Finding Krissi

I can already feel the bite of autumn in the early morning. We have begun the final countdown of summer days. How can it be time for school already? This year promises to be one of the busiest years of my life. I pray that I am up to the challenge. The kids will be at three different schools. S. and A. will be able to ride the bus and Al will be able to walk, but H. will have to be driven. I will go back to work and Brent’s schedule at work is getting busier. All of the balls are up in the air as we prepare to handle the kids’ lives, a new program for H., football, soccer, piano, swim, government, and school. Meanwhile, I am finishing my bachelor degree. At the age of 36 I am six classes away from holding a diploma. Part of that diploma requires I student teach. I have been asked by a principal to student teach at his school. It is an honor to be asked the only thing that worries me is that it will be about a 20-minute drive. My mind continues to race at how all of these ba...

This morning the girls participated in our home town parade. It was lots of fun to see them and celebrate. Recognizing our Veterans Appreciating ingenuity. Waiting for Candy! Enjoying Al's Unique Smile Hey, I take what I can get. Cheering! Happy Birthday America.

Summer is well underway. We had a very busy first week basketball, baseball, swimming, testing, school, and EFY. The kids had a blast and are looking forward to another busy week. This week we have grandma, swimming, baseball, youth conference, school, piano, and cub scout day camp. In addition, to all the summer fun, I like to remind the kids that they are going to have to go back to school. There are certain activities that will help the beginning of the school year go smoother. For example, reading. Reading is a great summer activity, and a way to prepare for the up coming school year. For the past several years we have had summer reading lists and summer reading goals. My oldest three have always been on board. Well, for the most part. There was reading going on, and summer reading goals being met. Ours is a family that reads and enjoys reading, always! Yup, I said it I said the word that will surely bring about a curse. I said, "Always." Saying always is equi...

Today Al. officially entered the following song for, "Our Summer Song," contest. I went on Youtube and checked out the video... read through the lyrics.... and read about the artist.... You know what sometimes you just have to be proud of your kids. Wonder how in the world did I get this lucky. Take a listen and tell me what you think. I'm thinking that this is probably the winner. Headphones lyrics She gave it her best She tried to fit in She tried to be cool But she never could win Her mom says she's great The kids think she's weird Honestly she wish she could disappear Why you try, try to be like the rest of them When you know there's so much more within There's only one you Here's what ya' gotta do Whoa, whoa... Anytime you feel alone, put on your headphones Love, love's coming through your headphones Anytime you feel alone, put on your headphones Love, love's coming through your headphones L-o-o-ove is...

Every summer needs the perfect song... That song that says, "It is summer have fun!" That song that says, "Let's enjoy TODAY!" Not sure if I have found the perfect song yet, but so far this song is in the running. "Tonight Tonight," Hot Chelle Rae My favorite part of the song is the chorus.. "La la la, whatever, la la la, it doesn't matter, la la la, oh well, la la la" So what is your perfect summer song?

Today is the very first day of Summer vacation. I keep waiting for the feeling of no responsibilities to settle in around me. So far that feeling has alluded me. Probably because as much as I want to pretend that summer vacation is a time out from our busy schedule, our summer is quickly feeling up. Today was spent preparing S. for EFY. Tomorrow I will take her to her cousins house, and the next day my sister-n-law will deliver both girls to camp.  This will be the first time that I have ever spent an entire week away from S. I'm excited for her and at the same time not so thrilled. Where in the heck did my baby girl go? (The date on the picture says 1998 but I swear it was yesterday) (2001 I don't think so. More like 10 minutes ago!) (This is a current picture except the date says 2002) (2004 :( 30 seconds ago. I swear!) I really need to deal with the fact that all of my monsters are growing up. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to deal? :) Anyone... an...

I don't know about you and yours, but I can tell you around here we are "crazy" excited for summer vacation. The kids are all home from their last day of school and I officially have a 9th grader, 7th grader, 6th grader, and 3rd grader. I'm currently refusing to deal with how crazy it is to have the kids in three different schools next year. For now it is all about summer.

Summer is bidding a fond farewell and the bi-annual closet explosion has begun. For you out of state people who don't know what this is let me explain. Here in Utah you need two full wardrobes. You need short sleeve shirts, shorts, and your favorite pair of sandals. If your a true Utahn you can pull this wardrobe off from about Mid-April to the Beginning of November. If your a wuss Utahn, like me, you pull this particular wardrobe off from June to September. Then there is wardrobe number two, long sleeves (personally I am all about the Hoodie), jeans, and shoes to keep your toes toasty. Through out the month of October your closest explodes as every article of clothing you have has to be kept out. Is today a hot day, cold day, starting out cold getting warm, is it going to snow, rain, be gloomy, or is it going to be a beautiful blue sky day. Mother Nature has several Mood Swings when it comes to Utah weather. Right now we are dealing with exploding closets and the inevitable cries ...

