let it begin...

school...i won't even get started about how fast these kids are growing- and how i don't feel old enough to have kids this old. but we won't go there. this time.

first day of school...

grade 9 for this chick!

grade 6...top of elementary! yayah!

and if you look close and squint you can see these pics of Ben i had to force outa him...

GRADE 11. HUH????

and if i had blog music (which i miss) it would be playing "it's the most wonderful time of the year..."

fun with the cuz's

this weekend the Takahashi cousies (Emma and Kathryn) have slept over. last night they all went to "the spelling bee" play (which is hilarious in my opinion) and then to DQ...today they have done LOTS of playing, swam at Lee Creek, LOTS of laughing...and LOTS of sugar. good times! tonight they're planning to stay up super late and watch movies...

braces...off!

1 kid done.

a few shots from EFY

my photo de la lune

Seattle...NOT

Sad. i was looking forward to a trip to Seattle in September...a school conference of some kind with Pete. however, our stupid van just keeps acting up...and honestly, i don't trust it- driving through mountains and such. It would be way too stressful for me...

DANG i hate vehicle stuff.

one more totally worth your time!

i remember reading about this guy a few years ago...absolutely amazing story. we watched it today in young women's...watch it!

a message worth watching...

the other day we watched a show on discovery where stephen hawkings was trying to disprove the existance of God through science. it was really empty, sad...and frankly- pathetic. he ended up saying there could be no God. it boggles my mind to think that we all just accidently ended up here- grown from specks of dust...never mind the entire universe and whatever lies beyond. i think not! so this video clip is a great reminder of just where we came from...

good day

Yesterday was a fun day.

Ben got home from EFY in the AM bright and early. Pete had gone to pick up 5 kids...SO early. Ben loved it...he had a great experience...so mission accomplished!!! Hopefully i will put some pics up here of him...and all his new (girl)friends.

Reed and Madison came for a visit on their way to Waterton. We only see them about once a year or less...so it's always fun to visit with them for a bit!

Ate at Dave's.

Went to "the Spelling Bee" play with Lynnae in which i laugh-cried...it was very funny.

Went for a great walk with Tessa without my back-belt and did just fine! all this on only .5 painkiller's. one half for the day! and i also swept and mopped the whole house! (which is unheard of for me without extra painkillers ) yayah!!!

Stayed up late chatting with 2 fun teenagers. does it get any better????

another visit, another cousin...

today we had a visit from Madison Lawlor! yay!!

quote...

i like this quoted by Joseph Smith...

"the great Jehovah contemplated the whole of the events connected with the earth...pertaining to the plan of salvation, before it rolled in to existence. He ordered all things according to the counsel of His own will. He knows the situation of both the living and the dead, and has made ample provision for their redemption, according to their several circumstances and the laws of the kingdom of God- whether in this world, or the world to come."

doesn't it give you hope?

summer yumminess

first taste of taber corn!

beets from my garden...yay!
and you cannot tell, but this is a zuchinni cake baking in the oven...we have some monster zuchinni's coming up

EFY time...

Ben is off to EFY this morning...there are a LOT of Cardston kids going this week. He wasn't overly thrilled about that...but he was generally pretty excited to go!! Never heard one complaint about it! Ben hasn't been away from home for a week before...so that will be new! I will miss his nightly updates...

Today i go for SHOTS...#3. They are pricey...and not covered by insurance...DANG. The second set of shots has improved my situation a bit more. I am very hopeful that after these ones painkillers will become minimal. NOT looking forward to the pain...OUCH

Later this afternoon Pete is coming back from his conference in Waterton to get Ayd and Tessa and take them there for the night. They will go on a boat cruise...and have dinner...should be lots of fun for them!!

Tessa works 4 days this week. She is getting more hours than me! It is great...I am happy that she has such a good job...and she is thrilled to be earning money! Her first purchase was a chi straightener. SO different from Ben's first purchase...a Playstation.

Ayden will be home alone for a couple hours today. It can't be helped...we are all gone!!! it's not his favorite thing to do...but he will be fine. These kids are pretty independent and are just find fending for themselves sometimes...

the Code-ster

Cody Baker (aka the Code-ster) came for a visit last saturday. He just loves coming to Canada...this fella...and we are always thrilled to see him!!!! PS...he's a great poser...

2 things to recommend...

firstly, these RYKA shoes. it was a new brand to me...but the lady at the shoe store told me all about them, and i read about them and they sounded pretty good! and know what? THEY ARE!!! SO comfy to walk in! and a reasonable price too...secondly...HP7-2 ...amazing!! it was SO well done, and ended the book just perfectly. man, we've invested a lot of time in these books and movies...many years waiting for the next instalment. it is kinda sad that we're at the end now!! honestly, she is an amazing author and that is the best-written series ever..in my opinion...

and the movies? they are really good...but they just get better and better as they go. you are really missing out if you have your mind made up that it's kid's stuff!!!!!