See you soon Lauklan

Lauklan on his kindergarten awards day.

I went to meet Mom and Dad today. We meet at SR50 and I-75. They brought Kerstyn back to me and took Lauklan. Kerstyn had such a good time that she didn't want to come home. :(

Lauklan was so excited that every day since Kerstyn left, he would tell me how many more days until he got to go. Well, now he's there and I hope that he has a great time.

This is Lauklan's first time of going for one week by himself. Mom usually starts taking them when they are 5, but the first summer he was 5, she was not feeling well and was getting ready to start chemo and last summer, it just didn't work out for any of them to go.

I am so glad the the kids get to go have this time with their grandparents. We miss you already Lauklan, but hope that you have an AMAZING time!

Today we...

Swam!

Surprise?

I love to see the temple!

Last night was our ward temple night. We were supposed to attend the 7 p.m. session. Well, I didn't have anyone to watch the kids. Our babysitters were either out of the country, working, out of the state, or already committed to someone else. So, I was thinking that we wouldn't be able to make it. But... I couldn't get it off my mind! Usually, if I can't find someone to watch the kids or it just doesn't work out for us to attend the temple, I just plan another trip some other time and we go. (That is one of the blessings of living so close.) Not so this time, I knew that for some reason, we had to go last night. I called and pondered and prayed, and I got the Mathews girls to watch the kids.

Chris and I headed off to the temple and I got dressed and was waiting for Chris to come out so we could head upstairs. As soon as I got in the hallway and looked up the stairs at the couple coming down, I saw Chris' mom. It was WONDERFUL! We hugged and teared up. It was just a great feeling to see them in the temple of all places.

As we were there, I just couldn't help feeling so thankful for the temple and the opportunity that I had to be there. What a wonderful place where you can forget about the world and refocus on the really 'important' things!

Chris and I re-committed to going every month.

I know why we were supposed to go. I can only say, I Love to See the temple and even more, I love to go inside. I look forward to the day that I can be in there with our children, I want nothing more than to be an eternal family.

It makes me want to sing the children's song I Love to See the Temple with the words:

I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday. To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray. For the temple is a house of God, a place of love and beauty. I'll prepare myself while I am young, this is my sacred duty.
I love to see the temple. I'll go inside someday. I'll covenant with my Father; I'll promise to obey. For the temple is a holy place where we are sealed together. As a child of God, I've learned this truth: A family is forever.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday to a man who is wonderful in every way! He was and is an amazing father and just as great as a grandfather. Happy 63rd Birthday Daddy! I sure hope you get to celebrate many, many more.
Well, I know you just saw this one, but its us, none the less.

Dad and Chris playing a game with the kids on Christmas Eve 2006.

Dad and Mom Christmas 2006 with our kids.

Look what I did today.

Brennan's Room:
Before

After

For some reason on these pictures, the color looks a little different than it does in person. However, either way, it is better than the brown that was EVERYWHERE in the house.

I am done painting now. I am not going to tackle our bedroom or the rest of the house. I have a friend who is an interior designer coming over to help me pick colors. Then, I will be having someone else have the fun of painting the rest of the house. There is something really great about a newly painted area. It feels so clean. I, however, am just EXHAUSTED and sore too!

Dear Kerstyn

Dear Kerstyn,

Do you miss us? We sure do miss you! It's amazing how you all drive each other crazy and then as soon as you leave, we cry for you to return.


We know that you are having so much fun at Yoo-Ma's and Papa's. But, we sure do miss you!

Love,
Mommy, Daddy, Brennan, Lauklan, Greyson, Aislinn and Ooh-Rah

Melody's new addiction, kids too.

Do you wonder where we are?

This would be where!

Come visit! We are having SO much fun!

Visit with Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad

The three of us.

My mom and me.

I had a great visit with Mom and Dad today. They took Kerstyn home with them to stay until next Sunday when they will take Lauklan for a week. The kids get really excited to spend one on one time with Yoo-Ma and Papa.

Ooh-Rah's bath

Really? I must have LOST my mind!

Party time!

We spent the day out by the pool, AGAIN! Well, not the whole day, since we had some severe thunderstorms, but we were out there before and after them, that's for sure!

The Valentichs came over and we had dinner and swam with them and we were also able to have the Berges over for Jordan's last swim for two whole years! Jordan leaves Monday for his mission and he took his last dip for a while. I'm glad that we could share our pool with both the Valentichs and the Berges! Thanks for a great time.

