she's back!

Last Monday I speedily hurried down to Utah County to drop these two cuties off at EFY- BYU style. They were so very, very excited!!

Heck, I was excited for them. I told them on the way down that -exactly 29 years ago- I was the very same age, went to the very same EFY, stayed in the very same dorm rooms, with my best friend Stephanie. Boy did we have fun!

{checking in to get their dorm room key}
I adore these two girls.
They've been the best of friends since Kindergarten. Sweet.

This year they were finally old enough to go to to EFY (a summer retreat for LDS youth.) Chloe is my 5 - fifth child- I've dropped off here. What lucky kids!

I was feeling old as I drove home lickety split to put dinner in the crock pot, pick up before Marcus & Brittany came, and run off to work! I had traded my usual morning shift for evening so that I could be the dropper offer. It was worth it- so fun.

Trent of course- cried when we left Chloe there. But- all is well now Chloe is back home!

HOoRay!! We missed you girl.

25 years old

More than 25 years ago (our anniversary was in May) one of my favorite & most influential young women leaders made this quilt for me as a wedding gift. It has been a treasure to me all these years. It was on our bed forever & ever. We've slept under it & wrapped our children up in it.Because it has been so loved, it has been carefully placed in between or underneath the quilt on our bed many times. But sadly... it's just plain worn out.

today I cut out a good section & placed it here, under glass.

It's hanging in our upstairs hallway & it will always remind me- of so many important things.

I'm glad I salvaged a chunk of it while there was still a chunk left.

it's really just embarrassing...

Today I did it!

I finally cleaned out my linen closet- all this junk was in there!

It's embarrassing really how many junky ol' blankets & non matching sheets I had. Years & years of old stuff that we just-plain-don't-use. Not to mention my college bedding set. I don't think I'll be going back to the freshman dorm anytime soon-- it was just a little outdated.
I'm on a roll I tell ya- tonight I cleaned out all the old VHS tapes- wow.

It's really just embarrassing~ but it feels so good.

so lucky

This summer--- every week--- once a week- Wende takes Trent swimming with her family. Every WEEK! Trent is so lucky, that I am so lucky, to have such a good friend!

{she even ordered pizza for dinner- wowza}

Last week Chloe went too & guess what? Trent's summer dream came true- they stayed until the pool closed. He was so excited to see what happened when the pool closed. Everything shut down, the lazy river stopped running, and the life guards started stacking the chairs & cleaning up. riveting.
Allie & Ethan were there too. Ethan is Trent's summer BFF. They have had the best time swimming & playing with Lightening McQueen and his cars 2 friends. I've gotta say-- school is coming much too fast.

It looks cloudy from this picture, but it's not. Just dusk.

It's been a great summer.

Especially since he hasn't had to have "summer school" for most of the month of July- he decided he didn't want to do it anymore. Rude awakenings are coming as we get back in the groove later this week.

We are also - so lucky - because we got to see these 2 this week!

He is getting so big- love the baby yawn.

june field trip

I missed a lot of postings in June- this is one more effort to catch up! Last month I took the kiddos & a couple of our favorite friends to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.
Hailey just finished taking a H.S. Art History class so she really enjoyed it- this guy- not so much. I asked these two to stand back & look at this painting & tell me what it made them think... Ella said: chairs. Trent said: Mario.

One of my favorite things to see was this. Photos of rainbows all put together into a swirl.

Caroline & Chloe liked the African masks- cool.

Warrior Gear from Mulane's time~

this was definite a treat to see!

For sure Trent & Ella's favorite was the Egyptian section. Ella kept asking me if there was really a "dead person in there?"

On the way home we stopped off at the Gateway

Then got yogurt!

NO pictures of the group... how long have I been blogging?

good grief!

water fun~ grandma & charlie style

girl's camp, a big check & my day

A couple of days before my birthday the girls left for camp.Girls camp is one of the biggest highlights of the year! This year instead of a traditional "camp" the girls & their leaders went to one of the leader's family cabin & had a "domestic retreat." They cooked together, were taught cooking skills & techniques, learned to knit, went on a hay ride, were very crafty, made necklaces, performed in skits, did aerobics, rode horses, sat around the camp fire, ate lots & lots of ice cream... the leaders rented a soft serve machine- basically they had a blast!! (by the way, I think this is a brilliant idea for girl's camp. the girls came home with their own set of measuring cups, bowls, rolling pin, cook book, knitting needles... brilliant I tell you!- they loved it)
Hailey came home reluctantly a day early (my birthday) because she was one of the finalists for Bountiful's Got Talent- a town close to ours. She was having the best time and hated to leave... but opportunity knocked - she was in the top 13.

