Week Synopsis August 18-August 24

Monday August 18- Can someone STOP Ryland from eating?!!!!...already today (8/25) he has eaten a bowl of cereal, a good serving of jello, a container of yogurt, a few pretzels, an orange, a cheese stick, and a complete apple...and he is still hungry!! Did I mention it is only 10am? To look at that stick of a boy you would never know it!!!

Today started early with a phone call from my good friend Natalie Taylor asking me to take the phones for the day (for their business I answer for). She explained that her husband had passed out 2 times while working out and was being taken in an ambulance. HELLO!!!! I would be freaking--she seemed pretty calm. It ended up being a heart condition that they are still not quite sure is causing it. Scott (the hubby) was in the hospital until Wednesday this week. I took the phones full -time today and Tuesday.We stayed pretty close to home those days so that I could manage the phones and computer.

FHE was our Scripture bag where we pull out a prop (in the bag) and read/tell the scripture story that goes with it. We pulled out a whale (Jonah and the whale) and a red towel (Christ washing the feet of the apostles). The kids wanted to keep going...I see it being a favorite of the fam nights. I am glad I made this fun little thing at a Super Saturday quite a few years ago!

A few days of being home-bound calls for some creative dressing up by Dacie!

Tuesday August 19- Besides answering phones today, we had a mom's swap preschool meeting with everyone who is interested in teaching in their home, and switching a home each week (joy school). I am going to be doing it with Ryland this year. We have a great group of moms and kids. I am excited, but would LOVE to have one or two more join-to alleviate some weeks of teaching. It was a longer meeting as we were establishing schedules, supplies, themes, calendars, teaching styles and goals. The phones went CRAZY today! My ear hurt at the end of the day--

Dan had to work today. He has not had off these last 2 Tuesdays (as he normally does) and has been working 10hrs-5x's a week, instead of the 10hrs.-4x's a week. I know it is temporary. But, he works, comes home in time for dinner, helps with the kids, plans his seminary lesson and starts over at 5:30am the next day. I am missing him around the house (not only his temperance and solidity) BUT for house help too. Our wood is rotting and both our gates have broken, our deck gate and fence have fallen off, we are out of gas for the lawn mower, etc. Manly things around the house. He is on salary too-so he is not getting paid any extra for this additional work hours.

Wednesday August 20- I started to have a BIG headache today. I am feeling very pulled in many different directions with my own work, family, Dan's busy work schedule and stress, primary chorister, getting preschool started (typing up schedules, supplies,etc.), being a good friend to those who need extra TLC, visiting teaching, hosting pokeeno dinner this week, my stake calling, etc. I want to do so much more for each one, but feel as if I am just doing some of the minimums.It is all my own doing (NO ONE feel guilty about this 'stretching' I am experiencing...remember this is my journal!) I know that it will get better once everything is up and running (or done) AND I have been released from my double callings. Until then, I am growing~ and am being taught about writing lists to see it all on paper, getting organized and DOING IT!

I answered phones in the afternoon and it was so easy, after taking on the full days! I also mowed the back lawns today and had to make a gas run for the mower.

We had a Young Women presidency meeting that evening, and have I told you how much I LOVE working with our presidency? I stopped by the store after to pick up some dinner (since I had not had time to eat before going) food for pokeeno dinner and salsa making class tomorrow!

(Fooling around w/ my friends Sadie, Alicia and Janae! at pokeeno)

Thursday August 21- It was a fun day! We got to go to a friends house (Carol Langford) to learn how to make home-made salsa. I have gone to her class before, BUT this time I made it all by myself and bought the products all by myself. SOOOO YUMMY! The three jars I made did not last long~I took a jar straight to Dan at work (since he has no lunch breaks~ this would be a quick help for hunger), then we ate a jar and half in 2 days, and shared the last half with my cool friend Janae! It did have a good KICK to it!

