Summer is almost over??

Holy Cow!! Wasn't it just YESTERDAY that school got out for the summer? Now, in only 6 days, my not-so-little munchkins are going to be back in school... We've had a great summer! Lots of swimming!! We also made a trip up to Morenci, a trip to Idaho, and a trip to Manti! Read lots of books, went bowling and went to the school for breakfast and lunch. The kids get the biggest kick out of going... not sure why, but I don't question it, because that means that I only have to cook ONE meal a day!!! We have been on the go! It will be nice to get back into a routine!

School's is almost out???

I cannot believe that school is over on Thursday! How is it that the days, months, and years go by so much more quickly the older your kids get??? I just realized the other day that in the fall of 2010, Taylor will be starting High School, Bryce will be starting Junior High and Kenzee will be starting Kindergarten... How is it possible that all of these things will happen ON THE SAME DAY?!?!?!?!?!? I will be emotionally OVERLOADED!!! At least I have a year to prepare...

Back to the old routine...

Well, today ends the wonderfully lazy, relaxing break we have had... Tomorrow, we begin our old routine again. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about it... Maybe some joy at getting back to normal, and maybe a little sadness at having to stick to a schedule again. I am excited to reclaim my house tomorrow... That is probably the most difficult thing about school breaks. With all of the kids home, it seems impossible to keep the house clean! I'm not sure how Kenzee is going to handle not having her "people" home all day! She tends to feel a bit deserted by her brothers and sister when they have to go to school.

Jacob's Baptism

On Saturday, November 8, 2008, our son, Jacob, got baptized by his Dad. It was such a wonderful service. The talks were great, the spirit was very strong, and so many friends and family came to support Jacob. It was such a fantastic day! The "boys" went on their have-to-go-golfing-every-time-we-get-together golf trip and Taco Bell Celebration Lunch!! After the baptism, we met at the park up the road from our house and had a picnic... So much fun! Thank you to everyone who helped by bringing food (Mom, Andy and Rachel, Charlie and Opal, Colt and Emilee), helping to get everything ready (a special thanks to Em for volunteering to get all teary-eyed on me by chopping onions!), sewing on buttons at the last minute (Thanks, Mom!!), babysitting for us the night before so Rulin and I could go to Time Out for Couples and feeding everyone yummy Papa Murphy's Pizza (John and Kadee), and everyone for taking time out to come and be with our family for this special occasion! We love all of you!

Desert Camping

We had the chance this past Friday and Saturday to go camping! Uncle James came up from Tucson and brought his guns, Rulin loaded up the quads and our guns, and we headed out! We found a place by Sycamore Creek... The desert was not our first pick for our outing. However, cost of gas and time restrictions prevented us from going further north into the beautiful pines. Although it wasn't our "ideal" spot, it was fantastic!! The desert (with my phobia of poisonous creepy-crawlies) proved to be an absolutely wonderful place to be! The weather was PERFECT!! 71 degrees was the low overnight and into the high 80's during the day with a perfectly wonderful breeze blowing all day long! The guys had fun shooting the milk jug and soda bottle targets that we brought and we all enjoyed riding the quads through the dry creek bed and up the desert hills. (If you get a chance, ask Jacob or Rulin what it feels like to roll a four-wheeler -- they are both lucky they weren't hurt worse) Kenzee and I had fun watching ants!! Kenzee dropped some Goldfish on the ground, so we smashed them up into smaller pieces for the ants and watched them pack the pieces off to their ant hill. It was hours of entertainment, plus we felt good about ourselves for helping the ants get their winter food supply!!! My only regret: I managed to go off WITHOUT my camera!! How did THAT happen?? So, we have no pictures to share, and only our own memories to recall our fun adventure!!

D-backs fun/Summer is nearing an end...

What a crazy summer this has been! To start, I have to put on here that Taylor got to be on the "Jumbotron" at the Diamondbacks game last night!!! It was soooooo AWESOME!!!!! One of the ladies pulled her aside as we walked in the door, and asked her and I if she wanted to be part of their mid-inning entertainment!!!! She got to stand on the D-backs dug-out, watch a video of Baxter the Bobcat shopping at Fry's and then she had to answer a question. They asked her what was the 2nd thing that Baxter put on the conveyer belt... she answered correctly with "Water" and won a $25 gift card to Fry's! It was soooo fun!!!!!
I can't believe that in just two and a half weeks the kids will be back in school!! Taylor will start Junior High... and then the next day, turn 12 and be in Young Womens... I'm not ready for all of this! Bryce is starting 5th grade and Jacob is going into 2nd grade... Kenzee will not know what to do with all of her "people" gone all day again!! Well, after almost 2 years of being the Enrichment Leader in my ward, I have been released and called to be the Wolf/Bear Den Leader... I'm excited to be able to work with Jacob when he turns 8 in October! Bryce will be in Webelos on Friday, so I won't get to be with him at all... which we're both sad about. Wish me luck as school starts again and the many little changes that I hate so much continue to bombard me from every angle...

Hogwarts Bound!!

Halloween was so much fun this year!! Once again, we coordinated costumes -- this year with the help of Nana, who crocheted scarfs and then sewed robes and a sorting hat costume for Kenzee!! We were all so happy with how they turned out! Kenzee refused to be in any of the pictures -- so hopefully when I take them in to get "nice" group pictures with Aunt Amanda, she will smile :) You can't really tell in the picture, but Jacob has black hair and Bryce has red hair!! Taylor was upset that I wouldn't dye her hair brown -- but alas, no brown wash-out stuff available. We're going to have to start planning our theme for next year! Ideas, anyone? See picture at the bottom of the page -- I forgot how to get it into the post...

Time Out For Women

I was so excited to be able to go to Time Out For Women. (Thank you John and Kadee for watching my kids!!) My book club earned free tickets to go, plus reserved seats just four rows back!!! Michael McLean was the Event Host, and during the break, I had the chance to go up and talk to him! What an incredible thing that was for me to meet the person whose music I have so thoroughly enjoyed for so long!! I was also able to meet the author, Dean Hughes! I was so nervous, I forgot to tell him that my maiden name was Hughes!!! I wonder if we are related??? Anyway, if I can't figure out how to put the picture up here by my post, scroll down and you will see a very excited me meeting Michael McLean!!!

Finally -- Pictures!

Yes, I was finally able to get a few pictures on here, just not as many as I was trying to get on here, and definitly not the intended format! I will keep trying, however. Maybe one day, we'll get the really cool waterfall pictures available for viewing. Love you all!!!

Idaho Vacation

 

 

 

 

Idaho Vacation

Well, we're home from Idaho. It was a very nice, very COOL trip. We went to a rodeo and the pioneer day parade in St. Anthony. We took the kids and their cousins to the spray park and a movie (Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer). We also went to Upper and Lower Mesa Falls and through Big Springs in Island Park to feed the fish. We ended our vacation riding four-wheelers in the mountains and then at the sand dunes in St. Anthony. On our way home, we took a detour through Manti, Utah to show the kids the Manti Temple where we were married more than 12 years ago! I've never seen the Manti Temple at night, and the pictures do it no justice. It was a completely magnificent sight -- visible from 20 miles away! Now if I can remember how to get the pictures onto our blog, I'll get those posted as well!!

Camping Trip

We had a great time camping on Memorial Day Weekend. We enjoyed three days of peaceful, quiet, and most importantly COOL nature!! The kids all helped clear a spot for our tent to go -- including Kenzee who gladly threw every pinecone she came across. We played cribbage, boggle, and yahtzee. We also helped Bryce accomplish some of his scouting goals. It would be so fun to do this every weekend.