Family Reunion in Utah

We didn't know that we were going to Utah until half way in to the summer. The boys had been signed up to go to an All Sports Camp at BYU with their boy cousins back in April, but we weren't sure if we were just going to fly them out or if we would all go. By the first of July we made plans to go out there as a family and realized that all of Zane's brothers and sisters would be there at the same time. So, grandma Betty flew out too and we made it a mini family reunion for that first weekend we were there. Zane's sister did a great job at putting together a schedule for us and the kids. It happened to be the Highland Fling that weekend, so the kids got to go to the parade, eat junk food, and watch fireworks. And, we spent a lot of time in the pool. Half of the group left for home by Sunday and just Kerri and her kids were there with us at Shannon's house for the rest of the week. The boys went to the sports camp and LOVED it. They played soccer on Monday, tennis/gymnastics Tuesday, football Wednesday, baseball Thursday, and basketball Friday. It was a day camp so we would drive them to Provo everyday which gave us a chance to see Devin, hit 7 Peaks, and do all of our church calling shopping while we were there. Also while in Utah we met up with Lacey and her family on Monday as they were coming from Wyoming and on to Idaho to make their new home. I got to get together with my dear friends Kath, Jen, and Emily to celebrate Jen's birthday at Macaroni Grill. But, mostly we hung out with our family, made some great meals, and swam a ton. It was just such a nice trip. We came home Monday night before school started and we are still trying to recover from the 2 hour difference. We'll recover and I won't complain too much.

First Day of School

Trevor's doing the "first day of school" dance!

I feel like I was just writing about the last day of school. So fast, that summer. The boys were excited to go though and that's really all a mom cares about. Trevor got the teacher he dreamed about, Mr. Hudgens, with his two best friends and Boston has the same teacher he had last year whom he loved. So the first day was exciting and comfortable. Trevor came home singing, "I have Mr. Hudgens" over and over again. All was well.

The Celebration

There was a bit of craziness trying to celebrate Gage's birthday on the first day of school.  I think this time of the year might a bit harder than celebrating the ones we have at the holidays.  Even so, we had fun.  I took him to Target to pick out his gift (since we didn't have quite enough time to get him something) and then to lunch at Red Robin with a friend (my friend, not his!).  That night we were ready to celebrate and Gage had fallen asleep on the family room floor and Boston right next to him.  That was quite unusual.  We woke Gage up and had a nice dinner that he had picked out from Coscto (frozen burritos and quesadillas!).   So, it was a bit of a quirky dinner, Gage had super high blood sugar (not a happy camper) and Boston lay asleep on the floor.  But, the highlight was a cake that he helped me make earlier that day full of Swedish Fish.  All day he would say, "I'm not 4," but finally the day after his birthday, he was ready to be 5.  Funny guy. 

He's 5

Today, this one is 5.  I think they are all growing so fast, but don't I (along with everyone else) always say that?  He is a fun kid.  He is so silly and cleaver and feisty.  He makes our world wonderful.  Happy Birthday Gage. 

SD Photos

San Diego

I guess we were waiting all summer (all of 4 weeks) to go to San Diego.  While waiting, Trevor went to Cub Camp, Zane to Scout Camp, and we played with friends.  So, the big trip to southern California has come and gone and we returned late last night.  It was wonderful.  It was great.  It makes me wish that I lived closer to my family.  But, since I don't, I will relish these trips.  I went out with the kids for the first week and then Zane joined us for the second one. My friend Melissa from here in Kentucky and her kids came out also for the first week which was such a treat. It's great to have friends with you so you can take them all around and act like a tourist and see the things I usually don't have time to see. Some of the highlights from our trip:

• Mucho food  from Rubios, El Indio, and In n Out.
• Lots of treats from 7-11 and Beef N Bun, including my favorite peanut butter shake.
• The Beach - I think I am the only one in my family who really LOVES it, but we did make it twice and that made me happy.  Although I nearly lost a child at the beach in Oceanside and let's just say it's not the one I thought that I would lose (whom I did dress in bright yellow and orange that day).
• The pool.  I wish we had one.  I even got to get up early and do laps.  The kids had swim lessons thanks to a great teacher that came to the pool in the evenings.  Pools are awesome.
• Time with cousins - slumber parties, beach parties, swimming holes, and just plain old fun.  Seeing the cousins who came all the way from Spain - muy divertido.
• Watching my mom study and ace all her college Spanish tests and helping her practice her skit!  She just had her last day today and she totally aced that class.  Dad, it's time to have her speak in the Spanish Branch with you!
• Visiting the Spanish Branch with my family.  I learned "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" in Spanish.  I might have to teach it to our primary.
• Taking the ferry to Coronado and riding bikes around the island with our big group.
• Seeing "Harry Potter" and the Padres play all in the same day.
• Breakfast at Cafe 222 downtown and at Kono's on the pier at Pacific Beach.
• The San Diego Zoo.
• Crepes in the evenings made by my mom.
• Touring the aircraft carrier - The Midway.  Boston was amazed.
• Body surfing at La Jolla with Gage on my back. 