When I got home I had to boil the chicken and get it in the crock pot for dinner that night. Each of us girl friends takes a turn 'hosting' a pokeeno (girls game night). It was my turn this month w/ Afton. I was in charge of the dinner. I decided to make Hawaiian Haystacks. It all went well, until I started chopping the numerous toppings and realized how LONG it would take (since I had to feed around 20). I had told my friend Nicole (who was letting us do it at her home) that I would be there an hour early to help set up...but I made it JUST in time for Pokeeno to start. Dan had to work until 8pm that night, since they are short staffed right now. SO amidst the chopping and making, I had to get the kids fed, babysitter picked up, and everything (food, table and chairs,etc.) loaded in the car ready to go!

Pokeeno was a break for me! All the work was done! I could just laugh and enjoy my favorite friends. Afton made a YUMMY dessert to boot! I won what I wanted. It was a s'more making kit w/ some cool roasters (that go up and down). I had just ran over a metal hanger while mowing our lawn from our last s'more making, so I was really thinking about investing in some cool roasters and I WON THEM!! Wahoo!!! Dan and I were able to visit a few minutes before bed.

I LOVE these gals! Girls Game Night (thanks for the pictures Emily)

Friday August 22-I mopped the floors today. That was my goal. I wanted to get some things done during the week so our Saturday would NOT be overwhelming when we got Dan home. I was able to stop by my friends house (Janae). I don't get to just drop in very often anymore, with my LARGE brood, naps, school, and schedules. So it was a quick, fun little visit. I am not as anti-social as I feel. I am a home-body typically!

IT is FUN FRIDAY! That night we got pizza and ate it while we watched Spiderwick Chronicles as a family! (including Daddy!). It is a good thing we watched it together. It could be considered scary for the little kids. Dacie is not much into movies--so she was quite the distraction when she was not eating! I fell asleep watching Dan race cars in our bedroom (on his ps2)!

Saturday August 23- Wake up!!!! It is time to work. Dan started outside on the front lawn, and fixing all the gates-(he was successful with 3 of the 4 problems). The boys and I got going on the bathrooms inside. Afterwards, I let the boys play in the water outside in their swimsuits and they were outside from 11:00am-4pm. They even ate lunch outside and missed naps!

Dan made a menu and went shopping while I did laundry, dinner and bathed the babes. I also had to make quite a few phone calls trying to find subs for singing time (while I have to do ward visits for the stake) and come up with singing time!

Dan got home in enough time for me to meet up with some friends (Nicole and Janae) to go and chaperone a stake dance. Dan actually encouraged me going to this, because the kids were all ready for bed pretty early, and he could play games to his hearts content. We could not wear flip-flops to the dance and I could not find my closed-toed shoes for about 10 minutes-DACIE!!!!!! She had taken them and put them with Dan's shoes. Her shoe fettish is going to be the death of me!

It was funny being back at a stake dance. And to answer Dan's... and I am sure ALL your questions, YES~I did dance. I don't have quite the stamina I used too! It was not well attended (due to lack of communication)--but fun none-the-less. I got home and watched the USA men's basketball team win the gold until 1:30am with Dan! Naughty sabbath breakers!

The boys (above) getting good use out of the sand box...since they dumped out the lbs. of sand, why not use is as a wading pool? Dan (below) fixing our falling apart wood gates and fences!

Our newest project completed-our family photo framed, enlarged (thanks Janae) and hung!!

Sunday August 24- Here we go! Sunday can potentially be a super busy day for our family. I will share our schedule today so you can understand. We got to church during the opening prayer (pretty good for us). Only having to take Dacie out towards the end of sacrament, because that little stinker went down the row to every single one of her brothers... and either took their crayons, bit them, pulled their papers, or hit them.... (it was not super hard) BUT she is a little tease and a screamer. We are in for it!!! The rest of the boys did pretty OK, except for Ryland's consistent breakdowns about everything lately!


