Family!!!

My family is SO supportive! Last weekend was a big family event. First, on Saturday night, we went and spent the evening at a 90th Bday party for my dear Grandma. It was extra special. There were about 75 people in attendence and we spent some invaluable time with them. My grandparents have been wonderful to us and support everything we do. Plus we get to see them at least once a year. I'm so grateful to have such wonderful memories of their generous and loving lives! My dear Grandpa is 94 this year and it was so great to have those moments with them both!

The next Sunday was another big family event for us. Zachary was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints! It was awesome! My entire family was there to help him commemmorate his special day. First we all went to my ward where most my family sang a song in honor of my parents returning home from their mission in McAllen, Texas and to honor Zachary in his special decision. Everyone that went to church stayed throughout the entire 3-hour block. That meant SO much to me!! Next we came home and did what we do best, ate, talked and napped. The baptism was scheduled for later afternoon so we had a chance to sit and visit before heading back to church. My dad blessed us by performing the baptism and confirmation and my whole family supported and contributed to the event! I can't thank them enough for their encouragement and selfless support of us! It was really an amazing weekend for us all.

IT'S THE MOOOST WONDERFUL TIME . . . OF THE YEAR!!!

Yes, they ought to write songs about the first week of September when, sigh, yes, it finally happens, . . . . the moment you have been waiting for, for the past 104 days . . . . YES! I'm talking about the MOOOST WONDERFUL TIME . . . OF THE YEAR!!!!. . . . .That would be the first day of school for those of you sans school-age children. Ahh bliss, ahh pure happiness, ahh peace!!

Now, I love my children, mind you, I would do anything for them, but this mama needs some alone time after the past 3 months of 24-7 with them. Yay, yay, yay for teachers! Let's all sign a national petition to give them all jillion dollar raises. They deserve it!!!! Year-round school, anyone??

B, being in 7th grade, feels he is too old to be in the annual "First day of school " photo. Ha, little does he know that I'll be taking one clear though college and medical school. ;o)

S wanted to be sure that everyone saw his new snazzy school shoes!

Happenings here . . .

Bill went to a training the other day and found several pond friends. He brought them home and now we are raising snails and pollywogs (of all stages). The boys are enjoying watching them develop. We have already released one frog in to the wilds of the back yard as he jumped out of the bowl and ended up in a pile of tomatoes we had on the counter. . . that was a fun little search, let me tell ya.

Zac is interested in learning fiddle so we have gotten him an instrument to start practicing on. We will spare you all the pleasing sounds of a first-time fiddle player and not release the video footage just yet. (Yes, we are hippies and the boys rarely wear shirts with their pj's.)


Zac and Sam have been enjoying the last few days of summer vacation (while Ben has been at football practice) and have enjoyed the heat by cooling off in the sprinklers. Zac had just come back from Cub Scouts the night before and they had talked about "cooperation". He had to come running up to me and let me know that he and Sam were cooperating in sharing the swing. They look perfectly balanced on that swing, don't they?

This past weekend was the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. There was a 2 hour parade on Saturday and Bill, Zac and Sam were invited to be on the Correctional Officer Memorial Float (antique fire truck). It was a great honor and we are very proud of their contribution to "remembering those who serve". Besides, Z and S enjoyed throwing candy out (and sampling several pocketfuls of the gooey-sugary tootsie roll chews). Hmmm, . . . they didn't send any my way!