We miss you Ryan!

My sister's boy would be 21 today.

Happy Birthday to you,

happy birthday to you, all
because today Bryce is two!
This is an old picture but you gotta love a boy that sings while playing the piano.

So, yesterday. . .

besides being Father's Day was the first day of summer. So, I guess now we go to girl's camp (hey, that's Emily in the front of the yellow canoe), trek off to the high adventure OR

sit on your brother (who apparently is oblivious) but wait, we already did all that.

My Dad is in his 70's.

And after today just barely. I especially remember spending the 70's (you know 1970 to 1979) with my Dad. My Dad was a schoolteacher for a profession, so he was usually home when we were. That way he could think up time consuming activities that would keep us out of trouble and off the streets I suppose. I know all the capitals of every state and the presidents of the USA in order from George Washington to Jimmy Carter. (Has there been an election since then?) I spent hours picking rocks out of dirt, then washing and organizing them into a rock garden. I thought he liked rock gardens, who knew he just didn't want us sitting around.

My Dad is the original health nut. He rode his bike to work everyday, still swims and walks for exercise now and has never had a weight problem. He loves sports, life didn't permit him to play much as a kid, but he has coached plenty as an adult. I loved that we could go to the school gym on weekends and holidays to play on the trampoline, shoot baskets and climb the rope all because my Dad had the key.

As a young man my Dad worked for the Forest Service fighting fires. When I was a kid he was a volunteer fireman. We had an alarm in our house that went off just like we were at the fire station. Schoolteachers usually have side jobs to supplement the big bucks from teaching and firefighting was one of his. I never could figure out why they referred to it as volunteer. Besides being paid in US currency it included all the ice cream he could eat on Monday nights.

I always thought my Dad was funny, he has a dry sense of humor, nothing embarrasses him and he really has no tolerance for the irresponsible incompetent. I may have inherited some of his finer qualities. Thanks Dad for changing your stars. And Happy Birthday!

Why do grocery stores

think their aisles are the prime location to learn to drive? (These two were overwhelmed with their skills, because they sadly drove off to Texas yesterday.) It's one of the mysteries of life, along with how well are these employees trained? Has this guy been taught the answer to difficult questions?

For instance,does he know the distinction between plain ordinary bologna and the garlic bologna? Who knew?

Would you ask this guy where to find the bok choy or the plumcots? Why? I mean what difference does it make where they are?

Church Chaos

Does anybody else run around right before leaving for church, making sure everyone is dressed, faces washed, ties tied, hair combed, socks matching, snacks packed, car seats in the right car, tears dried, lights out, iron off, everything in the bag. . .

only to find some goofball family member trying out the stilts on the driveway?

I didn't think so, he may be one of a kind.

Poor Eric

had to spend his birthday at the lake with four girls and three sisters(one his own)and two sets of parents (also one pair belonging to him).

It was torture.

It was Grand.
And it was three weeks ago but I just now stole these pictures from Allison's facebook, so thanks Allison.

She's taking the week off

from dancing. Friday and Saturday night were Emily's dance recitals. I have to say I was a little disappointed the dance that I had to paint her pointe shoes purple wasn't longer.

At least I have the satisfaction that it can be done. Turning pink shoes into purple that is.
Good thing she has a whole week off from driving back and forth to the dance studio, changing into dance clothes, sweating for three hours only to rinse and repeat the next day.

She can rest up at girl's camp this week.

So once a day

the partygoers had a snooze and then Emily cut the squares, sewed the squares, ironed the squares and hearts, tied the squares and pretty much made a quilt while Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming took a rest. Maybe a couple of rests.

The quilt is a gift for our Bishop when he comes to girl's camp. It says "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him" and then all the hearts are now signed with the girls' names. So don't tell him if you see him before Wednesday.

When he wasn't in the fireplace

sampling the lava rock, we watched his sister perfect her supermodel stare.

which obviously gave him the idea to join the circus with Geoff

and that required him to swim a few laps to build up his endurance

and learn to dive, while dry, as he waited patiently for some clothes.

I have taken time to think about it

and finally decided not to become an emergency room doctor. I could not handle the chaos, the urgency, everyone needing me at the same time. I will just be a mom, where I only have to make and send out invitations, design, print and fold programs, put together a movie of my child's life, and make 7 dozen cookies all for Eric's Eagle Court of Honor last night.

Which left oodles of time to stitch together these 15 scripture bags for girl's camp, collect the boards and vinyl lettering for a camp craft project, figure out how I have $1000+ for the 72 hour kits to be put together at Enrichment Night tomorrow evening and gather all the samples, prices and instructors for the Super Saturday in August that we will be having sign-ups for starting this Sunday.

Today, I have some relaxing activities planned like watching Eric pack for the high adventure that he is leaving for this afternoon. I think he may even unpack as well from the YSA conference he, Geoff and Lonny attended over the past three days in Arkansas. Emily and I are having sewing lesson two while she stitches a small quilt for a personal progress project. Meanwhile these two kiddos are staying with me while their parents vacation just to keep me from being bored out of my mind while I pack for girl's camp which is next week.

And really, it's easier to access the toys if you just sit in the box. He's a smart one. I'll be back after the laundry is done.