During primary we did singing Olympics. After junior primary I had to run into our YW (skipping nursery singing time). We went in as a stake to introduce ourselves, by bringing in 3 or 4 items that are about or describe us. I brought my H.S Letterman's jacket (guess how many things I had to move to get that out?), clogging shoes, mission plaque (thanks Cleggs), and a woody doll (to represent Dan and my family). After the introductions, I went in a little late to Sr. primary music time.

For closing exercises in primary, Sterling gave the talk. Dan came in and helped him give it. Sterling can be such a friend to everyone BUT sometimes can turn super shy. Like when a mom he has not seen for awhile talks to him, or a new teacher, or an old teacher when saying good-bye. It comes out of no where, and he turns his body "into" us (Dan or I) to hide. His talk was no exception yesterday. He kept turning into Dan's chest, and it took Dan repeating the sentence 3 or 4 times for Sterling to repeat it. It is so uncharacteristic of Sterling, because get him after primary... and he is yelling into the microphone and getting into trouble! Gotta love it!

After coming home and getting unpacked, the kids fed, and laid down for naps--I headed back up to the church to meet w/ the Mingus Ward YW's. After introductions I came home and ate, and then headed back up to the church to visit the last ward YW's ~Black Hills. I came home and fell asleep for an hour.

When I woke up Dan had to run to Stake Priesthood meeting. He had made dinner but had to eat it in the car. I fed the kids and got them ready for bed while he was gone.

After the kids were in bed, I taped the closing ceremonies for the Olympics b/c they were on late! The kids had been looking forward to watching them, and were hard to get settled into bed because of it. Sooo if they have a good day at school tomorrow--it will be their treat. Dan and I were in bed at a decent hour~ whew! in time for a new week!

Some of the kids chose to do quiet activities like read, or mop the counter w/ a sponge Sunday evening...
While others chose a more ACTIVE pursuit (oh, but don't let the "quiet" group fool you...they are the reason for this mishap!)

AFTER 20 MINUTES of telling the kids to get ready for bed this is what came running out of the room when I called their names to see their progress in obedience!

*WARNING!!! UNDERWEAR SHOTS*
Colton is part way there
Who knows what Sterling has been doing
Ryland loves blaming his brothers for his predicament
Dacie would rather cook and say NO!

I give up!!!ha ha ha~ We did FINALLY get them in bed!

Here is to a GREAT, BIG, NEW WEEK!

THIS ONE'S FOR DAN!

I AM NOT GONNA LIE-This new blog background is all for Dan (my undercover Rocker)--we'll see if he notices?!!!!!

And Now I have gone ALL OUT for my man. All he wanted for his birthday was for me to create a playlist on my blog (yes, he LOVES music)--and I have FINALLY done it and ONLY put on 'HIS' MUSIC (for now).

OF course the songs are tributes to "DAN'S GIRLS"- he always says the Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reminds him of me, and Brown Eyed Girl would be his little Dacie.

Some have commented about our Rocker names-- I think our rocker names will be Rocka (for Dan, a nick name I gave him FoReVer ago) and STAR for me (since I am Dan's super star!)-ha ha ha ha-- he is going to die if he ever reads this!!!

FOR NOW I can write whatever I want!!

Week Synopsis 8/11-8/17

Monday August 11- I now know the date of when the week starts because Colton has to fill it out on his reading log every Sunday eve. Phew! one problem solved.

Aunt Kerri called and came up for a surprise visit. I am afraid we aren't much fun around here... besides chasing kids. I was answering phones all afternoon and still in my pj's when she arrived! aaah! She took the kids for a wal-mart treat run (to which most of them insisted on paying for their own treats w/ their own money--except Colton--I am grateful for self reliance but I HARDLY think it is that, it is just the novelty of spending your own money has not worn off for the younger ones yet!) The whole family went out to eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant. The kids were pretty well behaved. I found a FHE lesson on zucchini & service (online) and we did it with everyone. Afterwards Aunt Kerri had to leave all too soon. My KIDS love extra attention! I wonder how her job interview went?

