New addition

Kyle has wanted a snake for a LONG time. In fact, last summer we got him the Hermit Crabs hoping that he would forget about wanting a snake, but he doesn't give up so easily! A month or so ago, he caught a little garter snake and after much begging and pleading, I told him he could keep it. Does it make me a bad mom to admit that when he lost it in the neighbor's yard later that night, and he was crying his eyes out, I was secretly doing cartwheels in my mind? I played the sympathetic mom, however, and told him that if he catches another one I'll let him keep it.Last week, his friend Garrison found this little garter snake and brought it to Kyle as a gift - what choice do I have now? I HAVE to let him keep it! Kyle named it Speedracer, or Speedy for short. It sits in the cage with the crabs, and they all seem to get along fine. We have tried to feed it worms, and he likes to hang out in the water, and my kids and all their friends take turns holding it and passing it around. It looks like Speedracer is here to stay- whether I like it or not!

Busy life . . .

It seems like life is crazy busy, but not with things I usually think to take pictures of. I spend 6 hours a week at football practice plus a football game each Saturday, 6 hours a week teaching piano lessons, I walk 3-5 miles every morning, volunteer at the school's take-home library every Monday morning, scrapbook at the church every Wednesday morning (a R.S. mini-enrichment activity), McKayla does volleyball twice a week, Joe and McKayla and Kyle do jujitsu twice a week, Joe works in the bishopric, I do my primary calling, McKayla has Achievement Days and school choir, plus all of the hundreds of other things that need to be done each day, like school carpool, dishes, help with homework, dinner, laundry, family scripture study, housework, check the e-mail, etc, etc, etc. It makes for a fun, full, busy life - but with few pictures! So I decided to take some:

This is me and my friend Stacy Sheely getting ready to start our morning walk. We have been walking every weekday for over two years now! Even though our bodies don't show much for it, our stress-levels are much lower!

This is the third year I have volunteered at Eaglecrest Elementary's take-home library. The first year we signed up, I only knew one of these ladies, but we became fast friends and we have sign up together each year since. We have made it a tradition to go out to lunch at least one Monday a month to Cafe Rio - Yum!About once a month I drive to Eagle Mountain to visit with my friend Anna, and to eat pizza from Village Pizza - Oh so good!

Sometimes we just eat, sometimes we talk, and sometimes we get crazy and play the Wii - this is me rockin' out on Guitar Hero. (By the way, Anna and I passed off 12 songs that day!)

Back to School

Even though it seems like it is still the middle of summer, school is back in session! The kids started school on Monday the 18th. They are going to Eaglecrest Elementary again this year. It's a great school and they are excited to go back. School starts at 8:00 and they get out at 2:15 so there is still plenty of time for homework and friends when they get home!
Kyle is in the 2nd grade. His teacher is Miss Chappell. This is her first year at Eaglecrest, but she has taught for 7 years. Kyle really likes Math and he is excited to play with his friends at reccess.
McKayla is in the 5th grade. Her teacher is Mr. Madruga, and he has been at Eaglecrest for years. McKayla loves math and science the most. She is a good student and is going to aim for straight As this year.

Pineview Apartment #5 (and friends!)

Last weekend my college roommate Camilla organized a reunion for a bunch of us who lived together and our close friends in 1993-1994. We met in Kaysville at her house for dinner and to catch up on each other's lives. I was amazed at how much we all looked and acted the same. The biggest difference was that our kids are now closer to 18 than we are! Tiffany was the only one who couldn't make it to the reunion, and we of course all missed Brandee who died of leukemia in 2000. I hope we do this again sometime - before another 14 years pass by!

Back Row: Ange Williams Barton, Anna Stephens Pierce

Front Row: Lisa Puckrin, Sarah Bell Parker, Camilla Bingham Williams, Annette Jensen McDougal?

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity

Even though it is Grandpa who loves NASCAR, it was Grandma who got us tickets (through her work) to the races at Miller Motorsports Park last Saturday! This is Carl and Raida, Grandpa, Grandma and Josh, Bev and Cory, and Gabrielle and Kyle. McKayla, Danielle, and Brayden were also there, just not in the picture!

This was our view of the track from the Stansbury Grandstands at the corner of the track they call "Release".

We got there early to watch some of the qualifying races, and to check out the cars and vendors in the paddock. We each chose our favorite car to cheer for during the race: McKayla and I both chose #22. . .

Kyle and Josh chose the Jelly Belly #1 car.

And of course we had to get a picture with Dale Earnhardt's #88 National Guard car!

Both of our cars took turns leading the race, but mine blew a tire a couple of laps from the finish and couldn't get back in the lead.

The Jelly Belly car almost had it won, but it ran out of gas with only a quarter of a lap to go! In the end #13 won and did his victory spins right in front of our Grandstands. We had a great time - thanks Grandma and Grandpa for inviting us to go!

Soak up the Sun

What is summer without spending some time in a cool, blue swimming pool with your friends?

I took the kids to the Soldier's Pool at Camp Williams a couple of times this week to try to cool off!

Monday, Kyle brought his friends Connor and Tanner to celebrate his birthday and we went for ice cream after.
McKayla brought Hannah Norton one day and Emily Sheely another day. This is Hannah - she lives in our neighborhood and is in McKayla's class at school.

Josh isn't really sure about the water. It takes him a long time to decide to get in, but once he does, he loves it.

Football Player

Kyle just finished his first week of football practice with his new team. He is on a 1st-2nd grade team in the Lehi Youth Football League.

Practices were HOT and long, and the boys worked really hard! We drive to Traverse Mountain - at the Point of the Mountain, past and above Cabelas for each practice.

Despite a couple of meltdowns, Kyle really loves it and does a good job learning what football is all about. The coaches are great, and I think by the time they have their first game later this month, they will know what they are doing!