We saw the movie 'Up' yesterday. There was some definite cute stuff and one or two things that brought a tear to my eye.(old people just crack me up). It is raining today. I love the rain. It makes me want to curl up and read a good book all snuggled in my favorite blanket. Not much seems to be going on other than getting Matthew ready for boy scout camp. I am trying to get pictures to update my facebook but we will see if that materializes!

Last night I went to bed with the sounds of a beautiful thunderstorm and lots of rain. We had our window open a little so we could hear it. I love the sound of rain and the smell. It caused me to have some really odd dreams and at one point in my weird dreams, I was literally dreaming that huge rain clouds were coming toward me and I was trying to reach cover and I looked up and saw sheets of 'rain' coming down. Upon closer look I saw that it was actually clusters of green grapes coming down in a complete down pour and I was able to just make it to safety before it reach me. Weird!

It is hard to believe how fast the summer is going! We have done a lot of swimming, playing with friends and doing 'events'. We just finished reading Eoin Colfers 'Legend of Spud Murphy' which I thought was a great read for the kids. It was short but it kept their attention.

Paul and I saw Year One. It is not one that we would recommend to anyone, but we did laugh at some of the parts. Jack Black was pretty funny but his co actor Michael Cera was very funny. It is too bad that the content wasn't better. Definitely don't waste your money to see it. Paul took the boys to see Transformers yesterday and except for the swearing they said it was really good. All the kids said there was too much swearing which just made me wish we would have waited till it was on DVD so we could have watched it with our filter.

I took Paige shopping while the boys were at the movies. It was a nice quiet day yesterday which is good since this week and next are going to be busy. Matthew leaves for scout camp on Saturday and then we are going to be getting ready to leave the week after that to go to Utah and Yellowstone National Park. Matthew and Ethan are going to be attending camps at BYU during the week of July 20th so if any of you have time to get together, I would love to see any of my dear friends who live in Utah! (Some of you I have already made arrangements with). I am actually going to be up there for Pioneer Day! I hear that it is spectacular but since I have never lived a day in Utah, I don't know but I am sure we are going to go to the parade. Paul will only be with us for the Yellowstone part of our vacation but the week of the camp and pioneer day it will just be me and the kids and my good friends the Allreds so if any want to meet for the parade too, that would be really cool! Just let me know!

It is hard to believe that I have been married for 15 years. Seriously, that is a long time. Of course not compared to my grandparents who will be married 67 years next month but still! I gave Paul a framed document that was titled " 100 things I love about you". We are going to Pei Wei and to see Year One tonight(my new laptop was part Mother's day and anniversary gift combined.) I know the movie only got a so-so rating but I have enjoyed most things Jack Black is in and we are looking for just some light hearted entertainment so it should work.

Paul built a go-cart with the kids.


White Chocolate Raspberry Scones. Super Yummy!


Paige lost a top front tooth while I was at camp.


Pictures of Matthew from his 13th Birthday!!!

I am back from roughin' in the wild. I tent camped all week and walked at least a 1/4 of mile to get to the bathroom. I also did an overnight, 10 mile hike carrying a 30# pack and using nature for my 'needs'.

I have to say I was so proud of the girls in my ward. There were 26 girls and I can say that there was no drama!!!! I was over the 4th years and it was a great week. They got to go horseback riding and repelling down a 180 foot cliff. I wanted to try it but there wasn't enough time for any of the leaders to do it. I came back smelly, dirty, exhausted but completely amazed at the strength these girls had. It was super hot, it rained one night and only one tent leaked!

I had a GREAT time! I am happy to be home.

I have to say that I came home to a clean house. The laundry was caught up, the floors mopped, everything vacuumed and picked up! The kids were fed and there were several projects that he finished up. He made hobo dinners on a fire in our backyard and tent camped in the back yard with the kids. He helped them build a go-cart and had a great time. I have to say, I was very impressed!

As of yesterday, it is official, we have a teenager in the house. Matthew turned 13 yesterday. There are certain marks in time that make me feel a little sentimental: When they hit their first birthday, when they go to kindergarten, graduate from elementary school, go to middle school, and apparently turn a teenager.

1st of all, I don't feel old enough to have a teenager. I feel like I just left being a teenager only a few short years ago myself, but I am lucky, Matthew is not really moody for a teenager. He is super helpful and very tenderhearted. He wants to please us and goes out of his way to help even when I don't ask. He is motivated academically. He wrote essays about his service and leadership skills and maintained a 92% grade average and was accepted into the Junior National Honor Society and has written essays for various other contests. I haven't ever made him to do this, he does it on his own. He practices the piano without me asking most of the time and does his chores without complaining(most of the time). I know he sounds too good to be true, and sometimes I feel like I am waiting for him meltdown into teenage angst and moodiness, but he hasn't. He is especially sweet with his sister. I have caught him reading to her, playing with her, pushing her on the swingset, and helping her roller blade. She asks him to do stuff with her and most of the time he is willing to comply. He has a love of reading that I can really appreciate. He is starting to out-read me and that is hard to do! I can't keep up. He is improving in playing tennis and has asked me to start running with him which we are going to do this summer.

I honestly feel like the girl he chooses to marry will be very lucky. He is quiet and shy but is very attentive. I know this makes him sound perfect and I will put in that he does love to tease and harass his brothers and has the "who me?" ploy down to an art form. Because he is quiet, it is like pulling teeth to get him to open up about his feelings and talk with us.

He will be an 8th grader this year and will be his last year in middle school. I am sure, this time next year, that I will feel the same sadness as he prepares to start High School.

I have to add that I measured him yesterday on his birthday and he is 5'2" 1/4 inches tall, that is only 1 3/4 inches shorter than me. I have no doubt that this year he will surpass me in height.

He is an absolute gift to us and we are blessed to have him apart of our family.