This week

Who gets strep in the middle of July? Oh, that would of course be me or my children. Sam and Trey both had strep. I took them into the doctor and the nurse says, "it took about 30 seconds for the test to come back positive." Lovely. So, last week we hung around the house with two sick kids. Not fun in the winter, but really not fun in the summer!!
By Friday they were feeling much better, we went 'camping' Friday night. Actually, Johnson, Jensens and Flemmings went camping over night and we just came up for the evening. It was POURING rain when we got there. Of course my son was running around in shorts and a t-shirt without a rain jacket..what are you going to do? It is an absolutely beautiful area. Driving forever on a dirt road was a lot of fun in the minivan, but the scenery was worth it. After it stopped raining we cooked foil dinners and made s'mores. We had a lot of fun and I'm so glad we can drive an hour and be in the mountains again!
Last week in church Lizzie was having a rough time in sacrament meeting. I had to take her out and as I was standing up she says "Where are you taking me woman?" It took all of my strength not to laugh at her. Where does she come up with these things? She is so funny. She waits to go to the bathroom until the very last second. When she makes it to the bathroom after much jumping around trying to get her pants down, she begins to sing "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" It cracks me up.
Sam has started soccer again this week. It's so fun to watch her progress and learn so much and enjoy the sport. She is so cute and I'm just amazed at how big she is!!
Trey is still deciding what he wants to do. He is still doing cello, but we are debating between basketball and swimming and baseball. Oh, decisions, decisions!
Steve and I went mountain biking last week and I made it to the end of the trail this time. I guess I am doing much better, although I still scream when I am going downhill through very 'scary' rocks. But, that's what mom does every time she water skiis and she is a great skiier, so I guess the legacy will live forever!!
Mom and Dad had their one year mark this month. Sometimes it seems like they have been gone forever and other times it feels like they haven't been gone very long. I know they are loving their mission and the next two years will just fly by for them and they will be so sad to leave their missionaries. Doug and Geri are having a very different experience. I have to admit it's hard for me to even imagine how these people can survive in such horrible conditions. We are so spoiled in America and we have no idea! It's good for us to be reminded by the experiences of others. I just know that the missionaries are being watched over and that they are doing what Heavenly Father wants them to do. I am so grateful for the life that I have and the amazing family members that are such great examples for me. I love them so much and I am so proud of the six members of my family serving Heavenly Father!!

Updating

This is exactly why I don't do well with scrapbooking. I take a month off and I'm totally out of it!! We had a very busy June and I'm finally getting back into the routine. How much do I love summer?! The kids and I go to the pool, go on hikes, stay up late and not have to worry about homework....
I have been training for the Triathalon and it is going well. I think it's probably the best weight loss program I have ever tried. It's so nice to have three different things to keep my interest up. I am not a very good swimmer, but it is coming slowly. I enjoy the bike rides with Jen and Steve and the running is always fun for me. I really feel like I am doing something different all of the time. I am still doing my yoga four or five times a week and so my hip is surviving pretty well. I just hope I don't die on race day!!
It is so nice to live somewhere that I have friends that are active and enjoy doing the same things I do and to live in an area where I can enjoy so many outdoor activities. Did I every mention how much I love living back in the West again....sigh...it's really great!

Julie and Colby

So...Julie and Colby came to see us for six days!! It was so great to have them here. I forgot my camera every time we went anywhere....I was still recovering from coming back from Utah and my brain was left somewhere on I-80.
We had a lot of fun with them. We went to Helen Hunt falls, we took the Cog up to the top of Pikes Peak, we went to the pool, went to a Sky Sox game where the kids got baseball mits and got to play catch out on the field before the game and we tailgated in the parking lot, went to Garden of the Gods, and Julie and I went on a bike ride. She had a six hour layover in Denver on their way back to Boston from Salt Lake so the kids and I picked them up at the airport and grabbed some lunch and went to Cherry Creek lake and played at the lake for a couple of hours. I wish they could come every summer. It was so great to have time with them. We miss being close to them and so it was fun to have them here with us for a while.

Fourth of July

We had a great fourth weekend. Steve and I went mountain biking. I have to say I did much better...still not great, but better!! We then had a block party. The kids did a bike parade and played games and played. Of course it was the hottest day all summer and we didn't go to the pool...nice how it works that way! We then had a B-B-Q at Carlson's and then went to the fireworks at Memorial Park with friends. It was a very fun, full day and the kids did great!! On Saturday we went to the Sky Sox (AAA baseball team) game. We had a box with Steve's work. I tell you what that is the way to go with kids!! Food, couches, room for the kids to roam around and GREAT fireworks after the game. If I had enough money I would do that on a regular basis. Very fun!! I also gave my first sharing time as the new 1st counselor in the primary presidency. It went well, but I'm glad I don't have to do that every week!!
Steve has scout camp this week so the kids and I are finding all sorts of ways to stay busy and keep me sane!! We went to a parade for the rodeo last night. It was fun and the kids are very excited about going to the rodeo tomorrow night...Steve took the camera so I wont have pictures but I'm sure it will be great fun!!!

Painting with Pudding

The cousins painting with pudding at grandma's house. Trey had so much pudding on his glasses he couldn't see out of them. Lizzie and Jayden had more on their clothes than the table and all the kids had a blast!!!

Utah

We had the chance to go to Utah for a couple of weeks this June. We had a great time visiting family. Lizzie had to take a bath in Grandma's sink because she thinks it is great fun....I will be sad when pretty soon she can't fit in that sink anymore... Sam got to help Grandpa with his Bonsai trees one morning. We went to Farmington Pond with all the Leishman family and the kids went 'fishing' in the pond. It was a fun hike and a beautiful day.
We got to visit with Michelle, Ty and Luke also. Of course I forgot my camera when we went boating with them. Sam got up on the wakeboard first time trying! She was very brave, the water temp. was 50 degrees and the air temp. was only 62. yes, she is brave and her mom....not so much!! it was painful enough to watch Sam, and everyone else who was 'brave' (or crazy) enough to get in and turn blue!!! Luke is such a good boy, he didn't make a peep the whole time and just smiled and laughed. What a little angel he is...I miss him!!
We also got to visit with Geri before she left for Cambodia. We are so grateful for e-mails and blogs right now. With family members in four different countries...very nice!! We spent time with my grandparents and my kids enjoy that very much. I'm so glad that I have healthy grandparents that my kids get to enjoy and love!!

Continuation Celebration

Sam is officially not an elementary student anymore!!!
She is so grown up and I am so proud of the young lady she is growing up to be. she has such a great personality and she really loves her friends and her family. I know she is going to do great things in Junior High, I just can't believe that she is there already!! WOW!!
Isn't she adorable though??

Scott and Chrissy

Scott and Chrissy came to Colorado to visit on my birthday!! The kids didn't know they were coming so it was very fun to have them open the door and have a suprise! We took them to Garden of the Gods and then we took them to Olsen's to say hi.
On Sunday night the kids made rockets out of soda bottles for school so it was nice to have Scott and Chrissy help the kids with that while I made dinner.
The next morning Steve got into his truck to go to work and he had a flat tire. It was so nice that Scott was able to change Steve's tire and Steve didn't have to change his clothes for work!!
What would we have done without them that weekend?!?
Thanks for coming to visit Scott and Chrissy!!