Pool Day at the Bluth's - 5 Mississippi

It is always fun to swim in the different pools of friends. We went swimming a the Bluth's. We had a lot of fun. There was a big crowd. Anna brought her friend, Rosie. There were friends in the hot tub, going down the slide and playing "how long can you stay under water, 1 mississippi, 2 mississippi . . . . , even friends enjoying a good summer read.

Let the game begin!

It's the summer game of Monopoly. We started this last summer. My friend, Stephanie told me how she would play a game of Monopoly with her girls and that they would not put it away for days. It sounded so fun. We started this today with Jack's help. We will play for fifteen minutes everyday until there is only one man or woman standing. Let the game begin! May the best man or woman win!!!

The Faith of a child

I I am getting ready for a Sunday School lesson on Faith. I was reading in Alma 32 aI am getting ready for a Sunday School lesson on Faith. I was reading in Alma 32 about faith. One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 32:21: And now as I said concerning faith faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
I was just thinking about Jake and Heavenly Father and if he has faith. I asked him if he believed he would ever see Heavenly Father and Jesus again. He said "yes". I asked him how he knew that. He said, "There is just part of me that knows that". I thought it was amazing that he knew this at such a young age. He just has faith in that. As adults, we just question and maybe sometimes don't trust in that part of ourselves that just know. Maybe we need to learn from the young.bout faith. One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 32:21: And now as I said concerning

Boy Scout Sleepover and Hike

It is the big sleepover at the Simmons. Yes, out of the kindness of their heart(of, course, they have the biggest plot of grass) they have agreed to have Jared, Landin, Calvin and Adam pitch a tent in their backyard. Crazy people!!! From what I understand, Elizabeth went down to tell them to be quiet about 11:30 or lose their lives. Adam reports that they went to sleep around midnight and woke up to play games on the computer very early the next day. I can only image how sleepy the Simmons are today. But we love them and their big plot of grass.

The next day Jens picked the boys up at 7:00 and feed them breakfast before the big hike up to the waterfall. Jeff, Calvin's dad went with Jens to help with the boys.

Jens tried to teach them about poison oak, but he said they were chatterboxs! I can't image it!!!

They had a great time and even climb to the top of the waterfall. I know that Adam was so tired the next day that he took 3 naps.

It's picnic in the park time, Hooray!!!!

We love summer for so many reasons. One of those reasons is picnics in the park everyother Friday with our church family. It is one of the fun activities that we have thru our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When we first started going Jens and I sat on blankets away from everyone. After a couple of years Jens evolved up to the picnic benches. This years Jens feel so comfortable that he left me and started mingling with people.

Will miracles never end!!! The kids eat whatever they want as fast as they can and run off to play with the friends. They play frisbee, catch frogs and play on the park equipment. The parents sit around and talk, talk, talk. Everyone is happy. Fun is had by one and all.

I hope you dance

This is amazing picture taken by my friend, Karyn. Jake is just so fun. I think he is a gift from Heavenly Father telling me to lighten up. He is so full of life. It's sad how I have forgot just to love life. You get so bogged down with the responsibilities of life - go here, go there, do this, do that. To be a good mom you need to do this and don't forget that. Jake reminds me in this picture to live! To enjoy the things that summer brings - the sand between your toes, sleeping in, drumsticks eaten in the cool night air, bike riding, and pool days . Jens and I went to a listen to a 60's band play last Friday night with his work crowd, it took a little convincing but I finally got him to dance with me. As Adam says - shake what your mama gave ya. Well, I was shaking it. It was so fun just to be a little crazy. Live life. There is a country song that I love called, I hope you will dance. It is in my playlist if you want to listen to it. It reminds us that we need to remember what amazing planet we live on and remember to dance. So put on some music that moves your soul and shake what your mama gave ya.

Activity Days with the ducks

We had the best time today. Anna and I went to Activity Days. I am so lucky to be with Anna. I get to be one of her Activity Day leaders. Today, we had lunch, decided on our book for our book club and fed the ducks.

We started out with a few friends and then more showed up.

The girls were so excited about the book club. They chose 3 different books:

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and finally The Doll People. We are going to meet at the end of August for a discussion. Now, on the duck part of the day. All the girls brought bread for the duck of her choice. It was a lot of fun. Each girl went home with a duck memory and a future trip to the library for a summer read.



Anna and Jessica are becoming fast friends.

Roses and more roses

I love roses. When I say goodbye to this life I want lots of roses on my gravesite. Please remember this if I go before you. I have 23 rose bushes in my yard. The area in the front is called my birthday garden. There is a rose there that looks like red velvet. I bought all the roses in the front with birthday money. My mom bought me a rose bush called Octoberfest because my birthday is in October. We had this rose bush in our house in San Pedro. I brought it from that house to this one. I also have 3 rose bushes from my kids in the front - my mother's day garden. The rose bush in the front that is all white is called pillowcases. Funny what they name roses. I love Double Delight roses. They smell so sweet. We have a rose bush in the back that we bought for Anna - An American Beauty rose - pictured. I wanted to tell you the best thing for roses - Bayers All-in-one rose flower care, 3 systemic products in one. The key is 3 systemic products in one. Thanks for letting me go on and on about one of my loves.

Swim Team for summer of 2008

Hi,

It is summer time. Anna and Adam have started swim team. Anna is doing really good. She is starting to like it. Today, she learned about diving. They both have a swim meet on July 12 and July 26. Adam is at Cub Scout Camp this week.

Cub Scout Camp starts

Hi,

Cub Scout started today. Adam and Calvin are denners this year. It is always so fun for Adam. Both Adam and Calvin are assigned to Sister Kreiner this year. They get to help her with the Weblos from our stake. Adam is really excited and looking forward to going every day.