Cole is an Eagle Scout

It was not easy, but it was worth it.  

After 7 years of scouting, this day finally arrived.

Cole was awarded his eagle scout rank on Sunday.

It is always nice to see things through and finish what you started.

Check out his eagle scout project here 

 Pretty lucky to have your grandpa Jack be one of your scout leaders.

This man was born to make scouting...and life.... a lot more fun.

My Mom and Jack

 Some of the cousins that were there to support

 My sister Aryn and her husband Nate.

 My brother Chad

"Big Grandpa" with his merit badge sash.  He gave it to Cole since he is the first great- grand child.

 Ross and Anita

"Mama and Papa"

This is Mark, Luke and Bonnie (Tom's sister)

We have raised our kids together.

I don't know what we would have done without having them around.

It was only fitting that Cole and Luke received their eagles together.

(just because I always carry a bit of nostalgia around)

Seriously...I want to reach into that picture and kiss on those little chubby cheeks.

Summer Turns 14

This week Summer turned the big 14.

I truly hope that the next 14 years do not go so quickly.  

I have to shake off feeling a bit forlorn these days.... 

as I feel time escaping too quickly.

(I am sure my sister is tired of my running dialogue on this subject.)

One of the best things about teenagers is getting to know their friends and having them over.

This is really a fun stage to be in.

These girls did a first-rate job decorating her room...I think it took Summer a few days to clean it up.

We had a little birthday celebration with friends. 

Cole and his two buddies Jason and Robert manned the Italian sodas.

Here is their cheat sheet.....

I get my syrup flavorings at Smart and Final but you can also order them online.

From Partying to Work.....

Cole officially has a part-time job during school.  On the days he does not have volleyball practice,

he is the "yard guy" at Tom's office.  

He goes down about 2-3 times a week for a few hours.  

With working during the summers, he has earned a little more than half of his mission fund. 

Of course, with dating around the corner (February to be exact) he has a new motivation for earning $$

Cole has a very heavy load this school year.

 Here is one of many study groups. This particular one is for CP Chemistry..a sore subject around here. By reading his body language you can tell how happy he was that I was snapping photos. Needless to say, I won't bring out the camera again....I get it he is now in high school.

Meg was Captain of Communications at Mission Control for their Shuttle launch at school.

She was in her element, to say the least.
This child is not afraid to take charge.

Isaac runs in the wolf pack now.   

He seriously woke Tom and I up at the crack of dawn to pass off his bobcat badge.

He stood by my bedside, leaned over and began reciting the law of the pack, the motto, ..... something else...I was half asleep and don't remember.

 Isaac's first season of flag football began.

This is my kind of football.  No touchy--slam to the ground--- football.

Run, my baby, run!

So far my track record for getting up with the sun is nearly perfect.

I think watching the sun slowly appear over the horizon is good for the soul.

I just feel such a connection to my Savior when I see a sky like this.

This and That

A few highlights and lowlights.

The weather is still hot and it kinda makes me feel grumpy.

I believe we will be in bathing suites until Christmas.

Um...just wanted to point out Cole's hair cut....look to your left.

On the second day of school,  Tom took the boys to a barber to get hair-cuts.

Cole got the new guy and subsequently got a bit butchered.  

My sister asked me if Cole got a mow hawk.  

 "Of course not."

And then I found these pictures that Summer had snapped.

Needless to say, Cole was not happy strutting the halls of high-school with this lid.

I thought if I showed him rice krispies are now offered gluten-free-- 

it would help him forget the hair,

but it didn't.  

Oh well, hair grows.

My girls got to have some bonus tennis lessons from Jia.

She did an intern at Tom's office this summer.  I loved hearing Jia stories from Tom.  She had a darling way of phrasing things in English.   If I were back in college I would definitely want to be her BFF.

(She was professionally ranked in China, went to BYU Hawaii on a tennis scholarship and 

joined the church.  I was sad that she wouldn't let us adopt her.)

 We look forward to visits and evening swims with Griff.
(He is our niece, Molly's.)

It is the highlight of our day when he comes bouncing through the front door.

Our nephew came home from his mission this week.

I just love what missions do for these young men.

For 2 years they serve, sacrifice and do wonderfully hard things.

I can't imagine a better place for boys to become men.

(I can act tough since I have 3 1/2 years until I send Cole on one.)

In the middle of all this, I got reacquainted with my running shoes and the rising sun.

I literally hear a  cocka doodle do in the distance as I start jogging at the track.

I have to admit it makes me feel tough to be up with the rooster.

I begged my sister, Aryn, to humor me and meet me in the mornings.

She runs circles around me, but it helps to know I'll see her there.