Did I mention that last Monday-I went to our new and big Ace Hardware to buy thicker stakes to keep the rose bushes up? While we were there AND the boys were using the sticks as swords (OF COURSE, but I did not have enough hands to take them away)-they knocked off a 15 dollar light bulb and shattered it!! AARGH! I made Colton take it up front and offer to pay for it (since I had just told him 10 seconds before to stop)--the store told him they would stick it in with inventory. Lucky! Why do I think I can ever take shopping trips without some sort of 'incident'? Dan and I staked the rest of the rose bushes by twilight after the kids were in bed. How romantic to stare up at the stars and bang stakes! It was a pretty night.

Tuesday August 12- I am sure I ran an errand or two that day, I get pretty brave shopping with only two kids home now, much to our budgets sadness. That evening I attended an Enrichment committee meeting (I agreed to serve on the committee before I started carrying 2 callings). They really only wanted my ideas and they LISTENED!! I love em'-I met a new sister coming back into activity that evening as well. I gave her a ride home and got to hear her 'story'. I miss having all the time in the world to listen and help those people, like I did on my mission. I miss it!

Wednesday August 13- We made it to playgroup 2 weeks in a row now!! Holy Cow!!!! Of course I was late because I went and had our car detailed! It was a MESS. They finished about 2-3 other cars in the amount of time it took them to clean our car. I got our money's worth on this one (considering I had just carted around loads of cat-tails for the wedding, and gone on a long car trip). Playgroup was at our friends home (The Williams)--of course, we love their home. We had a farewell cake for our good friend (Tara Trezise) who is moving to Snowflake this week. The kids and I spent almost the whole time in the pool! Dacie is sooo funny (check her out above) She sat like this for most the time! Doesn't she look like a classic pool /beach girl? I threw on the hat and sunglasses as a last minute hope for protection, and she kept them on until the car ride home! I love this picture (thanks Monica). My kids did turn into fish during vacation. I wish we had a pool.

The boys helped me take some green beans up to the church that afternoon for a luncheon after a funeral of an investigator (who was going to get baptized the next day when she passed away). It was a sad story-it is comforting knowing where she is at, however. I don't know how people find any comfort without the knowledge of eternity!

Of course I sported a sunburn (after swimming) for our first stake YW presidency meeting that evening. Our new presidency is up and running! I had to take the kids with me to the meeting at first, until Dan got off of work! I did feed our kids earlier this week--so Dan would not have to worry about it when he got home with them in the evenings!



Thursday August 14- I took the 2 kids at home to Beall's (like a Ross catered to older women)with me, in hopes of finding something to wear (jewelry, jacket, etc) for my first speaking assignment with the high councilmen this Sunday. Dacie headed straight for the purses against my will (GIIRL)! While I was looking at jewelry-I let the 2 kids (2 ft. away) play with these plastic candy cars lining them in a row (perfectly sealed where the kids could not get into them). No sooner had I turned around did I hear the clerk (an older lady) say, "oh My, kids! Do not get in the candy!" Then I heard her place her hand over her mouth and gasp in astonishment, 'Oh my, they have eaten the whole thing!" I turn around to see MY 2 kids with a Gheradelli's (sp)candy bar open, and their faces covered in chocolate. I walked over and calmly told the clerk I would purchase the candy bar. She was just so mortified. While we were purchasing the candy bar-she kept telling the kids how they were going to get sick from eating the whole thing. In my mind I was thinking, " Oh, you have no idea how much sugar my kids can pack away and NOT get sick lady. " But, I just smiled. The candy bar was 3 dollars!!!! DO NOT BUY CANDY THERE! The clerk kept ringing the candy up as 50 cents more. I clearly told her she had to sell it for the price they had it marked for. She was not happy with me. All the way home Dacie kept saying, "No No, mmmmmm". Think she learned that no means yummy? Hmmmm...should we go back this week?