Sometimes the best thing to do on a summer evening is watch clouds

Hope your having a fantastic 4th of July! Save me some potato salad.

A couple of weeks ago I posted a picture of a robin's nest full of little blue eggs. Since then we have heard the little chirps and squeaks of baby birds. We have also watched as Momma and Poppa flew in out of the nest with worms. It has been kind of cool observing the diligent parenting of wild life. A couple of nights ago we were outside and I have to admit trying to get a closer look at the nest happenings. When suddenly momma and poppa began to nose dive and warn us that we were to close. In the process of the commotion two little ones took their first flight out of the nest. Filled with guilt that we caused the early eviction of two little birds, who were not quite ready to be on their own, we tried to figure out how to get them back in the nest. We knew that we couldn't touch the birds or Momma would have nothing to do with them. We watched as the two little birds twitted and jumped around the front yard. They could get a couple feet off the ground but there was no wa...

I am sitting on the front porch at the end of the day. The sun is making its final descent and I can fill the rays dance all over me. Maybe at this moment I should be worrying about wrinkles or freckles or even the sun burn I have gotten, but all I can think is, "AHH." For the first time in months I am sitting on my front porch, barefooted, soaking up the warm sun. Children are running up and down the street. The sound of a basketball echoes around me, someone is motivated enough to mow their lawn, our neighborhood wood pecker has returned and he is announcing his arrival on his favorite pole and every now and then a burst of laughter can be heard. The silence and stillness of winter is being replaced with the noise and bustle of summer. With only a few days left until the first day of spring there will obviously be more then one cold day left. However, today fills like a promise. A promise that summer is coming.

Ok all of you moms out there who are starting to complain about the long summer days.  There is moaning about children fighting, boredom lack of routine and the serious need for school to start again.  I have only one thing to say to this. STOP!!! Summer must not end.  We must embrace and enjoy the summer because at the end of the summer there is only one thing.  One horrible, unavoidable thing. WINTER!!!! I have not fully recovered from the past winter.  My bones are still chilly even the mention of winter starts me shivering.  So I have created list of the top ten reasons to LOVE SUMMER! #10.  You get to Swim! Swimming is awesome it cools you off, it gets you out in the sun, the sun has important vitamins that we all need, and swimming is exercise at its most fun.  #9.  Baseball, who doesn't love a summer evening at the baseball field.  Way better then a fall evening of football. Trust me! #8. Long afternoons sitting in a beach chair reading a great book with no where to go. #7. ...

As I know you all have heard, and heard, and heard S. and I are leaving for Hawaii on July 8th.  I can hardly believe it has been a year since she made the All Star Team and we started planning this trip.  It is finally here and I know I have driven everyone around me crazy with me constantly saying, "I'm going to Hawaii."  You would think I didn't get out much.  Oh wait a minute I don't.  So I get to drive everyone crazy just for a little while longer.  That is until I get back and start sharing all my fun pictures. I can feel all of your excitement.  Well here is my last post until you quit hearing about how I am going to Hawaii and start hearing that I went to Hawaii.  Again I can feel your excitement.  Please settle down I know it is exciting but contain yourself.  We had a fun weekend I ran a 5k (yet another thing I am sure you have heard quite enough about) and the next day we went to our cute nieces baptism.  It was very cool when I looked at the program an...

A picture I wish hadn't turned out fuzzy but is cool anyways A day finally warm enough to swim Check out A.'s Mo (or as Brent calls it Fo) Hawk. Sometimes I wonder if this kid is going to turn out right. Oh Well at Least I still have this one and  she seems to think everything is thumbs up Today And this one is just happy that at last dad submitted to a pool in the backyard even if it messes up his grass Hope your summer is splashin along.  We have a fun couple of weeks coming up.  Today is my last day of work for the rest of the summer. Yay Me!  Next Friday I will run (ok jog slowly) my first 5k. Ending the day with some very cool fireworks.  Hey, it isn't ever day that you get fireworks after you run (Ok, yah I know jog slowly).:) The next day our niece is getting baptized and just a few days after that ALOHA! Don't you just love SUMMER!!!