Summer Activities

So far since school got out, we've been pretty busy! We spent almost a week in the Provo/Orem/Lehi area, for the Special Olympics and to spend time with family. In addition to the Special Olympics games and activities, we took the kids swimming, had lunch with a lady I had taught on my mission and her husband and kids, spent a fun-filled evening at the park with family, and celebrated my birthday on Sunday with a yummy meal together (thanks, Tami!). We came home on a Monday, and I flew to San Diego on Wednesday to help my mom for a week after her extensive neck surgery. Getting a week with my mommy all to myself was great! So was the peace and quiet of her home and the beautiful community she lives in. And it was fun to take care of HER for a change instead of vice-versa. :) But, it was also great to come home. I'd never been away from Tim and the kids that long, and I was missing them something fierce! Since then we've gone miniature golfing and toured Brigham Young's summer home in St. George, hung out at the lake with my sister's family, and spent a rainy, crowded, but very fun and educational afternoon at Zion's National Park. Today Tim and Taylor headed up to scout camp in Payson for a few days, and next week we are making the long trek to visit Tim's parents in Nebraska.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about being busy! In fact, I'm loving it. I think maybe we're trying to make up for last year's horrible summer that I spent in bed, not able to go anywhere or function at all. I'm sure I'll be ready for the crazy, unstructured, traveling, staying-up-late days of summer to end in month or so when school starts. But for now, I'm just enjoying it, grateful for a body that can heal from back surgery and function once again. And most of all, I'm thankful that it is this summer and not last summer!

Utah State Special Olympics

At the end of May, we all headed up north to BYU for the state Special Olympics. Taylor played on the soccer team. His "T-birds" team from Cedar City combined with the team from St. George so that they would have enough players for the state games. Together the team was called the "Pineview Panthers". They had never even practiced together as a team before, and they did great!! They (barely) lost their first game, won the next 3, and got to play for the gold! They lost that game, but got silver medals! It was a wonderful experience for all of us. Tim's sister Tami and her family and his brother Ken and his family came to some of the games as well as the opening ceremonies. Taylor had lots of awesome fans cheering him on!!

While in Lehi, we took the kids to the wonderful Legacy Center swimming pool. Taylor's friend and teammate, Joey, joined us, too. Here Taylor is squirting the girls and Joey while they wait for the giant bucket to dump water on them. SPLASH! There goes the giant bucket!



Gooooo, team!!!


Taylor, Lindsey, Joey, Breanna, and Ashlee. Derek is in background. This is at the soccer field before a game.

Starting a blog!!

After finally starting facebook and the urging of friends and family, I have also finally decided to start a blog. It's been fun to share our family's pictures and thoughts on fb, but then it disappears. A blog is a good place to share more of our day to day lives as well as catalog events in our family. So here goes nothing! I need the help of you blogging pros, though. Where in the world do you get the adorable backgrounds that look like scrapbook paper?

So, bloggers, I have come to join you! I like to talk (and type) as you all know, so here we go.....!!