Back to school

Wow! It seemed like this summer would never end.

With Ethan out of work, we really didn't have the chance to do the vacation thing.

Poor Cameron. He informed me at the beginning of summer that he would like to

take a cruise

or go on a plane

I guess he will just have to keep waiting.

There were a few fun things that the kids got to do, though.

Ashleigh spent the first half of her summer a very busy lady.

She went to our Stake girls camp as a YCL.

2 days after returning, she jetted off to beautiful BYU.

My genius daughter has already decided that she wants to study international cultures. Her dream would be to travel the world and write for the National Geographic--or anyone else that will allow her to do this. She plans to complete her German studies in high school and add 2 2 more languages to her repertoire before college.

She was accepted into a Chinese Language Program and spent 3 1/2 wonderful weeks learning the language and culture of the Chinese. She is my writer, so I will have her do her own blog sharing her experience.

Here she is eating chicken feet. She says they weren't too bad- just taste like chicken-skin, that is (yuk!)

Ashleigh is spending this year perfecting her high school resume so she can get in to BYU-Hawaii. Only one more year after this one!

She has lots of AP classes to take, but is still making plenty of room for choir.

She has a wonderful talent and hopes to make it to State this year.

She has also spent a lot of time in Debate and UIL Academics.

She is taking creative writing this year to help hone her writing skills.

She can do anything!! She is amazing!!!

I just can't believe she is 16. That makes me feel so old!

"Stretch", or Spenser, my ball player, Played a lot of hoops over the summer.When he wasn't on the court, he was doing it on X-Box. He has a lot of great friends who he spent some time with as well.

He did get to go on a canoe trip on the Buffalo River in Arkansas. He wasn't too keen on going, but came back happy--reporting that he loved to jump from the cliffs!

He later went to a basketball camp at Oklahoma Christian and got a great report from his coach there. His high school coach has also said some great things to him, so he is very happy with his pasttime.

He shot a couple more inches over the summer so I am amazed to report that he is now 6'3"-just 1" shy of his grandpa. He passed his dad years ago. And still growing!!!

He doesn't like to think too much about college. He just hopes to be able to play basketball. He is thinking about staying close for a year after high school to work before his mission. We'll see what basketball does to those plans.

He, too, is a genius and is working hard to get his Eagle this year.(kinda--when mom remembers to push him)

Zack, my quiet one, spent time doing his own thing this summer.

He has recently found a yearning to learn to bake and came up with some great creations. Boy, it's nice when your kids are ald enough to do some of the cooking! He hates most foods, so he learned that he needs to cook what he likes-lots of banana bread, cookies and smoothies.

Zack is now a teenager if you can believe it. He spent a week at Scout camp over the summer with friends. He has also taken up an interest in tennis. He will also be in advanced drama during his 8th grade year. What a great kid! Only one more year until high school!

Alexander, I am happy to announce, was not bothered at all over the summer by his asthma. He was able to do a lot of swimming and hanging out with Cameron and reading, reading, and oh, reading. He is trying to decide if he should get back in to wrestling this year. He will be in middle school this year as a 6th grader and will be in the choir. He has a wonderful voice and I am so happy he has chosen to pursue that interest.

Cameron is truly our munchkin of the bunch, though not in size. He will be in first grade and then turn 7 a few days later. He is definately a big guy. He also got to go to basketball camp this summer, but with Spenser's high school coach. He got most improved and practices dribbling all the time.

Spenser says he is amazing because he likes to do everything and is always good at it. He likes to sing, play, read, write, play basketball, wrestle, tennis, run, play football,etc, etc,etc.

He is lucky he has so many older siblings to pave his way.

As for Ethan, he is working now for Blackboard Connect and loves every minute of it. He is working from home, and best of all, we don't have to move and can enjoy our new home a bit longer. It would really stink if we built it and had to move only a year later.

He is not teaching seminary this year, but is still working with the Young Men. He is teaching guitar lessons even.

And me...well, where do I start?

I love to do so many things, there isn't enough time. I am having fun figuring out this blog stuff and even got a Facebook page. I cannot believe how easy it is to get back in touch with friends from so many years ago. I spend a lot of time doing family history and reading and now that the income will be coming back in, I get to finish landscaping. Yahoo...

I am serving as the Primary President (13 years in Primary now...any suggestions on what I can do to finally get it right and get a new assignment?) I am also the Booster club president for basketball and volunteer with the choir. I run my own financial services business from home, doing payroll, bookkeeping and prepare taxes. I LOVE to be busy!!