Summer Jobs

Caroline and Natalie have restarted the bagel business. They renamed the business, Bibbity Bobbity Bagels. They made samples and fliers and took them around a wealthier neighborhood. They went to about 10 houses. They ended up talking to 5 people and leaving fliers on the other houses. They had one success, but 4 rejections. They hated this and refused to go to any more. John and I were in the car laughing and thinking what a great experience this was for them. We told them this is what Josh does everyday. Which Natalie stated, "I am not going on a mission!" They plan on going around our neighborhood to people they know. They have about 6 returning costumers from when Caroline did the business and hope to get more.

Snow Cone Shack

Jake and Natalie work at the snow cone shack a few times a week. It does not pay well, but they have fun and usually their friends drop by to visit them.

Soccer Tournament--"Mud Pies, Anyone?"

Natalie and I just got back from her soccer tournament. I was really looking forward to the warm weather of St. George and watching Natalie play, but on the first day it was only 37 degrees and rained all day. The tournament was held on a turf farm and the parking lot turned into solid mud. Cars were sliding and many became stuck. Natalie had two games on this day and was very cold and wet. She played 3 games on Monday and the fields were even muddier from two days of solid rain. Needless to say, instead of enjoying a lot of sun, I did many loads of laundry. It was a very memorable trip.

This was the parking lot!! ha it was crazy!!!

Natalie's team after winning one of their games and diving into the mud to celebrate (Natalie with red headband).
My cool rain boots my friend and I developed because we had already ruined one pair of shoes. Some guy told us, "great idea, but a little dorky." ha ha I didn't want to ruin my Dansko shoes!!

Natalie after her championship game. They came in 2nd place.
Everyone had checked out of the hotel by the time the team played their last game--so we took all the girls to the car wash and sprayed them off and they changed in the car before heading home. :)

Remodel

We have been slowly remodeling our kitchen. We put in new counter top surrounding the island, new sink, new faucet, plumbed in a gas line for a new gas stove top and new double ovens. We also stained the floors a darker color and put a new banister to the stairs going downstairs. This week we had the cabinets painted white and the island painted black. I picked a little off white (Swiss coffee-behr)--but after it was done it looks very very white. Maybe I just need to get used to it. This is a picture of our house right before they painted. I had to empty everything from the cabinets and put them in the family room.

Going through that pile was the worse part of the remodel, but it forced me to get rid of, sort and organize everything in the kitchen. Now the insides of the cabinets look as good as the outside. I am going to be more careful what I pick up at yard sales this summer. :) I will post a after picture soon.

Catching up--Joseph turns 8 and Baptism

Happy Birthday Joseph!!!
Joseph wanted to go to A1 chinese Buffet. This would not have been my first choice, but Joseph loved it. Aunt Suz had taken him here in the summer and he was exited for the family to try it. Joseph loved the all you can eat jello and shrimp. I have never been to a chinese buffet before and I do not think I will go to one again. :)
It was so nice to have the whole family together for this special day.
John and Joseph before the baptism.
Cousin Abby was baptized the same day with Joseph. It was such a special day. We love Joseph and his sweet spirit and the good boy he tries to be. We are proud of his decision to be baptized.

Catching up --Cathy and Pete's Halloween Party

John, Doug and Nathan--Wow we have some great genes in our family--ha ha :)
Cathy scaring all the kids in the new spook alley.
Joseph loved "diving" for the apples.

Catching up--Fall

Jake and Austin

Pumpkin Patch!!!! Now that John does not travel as much he was able to join us in our annual pumpkin hunt.

Caroline Varsity #1 doubles!!!

Caroline just finished playing tennis for her junior high. This summer she decided she wanted to try out for the team in the fall. She took a couple of lessons and practiced with her friend, Rachel. Her goal was to make the jv team. She was put as the #1 seed doubles team for varsity with her friend. Yeah!!! They were undefeated during the season playing many 8th and 9th graders. Caroline is a natural and was fun to watch her in action at the net. In region they took third place among the 1st seed varsity double players. Way to go Caroline!!!!

Homecoming Dance 2010

Natalie had a fabulous time at homecoming. She loves getting dressed up and feeling like a princess and she loved going with a cute boy she likes. :)

For this dance I told her she needed to be ready on time. In the past her poor dates are always waiting about 5 minutes for her to come out. Well, she was right on schedule and putting her make up on in her sweats and listening to music when I glanced out the window and noticed her date driving up 15 minutes early. She screamed and frantically tried to finish her make up and get dressed. I guess they had a miscommunication about the time. Porter, her date had to sit in the living room for a long time as she rushed to finish getting ready. I think I might leave a nintendo ds in there for future dates to pass the time, since Natalie never is on time!!!

Also, her boutonniere was so thick that both Natalie and I could not get the pin through it. We finally got John to put it on after breaking a couple of pins in the process. I don't think Porter felt too comfortable with John putting the boutonniere on him. Ha-ha -- I should of got a picture of that!!!

Happy Birthday Johnny!!!

22!!!
Johnny came home for his birthday along with his roommates and friends for dinner. We had a big oriental buffet and it was fun to meet his new roommates and catch up with his friends who also just returned from their missions. It is very weird for me to think that I was Johnny's age when I gave birth to him.

We are so proud of Johnny and the great young man he is. He is very self driven and always trying new things. He is in the chemical engineering program at BYU. He has a great part time job doing research for one of his professors. He is a great example to the rest of his siblings and they all look forward to the times when he is home. He is just an all around nice guy!!! We love you Johnny--Happy Birthday!!!!

Camping Staycation

Josh carrying his sled down because he fell off the alpine slide--he didn't believe in using his brake.


This summer was so busy we were not able to go on a long camping trip, so the weekend before school started we took the family an hour away to camp in Little Cottonwood Canyon. It was absolutely beautiful. I loved all the beautiful wild flowers in bloom. We spent one day at Snowbird ski resort and bought an all inclusive pass to all of their activities. The kids loved the alpine slide, bungee trampoline, and the rock wall. John and I loved riding the ski lifts up the mountain and back--I think we did this 3 different times that day. We also took the tram to the top of the mountain and went on a hike through meadows of wild flowers. The next day we went on another beautiful hike to secret lake. At the top of the hike, Johnny cut open his leg on a jagged rock. Jake sacrificed his shirt for a make shift bandage. We all helped supporting him as he went back down the mountain. Luckily Doug lives close to this canyon and he stitched him up with 3 stitches. We went back up to snowbird for their Octoberfest with Oma, Opa, Doug and his 3 boys. We ate bratwurst and listen to some yodeling. ha ha. We camped in a beautiful campsite, steps away from a beautiful mountain stream. Of course we had a great time around the campfire and playing games. It was wonderful to get away even if it was only for a couple of days.