Determined!

I finally finished the Host and I LOVED it! I can't believe it practically took me all summer to finish it. I really struggled through the first 100 pages but I had faith in Stephenie Meyer. I couldn't put it down towards the end but really felt guilty reading while Greg was at work and the kids at school. Last week I decided to take time to finish my last 30 pages and relax by the pool. I went inside to get a glass of water and came back only to find the book sinking to the bottom of the pool. This darn book! The pages were so soggy that the print showed through both sides and I had to let it dry overnight before I could FINALLY finish it. HOORAY!
I can't wait for the sequel.

Killing two birds with one stone

Shane might be in kindergarten but he's figured out how to have his after school snack and do his homework at the same time. He stuck his fruit gummies to his face and occationally pulled one off to chow down.

Yes...I about peed my pants!!!!!

Shaun and I had the coolest and most heart pounding experience today. We went to a birthday party at the Herpetological Society. Basically it is a couple who has opened up their home and rescued hundreds of reptiles that were owed illegally as pets or accepted them in from people when they got bored with them. They care for them and place them in zoos, etc.. around the country. They also do a lot of educational tours at schools and events to help kids learn that most of these reptiles wont make good pets. A very cool extra is that they got a call from the CDC last week to take in some wallaby's temporarily. They were amazing! They just hopped around all of the grounds. Came up to the kids to eat palm tree leaves (and corn chips) and they even have their own bedroom inside the house:}

Ok, the pee my pants part. Can you believe this is Shaun in these pictures? Where did this brave kid come from? Needless to say he LOVED the hundreds of turtles and tortoises we saw, but the kids actually swam with an alligator, a water monitor, and a freaking tiger python. We also got to see 13 different types of rattle snakes and a king Cobra. Can you believe people are dumb enough to keep these things in their homes??? Anyway it was an awesome experience and Shaun has high hopes of returning for his birthday. Who wants to get in the pool :) ?



This is a Rhino Iguana. Believe it or not, being in their pen with them was the scariest of all to me. They really FREAKED me out!!!

Shaun right at home with the African tortoises.
One of the Oh so cute wallaby's

She literally hissed every time we looked at her! (This is not the one the kids swam with)Yes, this is the alligator headed right for Shaun.



NO! We are NOT getting a snake!

Meet The Teacher Night and First Day of School

Back to school...

Well..I survived sending my last baby to kindergarten. It was just as tough as I thought it would be, but I put on a brave face and hid the tears for him. All three kids had a great first day and love their teachers.

Shea is in 5th grade and got Miss. Soloman and loves her. She also got a bonus when she found out that she will have Mrs. Stephenson (last years teacher) for student council and that Emily is in her class.She still misses Marissa, but she and Emily have become great friends.

Shaun is lucky enough to have two teachers this year in second grade, Mrs. Willis and Mrs. Jones. They are team teaching so they can spend time with their families which I think is wonderful. Shea had both of them and they are AWESOME! He also got most of his friends in his class and thinks it's going to be a great year. My alarm went off at 6:30 this morning and Shaun had already taken a bath, gotten dressed, eaten breakfast, and packed his lunch. Who is this kid and what did he do with Shaun?


Ahhhh Shane. Part of me really hoped he would miss me a little more than he did. All day kindergarten is a big adjustment and he's tired but LOVES it! We only know that because he says he loves it, but can't seem to remember anything that they do in class. Yesterday he brought home his lunch box and opened it up and there was chocolate milk EVERYWHERE! He said "I was saving the rest for when I got home" :)

My week has been a lot busier that I thought and I'm sad that the summer is over and we have to get back into our routines.

Surprise!!!!

Right after we got home from Utah I turned around and drove down to Tucson for my dear friend Diane's Surprise 60th birthday party. There were so many people there and she was truly surprised. It was great to see Mary, Diane, Gerda, and so many treasured friends that it's been WAY TOO LONG since I've seen. And I finally got to meet her adorable grandson Brandon.













Me and the birthday girl

Gerda and Roger Taylor.

Julie (Diane's daughter) and Debbie (the amazing party host!)

Brian (Diane's son), Ingrid (his wife), and Brandon :)

Lava Tube Caves

While we were in Brian Head we were adventurous and went spelunking. Jim had found these lava tubes earlier in the month and convinced us it would be a good time. I get claustrophobic and was pretty sure that I would never make it thorough. I really didn't think Shaun would do it. Well...we all went through and it was AWESOME!!!! We got filthy dirty and there were parts where the space that we had to crawl through didn't seem big enough for my head let alone my behind. The only place large enough to stand was at the very beginning and there were bats. YUCK! I would definately do it again.

A few memories from the family Reunion in Brian Head

B-Ball News

Sweet Memories of Grandma Grace...Bless Her Heart