It's that time

My favorite little 2nd grader!

Sassy little Kindergarten girl!

It's back to school!!

back to routine

back to different schedules

back to fall sports

back to breakfast before 9am

back to carpool

back to homework

back to massive after school snacks

back to being a taxi driver

back to a couple of hours a day for me :)

BACK TO CHAOS!!

The Big 7th Grader who wants to be involved in everything.

Hobble Creek Half

A dream 3 years in the making!

I have been wanting to run the Hobble Creek Half Marathon for 3 years. I don't know why I had to run this particular one but I did. I ran a half back in March and felt like running another one would be a breeze. I should have second guessed myself. In June I might have, kinda pushed a little too hard, a little too fast in training and...... shockingly got injured. My hip wasn't so happy with me. I took time off, started back up slower and to no avail, the hip complained and complained. Then one time a few weeks later the other hip joined in the protest. I took more time off, was diagnosed with Bursitis and bravely got cortisone shots in both hips. I must have some genetic disorder that forces my body to not be normal because the shots didn't do a thing - not one thing. I heated, stretched, iced - everything I was told to do, I did. It didn't work. So come race day, I honestly went into it not knowing if I would make it to 3 miles or not. My body might not be normal but miracles never cease. I was in pain from about mile 5 until about 7, but other than that I was fine. I know I was being watched over and blessed because there is no way I should have been able to do it. I came in at 2 hours 2 minutes which was much better that I expected. Now I'm officially "down" for a month or so, but hey.... I DID IT!!!

I couldn't get enough liquid after finishing.
The end in sight - YEAH!!

Kelly & I pleased as punch to be done.

Letting go is hard to do!

This is one of my harder things to talk about. I have this problem - I love my calling in Young Women's.... more accurately, I loved my calling in Young Women's. I loved it so much so that when I was released a week ago I had a major meltdown, have cried on and off all week, and my family is wondering if I will ever recover. It has been part of my identity for so long now that I am feeling a little lost. I knew it was time and have known for a while it was coming, but the reality of it was a lot to handle. I knew it was my last time at camp, my last month with them and with the other wonderful leaders, my last activities with them. I had THE best girls. There wasn't drama or worry with them. They were always so happy and so sweet. My self esteem might drop a bit because they always were telling me how cute I looked or how they loved my hair or clothes. I loved being with them. Yes, it was a very time consuming calling, but I wouldn't have missed the opportunity for anything. I am in awe of how they have grown during the last 3 years, as young ladies and their testimonies. I have had the best 3 years with them and with the other leaders (secretly us leaders had a blast together.....maybe a little too much fun). We had our "Good-bye/Welcome to the new leaders Party" at my house on Tuesday. I held it together as much as possible. I want the very best for the girls and I know that the new leaders will do a fabulous job. And I told them I will always think of them as "my girls"!

Pudding Pictionary.

The back side of the block. I told the girls that just because we were released didn't mean that they could forget to invite us to their big temple days.

Our little Good-bye gift. It might be hard to see but I painted blocks and mod podged a picture of the temple on the front then tied ribbon on top.

with one of my favorite girls.

Charlie's Angels (but with 5 Angels)

It's amazing what we do for these girls.

Me, Taylor, Becca, Kate and Shavon

Enchanted Forest

Two big girls that love their girls.
Best group of ladies!

Me, Ann and our MiaMaids.

Our Ward - 27 of the best girls ever!

Getting a Jedi braid done.

Kayla & I

Jessica & I.

Girls making a banner for the cabins.

The cute mailboxes for Secret Sister's.

My bunk. Thanks to my dad it was quite comfy.

Prince Eric was a guest at our cabin.

