JULY 2016

Wow, our summers are B O R I N G!!  We really didn't do much this month other than the swim lessons, girls camp, and Wet N Wild.  Talen went to pool therapy a couple times this month.  He always loves getting in the water and Burke does such a good job with him.  I went to Allison's bridal shower (Scott's fiance) - I can't believe that our little Scotty is getting married!  At the end of the month I had to talk in church.  I think it was the hardest talk I have ever given in my life!  The talk that I was supposed to use as a base for my talk was so hard!!  But, I was glad when it was finally over and I don't think I made too big of a fool of myself.  Huge thanks to Cathy for coming to help Jay with the hooligans while I sat up on the stand.  Well, that pretty much sums up July!  I guess I shouldn't complain about it being boring, I'd rather that than a trip to the hospital or a million doctor appointments.  Gotta look on the bright side of things, right?!?!  

Goofballs

I just love grabbing my phone and finding all these random photos of my kids being goofballs - they take after their Daddy, hehehe!!

Wet N Wild 2016 Trip #2

Robin offered to watch Talen while we went to Wet N Wild, so we decided to go down the night before.  We left early enough that we were able to do some school shopping when we first got there.  The next morning we woke up and took the kids to Wet N Wild.  Again, they had a blast!  Then when we were sufficiently tired, we went back to Robin's for showers and dinner.  We spent the night again and headed home the next morning.  It was nice being able to have Talen so close.  And now we know that this is an option, we might be able to make 3 trips to Wet N Wild next year - the kids will be in heaven!!

Airplaning

I walked into the room to see him watching tv like this.  I asked him what he was doing and he said, "Airplaning."  Duh Mom!!  Is this a new trend I don't know about?!?!

Pioneer Day at Brooke's

Brooke invited us to come over to her house for fireworks to celebrate Pioneer Day.  Being the cheap people that we are, we decided that it would cost us less to drive over to her house to watch her fireworks than to purchase our own.  (Really, I am the cheap one, Jay is always wanting to buy fireworks but I won't ever let him - what a waste of money!!)  Anyway, we drove over Brooke's house for a fun little fireworks show.  I think Dax was more nervous than Carter was, but as soon as he warmed up to it, they both loved it.   (We left Talen in the house, he doesn't like all the big booms and bangs!)  It was a fun night, thanks for the invite Brooke!!

GIRLS CAMP 2016 - Kennedy's 1st year

I had so much fun at Girls Camp and I was so glad I was able to go for Kennedy's first year.  I just love the girls and the leaders that I serve with.  Yes, there are things that I would change, but for the most part, it was a perfect.  I think the one experience that I learned from the most was the time when Kennedy got lost.  Yes, I lost my daughter!!  We were all headed to the upper amphitheater (which we had never been to and no one knew exactly where it was) to practice our skit.  I had told Kennedy to hurry and go while I hurried along some of the other girls.  It took the group that I was with about 15 minutes to find exactly where it was that we were supposed to be heading and when we finally got there, we started the practice.  About 3 or 4 minutes in, I noticed that Kennedy wasn't there.  I asked around to see if any of the girls had seen her, they all said no.  I assumed that she had just gone to the lower amphitheater, so I ran back to camp to see if she had made it back there yet.  She wasn't there, so Izzy Wittwer and I decided to head down to the lower amphitheater.  I knew that she was on the mountain somewhere, but when you can't find one of your kids, there is always that pit in the bottom of your stomach that something is wrong.  We made it to the lower amphitheater and she wasn't there, we asked the stake (whose camp was right next the the amphitheater) if they had seen her and they said no.  I was starting to get a little worried (and honestly a little emotional) and I think Izzy could tell.  Then she asked me if I had said a prayer.  I was ashamed to say that I hadn't, in fact, it hadn't even occurred to me yet.  So we stopped right where we were and sat down.  She offered to say it (knowing that I probably couldn't get the words out).  As soon as she finished, I knew that everything would be fine.  I really always knew that we would find her, but the comfort I got was just the reassurance that I needed to compose myself and make it back up to the camp.  We got back to camp and they said that she had gotten back there just a couple minutes after we left.  I don't know how we missed her.  We walked back over to the upper amphitheater and she came running over to me as soon as she saw us.  She was a little shaken up, we hugged and we both had a good little cry.  I love that girl so much!  I really don't know what I would do without her!!  I am so thankful for the support of a good friend to remind me that I needed my Heavenly Father's help.  I know that He is there for me, all I need to do is ask.  I am so thankful for this experience because it brought me closer to my daughter and to my Heavenly Father.  And the wonderful experiences at camp didn't stop with that either.  I will admit, I missed my hubby and boys at home, but the chance to spend those few precious days with my wonderful daughter was one that I will never soon forget.  I just hope and pray that she received the spiritual uplifting that I received from being there.  Here are her thoughts on girls camp:

