Europe - London!

We had the opportunity to accompany the "Ambassadors of Utah" (as chaperones) to Europe this summer.  My parents were in charge of making this trip happen and obviously, that was our connection to this amazing adventure.  We both left thinking - this is going to be cool to see Europe, but going with a group of high school kids just doesn't seem ideal.  Well, it proved to be GREAT and AMAZING and honestly - words can't describe the amount we saw and did, nor can I say enough about the caliber of students we traveled with.   It was truly AWESOME.  The students performed (choral and band) in every city we visited and the concerts were fantastic.  The audiences were fantastic!  I'm so grateful we got to do this trip.  I'm including a few of my 1,000+ pictures - I think I need a new hard drive just to save all the pics that my dad and I took on our own cameras!  Enjoy the sights...

Windsor Castle

St Pauls Cathedral

Millenium Bridge (you've seen this in Harry Potter, well, if you watched Harry Potter)

The London "EYE"

Lining up to see the "Change of Guard" 

In front of Buckingham Palace

I liked their lingo around town...

We loved this huge building - I believe it's just a government building - but it was magnificent.

These are the capsules on the EYE, we're in one ourselves.

 The view from the EYE

The Black Friars Corner - just a really neat building.

Having the beloved "Fish-n-Chips" - best ones in London according to our food sources.

*noted, Shayne wants this tombstone for his grave. 

One of the fans early to the concert.  He had a Utah flag and a US flag in the other hand - this place was filled up during the band concert.

The Rosetta Stone - the stone that changed what we know about ancient languages since it had 1 message in 3 languages, including Egyptian.  

Inside the theatre before the "Lion King" musical.  It was spectacular.  But also hard to stay alert after walking and moving all day long!!

Cali = fun in the sun

We have a family reunion with Shayne's fam every other year in Oceanside, California.  At the end of this week, Shayne & I left for Europe (post to come) so our vacation was cut a little short this time around.  I managed to be out there for a couple days before I flew home with Skyler.  Shayne drove the big boys home a few days after that.  

The beauties of the beach (my nieces)

My dear friend, Laura came to spend the day on the beach with us!  She lives close to LA, but is not a fan of the beach.  I'm so glad she decided to "rough it" and  came to hang out with us!  I love her DARLING children!  SOOOOOO cute.  Just wish her sweet hubby could have come too. 

  

A certain boy kept doing face-plants in the sand.  I'm not so sure why.  Maybe it's a 1 year old thing... 

June Highlights

To kick off the summer, the boys (Hunter/Cole) purchased a sno-cone machine.  They had a lot of fun this first night - Hunter and his best friend had the radio going and made all sorts of "deals" to draw in the neighborhood.  Cole rode his bike around recruiting friends to come buy a sno-cone!  If I remember right, they made close to $30!

best buds - with their "dual-creation"

 Cole got BAPTIZED!  Cole asked his dad to baptize him.  He was surrounded by family and friends and it was a special morning to celebrate his choice to follow Jesus' example.

Part of turning 8 is starting the cub-scout program!  Both Hunter and Cole attended Scout Day Camp this year - but at different times.  I went with the 8 and 9 year olds and it was a very fun day.

PS getting this many 8 & 9 year olds to row in an orderly fashion was an ABSURD expectation.

Hanging out at Grandma's house.  I caught Skyler sharing his goodies with Grandma...

We went waterskiing with a friend.  He brought along his skiing buddy who happens to be a skiing instructor for his livelihood.  He went out there with Hunter and Cole - what a fun day!

Both Shayne and I got up on Slolem skiing.  They had that cool bar and were able to give us instructions as we moved.  It was my best experience with slolem!

They also had Hunter drive us home...

And last, but not least, I also completed my first 10K.  I finished it in great time and I didn't get sore or feel exhausted - it was a great run.  (plus I also had my running buddy with me, everything is more fun with a friend!)  So it had me thinking along the lines of trying a half marathon...  maybe next year!   PS my fancy medal went behind my number, oh well.

May

At Cole's piano recital, he received his 1st TROPHY EVER!!!  He scored high in his festival and earned that fancy trophy all by himself.  He was EXTREMELY proud of it!

This is just a pic of the gang lounging on Mother's Day...  ah, love those cool evenings the BEST!

