Good bye Summer!

We have had a wonderful summer....sad to see it go. Here are some of our memories from the summer:
*Grandmother and Papa Joe moved to Mink Creek---lots of game nights, fishing trips and fun around the farm! We're so glad they moved here!
*Scout trips---Canoeing for Samuel and Ben and Dad, Rapelling in Zion for Joseph
*4-H---David took a Rocketry Class and made a Rocket and earned a blue ribbon at the fair!
*Cousins visiting Grandmother and Papa Joe and Grandma and Grandpa---cousins are the best! We went swimming, floated the river, had picnics, played games and had a lot of fun with our cousins! Nick and Ryan came and stayed with Grandmother and Papa Joe and Aunt Catharine's family and Aunt Brenda's family came to stay this summer along with Aunt Dawnya's family and Aunt Becky's family. We discovered that we all have musical talents to share. Aunt Catharine's girls played the piano and sang and Robert played the piano and Bill and Scott played the guitar---we even got to jam with them!
*EFY for Samuel with cousins Daniel, Olivia and TJ---secretly, we know he loved it!
*Soccer Camp for Joseph at BYU---found out he really likes BYU!
*Trek for Samuel, Joseph and Benjamin--what a great experience!
*Sun Valley Youth Symphony for Joseph in Sun Valley---he stayed with a wonderful host family and learned alot! Plus Grandmother and Mom got to go and see him perform!
Trips to Riverdale to swim, a trip with Grandmother and Papa Joe to Lava Hot Springs (we love Lava!) and a trip to Lagoon with our family and Scott, Olivia, Camille and Josh! 'Better'n Disneyland David and Jonathan declared! Jacob didn't care too much for it, but loved the wagon!
*Bear lake with David, Jonathan and Jacob and then with our ward, game nights and pack meetings at the Ball Park
*Hauling Hay with Grandma's yummy food, playing violin at the Farmer's Market with Papa Joe for David, mowing grass, cleaning ditches, moving pipe for Joseph, Samuel and Benjamin--hey, even Ryan loved it!
*Late afternoon picnics with family, summer thunderstorms, walks and hikes and rides in the forest, July 4th with family----party in the park and running the river, picnic and fireworks! Grandfather and Uncle Greg even came!
*Gardening, watering, chasing Jacob off the driveway and road, soccer practices, football camp, soccer camp for David
Good bye, Summer, we'll miss you!

Back to school!

Wow! Where did the summer go? It feels like a thief quickly stole it away, I'm feeling a little robbed this morning----but truthfully, probably unprepared!

My cute boys hurriedly posing for me before they run off to school made me realize how fast the time has gone! This is the last 'back to school' picture I will take of Joseph---(unless, of course, I follow him around when he goes to College!) I can still see that cute little kindergartner with the round face and the slicked back hair picking flowers out of my garden to take to his teacher the first day of school in our little red brick house on 300 West in Cedar City. He seemed so little and I was so worried about how he would do at school, if he would have good friends, if his teacher would realize what a treasure she was getting, if the school would do it's job, etc. And here he is, a Senior, taking subjects that I can't fathom....Calculus, Physics, Economics, Government, Symphony, Acapella, AcaDeca, Honors English, Statistics....excelling in sports---lighting up the soccer field, wrestling mat, track.....working hard---moving pipe with his brothers, lifeguarding, hauling hay, cleaning ditches.....serving the Lord----1st Assistant in his Priest Quorum, Stake Youth Council, Seminary....taking care of his brothers----being good buddies with Samuel and Benjamin, mentoring David in Soccer, taking Jonathan and his cousin, Nick, swimming, picking up Jacob when he stretches out his arms to him---helping his old mom out---moving her piano around impossible corners, hanging blinds, putting up trim, hanging drapes, moving impossibly large couches, mowing lawns, etc. He is so much more then I ever imagined that cute little kindergartner with the wilting flowers would ever be. Maybe that's a good thing or I would have probably been scared to death to be his mom! What an amazing young man he is. I know I'll have to let him go soon, that's the way it should be, but sometimes, I'd just like to hold him close again in my arms and snuggle that wiggly, determined little boy once more, before he runs away from me and grows up---way, way too soon.

