Bike ride, cookout, boys activities

 This past Saturday Jess and I drove Mike, Brad, Jake and Cam near the top of Logan Peak and then the boys had a great time riding their mountain bikes down to Blacksmith Fork Canyon where we picked them up. 

 Jake had fun horsing around while the others were busy getting the bikes ready to go.  Even if no one is watching or thinks he's funny, he still enjoys entertaining himself. . .

 On Sunday we made tasty tin foil dinners in the canyon- something we've been wanting to do all summer!  I can't believe this is our first time for the year.  That's disgraceful!  We had a great time playing cards, eating, and making s'mores.

 During homecoming week LHS has a tradition for senior boys who are interested learning a dance from the Hi Lo's and then performing it at half-time of the powder puff football game.  Jake and his friends had a fun time participating in that.  He wore the blue wig for the powder puff performance, then changed it up with the blond wig for the pep assembly a few days later.  The boys also wear their outfit all day to school before the pep assembly performance. . . (yes, he's also wearing make-up. . . )  He rode with the Brickettes in the homecoming parade, and painted the street on Sunday before Homecoming week started.  Homecoming activities are always the highlight for the year for the kids.

 Lindsey took some senior pictures of Jake a few weeks ago.  She'll be doing more as the year goes by, so stay tuned. . . (isn't he handsome and so photogenic?)

 Cam is having a great Sophomore year playing football. After the first two games of his broken arm still being a little tender, he now says it feels perfectly normal.

I love fall which brings football, cooler weather, changing leaves and the new television season!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a very fun Labor Day weekend.  Since Friday was a half school day and I didn't have to work, I got to go hiking with the likin hikin gals.  We hiked Card Canyon which was a lovely 8 mile hike.  I always love getting out and hiking with these great ladies.

On Saturday, we watched/listened to the heartbreaking USU football game loss to Auburn, then tried to recover enough to have fun at Lava Hot Springs.  It was fun being there with Ann, Caspersons, Petersons, and Bundys and Wheelwrights. 

 The funnest thing for me was floating down the river in a big 4 man tube that wasn't supposed to flip.  That proved to be incorrect as me, Jess, Brad and Lindsey were flipped coming down a small waterfall.  Jess and Brad were the worse for wear as they suffered many cuts, scrapes and bruises. Cam (in his single tube) has several falls, scrapes, bruises, and lost his flip flops.  It was fun anyway.

 Monday me, Mike, Sara, Cody and Trace went for a nice bike ride to the end of Smithfield Canyon and back, then I made a big breakfast for them, plus Ann, Ericksons and Bundys.  On the menu was breakfast burritos, yougurt parfaits, and scones.  We played several fun games of big beach VB.

 The 6 of us went for a hike on the Logan River Trail by 2nd dam while Jake and Cam stayed home with the 4 little kiddies. 

 After taking Cam and Jake out to dinner at Aggies, Jess and Brad were back from their cabin retreat with Brads family so joined me and Mike in 2 matches of ROOK (my favorite card game.)  If you know anything about this game, you will know this hand I got did not make me happy.  How pathetic is this???  We need to have a tiebreaker soon as Jess and Brad won the first match, and me and Mike won the second.

It's back to life as usual today with school and work.  It's great to have a break from the routine and enjoy spending some good time with family.

Summer of fun with Kylee, a sad goodbye, a trip to Texas, 1st day of school & a new job

 I had so much fun this summer having Kylee living with us.  I loved having someone to do everything with!  We enjoyed working out together- most days riding our bikes to the Sports Academy, going to a class, then riding home.  We took Sal for a walk most days- either in the morning or at night.  We went to several movies, lunches, and on many shopping sprees.  We took a trip to SLC/Provo to celebrate her 24th BD and to Fort Collins for two days looking for an apartment for her and Brody.  We had our "shows" we watched at nights- The (dumb) Bachelorette, SYTYCD and Season 1 of The Middle.  I would have had a lonely summer without her here, and I am so glad I had that one-on-one time with my sweet girl.

 All too soon Brody was home from Africa and it was time to help them get packed up for their move to Fort Collins Colorado.  It's nice knowing they're only 7 hours away now instead of 11-12, but I still wish and hope they'll be even closer someday in the future.

 The day after they left, Jessica and Brad flew me to Amarillo Texas where they had been living for the summer so I could drive home with Jessica since Brad was planning on working the whole week leading up to USU starting, and Jess wanted to chill and relax for a few days before school started.  It was awesome that Fort Collins was almost exactly half way home, so we got to stop for the night and stay with Ky and Brody.  We had a great time eating out, playing cards, and helping Ky make decorating decisions.  I loved spending some one-on-one time with Jess during our 15 hour drive. 

 Since Jessica didn't have much to do all summer (besides taking two on-line classes) while Brad was out working hard six days a week for 11-12 hours, she decided to learn how to crochet.  And boy, did she learn!  I'm amazed at her creativity and talent!  All of these creations are for sale, so let me (or her) know if you're interested in purchasing anything.

 All too soon, it was time for school to start for the boys.  Jake is a SENIOR, and Cam's a sophomore.  Wow, I just can't believe how quickly time flies.  Honestly, it seems like not that long ago that I put Kylee on the bus to go to kindergarten. . .

 After knowing all summer that I wouldn't have a job at the middle school as an ESL aide (a sweet job I had for 5 years) because of budget cuts, I was very happy to get a call from the vice-principal a week before school started offering me a 3 hour a day job in the computer lab.  There has been a ton to learn but so far I'm liking it a lot.