Where in the world...?

700 billion dollars to the first person to find Laura. (We were playing hind-n-go-seek again. Only 14 times this week.)

I knew this looked familiar!

Blech!!

Evan had gotten into the pantry and was eating something he definately did not want me to see. Yep! He ate not one but two birthday candles. I think he most enjoyed me digging out the wax from his mouth. He would bite me ...I would scream...he would laugh...I'd laugh...and we would repeat.

Spencer is the big 13!!

This picture was taken in our old house while we were remodeling. There was a missionary who wore size 15 shoe. We had Spencer try them on...look at his cute chicken legs. Here are 13 reasons why I love this kid:

1. He has a heart the size of Alaska. He has always thought more of what someone else wants instead of himself.

2. When I was pregnant he used to take off my shoes and rub my feet with lotion without me asking him.

3. I used to ask him to put his nose in the corner when he had been naughty. He would end up being distracted by ants in the corner and would stay there for a long time.

4. He is our #1 go-to boy. Ask him to do anything and he will usually do it happily.

5. He used to skip recess to offer help to his 1st grade teacher that was recovering from breast cancer. (this was all done on his own) They have a bond to this day where she will come to events that he has invited her to.

6. When he was three I could get him up in the middle of the night to vacuum up humongous spiders when Shane was at work.

7. He still likes to hold my hand.

8. He still will ask for help in Math even though I hardly ever know the answer and he won't act surprised when I do know the answer.

9. He has good choices in friends and is a good friend to all.

10. He loves Disney almost as much as me...we used to lay in bed together at night and talk about Disneyland.

11. He will eat anything I put in front of him and quietly pick out the pieces he doesn't like.

12. He has a strong testimony of the gospel.

13. He is the best big brother in the world and treats his brother and sisters so good. They all love their Bubby!

Halleyisms...

What she has been sayin' lately:

"Oh Man! It smells like a cod fish in here!!!"

"Whatever! I don't even know what you are talking about"

When Shane cleans out a baked potato he calls the skin a birds nest and fills it with butter and cheese. At dinner he asked Halley if she wanted her birds nest. "Nah, give it to the birds"

I have reconsidered posting the last one. You'll have to be a special someone and email me and I might tell ya!

What we've been up to...

Wow, I am back to only two in Elementary school. Here is a pic of my pretty school girls. The last two weeks they have treated each other so good. I have been so proud of how they have acted.

Here is a pic of my preschool girl. We did not think she was going to preschool this year until sweet adopted Grandma Jan offered to teach preschool to her and Hope two days a week from 9-12. She used to be a preschool teacher and she has jumped in to this with both feet. Halley came home beaming with excitement today. Prayers of a mother and child answered!

Spencer decided to run Cross Country this year for Hedrick Middle School. He has done well even in this heat. Today was his first meet at Bear Creek Park with five other schools. There were 113 7th and 8th graders and he came in a respectable 61st place. He ran 1.8 miles in 14:54. In this picture he barely edges out an 8th grader in the finish. He has only practiced 3 days so I know he is excited to improve.

Here is a picture of Evan playing with a laundry basket. He has so much fun dumping all of the clean clothes out and either pushing it around, standing on it, sitting in it, or throwing it around. Sometimes he gets an extra burst of energy and throws two around at a time. What a nut. He reminds us of our first dog Gus. In the middle of the night we would hear this bonk..bonk..bonk. Over and over. We got up and found Gus picking up a bucket with his teeth and throwing it...hence the Bonk...bonk..bonk. It used to crack us up listening to it. I'm sure a sentiment our old neighbors didn't share.

Jordan's Graduation

Jordan's graduation turned out to be a memorable event for all of us.

We were able to see him walk the platform and receive the diploma -- complete with a reception with President Samuelson.

Then we went to Education Week -- Julie, Wendell, Mark and Cindy Bringhurst, and Jordan all attended with us. As usual, it was like drinking from a fire hose, but most rewarding.

Then it was off to DC where we toured the Pentagon and did the usual touristy things. I will never tire of the touristy things around DC. We were luckily there for Laura's birthday, which was a blast.

Then we all traveled to the Big Apple to see Jeff and do all the New York touristy things.

We went to the Statue of Liberty

The Boston Red Socks treated us to a 11 - 3 victory over the Yankees in one of the last few games to be played in Yankee Stadium.

We had a great time at the US Open. Michael John joined us for that affair. We saw some great tennis and I was in heaven for one blissful day.

Our final day was spent seeing "Wicked", which all who attended felt was incredible. Justin and I spent the time at ESPN Zone watching the US Open and the University of Utah embarrass Michigan in the first football game weekend of the year.

Jeff was a perfect host, and somehow managed to bed us all down in his apartment. It couldn't have been a more fun-filled time.