She was up 7th out of the 13. It was in the park, the sound system was good & she sounded GREAt. It was so fun to see her shine & we were crossing our fingers & toys that she would place!

Guess what!?

She won 2nd place!!!!

woo hooo hallelujah!

and got a BIG CHECK

We didn't realize that winning a BIG CHECK was on Hailey's 100 list. How fun! Now when we go over our lists at the beginning of the New Year she can cross one off. We have 100 lists (aka:bucket lists) that we go over every January. It was an absolute thrill for all of us. The first place winner was a friend of hers from H.S. who is trying to get on So You Think You Can Dance- who danced. He got through the second round last year & is trying again this summer. It was cool- the top 2 were from out town.

Afterwards we went out for a late birthday dinner & celebration- to chili's.

Brian & Laura came from her softball game & Trent was... freezing.

happy birthday & congratulations

What a great way to spend my birthday!

I also, went to lunch with friends & slacked off on all my chores.

good times

I kind of went crazy...

Father's Day 2011

The Menu:

Cole Slaw, country style ribs, baby back ribs, corn on the cob & hush puppies

top that off with Blueberry pie

all for the my world's favorite dad!!

what a mess
Yes I've gone crazy- I bought an electric pressure cooker & let me tell you nellie~ that dear thing makes the darn, dandiest ribs! Plus it looks kind of like R2D2- don't you think? I love R2D2. What I really want: an new oven, No two new ovens (I NEED double ovens people!) NO a new kitchen. Oh well, I guess I will settle for a new ice cream maker?? That's what I bought last week & there is a 1/2 gallon of fresh strawberry ice cream in the freezer at this moment.

Don't you wish you were here??

44~ it's my birthday!!

Forty Four things about me... If I can think of that many??

1. I am anxious about being 44

2. I wasn't about 40, 41, 42, or 43...

3. 44 just seems

4. weird & older- not old-

5. just older-- does that make sense?

6. I wanted to be an actress when I was a kid.

7. I always wanted to have a big family & I Do!

8. I am deeply in love with my husband

9. He is my very favorite person to be with always

10. He is my whole world & my greatest joy

11. I'm obsessed with cooking tools & products & cookbooks & electrics & dishes & it's getting ridiculous especially since I work at Williams Sonoma!

12. I love laundry & ironing- except I can't get caught up here lately. I proposed a NO CLOTHES day to help with the catch up--- no one went for it. cowards.

13. I also LOve fabric & I feel extreme guilt buying it when I have so much already.

14. Fabric-- it sucks me in-- right now I want/need some Sarah Jane by Michael Miller!!!

15. I could possibly be a vegetarian if it weren't for fast food cheese burgers or the ribs I learned to make in my new pressure cooker-- oh man, they are to die for!

16. probably the best present I ever gave myself-- for my 40th birthday I gave myself permission to stop going to public swimming pools. My life is better for it.

17. Lucky for Trent, Wende takes him swimming a lot.

18. I have the world's best friends

19. I LOVE being a mom & my kids - THEY ROCK!!

20. We are not perfect & I wouldn't even want to be anyway- which kind of makes them perfect.

21. Having missionary boys- changed my life.

22. And... made me realize just how much I Believe.

23. Having grand babies in my life is 100% beautiful.

24. I love to hear my kids make music.

25. and watch Chloe dance.

26. One of my favorite things is to listen in on Trent singing - a new occurrence- it's awesome.

27. I can make bubbles on my tongue.

28. sometimes I can blow them off & they float to the floor.

29. I refused to get physical therapy on my broken ankle (3 years ago) and now I have a permanently fat ugly ankle.

30. I can be really stubborn & that is not a good thing.

31. I wonder if I am doing what I was meant to do with my life?

32. I want to be a good person

33. I LOVE to recycle & I am passionate about it.

34. I struggle with wanting to lose weight. I know I need to.

35. But at the same time- I like myself just the way I am.

36. Until I have to get dressed... blah

37. I don't like ice cream but I make up for it with my love of GOOD cake.

38. I love to shop at Costco- especially on Saturdays. The crowds & samples- love it.

39. I collect fiesta ware- all different colors- but my serving ware is all RED.

40. I loathe paper/plastic plates... at my house- I am happy to use them anywhere else.

41. Primary is my favorite place to be at church.

42. I teach Relief Society- I like that too.

43. I love this blog. It's the most successful journal I've ever kept & it is 5 years old this month!

44. I love comments so please say hi!

just a few pictures

two kids far away

missing them both today