Danny completed his first year of preschool.  Thank goodness for cute mom's who put together the hats, the little ceremony, and cute goodies.  Whatever I contributed isn't memorable.  I love all these little friends and it's been a great year exchanging preschool classes in our homes.  I learned a lot as a mom/teacher/and about me.  I can do it - but it stresses me out!  I'd rather teach 70+ kids with band instruments.  Call me crazy...

For the past 6 months, Hunter has been studying piano with a top notch piano teacher.  While he is at his lesson, I take the younger boys to visit Great-Grandma nearby.  It has been such a treat to have this weekly time with her.  She always makes us a meal - she certainly didn't have to - but it was her way to shower us with love.  I took my camera along for one of these visits.  I loved that my boys were able to grow a special love for great-grandma.  It's sad that we've decided to move Hunter to another teacher - especially since we won't be next to Great-Grandma's house regularly now.  I have every intention of still visiting often - but chaos usually does settle in around here.

And just a random pic that I love- Grandpa in the hammock with Danny and Skye.  Gotta love the summer days coming!

Just another church meeting...

We are sitting in church - in the way back of course.  Because Skyler is constantly roaming around (despite trying to block him in the row), the others just don't understand the concept of "whispering" despite our please.  So, yeah, we sit in the back section (plus we tend to be late too).  We sit down and just a few minutes into the meeting Danny is PLEADING to go to the bathroom -

"Please Mommy!  I need to go SOOO BAD!"  
It can wait until they finish passing the sacrament (they had just started passing the bread).
"But I need to go POO!!!"  (very loud and makes me cringe) - and he's starting to bend over and acting like his insides are going to fall out.
Fine, go quickly - but you have to go by yourself.
"But what if I can't find the bathroom?"
It's just out in the hallways, you'll see it.  (He's been there before...)
He goes out, and comes back in.
"I can't find it Mommy!" Now he's crouching and wailing and I'm trying so hard to shush him...
Cole, take Danny to the bathroom please and don't take a long time!
(I'm starting to feel myself melt into my chair and hoping that everyone in the last 20 rows didn't hear about Danny's woes.)
Cole obediently walks out of the chapel with Danny in hand, and as he exits he yells (in the big Cole voice)
"And save me a water!"

I guess some people didn't even notice (his dad), but I felt like calling it a day.

goldilocks

Night before: what will I do if it's raining?

6:30am: well, it looks dry and there are breaks in the clouds, there's a chance it'll be a nice day

8:00am: It's start time and it's POURING, do I really want to do this?

8:10am/Mile 1:  Why am I doing this?

Mile 2: Whoa, fingers wet, legs wet, jacket soaked, and my shorts are soaked... wet, wet, wet.  I should have bought rain gear.  No, I shouldn't buy rain gear - I'll never do this again.

Mile 3: I should have brought winter gloves that are waterPROOF

Mile 13: Sun! Sun! Sun!

Mile 23: I can't feel my feet, but there's a rest stop soon, right?

Mile 30: I love hot chocolate and baggies over my freshly changed socks (now dry).  The fig newtons are also hitting the spot.

Mile 35: That's too soon for a lunch break!

Mile 40: Rain Rain go AWAY!  (And this rain is fiercely attacking me! PAINFUL!)

Mile 42: SUN!  

Mile 43: What? Rain, AGAIN?  Why do I feel puddles in my shoes?  Why does this black cloud keep following us?

Mile 50: I can miserable for ten more miles - I know I can, I know I can...

Mile 59: I swear that it said 2 more miles 4 miles ago....

Mile 60: Not the longest ride I've ever done, but it was the most physically demanding.  Not sure who I proved anything to, but once again, I have proven to myself that I can do hard things.

I'm so grateful for Rach and Lynnette who kept me moving.  I definitely felt a tug to quit at the start and I honestly don't know if they ever wanted to quit - so I just had to keep going! I also loved having Shayne there at the finish for me - usually my rides are too far away for the family to come.  The boys almost saw me ride in but, they were busy playing.  Their favorite part was my buffet at the end of the ride.  Thanks hon for supporting and humoring me in this fantastic hobby of mine!  I do love to ride my bicycle...

PS as documented by the photos, I rode this entire ride without touching my handlebars.  ha ha ha  

Notice the puddles of water on the ground as I took off my "booties"...

Bird Catcher

"I thought I was a bird catcher but I'm not. I told them I was a bird catcher and they said 'catch that bird,' but I didn't catch it. So, I'm not a bird catcher." -Danny