Girl’s camp was super fun, you put up tents, go meet with the rest of the stake at the pavilion. It was really spiritual and I loved it.  We would go on hikes, do obstacle courses, and make meals, we would sing, and we went snipe hunting. The first day we assigned tents and put them up and after that we ate lunch and went to meet to the stake at the pavilion. We soon practiced our skit and performed it the next day. We went on an obstacle course to get to the tree of life. And we learned a lot of new songs. We read scriptures every night and wrote in our journals. We learned about how we are daughters of our Heavenly Father and how we are special. We learned first aid and how to become advanced snipe hunters. The most spiritual part was when we did testimony meeting. Almost everyone did it.  We made so many new friends and it was so nice to get away from the world. We didn’t bring any technology we didn’t listen to any popular music. It was really nice and fun. I am looking forward to it next year.

Back Row: Sis. Wastlund, Sis. Randolph, Mickelle (friend), Mickelle Randolph, (friend), Kylie Shepherd, Sis. Wittwer, Sarah Wastlund, Emily Syphus, Teuila Leung Choi, Torie (friend), Sis. Shaw, Maddy Morris, Sela Andresen, Ana McFadden, Myklin Anderson, Megan Ford.
Middle Row: Sis. McIver, Sis. Stewart, McKenzee Bench, Brooklyn Linville, Katie Burgess, Rachael Anaya, Kennedy Vaughn, Lauryn Syphus, Bailey Freedle, Sami Swift, Amber Cravens, Melissa Fowler, Lesil Swift, Sis. Fowler
Front Row:  Sis Jones, Sis Vaughn, Katelynn Leavitt, Marquessa Farnsworth, Kayleen Miner, Kayla Freedle, Alexis Sutton, Cassie Bradshaw, Charity Summerhays, Triniti Smith, Sis Bradshaw

Talen Dental Surgery

The last time I went into the dentist we decided that it would be best to get some of Talen's teeth removed.  Mostly because it can be painful if all the roots on the molars don't loosen when the permanent teeth are trying to push their way through.  Plus, his front teeth are getting crooked because the ones that haven't fallen out yet are starting to push on them.  So, I took him in for the surgery.  When we first went in, the dentist said that they would be removing 8 teeth.  Then after the dentist came out, he said that he only took out 6.  However, when he gave me the jar that had Talen's teeth, there were 7.  And then when I went to his follow up appointment, they told me that he had 8 out.  So, I really have no idea how many teeth he had removed, but I know that it was somewhere between 6-8.  Anyway, I was so proud of him, he did so good.  This was his best recovery of any operation/procedure that he has ever had.  He was back to himself within a couple hours.  I just love our dentist, he is so good with Talen.  And of course, I love our toothless boy!!  Way to go Talen!

BEFORE

AFTER

Dax & Carter swim lessons

I signed the boys up for swim lessons with Jill Wittwer from our neighborhood.  The best part was that she did them just right down the street so I was able to walk them back and forth to swim lessons.  We weren't allowed to stay and watch until the last day.  Then on the last day, they show us all the things that they learned.  Dax is getting quite a bit better and Carter just loves the water.

They both enjoyed it so much, I wish that she did it more than just the one session (two weeks, four days a week).