I love my church calling! I love my girls! Girls Camp is a treat for me. A full week of just being with them - having devotionals, girlie time, making meals, singing camp songs, laughing so hard I cry, being with such great leaders, seeing the girls grow and become the people they are going to be. It is the best. This years theme was "Enchanted Forest". We had a different Disney movie as part of the theme for each day - Snow White, Mulan, Tangled, and Enchanted. Our YCL's (youth camp leaders) did such a great job with remaking the words to the songs and they gave such great devotionals. It was a great week without too much drama. It ended Thursday night when the Bishopric came up to spend the evening with the girls for dinner and testimony meeting. It also ended with me making a complete fool of myself. You'll have you use your imagination - our firepit was up a small hill. We had a musical number which required a cd player which we had to plug into close to the cabin, so I sat at the top of the small hill in my camping chair so I could turn on the player. As with most testimony meetings, it gets a bit emotional. Great thoughts had been shared and the tears were flowing. I stood and shared my thoughts, sat down and... started tipping over and falling down the small hill. But before I went and much to her excitement I grabbed for help & ended up taking Shavon with me. It was unbelievable. One of those moments that you can't believe that it happened, let alone to you. Instead of helping us up, the girls were snapping pictures as fast as they could and laughing so hard. You would think that the men there would be helping us - uh, no. They were astonished and started just laughing. We had to take a 10 minute break to calm down. I'm sure that the girls will never forget it, as will anyone else. I can't help but laugh even now. Yup - girls camp was a huge success!

Payson Lakes

All of the cousins out in the lake holding onto a log.
Braxton, Dylan & Nati deciding if the water was too cold.

Dylan hoping and trying for a fish - no such luck.

"The Rock"

Nati, Paisley and Savannah chillin' by the fire.

Don't mess with the boy and his stick.

We love camping! In the trailer - that is. Back in March, I think, Katy & I looked at the calendar for the summer to come up with a weekend to go camping together. Sadly, there was only one weekend over the entire summer that we could do it. Even sadder, as of now it looks like that is our one camping trip for the year. But.... we had a great weekend. Payson Lakes was perfect for us. We went fishing, swimming, watched a drug bust and just relaxed with the group. The Owens' family came along as well. Braxton was bored within a couple hours of getting there so Jason told him to go dig a hole behind the trailer. He took that task to heart and dug huge rocks up all around our campsite. And the swimming.... Nati scared us to death. The kids were all playing on a huge log and the log drifted out a little farther than she could touch down. She started to panic and we started to panic. Dylan was getting ready to dive in for her when Grace finally got her to let go of the log and towed her to shore. Grace is our "lifesaver". All in all it was a great weekend to get away.

Let Freedom Ring!

Nati with Uncle Dustin and Gavin.

Brax with his many necklace's.

Nati & Grace with their glow necklace's.

Waiting for the fireworks to start.

The 4th of July weekend was jam packed with lots of fun stuff for us. We went and watched the fireworks on the MTC/Temple lawn. The kids love doing this every year. We also went to a BBQ with Jason's family one night and with my family another night. I was all "fireworked" out but the kids (Carter men included) loved every second of it and wanted more. I bought a bag of fireworks while on my trip to Idaho. Apparently I should have gotten at least one more. It was a great weekend to celebrate our freedom!

Road Trip

Oldest brother, Chris & his family. Lewiston, Idaho. 12 hour drive. Long overdue trip. Never been there. 5 days filled with fun. First road trip for Dylan & I. Super fun. Coeur d'Alene. Eating way too much food. Running along the Snake River. Seeing Chris' offices. Shopping in Spokane. Wishing Forks was closer. Laughing so hard over silly things. "Boating music" in the kitchen. Air drums to Phil Collins. Telling our kids about when we were kids. Making treats. Attempting sleep in the same hotel room as mom. So sad to leave. Long 12 hour drive home. So glad we went.

McKenzi & I just before we left.
Dylan & Kenzi chillin.

I got such a kick out of crossing a bridge one way into Lewiston, ID and the other way into Clarkston, WA. I really wanted to get out in the middle of the bridge and straddle the state line.

Pure bliss for the tweens. Waaay too much time spent there.

Mom, Dad, Chris & Myah on the path alongside the Snake River.

Mean mom that I am, I made Dylan go for a run with me. It was such a pretty run along the river.

Cute, little Myah had issues getting too close to Grandpa. This was about as close as she would get.

Little cutey. By the time we left she let me hold her. I hate missing her grow up.

While shopping in Spokane, Dylan and Chris thought they were quite clever. Silly boys!

Dylan and I on the pier at Coeur d'Alene. Such a beautiful place.

Enjoying a walk around town.

At a candy store in town.

He was in "Kiss" heaven.

The heavens parted for Dad to get a Schlotzsky's. They aren't around in Utah anymore so he was super excited.

One of the offices that Chris works at.