Friday August 15- Remembering how much I hated moving, even without children. I called my friend Tara and told her that I was taking her children for the day. She has a hard time letting other people watch them, she feels too bad. I drove over and got her 2 boys (she held on to the baby girl)-ages:2 and 4 (check out dress-ups with them above and below). I think the boys had every toy in our house on the floor, and soaked each other with water in a matter of minutes. Naps were welcomed-except for the ones who refused them! Dan got home early that day, since they were moving into his NEW clinic-it is FINISHED and is BEAUTIFUL!! I let him sleep because I felt compassion... seminary started this week-he is up super early and has 38 students!!! While he slept I changed poops, cleaned up otter pop juice on the carpet, returned the boys to their parents, answered phones for work, went grocery shopping and picked up dinner!
Of course, Ryland did some great things (I don't remember what) and he got a treat at the store (since I NEVER just buy treats to buy them-ha ha). It was this glo-worm gummy candy (look at picture below)--It really lit up! We had fun eating candy, running around the living room and watching an alien special on TV..until it was time for bed, and our friends (the Trezises) came over to play one last night of games before they moved. We stayed up late, laughed and ate. I will miss them!
Saturday August 16- I had many grand intentions of getting things done on Friday, but succumbed to quality control instead. So today we kicked into high gear. Dan did the front yard work-which is growing into a JUNGLE because of monsoons! We stayed inside and mopped the kitchen floors, cleaned the bathrooms and vacuumed the house.

I was tired BUT instead of napping we watched Olympics all morning and went and got a babysitter. Dan and I went to a matinee movie and out to eat. We were back in the early evening, in enough time to bathe the kids and lay them down.

That evening I finalized my talk that I was giving in the morning for another ward in our stake-in a different town (Camp Verde). It was on pornography. I was able to read some really great talks, and talk with a LDS counselor (Sister Tenney) down in Phoenix who specializes in pornography. I learned and gained a great testimony in protecting my family!

I think I have an infection again because I started to not feel well at all.

Sunday August 17- Colton and I headed up to Clear Creek Ward (20 minutes away) while Dan took the other 3 kids to our ward. We were ALL on time to our respective wards. The morning ran pretty smoothly.

The Clear Creek ward was so humble, and so welcoming (I was greeted at least 4 times as I walked in). They are humble farmers, salt of the earth. My talk went well. I felt really good about what was said. It is such a sensitive topic BUT such a necessary one! Colton and I made it back in time for the end of church. I had a sub in singing, so it was nice to be in Relief Society again--at least, for one Sunday.

The Rest of the Sabbath we spent napping, coloring and Dacie in all her GIRL glory (album below) begged for us to put on a handkerchief, she added the sunglasses and pretty much strutted around the rest of the evening. She did not have clothes on because she manages to make a mess of her dresses on Sundays while eating!

Dacie has just become more obsessed with shoes than ever! Our babysitter on Saturday hid her shoes in her purse right as she walked in (so smart!) because last time she was here, Dacie took off with them and hid them under some bed. It took us a bit to get the babysitter back home! When playgroup was at our house, the entire time she tried on other girls shoes and walked around with them. For the majority of today she had one of her shoes one one foot and another person's on another. Oh yeah, AND she loves to take her purse with her when she goes "bye-bye". I got a girl!!!

May you each be the ROCK stars of your new weeks!!!

Happy Belated Birthday Uncle RusS!

(Russ in 'the line' at our wedding October 2000)

Allrighty this is Russ (far left above) around the time I got to know him. It was during Dan's and I dating days (I think my favorite part is his braces).

What I remember about Russ at this age is that he always had a girlfriend! ha ha ha. I was an EFY counselor the session that Dan's brothers and sister attended at BYU one summer. I remember seeing Russ comforting one of his 'girlfriends' during a dance I was chaperoning. Russ was NOT a player however. I could tell he was sincerely concerned about the girls welfare and whatever was making her sad. He always had a few good best friend guys...but there was always a girlfriend. He knew how to snag those women! I got to know Russ even better during the time that Dan and I went and lived with Dan's parents for 3 months. We were finishing up grad school and doing a clinical in Phoenix. To save money we lived in Dan's parents basement. Russ was the only one left at home at this point. He was a senior, and I am sure it was hard having us impose on his "kingdom".
(Dan and Russ tubing at Lake Pleasant while we lived w/ the fam!)

