Celine Concert

Have I ever mentioned that I think my husband is awesome?  Last week Cecil was at a Pharmacy Conference in Vegas and I flew down for the weekend for some much needed R&R.  Mission accomplished.  I lounged by the pool at Caesar's and Saturday night we went to the Celine concert also at Caesar's.  It was incredible, and because we hardly ever have a picture of the two of us together we splurged and let the Photographer do his thing.  If you ever want to see something incredible, her show is a MUST SEE!  Thanks to my honey for treating me to a wonderful weekend.

Abstract Art by David Thomas Shern

Yesterday was a long day of kid activities, Little Jerusalem, Swimming, road trip to Lehi.  By the time I got to my mom's at 3:00 David fell asleep, so I left him there while just Lydia went to swimming lessons.  Because her teacher had two other time slots cancel (one before and one after) Lydia got a 2 hour lesson.  By the time I got back to pick up David it was 6:15 and he was still asleep!  That made for a long night for me.  I finally dozed off around midnight and when I woke up at 2:00 a.m. I found my little man with Red Sharpie in hand expressing his artistic side on my wall.    I thought to take the picture after I had already scrubbed half of it off.  I've gone thru 3 Magic Erasers.

Jerusalem in Sandy

We had a Stake Primary Activity.  There was a huge team effort from both the Primary and Young Men/Young Women to create the city of Jerusalem for the kids and for youth conference.  There were lots of fun activities and the kids had a great time.  It is hard work keeping track of 5 little kids and 4 older ones with all the other kids there.  But we did it.

Fire on the Lake 2011

Cecil and Marcy's Dream Boat!  GO UTES!

One of the highlights of the summer.  Jordanelle's Fire on the Lake.  We've been going here ever since they started this, 3/4 years ago.  It is awesome.  Fireworks are beautiful, but they're even better where there are no city lights and relfect off the water.  Woo Hoo!  Melody and Jeff have always come up for the night, but this year as soon as I knew the time the park would open to take reservations I called right away and Melody got a camp site just down the path from us.  Our family friends the Burtons also were able to get a site in the loop down from us. I want to say the reservations were made in April, so for anyone that would be interested in this next year, be on your toes, cause the camp site sells out super fast!  We had so much fun and Melody has super energy and got the kite going, the kids were having so much fun chasing her. This year my dad and Cecil let me and my mom go on the boat to observe their patrol durring the parade of boats and firework show.  Kind of fun putting spotlight on boats and using the megaphone to tell them to get back.  The Coast Guard Auxillery helps the Park Rangers keep all the boaters in line and both Cecil and my dad enjoy being in the Coast Guary Aux.  It was so much fun and it's awesome to be on the water when the fireworks are going off.  So thanks to the Wheelwrights, Burtons, and Charlie and Jenny for watching the munchkins on land so I could be out there.   I also was able to braid my cute little niece Natalie's hair.  How cute are those big blue eyes????

So Sad

While Cecil was gone our pond and the flowers around it went into full bloom.  We put this pond in 7 years ago, the first summer in our home.  We started out with two fish Sammy and Sosa, Sammy died within months, but we kept adding a few every year.  Cracker and another unknown named fish came the following year. And the next year we added Hot Lips and also another unknown named fish.  So our five fish had a lovely life.  Unfortunately when Cecil came home I had not treated the pond with the barley extract and a new chemical to help with the aglae.  So Cecil added a little extra and the next day my fish all went on to fish heaven.  The kids were fascinated and devastated at the same time.  Cecil was going to bury them under our dining room window, but because of Kaiser I said their burial would need to be in a garbage bag.  This was our kids first experience with death.  And David is desperate to get some more fish, me I'm up in the air about it.  What to do????   Post a comment and maybe that can help me decide. Fortunately I took some great pics of the pond with all the beautiful flowers and you can just see my little fish if you look close enough.  I'll also post a pic from a few month back.  

Daddy+Canada=Kids Schedule goes out the window!

Cecil went with his buddies up to the Nortwest Territories to fish again.  He hasn't had time to upload photos from that trip just yet.  But, while he was away I'm happy to say we all survived.  The only medical issue was a double ear infection and the croup for Michael Joseph.  A few days before Cecil left he started sounding sick, it's hard to know when to take them in since half the time they send you home saying it's viral.  So, I felt a little guilty for waiting, but he cleared up right away and life was fun.  We spent a lot of time swimming and I even took the kids to the park.  (Lydia loves that "fun mom's" take their kids to the park.)  Personally I feel that unnecesary since our backyard is like a park.   So grandpa and ya ya came over and helped with bath time one night.  Quite a few nights the older two would go sit on the front stoop with Bruce a great neighbor and friend.  And David missed Cecil the most, his sleep schedule was all over the place.  But Uncle Larry took him on a date to see Cars 2!  I only had a sitter 1 out of the week 1/4 that he was gone, but that was to work a booth for the pharmacy at a golf tournament.  And Cecil had a great time, but I don't know that he'll do Cananda again until one of the boys can go with him.  We missed him tons and are so happy he's home.