First Day of School

sigh... Summer vacation is over. Today is the first day of school for the kids. I don't know if I am just lazy and don't want to get up or what, but I really do not enjoy the first day of school. I don't think that it is just because they are older either. I have never really liked it. I like my kids, I want them around. They are really cool people! Anyway- there they are. Heather left first this morning. She was actually gone before Tori and Cameron got up. It won't always be that way. Tori did not have to be at school until later because the first day is a 'change the schedule' day and no one does anything else. They are all 3 still at different schools. It has been that way since we moved to Utah, and will continue until forever. This is for a couple of reasons. The biggest is because the 9th grade is at the Jr. High, and the 6th grade is at the elementary school. Next year Tori and Heather could go to the same school, but they are building a new high school and Heather will go there. This is the second reason. Tori will stay where she is so she can stay involved with show choir. So here is the rundown: Tori- 11th grade at Spanish Fork High School, Heather- 9th grade at Diamond Fork Jr. High, & Cameron- 6th grade at Spanish Oaks Elementary. There are no pictures of this historic day- maybe I'll remember to get some when they get home.

My Parent's Visit

My parents came to visit me and my brother, Jeff. They rode the train from Missouri. They had quite the experience getting here- it took about 10 hours longer than it was supposed to. We are so glad they came. We had a great time visiting. We were out in nature lots more than any of us are used to. We had cookouts and hikes and general sightseeing of the great outdoors.

This was at our cookout in American Fork- it was really a nice place. We had some struggles. We forgot lighter fluid for the charcoal. But my self-sufficient mom went and found enough wood kindling that we didn't starve- way to go mom! We were by a stream and it was rushing pretty good. My nephew Dayton lost his styrofoam airplane- but Papa saved the day that time. Tori was blowing bubbles for the little boys but I think she may have been having more fun than they were?




I just like this picture of Heather beside the Provo River. We wanted to go to Bridal Veil Falls but there had been a wildfire so it was unavailable. We went to the park across the street and had a good time any way.

My mom and me at the Hot Pots-- much more of a hike than we anticipated! But it was beautiful and the hot and cold water spots were amazing.

We spent some time at my brother's house. This is my dad- Papa- with all his grandsons. This was a hard picture to get. 4 boys don't all look in the same direction very often so I just took this one and ran with it. While we were visiting there was a fierce ball battle. Duncan and Dayton were the most prepared with their shields and swords- though Duncan would correct me and say that he has a light saber.

James Taylor Concert

Brent was a wonderful, thoughtful husband and way back in the spring bought me tickets to the JT concert! It was my birthday present and it was a fabulous present. All I have to show here is the ticket to prove that someone went to the concert. As you can see on the ticket is says NO Cameras. So I was obedient. Everyone else at the concert can add pictures to their blogs cause cameras were there in abundance. I have a couple of pictures on my phone, but they can't be put on my computer. Anyway-- It was so much fun. He puts on a great show- of course he sings divinely, but he is funny too. We had great seats- probably about 20-25 rows back. An experience that I would certainly repeat.

I realized that I am wearing my concert t-shirt as I type this post. So I thought that proves that I or someone who likes me went to the concert. I did not just find the ticket stub on the ground or dumpster.

Breaking Dawn

The long awaited Stephenie Meyer novel that completes the Twilight saga came out on August 2nd. The bookstore where we pre-ordered the book opened at midnight on Friday night and so Brent took the girls and got it. Tori stayed up until about 5am reading it because Heather and I are waiting for it. I am happy to report that she did finish it on Monday and I am blogging instead of reading...

The girls and I went hiking with my parents to the hot springs and Tori even brought the book so she could read at every opportunity.