I am sure I kept the mommy mode around him and served out much unsolicited advice from: his high blood pressure, to how he should be dating. However, he seemed to take it all in stride and actually listen to me sometimes!

I had 2 boys (Colton and Sterling)at the time, and they LOVED their cool uncle. They always looked forward to him coming home as much as daddy! They loved wrestling and playing with him. They also LOVED watching him spin all the couch pillows with his one finger super fast!

(One of the boys favorite parts of the day--Colton playing with Uncle Russ)

I got to see some of Russ's passions during this time (besides girls... EVEN though he did have a serious girlfriend). He loved playing basketball. He was on the high school varsity b-ball team, and would go and play pick up games almost every night off-season.

Russ LOVED cold cereal and cheez-its.

I remember we all would go work out together (Dan, I, Russ, Slice and the boys) at the Y we had a membership too.That was always a treat-ha ha ha.

Russ was smart! That kid was a last minute procrastinator when it came to school work--but somehow he always managed to pull it off and get GREAT grades. I remember him writing a bazillion page paper almost all night one night.

He was always helping his girlfriends sister who struggled with academics to advice. Like I said, he has a sensitive nature.

He was not afraid to hang with an 'old married couple' when we did get together. He was not embarrassed to be around me or the kids.

I also remember Russ being very conscientious about money--which has not changed!!!

(Russ's missionary Homecoming September 2007-hanging with the girl cousins Lola (l) and Dacie (r))

I remember getting very teary -eyed when he left on his mission to Guatemala, because he had ALWAYS been a part of my kids growing up and I KNEW they would change drastically while he was gone for 2 years. However, he just picked up where he left off-lovin' on the GALS (2 nieces)he missed being born.

We enjoyed hearing him grow on his mission, and be so humble. It was fun writing letters to him every other week and drawing pictures for him!

Russ never wavered. He always knew the gospel was true and never doubted living the commandments- He just did it.

(Russ front and center at his wedding! June 2008)

Russ came home from his mission in September and was married by JUNE!!! We had very little time to catch up-BUT we are so glad to have a new sis (who happened to be a family friend before the mission!) to catch up with too.

(Russ and his wife Selena...celebrating his birthday August 2, 2008 in Utah)

Now he is married and has a girlfriend FOREVER- We cannot wait to see him as a FUN dad. Russ knows how to have fun and dance (typically the Sorensen's are a bit more reserved) SO we know his birthday celebrations are always a blast! We wished we lived closer to help celebrate, but until then.... Happy Birthday Russ! There is allot to celebrate about you!

WE LOVE YOU!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy BOSTON!!!

Happy Birthday Cool Cousin Boston!!!!

Thanks for being Ryland's pacifier buddy and a great friend!!!

Whenever we think of Boston we think of balls (he LOVES playing with them) and BIG mouth smiles!!!!
Hope your day is full of RED VELVET CAKE!! ha ha ha (that your Dad will have to clean up!!!)

We will PaRtY with you next time we get together!

We LOVE YOU-(your card is in the mail)!!!

Week Synopsis 8/4-8/10

MONDAY AUGUST 4th - The picture above perfectly describes our week! I think Dacie fell asleep twice in her high chair this week...which NEVER happens. We were not feeding her any later than normal. Just a crazy busy kind of week. I did answer phones today for work-it was back to normal.

We eat squash at about every meal now-the kids have really started liking them w/ 'stinky' (Parmesan) cheese on it. It is so nice to know we could live off of this if we had too, from our garden. Our harvest is really starting to come in (check out picture below). The cherry tomatoes are so yummy to just plop right into your mouth! Seriously-even Dan and the kids who are not tomato fans do it!!!

