works at Camp Williams, came to help and explain the courses. You can see him on the right of this shot, dressed in Army Camo. The kids had so much fun learning and working together in their teams.

This is J's new truck. Thanks for helping today, J!

Here is a pic of all the teachers (I'm on the far left). They each got a t-shirt, flag with the A*S*L Boot Camp logo, bandana, dog tag and backpack. The students each got a bandana, dog tag and back pack.

Silent Weekend was amazing. I learned so much about myself and what it is like to organize and plan an activity of this magnitude. As great an experience as it was, I will not be volunteering again next year :) Once is enough.

Easter with Jenn's family

The Saturday before Easter, my family met at a park near our house to barbeque. It was a little chilly that day. Here are Stephanie, Neil and Ben- trying to keep warm near the bbq grill.

Kevin decided the best way to keep warm was to play with the kids - Devan and Kami. Here is Kevin spinning Devan.

Oh, they look a little dizzy.

Kevin is trying to get the world to stop spinning before he gets sick.

Once the dizziness is gone, they climb the baseball fence.

After all the playing, Kevin gets cold, so he puts on Devan's jacket. It's a little too small for him.

Kevin has just found the candy bar Devan had stashed his coat pocket. I think Devan wants it back.

Back at our house, we get ready to hunt for eggs. Here is my bro-in-law, Neil, Kevin and his wife Stephanie, and Kami and Devan.

Pappy, me, Kevin, Steph, Kami, Devan and Kim

Kevin and Stephanie trying to keep warm while the kids hunt for eggs.

Kami found one!

So did Devan.

Happy kids.

Happy Easter!

Easter with Ben's family

On Easter Sunday, Ben and I went to his mom's house to spend time with his family. This is Ava, new baby Maggie, and Mia. Don't they look so cute in their Easter dresses?

This is Maggie, Mia, and Kameron.
Marley, Tavin, Mia and Ava--basket heads. Ready to hunt for eggs.

Uncle Ben helping Ava reach for the treat in the tree.

Everyone watches as the littles hunt for eggs.

Uncle Ben with the littles. So cute.

I liked this pic- Mia with Tavin and grandma in the background.

Marley and big bro Tavin looking at their treats.