Learning and FUN is in session!

I received a message from my longtime childhood BFF, Robyn saying she was in the Valley and wondered if I could get together. I was so glad we were able to catch up! I rounded up my kids and reminded them who Robyn was on the way to Carl's Jr. They know her well from stories I tell them of me growing up. They could NOT believe it when I told them she has TEN kids. Yes, TEN. When we pulled in the parking lot I spotted one of those big passenger vans and assumed it was hers. The kids were so fascinated by that! Our kids played and played for a couple of hours while Robyn and I gabbed away. There was at least one of her kids the same age as one of mine, in some cases, two! It really was great to meet them all and catch up on our lives and families. She's raising up a great bunch!

We took up the whole play-land. Robyn said she NEVER takes them all out to eat AND a play-land so they were giddy!

Soccer~Soccer~ Soccer! Still going strong, still have the same feelings about it.

I tell you what~ watching Adren run all over the field, scoring goals with confidence, seriously brought tears to my eyes. I still can't believe he's able to do it!

Adren in the hot pink socks :)

Such a cutie.

Eli is so fun to watch! He's a sneaky soccer player. He steals the ball before the other kid knows he's sidled up. He's also great at making sure that ball does not get past him when he's playing that one position where they make sure the ball doesn't get to the their goalie. Know what I mean?

Still a cutie.

It was a warm, gorgeous end of summer night when my lady friends and I had a night out in the fabulous downtown Provo. The Provo City Center Temple was at it's finest!

I love these ladies! They sure make life extra sweet. With extra rich chocolate and cream, and sometimes a little gelato on the side.

Cute Katrina at her mission farewell, off to Bulgaria. She gave the greatest talk, I jotted some notes down for an upcoming lesson. I find it ironic that Giuseppe is in this photo, off to the side. This photo is now of the two of them together with arms around each other, and I'm pretty sure I'm not even off to the side. I'm really not in the picture at all. And that is just how it should be. I admire this gal a lot. Regardless, it really was a beautiful day, anyone would want a send-off like that!

These sweet kids doing what they do. Aren't they all just too much? They love a reason to get together, even if it is to say good~bye to a cousin!

With kids back in school I get itchy to get some order in the house, and start fussing and re-arranging. It's what I do!

Gallery wall in the front room.

Fresh mantle.

Painting of doors.

A late summer night where the sky is glorious and it's warm~ but you can sense a change in the air and know fall is coming.

Jon and I celebrated sweet sixteen this year! We went to lunch in downtown Provo's Black Sheep Cafe. If you like food that tastes fantastic, you must go!
It was a great day, I am so glad he is my person and we are doing this whole thing together. It's satisfying to look at our 16 years and see what we've been able to build together. I like what we've done to this place, and I look forward to the future!

Paisley, looking all adorable while out on errands together. Her swimsuit under her shirt tells us the weather has not quite changed, or the habit of putting it on first thing on a weekend morning has not been broken. Either way, I want to remember this toothy smile forever.

These boys~ pal Landon, from behind the fence sure has been a staple this summer. It's funny how kids get real tight with certain kids for a while, then others at other times, isn't it? Anyway, they all got obsessed with yo-yo's over about a 6 week period. I found it amusing that they were willing to spend so much of their own money on these things. I enjoyed seeing this little huddle with them learning new tricks.

I'm proud to report the Youth are going strong! I helped my Laurels plan a really great activity where we walked from Provo Temple to the new Provo City Center Temple. The evening was so gorgeous, not too warm at all. I commented to the youth just how lucky we are to be able to do that in around an hour. There is nowhere else in the world you can do that!