Family Home Evening was getting ready for the new school year to start. We read all our children's books about the first day of school and ended with The Kissing Hand (my all-time favorite) my boys go to school each day with a kissing hand! Then we gave them their fathers blessings. I am glad we did this-it was sweet and tender moment with our boys. Besides the rest of our week ended up getting really BUSY--so this was our peaceful night to do it! The stake presidency called Dan and I tonight and asked to meet with us tomorrow.

TUESDAY AUGUST 5th- Dan and I spent the entire day in our grubbies getting our yard work done and ready for play group on Wednesday. We did the things that have been on our list for a long time-like sweeping up the falling and rotting nectarines from our tree. The nectarines look ugly but taste sweet! The boys always go out and get a tummy full when they are out playing. It has been SUPER humid and warm lately, because of monsoons-it brings back fond memories of Houston. Dan and I stayed pretty wet the whole day from sweating and no dry heat to dry us!!! It was our last day with daddy home on Tuesdays for awhile. Their new clinic is FINISHED-- and Dan is going to be putting in extra time on Tuesdays and Saturdays, as well as some moving days. I am hoping to get a babysitter so I can see him a little bit during this time and go help them!

We got a babysitter this evening so we could go to stake interviews. We got our temple recommends re-newed, got Dan set apart for his calling as a seminary teacher. It use to be an assignment,but is now a calling from the stake. Dan is going to be the only early morning seminary teacher this year. They are meeting in the seminary bldg. across the street from the H.S-he could potentially have about 40 students. They may have to split the class.

The stake also called me to be the 2nd counselor in the Stake Young Women Presidency (click here for our blog). I was ecstatic! I LOVE the young women. It is my comfort zone, and the ladies I am working with are phenomenal!!!! I am going to be carrying my chorister calling and this one until after the primary program in October. It has already been a little hairy with scheduling (i.e. my speaking assignments on Sundays with the high council men in other wards). We have allot of great ideas and are having our first presidency meeting this coming week-lots to get going!!! They had us stay for a meeting that night and I did not get home until 8:30pm...after getting there at 5:15pm.

This was so funny...another retired school teacher mom and I brought the exact same topping (which was not a common one) and labeled it with the same purple marker (not a common one)and exact same letter (it could have been a few letters). Once a teacher always a teacher, I guess!

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6th- Was another sweaty day. I was blowing up 2 borrowed wading pools (thanks Raban's), setting up tables and table cloths, school drive collection baskets, trashcans, volleyball net, signs, etc. By the time play group arrived I am sure I looked HOT!!! We had a back to school ice cream sundae fun in our backyard. Each person brought their own toppings for the ice cream labeled with a large letter (for fun letter recognition) and some things to donate to the church's humanitarian school kits. Then I had the spider man sprinkler going, two wading pools, the turtle sandbox and water table full of bubbles. It was great-a perfect combo of people. We were back in the house around 1:30pm. In time for me to answer phones!

That night was the open house at the kids elementary school! We went and saw their classes-did a little scavenger hunt in Sterling's, met the teachers, and put some money on the kids lunch accounts for pizza days!! I really enjoyed having it BEFORE school this year rather than after. It was perfect.

Dan and I spent the rest of the evening marking backpacks, school supplies, and making lunches! We are back in the saddle of having to do some tasks before bed!

Dan labeling and sharpening pencils and the boys backpacks (above) Me, making lunches (below)

Colton and Sterling's camo backpacks, full of lunch and ready to go! (above) The 2 kiddos left at home (below) Dacie and Ryland LOVE to eat ALL day!!!

THURSDAY AUGUST 7th- It was BACK TO SCHOOL today!! Read my post titled (And I Cried). It was a day of adjusting. It felt weird most of the week. I felt out of place. I did have fun making these cake buses my mom sent the idea for. They were so simple to make I made some for my visiting teachee family's. Some of them have had a hard time of it. Surprise dessert is always a fun way to start the school year. The kids all helped me deliver them!I also had a good hour of paperwork to fill out for school too! Of course I watched the finale (taped) of So You Think You Can Dance later that night!