I needed a break!

I have been working in the office each afternoon this week. I felt as though I had been going in circles since Monday morning. So, I told "the boss" that I would not be coming in to work today.

I had a great time with the kids. We were out at the pool from 9:30 until about 4:30 when some storms rolled in. I feel much better now.

Tomorrow I will go to work around noon and then to get my hair done at 4. After that, it's date night! :)

Brennan's buddy

Brennan has a great friend that he loves to spend time with. Ethan and Brennan just can't seem to get enough of each other. Every time they get the chance, they are trying to spend the night at each other's house. Tonight, it was our turn. (I think the pool helps!) I am glad that they enjoy each other's company and look forward to many years of friendship between the two of them.

Celebrate!

That is supposed to be 3 fingers, but that's kind of hard.

Supposed to be 3 fingers again. But, she sure is cute.

So, this is me when I was 3. Not really, it of course is Aislinn, but close enough, my parents say we look very similar.

We celebrated Aislinn's birthday yesterday with an great cupcake cake from Publix with a Nemo theme! It was delicious! For dinner, Aislinn picked Cracker Barrel, but I went to Chili's since it was much closer and she didn't seem to mind too much.

Happy, Happy Birthday Aislinn dear!

just a day or so old.

First Birthday - what a beautiful little girl!

Second birthday and just as beautiful!

Third birthday full of personality!

Happy Third Birthday Aislinn Grace! She arrived June 16, 2005, 4 weeks and 1 day early. She weighed in at 6 pounds 1 ounce and 19 1/2 inches long. Aislinn was born on the same date that her great-grandfather died some 37 years earlier. After a slightly surprising and rocky start, she has been just amazing! Anyone that knows her, knows that she is determined, bright, and always right! Enough said?

Happy Father's Day -

to a fantastic father to me andan amazing father to my children.

I love you both very much!

I looked out the window, and what did I see?

A hot air balloon, looking back at me!

The kids and I heard a really strange noise this morning as we were getting ready for church. Come to find out, it was a hot air balloon that had landed in our neighbor's backyard. They needed to take it down and ended up doing it in our front yard. After they posed for a picture, of course.

Aislinn's Birthday Party

We celebrated Brigham, Ben, Grace and Aislinn's birthday's tonight. They all turn 3 within a short time. Brigham was 3 on May 29, Ben turned 3 on June 10, Grace was 3 today, and Aislinn will be 3 on June 16. We are going to have quite an interesting Sunbeam class, aren't we?
Aislinn, Grace and Brigham - the birthday kids. I don't know where Ben was...

Aislinn

I can't believe that she is going to be 3 on Monday. My baby. :(

Happy Birthday!

What can I say?

I have a GREAT tan!

I have a grumpy husband who just doesn't understand that I can't come in to work as much as I did when the kids were in school. I wonder why?...

Three out of the seven of us are under the weather. Chris, Greyson and I are all fighting something. :(

The pool is amazing, and since I don't have any more updates on its progress, you are going to be quite bored with my blog. All we do is hang out by the pool. No, really, I'm not exaggerating.

Since I am fighting 'something', I sound like a man. The good news is that I can't yell. I wonder if Chris finally got his wish that I would quit yelling? I wish that I didn't and I am trying to get better, but, no kidding, they don't listen until I do! The house sure is quieter though. :)

A quick trip

Josh had his National Eagle Scout Court of Honor today. We were so proud of him that we traveled to Hudson to celebrate. I grew up next door to their family. Turin, Bruno and April's oldest son, was and is, like a brother to me. We are only 5 months apart in age and we were together almost everyday of our lives from 9 until 18. It was great to get to see everyone again.

Turin and me. We're not as young as we used to be...

Bruno and April, the parents, that were like second parents to me. I never got the concept that I wasn't part of their family and they were gracious enough to allow me to be.

Primary Activity

I believe there was between 50 to 60 people here tonight. I sure hope everyone had a good time. We sure did.

The slide is in...

just in time for the Primary Activity at 4. I believe that it arrived between noon and 1 and took a few hours to get in place. WOW! We love it!

Aislinn assuming her supervisory role, as usual.

Cliff posing with the finished product.

Me, taking 'the plunge'.

Kerstyn taking her first try. She was a little timid at first, but that quickly wore off. Too bad the boys were off at a movie... however, their faces when that got home were priceless!