Back to School

It's hard to believe that summer has come to an end! I always look at this time as bitter/sweet. I am usually ready to have a little time to myself, but I really do enjoy the change of pace that summer brings. I enjoy having the kids all to myself and not having to share them with their teachers.

It's hard to believe Connor is in Junior High. So far he is doing well and really enjoys it . He is such a social kid and really enjoys that aspect of school. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that he will 'get into' getting good grades also!

Wesley has finally hit the big time! He is now a full blown High School student! He is enjoying it all so far and has really been concerned about getting good grades!

Braden is excited to be back in class with all his friends this year. He has been threatened in many ways to stay out of trouble this year!!! Look at that cute face! Hard to believe he could ever cause any trouble!!

Our sweet little Halle has finally started Kindergarten! Where did the time go? She is a 16 year old in a 5 year old body. When I ask her what she thought of the first day of school she said it was "boring"! I ask if she liked anything about it and she said the story. Then I ask her if she had fun on the playground, and she said that it was too "dang" hot! I have a feeling it is going to be a really long 13 years!!

Halle and Sydney are in the same class! They are such great friends. It will be fun for them to share their first year together.

Well here's to another school year! Let's hope it's the best one yet!

Share a Smile Triathlon

Last Saturday we participated in the Share a Smile Triathlon. This Tri raises money for different causes. This year they are building a new homeless shelter. This race is always so fun. We have done it several times now. It was actually the very first triathlon, or race of any kind, that I ever did. Wes and Connor raced the novice race, which is half of the race we did. We swam a 400m, biked 10 miles, and ran 3.1. The boys did half of that. Everyone did great. It is always nice to participate in something that benefits someone else and it doesn't hurt that it forces us to get out and exercise!

We kind of forced Connor to do it. He woke up that morning saying his throat hurt. I figured he was just being lazy and wanted to sleep in. Once we were there he said he was glad he came. He did a great job! When we got home, he slept the rest of the day. He came down with a fever and the next day we found out he had strep! I feel bad for pushing him to do it now, knowing he was really sick!
Rod was signed up to race, but decided to hang with Connor instead. (I was worried about him biking and running by himself.) I know Connor appreciated having Rod with him.
Shauna stuck with me the whole race, even though she is much faster at the bike, the swim and the run! I kept telling her to run ahead, but really was grateful for her company. She's a great friend!
Wesley was a good sport about participating. He ended up coming in 3rd place for the Novice Race. He only lost by 1 minute 22 seconds. He said he really didn't try on the bike and took it easy. He was so mad when he found out he could have won! Oh well, maybe next year he will take it a little more seriously. I was impressed that his run time was a 9:05 pace. Must be nice! No training and he gets out there and runs faster than I do and I run all the time. Oh well! I'm not angry!
Joni came in 1st overall the women! She rocks! Even with a new baby she still has what it takes! BJ came in 2nd for his age group! Way to go you two!

Summer Swim Team

Much to Connor and Braden's dismay, all three of the older boys made it on to the Pleasant Grove summer swim team. For several years now they have swum almost every weekday morning for the first two months of summer.

Connor likes to whine about it all, but he really does enjoy it.

Connor did great this summer. At the Bronze County Meet, he came in 1st place in freestyle!

Wesley loves to swim, but he does look forward to the three weeks of summer when he can sleep in! (Could he be a teenager?)

Wesley took 2nd in the breaststroke for the Gold County Meet! Way to go Wesley!

Braden doesn't like swim team at all, but I know he has great potential!

Braden went into the Bronze County Meet with his seed times placing him in the top, but he had some tough stroke judges! Good job Braden for giving it your all, there's always next year!!

Many of our Saturday mornings are spent at meets. There is a lot of waiting around during swim meets. Sometimes meets can last for 5 hours!!

To kill time, we play cards, read, eat, sleep, and just goof off!

Like it, or hate it. I know that my kids are learning great skills and having great experiences. I am so proud of all they accomplished this summer. When most kids are still asleep in the summer, my kids are up and swimming. They work so hard and I couldn't ask for any more! Way to go boys! You rock!

California Adventures

The Angels Game

While we were in California, Rod's friend Daren took us to an Angel's game. We were so glad to be able to take the kids to a Major League ballgame. We had a lot of fun. The Angel's stadium was great. Halle was so excited to get to sing during the 7th inning stretch! (She insisted on practicing before the game!) Braden, of course, had to have some peanuts and the other kids just like the food, especially the cotton candy, and watching the game. Thanks Daren for the fun night!!

Connor is our souvenir "junkie". He always has to buy something. He just had to have an Angel's Baseball hat! Oh well, at least he looks cute in it!! (Check out the $4 gas station bracelet, another purchase from this trip! He is hard to control sometimes!!!)

Parker and Rod with Daren. Rod and Daren have been friends since they were 12! We love visiting with him and his family every time we go to California.

The Angel's won so it was a great game! Thanks Daren!!

The Tide Pools

One day we decided not to go to the beach and drove to San Diego to see some tide pools. We saw tons of crabs and a few Anemone. It was a real challenge to reach some of them. The waves were crashing all around. Halle slipped on the slick rocks, and got all wet, but was a real trooper and continued on. The kids had a fun time! Even Rod had fun exploring the tide pools and picking up the creatures. Maybe he should have become a marine biologist instead of a lawyer!

Picture time with Parker! It seems he was popular for pictures that day!

Here with Halle...

With Daddy...
With Mommy...
With Aunt Nancy...
We even toured an old lighthouse. The kids got creative on the steps going up to the light. The picture turned out pretty cute!

Connor and cousin Ryann found a huge pinecone. They thought it was so cool that we just had to take a picture of it!

Boating in the Ocean

One night Rod's cousin VJ and his wife Grace took our family and a couple of the 15-year-olds out on their boat. It was so fun and interesting to go on a ride in the ocean and feel the ocean move underneath us. It is definitely different than boating on a lake. After spending some time hunting for dolphins, seeing seals, and watching the marines do manuevers, they took us on a tour of Oceanside Harbor. It was fun to see the huge yachts and interesting boats docked there. They treated us to cheese and crackers, sparkling cider, and Dibs ice cream. The kids had the time of their lives!

Parker just loved riding in the boat. He kept yelling to VJ, "Go Faster!"

Halle just loved Grace. She thought the boat was "AWESOME!"

Thank you so much VJ and Grace. You give a fabulous tour!!