FRIDAY AUGUST 8th- FUN FRIDAY!!! We had a busy day on the phones and getting a softball team together. The kids got pizza for dinner and Colton came to the tournament game w/ Dan and I. We lost by one run to the other LDS team!!! I was impressed with some of our rally innings. If we could control the innings where we make serious mistakes--we would be pretty good. We came in 3rd over all for the tournament and got this fun trophy (below). We picked up one of Colton's favorite friends (Dallin Gordon) from the fields to come sleep over after. I stayed and watched the next game to root on our other LDS team. One of the umpires we have had all season asked me to play on his co-ed softball fall league. I am a little hesitant b/c I hear it is super competitive and is it 'one more thing'? BUT they only need me Thursday nights..so I think I might-all in the name of exercise!
We were going to have the sleep over party out in a tent on the back deck, and make Smores, BUT it started raining pretty good. So we had them make their own 'fort/tent' in their bedroom to sleep in (look below). So we watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and ate pizza instead, and made Smores in the fire pit the next morning. Smores for breakfast is every little boys dream!!! Of course Dan and I ended the evening w/ getting some of The Office in!

The boys room after a night of sleeping in their forts, playing star wars with costumes and the like

SATURDAY AUGUST 9th- Saturday dawned early for us. The boys were up at 5:30am, even after going to bed late! We roasted marshmallows and I took Dacie up to the church with me. I visit teach the stake pres. wife (Tina). Their daughter got married on Friday and was having a reception that evening. They were having to travel from Southern Utah for this. So another lady (Carol Langford)and I started the decorating. We were later joined by two other ladies and the Johnson family. I was there decorating from 9:30am-4:30pm. Dan switched me for the boys later that day..so he would not have all of them by himself all day. The kids all did pretty well up at the church, until I found out Sterling got a dry erase marker and decorated the stake clerks office with the letter H ALL OVER!!! aaah! I also made two pans of brownies for their ice cream/ brownie desserts. Their daughter loves to fish with her new hubby-so we were going for the cat-tails fishing type theme!

I did DO lots of bows (below) and Dacie in her dang cute pig tails (above)

Later that evening we went to the reception AND then over to and Elders Quorum ice cream social. There were tons of kids there and one split his head open on the trampoline (5 stitches and a ER trip) We got home too late to give the kids baths!

The guy in this picture stood right in front of our lit up glass blocks-right as I took the picture-darn it!

SUNDAY AUGUST 10th- We were on time to church, despite the late night!!! It was good because they were re-doing our bishopric and it was a pretty full day at church. The new Bishop is going to be great with our ward. He was born and raised here. He owns a car shop and is a camper/fisher guy. He went on Dan's young men retreat voluntarily and saved girls camp as the cook. He will be perfect. One of his counselors is our good friend (Tim Raban). He is the most personable and easy to get along with guy. We are excited and fully support the new Bishopbric. They also read my name in and we were sustained as the stake YW presidency.
That evening after some afternoon naps. Colton slept 5 hrs. and would have kept on sleeping (think the fun weekend was wearing on him?)-we went to a youth fireside . Dan was speaking at it. It was a starting seminary fireside. I took the kids there, as the stake YW pres. all went. I ended up in the foyer with some NAUGHTY children-I need to send them to reverence boot camp! BUT I did get to hear Dan speak. Dan will not start seminary until Monday 8/11 instead of the first day of school, because of serious miscommunication, no keys, etc. He was grateful for a few more days to get it all together and start it out with a BANG! I was set apart that night as well.

We got home and got he kids bathed and clothes laid out for the new week! Whew! Lots of changes to get used to this week! Hurray!

Dacie is just looking so grown up to me! I loved this dress w/ her hair in a ponytail for church--too bad she looked like a ruffled shoe-less mess by the end of that evening!

HAVE A GREAT NEW WEEK!