Grandma T-Shirts

My mom sent the children t-shirts this summer, some that she made, and others that she cut out for me to finish.  I am still working on the ones for Jake and Leslie, but here are the new shirts so far! Thanks, Grandma Jake!

Quirky Bits

Our Mitsy missed the girls so much while they were gone at camp.  She would wander the house and cry to be played with and petted.  When they returned, a couple of tired girls dumped their gear in the doorway and Mitsy made herself comfortable on it, glad they were back.  We missed them, but it sounds like Heber camp was great!

Also a story from Seth who is 3:  Yesterday evening, he told me he had a "Good Plan".  "What is your plan?" I asked.  "Tomorrow I will wake you up, and I will tell you to make brownies, and you WILL!" came the cute answer.  I put my hand up to slap him five and as he turned to go, I heard him say, "Good plan."

And They're Off!

This morning we sent off to great adventures my three oldest children.  Leslie and Camille are off to Heber girl's camp.  This is the 6:45 a.m. footage.

Have a great time!  They will not be missing us.

Then, later it was time for the long awaited Jamboree departure.  Jake has been saving to do this for 3 summers now.  All of the boys were super excited.

Much clowning.

Jake's Patrol.  Our troop mascot (if you will) is the purple streamliner racing car.  All the patrols are named after auto parts.  This is the wiper patrol. :)

Here is the group.  36 boys, 4 leaders, watch out world!

They're on their way!

Jacob Doesn't Really Turn 16, But We Feed Him Cake Anyway

Jacob has been away from us for so many birthdays!  That is what you get for being born during scout camp season!  This year Jake will turn 16 at the National Scouting Jamboree, but we wanted to celebrate before he left.

Getting ready to play big bad wolf  (I'll Huff and I'll Puff....)

Camera for the trip, so there will be lots of photos for all of us who must stay behind and be jealous!  Love you, Jacob!

A Demise

Camille has a Plantar's wart.  At least we think so.  Her dad wants to haul her to the doctor to have it dealt with, but Camille has heard that some warts go away if buried in the backyard.  We are giving her a week to see if this will work.  Thus, there was a unique funeral in my backyard recently.  Highlights:

Mourners gather.

A few words were said....

Markers placed.  Now we wait and see. :)

Like a Chicken with My Head Cut Off

I'm not sure where time is going.  I am running here, there, every where.  Each time I turn around, my kitchen looks like the dishwasher has vomited and my living room floor is covered in a new form of outdoor/construction element by a new crop of little boys.  Jacob is home from Idaho.  We are trying frantically to get all of the gear he needs for his BIG JAMBOREE TRIP. He has been saving for this for 3 years now and we are here in crunch mode, getting ready for it.  We are both so excited (yeah, me too) our heads might explode. (Maybe they already did, maybe that is why I'm acting like I don't have one.)

When I slow down enough to notice, my cute kids are all in front of some kind of electronic device way too often.  Maybe we need an unplugged week.  I haven't clipped coupons for two weeks, much less done any "good" shopping.  I also feel lame because I should be getting my visiting teaching done and my reports in for church.  Everything take a number.  "Yes, your number really is 212, just wait!"

The trouble with all the running is that I keep looking behind me to see if something is actually getting accomplished.  It seems that no, nothing much is back there.  I had a serious round of depression the last week of June/first week of July, but that didn't accomplish anything.  June was made up of youth conference and Brighton camp for Camille and a week-long scout camp for Jake.  We keep passing around the bug repellent, sunscreen, etc. Out of one duffel bag and into the next.  The kids all had a great time!  I'm so thankful for their youth leaders and all of their sacrifices!

I did love our visit to the McAllisters over the 4th.  We went on Friday night for a movie and a sleepover.  Uncle Jared has a nifty projector, so we watched The Great Race on the wall, ate 12 quarts of popcorn, stayed up most of the night with one child or another, then woke up to Grandma Irene's incredible oatmeal pancakes.  We spent most of the next sleepy day together around puzzles with the children playing Little People in the cool basement.  It was nice to be together.

Yesterday I woke up to be first in line for a free haircut.  Oh, yeah!  I needed that!!! Feeling like I lost 10 lbs. (of hair). Then Miriam off to achievement days, a round of kids out the door to the orthodontist's free Raging Waters party.  Jacob's massive (serious, you could fit a body in it) duffel bag packed with all the stuff to ride across the country in the semi for the Jamboree.  Nate working on homework, frozen burritos for dinner and off to my Espanol class, Nate to his Sustainable Development class, Jake off to gather with his troop for bag check.  Home to the exploding house.  Nate off to help his mom, with some home repairs (yes, late at night). Pick up and vacuum the living room while brothers and sisters tuck in my littlest ones, then dishes until almost midnight.  Whew! When you schedule a child, you also schedule the mom.  Did I mention the stream of children in and out to play all day and the sweet visits I had from some friends that make the day slow down a bit, so I can smile?  I am grateful for my busy life.  I may have to wait a few years until I can look back and see the progress.  I think it is a work of many days accumulated, but we are accomplishing it a little at time.

Nathan has been waiting to hear about results of his job application with IMS Masonry.  He feels like he had a good interview with them.  He got perfect scores on the series of tests they had him take, and now he is waiting on reference checks.  It is a pins and needles business.  There are two other men in the running.  Do they have families praying for this job too? It is a bit heart breaking in our industry.  So many men with such a wonderful set of skills, sitting on the bench.  We hope to hear back soon.  Maybe even today.  When I think about it, I can't really get my hopes up, too devastating if the answer is No.  Just breathe.

Almost 8 a.m. and the house is still quiet.  My dishes are clean, if I put them away before breakfast, I can sit in a clean kitchen for a few minutes.  That would be nice.  "Now taking number 209!"

Leslie and a Day Out

Leslie was feeling a little lonely last week, as Jake and Camille were both away for adventures, so Grandma McAllister kindly consented to watch children all afternoon for Leslie and I to have a day out.  We had a great time!  Visited a shop called 10,000 Villages where artists from developing countries sell their wares.  Beautiful jewelry and other hand work on display.  Then we went to an amazing quilt shop where I was blown away by the detail and talent put into the quilts on the walls.  Visited a quirky boutique, Deseret Industries, Old Navy and others.  Leslie found some new clothes and I found a new vision.  It has been so long since I have been out shopping!  I found myself looking over my shoulder for the "What Not to Wear" people!  I am pretty behind on things....  It was also good for me to see what people are doing with their talents.  It was inspiring. We finished up with a meal at Panda Express (one has to have Chinese food!) and then home, tired feet, happy smiles.  Thanks for a wonderful day with you, Leslie, and thanks Grandma for making it possible!