Happy Birthday Chloe---

YEsterday was a VEry SpeciaL day at our house!

Chloe turned 14!

She & I planned her birthday for weeks...

(there were a lot of big decisions- people)

party or no party?

what to do at party or no party?

She decided on ballet in the morning,

shopping with the family for her big present,

then a party with friends.

We invited 14 of her closest friends... yep
just 14! No sweat right?!

We had a BBQ with hamburgers, pasta salad, watermelon- the works.

She opened gifts-

wow great gifts...

then we played games.

this year-

the weather was a bust.

We were having a super winding - blow you down- wind storm.

So- it was indoor games, not as fun, but still fun.

Another big decision- dessert.

She opted for chocolate cupcakes with coconut frosting & birthday party ice cream.

I guess the boys were bored- or neglected in the blogging world- because I found these pictures right in the middle of the party pictures? hmmm- ?

cuties!

blowing out 14 candles is a big job!

AFter the cake & ice cream, more games- the candy bar game & murder in the dark... ahh fun times. Last year I was right in the middle playing. This year- I got a headache right off the bat. Wow- fourteen 14 year old's can get pretty loud.

Still- what a great group of kids!

I love you Chloe!

Having you is one of the greatest blessings of my life.

the return of creative thursday

The greatest thing happened today...

it

was

thursday!

***

The very first Thursday since school has started.
You know what that means?
The return of creative Thursday!
lauri, kristy, wende, kristal & I all met at my house.
Janae is down with a cold & karrie is back to work full time.
(Don't worry karrie we made a monthly GNO schedule!)
Not much creativity was going on....
We've gotta get our groove back.
But- we had wonderful take out for lunch, laughed ourselves silly, I actually cleaned the painted floor (thank goodness for company or some jobs would never get done) and I made these for a bishopric dinner tonight.

Cupcakes!
I am really looking forward to the next 9 months of Thursdays!

a really big night for T-biz!

Last night was Trent's last pack meeting as a cub scout!

He had a lot of awards coming to him...

from camp & other activities this summer.

He went "fishing" to get them!

I have to admit...

I'm really sad that he won't be wearing this uniform or red vest any more.

I think it's so cute.

He also was awarded cub scouting's biggest-

The Arrow of Light!

We have a fantastic cub committee who put on a small program-

to honor this huge achievement.

As you can see-

Trent was just a little emotional.

Actually he sobbed.

He didn't want to cross the bridge over to Boy Scouting.

Cub scouts- Pack meeting- having mom for his den leader

has just been so much fun

Can you blame him?

We haven't had a scout move on for a year...

so I think he felt kind of like he was leaving his friends.

don't worry buddy- they're coming right along too!

He has been attending

Boy Scouts weekly,

has Over the Top- great leaders,

went on a FAntastic Over night Camp out...

still

no more pack meeting?

it was just too much.

We feel so blessed to have such a great troop for my little guy.

and

It was also announced- that this was my last pack meeting as a leader.

I'm being released.

I've been teaching R.S. for six months now & ya-

it's time for me to go too.

I am going to miss my boys!!!

I'm so glad I get to keep at least one.

college bound brian - off again

Brian I am sorry the camera card was not in my camera when you left today.

please email me a picture from Cory's camera soon!

Please feel free to come home anytime....

we like you around here.

mom

they're off- well almost...

Today is it

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

Here's Hailey

Junior extraordinaire!

ready to go at 7:04 AM

You can't see from the photo- but she is wearing a darling shirt that she made herself & headed out the door with a glass of apple juice.

9th grade Chloe left next!!

Here she is ready to go at

7:40 AM

She's rulin' the school as a 9th grader.

she's so confident she hasn't even found or opened her locker yet-

that's easy, baby, sevey stuff ya know?!

Trent here-

woke up at 6:45...

even though his alarm was set for 7:45!

He was ready!

5th grader Trent is so ready-
this picture was taken a whole hour before he needed to leave!

Because we've got so much time to kill
I thought this would be the perfect time to pick up his room a bit?
He decided last week, in an effort to get ready for school, he would rearrange his room. I had no idea that rearranging his room meant he would put all furniture in the middle of the room?
It's crazy in there & not going to work for mom.
He seems to think it's perfect.
He doesn't want to put things back...
I don't want to clean the toilets...
so we are job swapping.
oh the joy
It's going to be a GREAT year!

worth the wait

One day last spring

my sweetheart called in the middle of the day-

to say that Earth, Wind & Fire was coming to Utah!

should he buy tickets?

YES

AND FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!

We listen to their music all the time...

you can ask Megan (she's been around the longest)

these kids grew up on it.

(p.s. we really missed you megan & tony)

(p.p.s. we haven't told missionary jack yet.... we are not sure how to break the news to him shh)

(in line 1 hour early to get in & claim our spot)

So-

We've waited all summer.

Knowing that -

even though the end of summer meant school starting-

it also meant the

Earth, Wind & Fire

concert was here!

We got into the venue at

Deer Valley in Park City.

Then pulled out our picnic dinner, blankets & chairs.

The view in front of us.

The view to the left- west I think?

above

to the west again?

where's my photo from the east?

oh well...

When the music started-

everyone around us started doing this...

Evidence - that besides being a fabulous concert,

this was an excellent people watching event.

Something tells me, some one out there may have even enjoyed watching us?

they started out with

boogie wonderland

and ended with

let's groove tonight

I really love these kids...

this music...

and this guy.

This picture above is for you Jack.

When you get home... and if you read my entire blog like Brian did.

Or, if I break down & tell you?

Which is very likely, considering I am the worst secret keeper on the planet.

Earth, Wind & Fire

YOU DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

It was a GREAT concert.

Worth every penny & all the months anticipation.