Latest Maxism....

Max came in from playing today and asked,

"Was Ozzy Osbourne

in the same group

as Donny Osbourne?"

He makes me laugh!

Check it Out...

Over the past couple of weeks,

I've been learning all that my new calling entails.

Although I'm trying not to get overwhelmed,

it is a little overwhelming.

Luckily, I get to work with some amazing ladies!

One of my duties is to maintain our ward's

Relief Society blog.

I've made a few changes and I still need to tweak a couple of things

but ...

Tell me what you think.

Please.

Any suggestions?

'C' is for Cucumber

Check out our first cucumber...

Kinda funny huh!

Pioneers

"You don't have to push a handcart,

Leave your loved ones dear,

or walk a thousand miles or more

to be a Pioneer.

You do need to have great courage,

Faith to conquer fear,

and work with might

for a cause that's right

to be a Pioneer!"

~ Primary Children's Songbook, To Be a Pioneer

Happy Pioneer Day all you Pioneers!!!

(Because we are all pioneers in our own way.)

Less Than a Month...

It donned on me yesterday,

as I finally registered Emma for Kindergarten,

school starts in less than a month!

Ahhhhhhhhh!

I always have these big plans to work with my kids everyday so their minds won't go to mush over the summer

but I always end up slacking.

This summer is no different.

We've been VERY laxed but

no more.

Now that there's about a month left,

we'll be hitting the books a little everyday.

Nothing like a little catch-up!

Okay, a lot of catch-up.

Summer Nights

Well, our swamp cooler died.

Since this has been a relatively cool summer, for the most part, it hasn't been that bad.

But this last week has been

unbearable!

Our upstairs is like an oven so the other night

here's what downstairs looked like...

(nice pose Cole!)

We moved the mattresses downstairs and we all slept downstairs with the fan and the windows open.

Thankfully it's cooled off the past few nights!

We have a friend that's an AC guy that said he'd come by this week sometime and fix it for us.

Hallelujah!

Draper Days 2009

Saturday was our annual

Draper Days Celebration

at Grammy and Papa's house.

It was a blast!

The kids tie dyed shirts.

We played.

We visited.

We ate.

We had a talent show.

Max sang "This Land is Your Land"

Emma did a dance to Jason Castro's Over the Rainbow.

Me playing the psycho stage mom like on Toddlers and Tiaras.

Emma wasn't dancing so I had to dance behind and she copied me.

Little did I know the Craig V. was videoing me the whole time.

By the way, that BETTER not show up somewhere online Craig!

My boys did an syncronized swimming routine to

Josh Groban's You Raise Me Up.

I promised I wouldn't post the video so you'll have to trust me...

it was HILARIOUS!

We hung out

and sat under the mister to escape the heat

(Thanks Craig!)

Some stayed under the mister longer than others!

We played some more.

Some of us got water thrown on us by a cute little boy.

And we watched fire works in

Grammy and Papa's front yard.

A day filled with family fun!

The best kind of day!

Add It to the List...

We were driving home yesterday and we were talking about what talent we were going to share at Grammy and Papa's talent show at Draper Days on Saturday. Max said he was going to sing the National Anthem. I asked him if he knew the National Anthem.

He said, "Um...of course! Listen..."

He then starts singing the Star Spangled Banner to the tune of

Amazing Grace.

He actually sang a good part of the song

(with the right words)

to Amazing Grace!

Pretty amazing since he can't sing all the right words

to I am a Child of God.

(He takes after Lee when it comes to songs.)

I just had to smile.

The Great Afternoon Getaway

Sometimes, you just need to get away.

This afternoon was one of those times.

The kids and I escaped to our favorite park tucked away in

Provo Canyon.

We had the whole place

to ourselves.

The weather was

PERFECT.

The scenery --

GORGEOUS.

Add all that with some

pretty fun kids,

it makes for a great afternoon.

The boys found sea shells for Emma.

Provo Canyon was once a salt water lake called Lake Bonneville.

(So I'm told.)

It's kind of cool to go to the mountains and find sea shells!

Max was in heaven climbing the trees.

(And looking pretty cute while doing it!)

We had a picnic lunch containing mostly junk food.

(I know.)

Frisbee is a given at a Houghton picnic.

Here's Scott showing his sweet moves.

Emma was loving the wide open spaces to run and be free!

The boys went on a little hike and found a beaver dam.

Cole managed to slip on some moss and fell in.

He thought he'd 'dry' his shirt off by flinging it around...

and managed to snap himself where it counts.

Only Cole.

(Don't worry. He's fine.)

Seeing that beaver dam must have inspired Jake, I think, because I caught him using his teeth to carve the letters of his name out of pretzels.

This kid really needs to get back into school!

Then the others got into the act.

Yeah,

It was a good afternoon!

***

Also...

Look what we found in our garden tonight!

The first red cherry tomato!

Yay!

Random Things...

Is it me or is it more humid this summer?

It's just plain hot!

***

I miss Elisabeth and I wish I had a little extra money so

I could go see her!

I hate not having money!

***

Speaking of not having money,

why can't I at least get an interview for one of the many jobs I've applied for?

I understand that I'm a homemaker returning to the work force but I really can do the job.

Just give me a chance!

***

I wrote on my facebook last week that I hated Relief Society because I can't sit still for a whole lesson.

Well, today I was called as 2nd counselor in the Relief Society.

That's what I get!

Really, I don't hate it...it's just hard after being in Primary so long to go back to actually sitting and listening to a lesson.

I guess I know how the little kids feel now!

I am really excited to be working with some great ladies though!

The president and the secretary and I served on the PTA board together when I was President.

So, we're back together again!

yay!

I snagged this picture off of Cynthia's blog. She's my fun friend that hardly ever is without her camera (yes, even at church!) Thanks for taking this Cynthia. I hope you don't care if I took a copy. :)

From left to right--me, Nicole - the Pres., Heather - the Secretary, and Tisha - the 1st counselor.

***

I had a dream that I was conducting Relief Society and I said,

"If you can hear me ladies, tap your head..."

I hope that dream doesn't come true!

***

Max was helping Lee make a new drawer front for one of the kitchen drawers I broke

(I kind of take my frustrations out on my kitchen).

He asked Lee if he was going to "tan it".

It took a minute, but Lee figured out he meant "stain it".

Add that one to the lists of Maxisms!

***

Emma was looking through the Martha Stewart Cupcake book and came to a picture of Mocha cupcakes. It had a cup of coffee sitting next to it and she said, "Coffee's not good for Americans." Then informed me, "But it is for Chinese."

I just had to laugh.

***

Lee scored a free weight machine off of Craigslist yesterday. The only thing wrong with it was a small tear in the seat.

Gotta love that!

Emma and Max run out to the garage off and on all day and lift weights. Then they have to come in and show me how they've grown muscles.

***

I can't believe that next month, not only one but two of my kids will be living away from home.

First Elisabeth, now Jake!

What will I do with just 4 kids at home?

Kind of weird.

***

We ate the first of (hopefully) many veggies from our garden!

We actually grew something!

Our strawberries and melons died and our carrots and onions didn't even sprout but the rest is flourishing!

Pretty exciting.