Utah--Part 1

First order of business: Nana and Papa's new slip n' slide!

BYU Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum

with Nana, Papa, my sister Christi, and some of her children
Yay for cousin time!

BYU Creamery (naturally)

(and also, my previous place of employment)

Mutual Dell in American Fork Canyon

Lucy's first hike

Trevor coming in from some rain

Nana and Gavin watching a game of horseshoes

My brother, Jason and my mom playing a competitive game of Scrabble Slam!

Steve make a mean return! One shot of the awesome family volleyball tournament! This was when I tweaked my back thinking I'm totally young and in shape when I'm not. Must mention Paige (in the hot-pink shirt) and how she held her own during this mostly-adult game. Way to show us up!

Preston learned how to make flower chains--and alien antennae, apparently.

Gavin staying dry inside during the rain shower.

Okay, talent show time: Preston whistles "Old McDonald"

Gavin sings the theme song from the old Transformers cartoon

(You know, "Transformers! More than meets the eye...")

Paige sang, "Kiss the Girl" from Little Mermaid

Trevor told jokes!! Big laughs!

Oh, and Paige also did a dance with her cousin, Shelby.

And then I had to get a shot of my parents, the cooks of the day (who recently returned from their mission). Thanks for a great day in the canyon!!

Backyard Swimming

Lots of swimming this summer. It is so wonderful for the kids to be able to cool off and get some energy out in the pool when it is simply TOO HOT to do anything else outside.

Trevor has this dance. It's his own. And well, we just call it the Trevor Dance. And, sometimes, if we're lucky, he demonstrates the dance on the diving board.

Cannonball.

Butterball.

Having a ball.

(Gavin, the fish, can jump off the diving board too. However, this day, he would not perform. :)

Here's to 2 more months of swimming! Thank you AZ.

Summer Sports--Volleyball

This is Paige's 6th season playing volleyball, and I think she has found her calling. (Well, besides becoming a broadway star, but that is another story.)



This is her first season trying her hand, so to speak, at the over-hand serve. And she nailed it nearly every time! So fantastic to watch!

She takes the initiative on the court and, though playing with many beginners, she was a leader and built team morale. ("Do it again, Sami, Do it again! clap, clap" Oh, lots and lots of cheers.) To me, that is just as important as skeeelz.

And, Daddy was coach again. So fun to watch him with the girls.

Great job, Paige! You are so fun to watch! Next step: Club Volleyball??? Hmm....we'll see.

Summer Sports--Basketball

Trevor had the time of his life--THE TIME OF HIS LIFE--playing on a b-ball team this summer. (I had to cyber-shout that because it's so true.)

He was super focused.

And super intense.

It was pure joy watching that kid on the court. AND he even scored a basket at the end of the season!! So, so proud of this boy, and his father is happy to see him discovering his competitive nature--finally.

Me, but older.

I had a birthday, and I turned 11x 3 +1.

We went to BJ's again.

Because it's a family favorite.

But, only crazy people take their 5 young children to a nice restaurant.

And, that would be us--crazy people.

But, in my maturing years, I feel like I can do whatever the heck I want.

So, I let my husband take me and our adorably exhausting children to the Place of the Pizookie.

And, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

And then I was tired and we left.

And then my family gave me homemade cards,

and wrapped some things found in the closet in the upstairs hall.

And I felt so loved.

The Gospel sound in our ears.

I have been missing in action on this blog lately, and I will catch up with some of our summer soon. (For there is much to tell.) But, I had to quote a lovely blog I read today. It is the Life in Grace blog that I've checked in on for a couple of years now. Like most blog-stalking, I have no earthly idea how I found it, but it's author, Edie-- a retired physician and now-home-schooling mom--is just lovely.

I originally looked at her blog for decorating ideas, homeschooling/crafting and recipes. She had a beautiful, eclectic home that she filled with love and learning. Last year, just days before Christmas, her family's beautiful (I mean, breathtaking) lake home in the deep south was burned to the ground in the middle of the night. Her entire family was spared and unharmed. She is a woman of great faith, and though we do not share the same "faith" (meaning, religion), I am often inspired by her gospel insights and dedication to what she believes. Today I read this:

We desperately need to hear the gospel. Why? Because we can hardly believe it. I don't know if I'll ever be able to wrap my mind around it. I need to hear it often and clearly. It is the power of God unto salvation. It brings life and forgiveness and salvation. And we need [to be reminded and reassured] over and over again that Christ died for us. That he loves us...

