Meeting Marcia

Excitement for the week (amid the truck and washer issues) - I got to meet one of my favorite authors. Her name is Marcia Lynn Mcclure. I started reading her books several years ago and introduced them to my good friends Amber and Krissie. They loved them and were ordering them faster than I could. Amber found out that Marcia was coming to Utah for book signings, so we went and met her in Orem on Friday night. We waited for almost 3 hours to meet her and we were about 20 people back from the start. She's a talker. She signed our books and chatted for about 10 minutes with us. We gave her some of our wishes for future books and she even wrote our husbands a little note too. It was so fun. The night ended with dinner at Macaroni Grill. Totally great night that made my not so great week so much better. Thanks to Amber and Krissie for taking me and to Marcia for writing the books I love so much!!

Here we go again...

No - you are not seeing things. This is Jason's truck having issues AGAIN. We have had a fun week. By "fun" I mean that I had a major meltdown. Tuesday afternoon Braxton came running upstairs saying that there was water coming from the ceiling downstairs. I ran down and yes, water was everywhere around the air hockey table. My first thought was that the fridge had something wrong with the water line. That would have been better than what it was. Our washer broke and kept filling with water without ever draining. And.... the drain that is supposed to go to the main water line goes nowhere. Therefore, water everywhere. I paniced and called Shavon, who wisely sent her husband over to help. I knew Jason was doing his interview and couldn't be disturbed. Doug came running. We blocked the drain and started bucketing out the washer. It was lots of fun. He saved my carpet and air hockey table from more destruction. Then Jason came home. Not sure that was a good thing. He walked through the door, got all of my gushing details and told me that his truck was having expensive problems. Then came the meltdown. Long story short... new washer and new part for the truck all in a weeks time. Here I am trying to be good, pay debts off and this happens. Not fun, but that's life and what do you do? Have to have a washer and a truck so I am sucking it up and moving on. On a fun note - Jason was interviewed by Channel 2 News for a story on the Creamery. I got it to download so keep scrolling down to watch. He's a cutie!!

New lawn ornament?!

flashback to earlier this year.

the ceiling still drying out before it can be fixed.

Jason's TV Debut

I couldn't get it to download from the internet so I just shot it from the tv onto my camera. If you listen close you can hear Nati getting ticked because she wanted me to pause it on Jason's part. Good times!!

"Incredigirls" Girls Camp

The bishopric playing games with the girls. I don't know of many that would get down and dirty like that. They are such wonderful men.Jen, Becca, Shavon, Kaye and me. I had so much fun bonding with the girls and these wonderful ladies. Our ward - a wonderful group of girls.
One of the cabins that we stayed in.

This last week has been so fun. I was put in as YW 1st counselor last Sunday and the girls left for camp on Monday. I was so sad when they left knowing that I couldn't go until Wednesday. I was so anxious driving up to Heber. The memories of me going to girls camp when I was younger (a long time ago) made the anticipation so much more. When I got there, within minutes, I was bombarded with hugs. Such a great welcome. We had dinner with the stake leaders that night. I was over the devotional that night - kinda nervous about that - then we chilled out, did hair, ate junk and laughed until so late. The next morning was the challenge course, Incredigirlie time, letters from home, and to top off the day the bishopric came up for dinner after they played games with the girls. Camp ended with testimony meeting. It was such a fun two days. The girls all got along so well, helped with chores and just made it a great spiritual week. I am so excited to work with the girls, other leaders and especially with Shavon. I couldn't ask for a better calling.

Girls Camp part 2

Yes, this is me. Shocking I know. I was seriously so scared, but decided that I needed to buck up and show the girls that their leader could do it also. It was fun & I'm glad I did it. It was part of the challenge course - the one that I dared do.
Me with Emily right before she went. Gotta love the gear that they make you wear.
Some of the Beehives and Miamaids doing the "Trust Fall." I wasn't brave enough for that one. Not because I didn't trust the girls...just their ability to hold me.
Being cute girls.
Hair braiding anyone? After we had the devotional Wednesday night we sat around braiding hair. We giggled and laughed until the wee hours of morning. I was so tired the next day but I wouldn't have it any other way. I remember doing the exact same thing. It isn't girls camp unless you are up way late.

Feeding the Ducks

About a week ago we were having one of the many "Mom, I'm bored" moments, so.... we went to feed the ducks. Nothing spectacular happened. It was just a fun thing for me to do with the kids. I don't remember ever taking Natalie. Braxton and Dylan were pro's before we got out of the car. Check out who is closer to them.... any ideas how that turned out - with the ducks running away and Brax saying "hey, wait for me." Silly kid.
Natalie and Braxton showing me how it's done.
Dylan showing his maturity and going off on his own. Where did the days go when he wouldn't dare to do that?
He honestly wanted to go swim with them. He makes me laugh.
She had to crouch down and try to talk them into coming closer. It was so cute to watch.
It was fun for the kids and I certainly got a lesson or two in duck feeding.

On a side note: Mom is starting her 3rd week of radiation. She goes everyday before work. She still can't feel her thumb and we are hoping that at least some feeling will come back. Her hair has started growing back, YEAH!!! Eyelashes are making a feeble attempt at coming back along with trying to keep her fingernails on. She is tired from the radiation but doing so great. She has 3 more weeks of this and will meet with the doctor at that point to continue with a game plan. I feel like we are on the downhill side with just a little ways to go. My little brother just buzzed his shorter than moms so that she could say that hers is longer. The things we do to make her smile. She's a trooper!!

Baseball, Baseball & more Baseball

I have discovered that I like watching baseball. Okay, in all honesty I like watching my kids play baseball. Dylan's last game was yesterday afternoon. It has been so fun to watch this year. I don't know what changed from last year to this year but I was so much more into these games. Jason coached his team which made things even more intense for me. It's interesting to hear what people say about the coach not knowing that the coaches wife is sitting right there. They took 1st place in the Mapleton league and went on to state. We had two games on Tuesday that were easily won. They played at 2 yesterday, won that one with the help of a great hit by Dylan and played again at 4, therefore leaving them about 10 minutes to breath, get a drink and go to the bathroom. Not a lot of time in between games especially in the 90 degree heat. They played so good and fought so hard to stay in. The time was up with the game tied at 7-7. So the extra innings started and we ended up losing by 1 run. They were crushed. It was hard to watch. I never realized the pressure that they put on themselves and the pressure that parents put on them. They played so good and I couldn't be prouder of them. It was a great season and I can't wait until next year.