I'm so behind in the blog world...

I know we all are- but I am over the top busy- 

(and really tired of being so busy, but that is besides the point)

Last week was our sweet Laura's Birthday!!!

Oh how we ~LOVE LAURA~

She is the best- I mean it! The best daughter in law ever.

She is smart & cute & witty & sweet to all of us... she is driven, good to Brian, thoughtful, loyal. I love having her in our family.

So much- that I made these

Chocolate High Top Cupcakes

Chocolate cupcakes topped & filled with homemade marshmallow cream & dipped in ganache. 

Heaven help me - these were good!

At her combined family, surprise birthday party (hers & ours) we had a BBQ & I didn't take any pictures after the cupcake one. lame.

It was a busy week last week getting ready for the 4th year girl's camp hike. Even though Chloe is a 5th year (they didn't have a hike last year.) She had a 35lb. pack. She carried her own water & tent & food. She was so excited to go. She got her fishing licence & a new pole. Great times.

Camping girls

Father's day was a swing & a miss.. Chloe came home from camp- very sick.

She was miserable with a fever, body aches & plugged up ears.

I took her to instacare Sunday morning to find out~

She had a major ear & sinus infection. poor thing!

Hiking with all that going on?

-She is one tough cookie-

We did have a father's day BBQ- complete with Italian sodas, roasted peppers stuffed with pepper jack & wrapped in bacon, chicken & corn on the cob

and another DQ cake.

oh people

I feel like I could fall asleep & not wake up for a couple of days.

On goes life- it's a good one.

jack- the update

A couple of people out there have asked me how the former Missionary Jack is getting along?

So tonight-- I give you an update.

I didn't ask permission... I hope that's okay, Jack?

He's pretty easy going about stuff these days, so I don't think he will mind?

Jack has been home for 2 months now. 

It seems like he was gone forever & like he never left all at the same time.

I really, really like having him around.

 Don't get me wrong- I know he is a grown up now. He will leave in August to go back to BYU and that's okay. He will do great there, he loves BYU & it is still a dream come true to be a student there.  He is working part time at the airport & currently looking for another part time job. It's not easy since he will be moving in 2 months. He spends a lot of time with Brian- I was not sure if the day would come when they didn't fight. They haven't (as far as I know) even argued once since he came home. So nice- I guess they have both matured? He goes fishing at least once a week & loves the airplanes he works on. He has gained nearly 25lbs since he came home. sigh- he really needed it! We went to a specialist at the University of Utah - who specializes in travel illnesses. This doctor has seen a lot of return missionaries. He was checked out for parasites, dengue fever & malaria antibodies. He had the malaria & no parasites... so far. He was told if he starts having stomach problems or sees anything (oh golly) to go back. Sometimes parasites hide out & are not detected for years. Malaria- oh dear me. It stays with you forever. It hides out in your liver & comes back to visit you from time to time- so they say. If you get malaria more than once it can be fatal- no sweat the doctor said- "if you get a high fever- it goes away- then it comes back- just go into the ER & tell them you have malaria- they will know what to do."

What in the world?

 How about if you get any fever you run to the ER with your mommy & she will panic until they do something? 

He gets a lot of headaches. His body is still healing. He was sick a lot- most of the two years. He worked hard & he/we have been so very blessed to have a missionary.

It's nice- nice having him home. Seeing his friends come home- I love it. He is a darling boy, but then I am his mother. He came home with an even greater love of the Savior, of the great USA- a stronger determination that he can do anything with divine help, and humble. So humble.

I love you Jack. 

P.S. If you get a fever when you are at school & don't tell me- I swear I will take you down.

what's up?

So much is going on around these parts.

A week ago today I dropped off these two at EFY!

wow- that was a fast week-

They had a blast & met loads of new friends.

I went to EFY when I was 15... oh good times.

LOADS & LOADS of drama...

when we woke up last week & one of our chickens was- you know?

dead

oh boy

Wild kingdom reigns in the backyard. We had 5 chickens- did I tell you we had 5? Now we are down to these two.

They are teenagers now (not fully grown yet.)

Have you heard the phrase- pecking order?

Well apparently that is real among chickens. It's also gross. 

It's also very disturbing to their 12 year old owner who about had a heart attack. 

The first chicken to go was his- Chicken Little.

He & Brett carved a headstone & had a memorial service.

(Gee Whiz- by the end of summer our yard could be full of headstones)

The stone is engraved- Here Lies Chicken Little, my best friend.

Cluck Cluck & Jerk were dead the next morning.

All that's left are Chicken & KFC.

It's a tough neighborhood.

The big boys continue their fishing trips-- not much fish-- but they are having fun.

 They found a swimming hole the last trip - stripped down to their BVD's, and took a dip. 

Last week Trent & I had a day out.

First stop- haircut.

I got some new shoes.

Then we went & had lunch.

We had to hurry home since Trent was overly concerned (obsessed) with his new "job."

He started a business again-- Trent's bike repair. He made a badge & has been asking the neighbors if he can lube their bike chains & tighten their brakes.

It's a darn good thing we live in such a nice neighborhood.

My herb garden is coming along beautifully.

(this corner of the yard is going to be where we have our bird houses & feeders)

and look at this- our new fence is in!!

We had to replace our fence since the wind blew it down in the big wind storm of 2011.

It's beautiful! I'm in love with it. It is just so nice. It makes our yard look so pretty.

I can't remember a year when our garden has gotten off to a better start?

The tomatoes- Normally I would just now be getting the plants in.

and the pumpkins- we are going to have loads.

Summer is off to a great start.

what in the world?

In two weeks our Relief Society is hosting a "vintage fashion show." 

Vintage meaning, your old clothes... 

prom dresses, pant suits, etc. Even if they don't fit.

I started thinking & wondered if Chloe could fit into my wedding dress?

Oh man

I used to be that small?

~huh~

It's got a real 80's look

But I still love that dress.

sigh

birthday dad

Brett's birthday was this weekend.

I kind of feel bad... it was such a crazy busy week that I really didn't prepare like I should have.

Good thing- Father's day is just around the corner.

He started out the day with a really special treat.

Jack works at the local small airport & asked his boss if he could work a day to pay for a trip up in a plane for his dad's birthday... so cool.(That reminds me- I really should post an update on the former missionary Jack. He's good- I will do that though.)

I had one request from Jack- let me be there when you tell him. 

I was there- and he was stunned- then really excited! 

Brett used to fly small planes & was working on his pilot's license, when we met. 

That was pretty much the end of that.

We celebrated Sunday twice

we had lunch with Brittany & Megan

then a BBQ that night when Brian & Laura could be here.

Besides the Birthday Boy- the star of the show- was this DQ Blizzard cake.

Ooey Gooey Caramel Brownie

oh boy was it good!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

you are my world.

last day of elementary... for all of us

Last Friday was it-

the big

last day of elementary school.

Trent was so emotional that he almost didn't go. 

He went a bit late... he knew he would cry.

That's okay.

He has good reason to be sad & even BETTER reason to be happy.

It's hard leaving such kind loving teacher.

This teacher has been with him since 2nd grade!!

she's been such an advocate for Trent & I love her.

We did our traditional 

last day of school sparklers

with the Johnsons

It's going to be a great summer!