I love these words and this reminder because it is so true. There is a reason God wants us to return to him weekly in worship. We are imperfectly human and erred. We are weak and sinful. We are discouraged and scared. We are judgemental and selfish. Amidst our limitless goodness, we are also lowly and weak. Whatever we are, our mortal selves need constant reminders of His love, His forgiveness, His hope. We need to be reminded of who He knows we can become and, for heaven's sake, why we are here.

We need to hear it because "we can hardly believe it". Seriously. Sometimes I can hardly believe it. That He loves me that much.

But, He does. He does.

Loving daddy

I know, Lucy.

He has a gift for making girls smile.

The only pictures I took on the 4th of July!

Though I'm sure one can understand why these made the cut!

What didn't get documented in photos:

*A family work-out at Gold's Gym--I just joined (because of their awesome Kids Club Daycare) and Steve came on the free friend trial thingy and the kids played.

* A stop at Great Clips for Daddy to get his hairs cut.

* An abundance of red, white, and blue balloons taped all around the house (the kids were insistant on balloons)

* Delicious BBQ at our house with friends and family

*Swimming in the backyard

*Fireworks in the street with all 10 kids + adults lined up in chairs, mesmerized.

*The kids' red mustaches from the Strawberry soda Uncle Bill brought :)

It was a really great 4th!

This doesn't happen very often...

...that the 5 year-old* and the 7 year-old are both missing their front teeth at the same time!

*Thanks to this!

...in which Paige played a Sultan

This month, Paige attended Arizona Broadway Theatre's Youth Academy (fancy name for theatre camp). They performed Disney's Aladdin Jr and it was adorable and funny! We were amazed at what the kids were able to learn in just 2 weeks. (Though it was every day for 6 hours) We could tell that many of the kids were "seasoned" performers, and this being Paige's first time on stage, we were so proud of her!

One great sadness is that we did not get a picture of her wearing the most bodacious white turban. A moment of silence...

And in other news, I have started Weight Watchers...

This is Miss Jeannie who was the singing coach for the camp. Paige loved her, and P.S. she has been in many of the productions that Steve and I have seen and was a brilliant Eliza in "My Fair Lady".

The future Drama Club kids.

Paige's Craft and Cooking Camp

Paige put each child's name on their aprons to take home at the end of the week. P.S. Do you love Paige's whistle?! She only used it to collect everyone from breaktime in the backyard :)

Paige decided that she wanted to attend a theatre academy camp this summer at our local dinner theatre. Steve and I are frequent patrons and love this place--Arizona Broadway Theatre. Well, we decided she should try to earn some money to help pay for it. She immediately wanted to do a craft/ cooking camp for young kiddos.

And, she let me know early on that she was in charge.

And, I let her know early on that I was the one with the car and money to buy the supplies and this would be in our home and I would more than likely be helping her manage the 13+ children that would be attending.

Ahem.

Well, she did an amazing job planning and executing this camp and it was a hit! A HIT, I tell you!

Over the course of 3 mornings, they made personal pizzas, chicken roll ups, sugar cookies, cupcakes, PBJ sandwiches, homemade tortilla chips and fruit smoothies. YUM!

She also had them paint birdhouses, make Father's Day gifts/cards, picture frames (each child went home with the picture above), painted flowerpots, and have fun with pipecleaners and pom-poms!

Doesn't that list make you tired?

Anyway, here is some of the fun:

And, yes, she was in charge. She decided on all the menus and crafts on her own. She prepared ahead of time and showed the kids how to do everything. But, as she got started she realized that she definitely needed an assistant :)

Thank you again for all who supported her. She had a great, fabulous, wonderful experience at the theatre camp and can't wait to do it again next year!!

Father's Day

Guess what Daddy got for Father's Day?

An entire church congregation :)

So, Happy Father's Day, Bishop Owens---

the "Father of our Ward" !

Blessed

Lucy's blessing day was so wonderful. She was a fluffy, bundle of white and was silent during her entire blessing, but as soon as Steve said, "Amen." she let out a cry as if to say, "Amen!" We are thankful for her place in our family and for her safe arrival to us. As each child has been, she is a bit of heaven poured into our home and we love her.