I look at my other handsome boys and hope this will be a wonderful year for them. Samuel, so tall and strong and amazed that he's overtaking his older brother in stature. When I hear his deep voice sometimes I can't believe this tall, handsome young man was that very busy little boy that was constantly running away from me---keeping my heart rate constantly on high! He still has those startling blue eyes and happy smile---although sometimes it gets hidden behind the teenage grumbly look. So kind to his little brothers----Jonathan loves him to pieces and he's so gentle and kind with Jacob. Now, Benjamin and David share the love/hate relationship with him----can't get along with him or without him---I'm sure it's all tangled up in that 'brotherly love' thing! So fun to see him and Joseph actually friends----Samuel idolizes him! An amazing athlete, musician and thinker....Can't believe this tall, amazing boy is mine!

Benjamin, the cute little imp that my Grandmother was sure I stole from some Indians! His first year in Junior High----I can still see that little 1 year old strolling down the drive way in his diaper--out of his clothes again, riding the lawn mower, giggling hysterically and following Samuel around everywhere. I wonder if Samuel will ever realize the debt he owes Benjamin----that little tiny brother of his that pushed and pushed him forward and was his bestest friend! Benjamin, who comes in 4 or 5 times to tell us goodnight and steal another hug or kiss and then turns around and punches his brothers.....gotta have both sides, I guess. I know he will do well in Junior High---confident and kind, very 'cool'' and handsome with that dark skin, eyes and hair. Such a spiritual young man and crazy too!

David...., from the minute he was born, I was smitten with his amazing dark, long eyelashes that framed those beautiful, big brown eyes. David, whom you never know if he will love you or hate you....though you know it's all love just the same, it just comes out differently. I'm sure he wonders where he was dropped off at with all the chaos in our house and his careful, neat, organized, studious ways....I'm sure all the noise and messiness is hard on him sometimes. He is so grown up! A 4th grader! I remember 4th grade---it was my very favorite year in school. Mrs. Hepworth was my teacher and she was my idol! I hope this year will be a wonderful one for my studious, careful, kind and thoughtful boy! I just know you are going to go to great places---the Moon, uncharted planets and galaxies! You stretch my mind with your thirst for knowledge!

Jonathan, my cute little man, who can throw an amazing fit with hair raising shrieks one minute and then remind me that ""If you just pray about it, it will all work out, because Jesus is listening!"" Yes, it will! or "Are you going to pray on that sprinkler or try to figure it out yourself?" Your cute dimples, infectious laugh and funny comments disarm me with your charm. I love your little 'southern/western drawl'! I hope your kindergarten teacher can see the bright, wonderful, amazing boy that you are! I love you, you handsome little boy ('my baby')!

Jacob's going to Preschool too, but not yet, thank heavens. Otherwise, I'd be left behind and then I'd really be responsible for the mess at home! I need some excuse as to why I can't get everything in order!

So glad to see my boys turning into wonderful young men....yet it's so bittersweet to realize how fast they're changing. I was playing the game of "I wish I'd done......." the other night when I couldn't sleep. I should have taken you on more walks, taking you swimming every night, (like we used to), I should have made more time for just you and me, I should have listened to you better, when I was so 'busy', I should have read you more stories, I should have made sure things were in better order so you could find your shoes, socks, pants, etc., I should have fixed you more good food, we should have had more fun together, we should have gone camping more, I shouldn't have yelled, I should have hugged and kissed you more and told you how amazing I think you are....but the time goes, the stress happens, the busy schedule goes on....I just hope I remember to REALLY look at you every time I'm near you and REALLY listen to all of your wonderful ideas and REALLY be there for all the wonderful things you do, if I'm not, please know that I want to be there and I want you to know that you are the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me----thanks for letting me share your wonderful life!

Here's some pics of my cute little boys on their first day of school: Joseph--a senior, Samuel---an 8th grader, Benjamin---a 6th grader, David----a 4th grader, Jonathan---a Kindergartner! The 3 pipe-moving/soccer/football boys driving to school in style (via the Geo)! Jonathan and David left earlier on the bus!