Summer Reading

I was doing really good at keeping up with my house work until I started my summer reading list! I haven't been able to us self control and put the books down. It all started with The Host and then Fablehaven, The Alchemyst and now The Magician! I putt of reading most of these books until after camp and couldn't wait to just sit sown and read. So after camp I got my house back in order (it took a couple of weeks) and now my house is in shambles again! So what am I doing right now instead of cleaning or reading, (because I told myself no book today until I get at least one room in order) blogging! When it gets this bad I get overwhelmed and just want to ignore it all! So what is on your summer reading list? I need some idea's because I am almost done with mine. Who needs a clean house in the summer any way.

Think Again!

I don't know why I thought I would have more time when school got out! I kept thinking as soon as school got out and camp was over we could relax! Think again! We are so busy with friends and projects around the house and so on! This summer is going by way to fast! We are having a lot of fun and we do need to stay busy or there will be whining and headaches!

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I posted. Camp was amazing. We had so much fun! The girls were so happy with all of the little things we prepared for them! I just walked around camp with a smile on my face the whole time! I was just so happy to be there and the spirit could be felt every where we went. The girls were such a good example to me. They were constantly serving each other and not just their friends. The last night was the spiritual night and it was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had. I am so grateful that these girls got to have this experience at such a young age. I am tearing up thinking about it. This night can't be described any better than on Sarinah's blog. Check it out. The women who put on the Faith Walk are incredible so I am not surprised at all that it was so wonderful!

Our family got some great news last week! We have two cousins who are foster children and are going to be offically sealed to their families July 12th! Rebeka Miles' adobtion was on June 4th and Lexie Harms' adobtion will be on July 8th. We are so thrilled to have these sweet babies offically join the family! We love them so much! I really want to show you pictures, but I don't have thier mom's permisson so I will have to do it another time. I almost forgot, JoyAnn started a blog and you can see pictures of Lexie on her blog!

I hope everyone is having a great summer! I can't wait to hear about all of the adventures!

School's Out For Summer!

I am so excited for school to be out! I love having the kids home and just hanging out, playing games and swimming! I won't miss driving them to or from school depending on the carpool, but I will miss visiting with the other carpool kids! The end of the school year is always crazy with school concerts and presentation and, and, and.... On top of all of that, this year I have the privilege of helping out with girls camp! Why do I save everything to the last minute? I can't wait to go to camp almost as much as I can't wait for it to be over. Just kidding! I really am having fun with all of the preparations. I can't wait to see their faces when we give them all of their surprises! We are going to have a blast mixed with spiritual moments as well I am sure. I have never been to camp so I really don't know what I am getting into, but I have a good friend who has been for about the last 10 years in a row so it has to be good! The camp theme this year is Joy in the Journey. We are the Virtuous Volkswagens! All of our decorations and wearables are hippied up! Lime green is our main color (my favorite)! I can't wait to report back on all of the good times at camp!

Happy 15th!

Today is our 15th wedding anniversary! I really can't believe it has been that long. I'm so happy to be married to my best friend! I saw this tag on somebody's blog and thought it would be fun to do today!

1. What date is your anniversary?
May 21, 1993

2. Where did you get married?
Mesa, AZ Temple

3. Who proposed and how?
Chuck proposed at the Temple grounds on one knee! I have always been grateful that he took time to plan it out because it was the last thing he planned ahead!

4. How long were you engaged?
About 4 1/2 months

5. What was the favorite part of your wedding day?
Having the full support of my parents in what had to be a hard day for them. I am the only member in my family and was married in the Temple without my mom and dad. I still get weepy thinking about how much they showed their love for me that day!

6. What would you change if you could?
I wish I could remember more, it flew by so fast - I think I would have changed the song we danced to for our "first dance." We forgot to bring the one we really wanted the and the DJ didn’t have it, so we pick one really quick.(Forever Young) We wanted "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful"

7.Wedding colors?
Wedgwood blue, yellow and coral! (no comment please!)

8.Do you remember anything special from your ceremony?
One of our close family friends came up to congratulate us and told us we were officially married at 10:13 am. I love knowing that and like to watch the clock and remember the moment!

