Before Halloween

We could not get this kid to be a happy kid for our pictures
Tyler as Captain America
(we almost got him to smile)

Harry Potter (because we left our costume at school he was Green Lantern)

Two Cute Guys

This year we get to celebrate Halloween all weekend. Friday the kids had their class parties and the school carnival. Saturday we went to our ward's Trunk or Treat. I accidentally erased the photos of the Halloween Parade at the school and forgot the camera for the Trunk or Treat. Am I good or am I good. Luckily we snapped a few photos when we got home.

Thoughts

So today I was put in as Relief Society President of my ward. I have been feeling like it was coming for awhile but part of me is still in denial. I am putting down these thoughts because at first I was really? Me? I don't know if I can do this? The people before me were so much better. Then thinking of what President Uchtdorf said we need to be patient with ourselves and not put ourselves down. Now I will change my pattern of thinking to how I can best serve. I am grateful that my Heavenly Father trusts me enough and has enough faith in me to know that I can fulfill this calling. I am grateful for a family that will support me and love me no matter what. I hope that the sisters will be patient with me and my absentmindedness. It will be an interesting transition. Most of all I pray for understanding and wisdom to serve in the best way possible. I also ask my Heavenly Father for inspiration and the help of many angels to guide and direct me. I am Humbled and I know that I can do this calling, but it will only be effective with the help and service of others. I also pray that I may have an abundance of love for those I serve with and those who I serve for. May we all be blessed!

August 22 - First day of School 2011

Ready for school with friend Callie
Tyler's Teacher

Mackay and Callie's Teacher

School is already upon us and we ask ourselves where did the summer go. It is time though. The kids are anxious to see their friends and to start a life of schedules.

Mackay loves his 5th grade teacher Mrs. Ponek and Tyler thinks his 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Switzer is fun and funny. I am just so grateful for great teachers that love the kids that they teach. It should be a good year. Thankfully the teachers didn't give out too much homework this week. I think I had the most homework with all the paper work that I had to fill out on the first day. Go Gator's.

The rest of the week went fairly well. I was able to have friends over for a brunch on Monday to celebrate the kids being in school and also accomplished a lot around the house. It is also back to PTO stuff and I did quite a bit of that this week also along with finishing my Visiting Teaching. We ended the week with a PTO sponsored movie night at the school. We watched Rio and sold pizza, popcorn, chips, and water. We had a pretty good crowd show up. There was a lot of laughter, so I believe the kids had a good time. Yay for a successful first week of school.

August 20th - T's Birthday

Tyler was so excited for his 8th Birthday to come. It just couldn't come fast enough and then on the 20th it was finally here. Hooray! He woke up early asking, "Is it my birthday today". "Why yes it is", I told him.

We started the day with opening presents. He got his cub scout clothes, a fishing pole, an art kit, and a little stuffed animal dog. He was excited about everything and now wants to go fishing. We then had his favorite breakfast - Toaster Strudels. He loves those and makes them himself. We got ready for the day and then headed to Wal-Mart to by him a fish for his last present from us. We ended up getting 2 Betas. One of them only lasted 5 days. Wednesday was a very sad morning when Tyler woke up and found a dead fish. Poor little guy. It was then off to home for a lunch of Macaroni and Cheese and hot dogs and to get things ready for his big birthday party. At 2 pm Friends showed up and we had eight activities planned for the "It is Great to be 8" Party. We played a pop the balloon game, tried to land blown up balloons on a target by blowing the balloons up and then letting the air out. We then had a contest to see who could eat the Fruit Roll-up the fastest, we played a marshmallow game, and the kids decorated bags to put their goodies in. We also opened presents and had ice cream and cake. It was a lot of fun!

In the evening Tyler picked to go to Junior's Taco Shop for dinner and then we hung out with a lot of people at the Decker's wedding reception. The kids loved playing with friends there. It was off to home for a couple of episodes of The Avengers and then off to bed.

More upcoming will happen on October 8th when Tyler has decided to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are so happy for him and so glad that we are able to raise such a fun great kid.

Annual Beach Trip

Santa Barbara Mission

Solvang, CA
Pyramid Lake

Refugio State Beach

July 29-Aug 5 we took our annual vacation with many friends to Refugio State Beach. The weather was absolutely perfect. The last day being the best.

Most days we had a late breakfast and headed to the beach, which was a short distance from our campground. I was not very good at taking pictures this year so am relying on friends for what I for got. At the beach I mainly visited with friends. I did build a few sand castles, and on the last day finally did some boogie boarding. Justin did a lot of boogie boarding! Mackay and Tyler are still a little shy of the waves but got braver as the days went on. They played a lot in the sand and also searched for sand crabs. Mackay was very brave by our last day and ended up swimming out quite a distance. He also did a lot of body surfing. Tyler and I even gave sea kayaking a try. We really wanted to see some dolphins and did see some in the distance a ways. Tyler was a little scared so we didn't last too long.

Wednesday we decided to take a trip to Santa Barbara to visit the Mission there. Mackay had done a report on it earlier in the year for 4th grade. It was really interesting. We did the self guided tour and saw the beautiful grounds. We then drove 30 minutes to Solvang and ate at a Danish Restaurant and walked around the town and had pastries and ice cream.

Sunday we did go to church. The ward there is always very welcoming. We also too a little hike to a water fall after church.

Most of our days were just spent being lazy in the sun!

It was a blast we are grateful for fun friends and the calmness that the beach brings. We will miss it!

What a summer so far...

It is so hard to believe that summer is more that half over. It is going by so fast, but we have kept busy. To keep this brief I am just going to summarize what we have done.

-Swim Lessons thanks to the Littons

-working on Handwriting and math

-Trying to encourage the kids to read

-Took the kids to Utah to spend quality time with their grandparents.

-I spent a week at Girls Camp with the Beehives from our Stake - so much fun!

-Justin and I spent 4 kidless days and felt like Newlyweds again.

-Invited to do fireworks and play cards at friends

-Went to the 4th of July Flag Raising Ceremony at the church.

-Friends over for BBQ and Fireworks on the 4th

-The kids and I spent two weeks in Utah, me driving up by myself (big accomplishment)

-Went to the Hogle Zoo

-Slip and Slide in the Irrigation water at my parents

-Visited Logan, ate Aggie Ice Cream, toured USU campus (boy has it changed), hung out with friends.

-Visit to Brigham City to see friends and witness the Moroni being put on the temple there.

-Playing in the Creek at the Agrens

-Playing with cousins

-Feeding cows and sheep and Hill Grandparents

-Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows in the back yard.

-Working in the Garden

-School Shopping

-Visit to the Carrick's and swimming with them.

-Chores in the morning and friends or movies in the afternoon

-Drive to LA to go backpack shopping and make a big Costco run

Next is the Beach - so excited!

Father's Day

Today is a day where we are able to celebrate our fathers. I do have an awesome dad but today I would like to pay tribute to the father of our children. I am so grateful for him because he does take good care of our family. He is adventurous - that is why we do so many hikes and other things. Most of all I am grateful that I am able to stay home and take care of our kids while he fulfills his duty of providing for us. We love the daddy of our home very much! For his special day we got him a Kindle and made him a candy bar poster. He really liked both.