Now, this wasn't a planned family reunion, but it worked out that Brett and his family were there from Spain the same time that we were.  Kory and Erika came down from Long Beach.  Tanya and her family came often from Temecula. Devin flew home for the weekend from BYU. Caitlin lives down the way and we got to see her a lot.  Kasey came the night of the dinner at La Jolla shores.  Jellie and her sweet family were the only ones missing and they are in Hawaii.  It's amazing how you can all be together,  but really feel that someone (or a few someones) was missing.  Jellie, you were MISSED.  We needed you there for your constant smile and to see that Cache kid tool around.  Soon, I hope.  

Right before we left for San Diego, we actually planned another trip to Utah. So, in a week we will head there for the boys to attend All Sports Camp at BYU with their cousins. We will get home right before school starts.  I am already tired, yet excited, thinking about it.  I am getting my photos downloaded and I will post some soon.  But, how will I choose from all 700+ of them?

Future Royalty

I remember thinking, "Do all little girls play in dress ups?" I thought I would have more of a tomboy little gal since she has three older brothers. She is pretty rough and tough, but when I asked her if she wanted to put on a Sleeping Beauty dress for a friend's birthday party, she was pretty dang excited. She loved the party and when I came to get her she was dancing around their family room with the older sister to "Ever After" music. So, a princess is born. This photo is of Mallory and our dear friend, Emma, who went to the party too. Gage got invited as well and he was pretty proud of his knight gear that he got from the party. We have been hit with the foam sword many times, so I guess you could also say...a knight is born, but really I just think he likes to hit people whether it be with a sword or...just about anything!

Lost and Found (mostly)

It seems like it was the week for losing things around here.  Many searches were held for these items and prayers were said.  

1. Our Dora DVD from the library.  We looked for it for days.  It finally turned up when we were looking for this - 
2. Zane's iphone.  He had it Monday evening when he came home from work and then that night it was gone.  He and I stayed up until midnight looking for it.  We dug through the trash, the fridge, the dirty laundry...everywhere.  Finally, in the morning, Zane thought maybe Gage might have had in the night before so we thought about where Gage was during that time.  I called Lacey and she asked Tanner who said Gage had had it in their backyard with him the night before.  So, a few minutes of looking in the grass of her backyard and a few prayers later, I found it laying in the blades of grass.  Ryan hadn't mowed the back yet, thank goodness, and was getting to that later that day.  And, Zane had his phone on vibrate and we tried calling it, but that just didn't give us much to go on!
3. Sparky.  He's our hermit crab.  He got a new container on Sunday and on Wednesday, when we woke up, he wasn't in it.  He probably worked all night to get out of that new home of his.  We looked all through the house, under couches and in drawers.  I finally found him under the computer table asleep.  Which probably wore him so much that...
4. We lost Sparky.  For good.  Two days later, he wasn't moving in his shell.  Yes, Sparky now lives with his friend Brocko (who died last Fall) in little hermit crab heaven.  Jackson family, thank you for our two hermit crabs whom we did love, but who needed to find some eternal rest!

Dora Live

Mallory has an obsession with Dora the Explorer. And, thanks to many garage sales, friends who's daughters have outgrown her and Grandma Betty's scores at the Goodwill, we have a full supply of Dora around this house. When I found out last March that the Dora Live show was coming, I did an unusual thing for me, and bought tickets for me and Mallory. The show was this past Wednesday and she had on her Dora dress to party down at Whitney Hall. It was so wild to watch her sing and dance because I still think of her as so young. But, that girl got in to it and enjoyed the show thoroughly. I liked it mainly because she was so much fun to watch and because it only lasted an hour and a half. After the show, we walked along the Belvedere and watched the Belle of Louisville on the Ohio River. It was a beautiful night.

Kentucky Pool Party

Unfortunately we don't have access to a neighborhood pool or swim club.  So, our swimming sesssions involve invitations by friends to the pool they have or have access to OR a good ol' Kentucky Pool Party.  The former is what we usually end up doing and for the little ones it works.  Sometimes there are dragon flies swarming around, crickets trying to jump in or racoons who party in our pool at night.  I guess it all comes with the territory.  Here's what we did to prepare for our first dip of the season:

Scrub out the pool since it was left on the back porch all year long!

Watch the pool blow up with speed since it is an Aero Bed Pool!

It's almost ready.

Fill it up as your pants fall down because they are wet too.

Ask Trevor to come out, but he's too tired from Cub Camp and nursing a sunburn.

Party in the pool (only 6 inches deep)!