9.Were you clean or messy when you cut your wedding cake?
Clean!!!

10.Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Disneyland of course!

11.How long have you been married now?
15 fabulous years!

Jolene , Nicole , and Pam you have been tagged!

Football Superstar

Andrea is our six year old football superstar. For two years she has been begging us to let her play flag football. An opportunity came up and we finally let her play. She had so much fun and I wish we would have let her sooner. Their last game was Sat. They did really well overall. She had a great coach and learned a lot. She was so sad that it was over. She was the only girl on her team and wasn't intimidated by that at all. I am so proud of her. I was out of town for team pictures and I am dreading how they will turn out. Dad and cute hair, I don't think so. Luckily I got some good pictures of my own.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone...I know so many wonderful mothers!! I am so thankful for my own mother! She is an amazing example to me. She is constantly serving others. I hope to be more like her. I am blessed to have my Grandmother near buy. She is so much fun to be around and she always is thinking of others.

I love homemade gifts. This Mother's Day, I received four of them along with some other fun things. Spencer made a card at school and he was asked several questions.

My mother's name is mommy

She is 5 years old

She weighs 5 pounds

Her shoe size is 5

She has green eyes

She has black hair

Her favorite food is pizza

Her favorite color is blue

Her favorite TV show is baseball
Her favorite hobby is shopping
Her biggest wish is that she could cook
Her best friend is Daddy.

Six out of twelve isn't too bad!

Andrea wrote me a poem:

Mom

Kind, Funny

Cooking, Cleaning, Sewing

We Read Stories Together

Mama Bear

Our children are so observant. It always surprises me how well they know us, sometimes even better than we know ourselves.

Christopher made me a ceramic pot painted like a watermelon filled with candy and a card that said "you are one in a melon" I love it!

Samantha is in Jr. High now and there is no time in school to make gifts for Mom. She took time out of her busy day and made me the cutest card with a poem:

Mother...

We only have one Mom.

One Mommy,

One Mother...

And that is you

We won't wait till it's to late to

Tell you we love you!

Being a mother truly is one of the best gifts I have been given. It may sometimes be hard to remember during late nights, tantrums, and mundane tasks, but I have been entrusted with God's children and will try my best to raise them in righteousness.

"Motherhood is more than bearing children. … It is the essence of who we are as women." Sheri Dew, “Are We Not All Mothers?,” Ensign, Nov 2001

WC 2008

This past week I had the opportunity to attend Women's Conference at BYU with my good friends Nicole, Jolene, Vicki, and Pam. We hardly slept, ate a lot of junk (I had fry sauce for the first time, Yum O), shopped and more than once we laughed so hard we cried. It truly was a girl's weekend like no other.
Tue. night we gave each other "prizes" and "tags". "Prizes" are matching gifts we give to each other. This year there were pj's, jewlery, bags, journals, and hoodies. The tags were awesome and will be such a great reminder of all the good times. Nicole describes the "tags" the best, go to her blog to see all the GLORY!


We went a day early so that we could go to the Salt Lake Temple. It was the first time I have ever been through a live session. It was amazing. It was the perfect way to start our Conference weekend.
Sheri Dew was the opening speaker Thurs. morning. She counseled us, that asking ourselves daily why God has placed us in any given situation is more important than "feverishly working down a list of to-do's that may or may not have lasting significance." I am really going to try and do it!

There was a concert Thursday night. I have to say I had a really great time and felt a little like a teenager (which is only a couple of years younger than I am now). If you are looking for some fun uplifting music check out Eclipse, and Hilliary Weeks (she has a new album coming out soon). They were just a couple of the performers.


The last speaker on Friday was President Monson. He is such an amazing man. The spirit was overwhelming as he entered the room. We all stood (17,000 plus, women) and sang together "We Thank Thee o God for a Prophet". I will never forget that feeling. I am so grateful for a living prophet and the guidance the gospel brings. Make the time next year to attend Women’s Conference - you will not be disappointed.

Thanks for all the support from our Hubbies, especially Nicole's DH for putting up with late nights and loud giggles from the basement. You're the BEST!