Mission Call: Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico

Well, it's official.  Braden has his mission call.  He's going to Mexico.  I'm excited for him, but also very nervous.  Although I refuse to think about it.  He leaves Aug 15...yeah, we have a while.  All summer to play.  He'll be a great missionary!  I sure will miss him, but there's nowhere else I'd rather he be.

Books

Well, I have surpassed the number of books that I read in 2010. I just finished my 52nd book for the year and October's not even over. I'll do better towards my goal of 100 books this year, but still won't quite make it. Oh well. I never really expected to. I purposely set the goal high to keep me motivated. Who knows, maybe one year I'll get there, when the kids are grown and I don't have to work and I've lost my iPhone so I don't waste so much time playing games on it...maybe.

Anyway, here's a list of my 5 star books so far this year:
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall...I totally recommend this to anyone who works out, or wants to work out!
Heist Society and Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society #2) by Ally Carter...smart, and lots of fun
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Vespers Rising by Rick Riordan
Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
Everlost, Everwild and Everfound by Neal Shusterman
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
These is My Words by Nancy Turner
Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde...super funny and clever
Peter and the Sword of Mercy (Peter and the Starcatchers #4) by Dave Barry

Honorable Mentions:
The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl #2) Read this one with my ears and LOVED the reader. The story was good too.
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans...a completely different genre for Evans, but liked it and am anxious for the next one.
Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #1) by Heather Brewer
Reckless by Cornelia Funke
A World Without Heros by Brandon Mull...gotta love Brandon Mull
The Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles #2) by Rick Riordan
Illusions by Aprillynn Pike...Ive decided I really like books about faeries
Dark Days and Mortal Coil (Skulduggery Pleasant #4 and #5) by Derek Landy
Princess of Glass and Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan...he's been busy this year!
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale
Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
River Secrets and Forst Born (The Books of Bayern #3 and #4) by Shannon Hale

Don't Bother!!!
Witch and Wizard: The Gift by James Patterson
Unraveled by Gena Showalter
Skinned by Robin Wasserman...the story concept was way cool, but the main character was a B*&^% from you know where

So there ya go! The good, the bad and the ugly.

More Summer Fun

Girls Camp

Man I love these girls! We had a blast!

Amy, Meg, Chloe, Jessica, Missy


Brooklynn on our hike


The view on our hike


Face painting with Missy and Brooklynn


Brooklynn and her Boondoggle

Stephen's Family Reunion
At Rick and Tilly's farm somewhere in Utah

Water Fight!!!!

4th Of July Parade
With the Silver Blades. I took a break from being in charge this year and ran the 5K with my sis. It was fun!

Hogle Zoo
We haven't been to the zoo forever. That's what happens when your kids get OLD!

Summer Stuff

Well, here it is, the end of summer. The kids are back to school tomorrow (well one kid, Braden starts on Wednesday). The summers just seem to get shorter every year. There never seems like enough time to fit in everything we want to do (or is it enough money? maybe both).

Here's a few highlights from our summer

Eagle!
July 10, 2011

Family Reunion @ Deer Creek

Road trip...
St George/Tuacahn,

then Las Vegas

then on to San Diego

first to skate


then the beach
Mission Beach, San Diego
I could so be a beach bum in San Diego. The water was no Hawaii or Mexico, but the beach was fabulous. I LOVE THE SUN!




and finally Magic Mountain, roller coaster heaven. How can we go back to Lagoon after this?

Pool Party w/skating friends


New Haircut


and Lagoon

Brook's first time on The Rocket (and Belle's too), and they liked it!

We will try to fit in one last fling (a biking trip) over Labor Day. Then it's on to Christmas!

Graduation

Well the cap and gown are still warm and I'm already blogging about the day. You should be impressed.





What a day! I can hardly believe my boy is GRADUATED! Seems like just yesterday we were doing preschool graduation. The years have flown by. I'm very proud of the man this boy is becoming. Braden, I know you'll go far in this world. You are smart, funny, kind and rather good looking if I do say so myself! Use your heart, your mind, and your spirit in all that you do and there is nothing that you cannot accomplish!


Way to go buddy!

MCT Treasure Island

Brooklynn recently took the opportunity to try out for the Missoula Children's Theater production of Treasure Island. She tried out on Monday, found out she got a part, rehearsed all week from 4-8pm and performed on Friday and Saturday of that same week. It was a crazy busy week and we didn't see much of Brooklynn, but it was an awesome experience and she had a BLAST!

"Big 'Ol Blue the Pirate


The motley crew of pirates and ruffians




The Cast of Treasure Island

Wanna know why...

Wanna know why I don't blog more often? Because it takes so blasted long to upload pictures! Grrr!