Without fail, this child of mine comes home from school and either puts a wig or costume on....everyday.

Yesterday he was crazy wig boy and today he is a red fox because that is his favorite kind of fox.

Sunday

 Now that we go to church in the afternoon we have all morning to eat, read, watch old family movies and maybe throw in a back rub.

Summer the Teenager

13 years ago we had a brown-eyed beautiful daughter.
She came out-- cried and then started smiling.
She has been such a gift.
We love you Bear!

Power Balls

I was introduced to these by my sister-in-law, Carol.  They are a hit with the whole family.

I have had a few questions and requests for the recipe, so I thought I would share. 

2 Cups of Oatmeal (almost grounded to flour, leave a little texture)--We order the gluten-free oats online

1 1/2 Cups of Golden Flax Seed (I get this big bag at Costco by the vitamins and protein bars)

1 Cup of Protein Powder ( I like the chocolate EAS brand...also found at Costco)

1 small 15 oz jar of natural peanut butter (I can't stand the peanut butter with the oil floating on the top-so I use Jif )

1/2 cup of agave or honey


Sprinkle mini chocolate chips (Carol used dark chocolate) Some of my family likes it with very little chocolate...so do it to preference.

I start with the peanut butter and agave (or honey) in a glass bowl.  I warm it up in the microwave for about 20 seconds to make it nice and soft.  I then add oatmeal, protein powder, and flax seed.  This will require a little muscle to stir in.  I add a few chocolate chips at the end when the mix isn't warm.  Roll into balls and keep stored in the fridge.

How long can I stand Ping Pong?

So I have been switching furniture around...if you know me, you know I like changing things up.

Our piano moved from hardwood into a room with carpet...brilliant move on my part.  I no longer dread the sound of piano echoing, pounding throughout the house.  Piano practicing is now the background and not the main event.
I made the piano room-- the dining room and now the place we used to eat --is now the place we play ping pong.
Confused?
Tom was when he came back from his trip.
We are actually all getting pretty good at the ping pong play.  I know that my friend Amy is going to think I copied....well, maybe a little.  She did help me think outside the box.
And would someone please help me find something to put in the frame that sits below the clock on the wall....jeesh!

First Day of Piano.....about 10 years more

Ike was sure excited to start piano....lets see how long the honeymoon stage lasts.

I keep letting the other 3 know that they

 will thank me one day for  "helping" them stick with it.

My good friend, Diane, is his new teacher.
I love this lady and am so glad she agreed.
We are trying the Jane Tan method.

Pirate's Cove

The Oklands invited us to a great 2 day getaway at Pirate's Cove. 

 It is located about 10 minutes from Hoover Dam, just overlooking Lake Meade.  

It is a 22,000 square foot home/Pirate themed water park.

I have never stayed or seen anything quite like it.  

Absolutely unique and fun place to gather with friends.

The view was so pretty overlooking Lake Meade.

Unlimited icecream and slushes helped keep us cool.
The weather was still awfully hot there in Boulder, Nevada

Want a fun game for the family....  Perudo (or we know it as Liars Dice)

The owner loves pirates, old Cadillacs and Marilyn Monroe (she was in every garage)

With 22 thousand feet of living space, there were a lot of doors...unique and all different.

Grandpa Ray

My grandpa, Ellsworth Sims Ray, passed away on August 3rd. 

 He was 92 years old.  I will always remember his big warm hugs, 

the many missions he served, and his devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 This is a sweet moment when he visited the grave of our 

 grandma Betty.  She passed away when I was very young.  

What a reunion they will have.  They raised a family of 11 children.

I look forward to celebrating and remembering his life next Saturday, August 14.

Quick Beach Get-away

I think the beach is the only place that kids can 

dig for creatures, bury, get dirty, get wet, splash water ...

and entertain themselves all day

We decided to try and squeeze in a quick get-away before
Summer and I left for Camp Lomia.
We went with the Shills and Tingeys to Newport Beach.
Great beach days and game nights!
It was not an easy thing to pack up and head back to the heat.  

Pure entertainment
These guys could dig all day "to China"

for hours and hours

Our ferry ride over to Balboa Island.
Fun little trip down memory land, for me.

I want to have one of these contraptions in my backyard.

If I could pick a place to have all my friends and family relocate, it would
be Newport Beach.   I love the city's layout and the clean beaches.
The Newport Temple is right across the street from their church building.
I loved the gardens and the color of the temple's stone.

Walking on Sunshine

 Leading up to girls camp, 

I was feeling a bit burned-out from all the preparation and not very enthusiastic.  

However, after a day up there,  I got caught up in it.  

The theme was "Walking on Sunshine"

 and it was a focus on following His light.  

It was a beautiful way to teach these girls and help them feel the spirit. 

 I am so glad I had this experience with them.

We are the Groves Ward and so the  light that appeared in the Sacred Grove was our inspiration for our flag.
Thank you to Shelley Monson for doing the talented work on our flag.  

Dressed all up for their lip sync performance.  They did a montage from the Wii game of  "Just Dance." 

 

I was up there with such fun, amazing women. 

I loved spending every minute with them from 

6:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. ....seriously!

Chad the Survivor

This is my brother Chad

He has had a history of serious mishaps.  

When he was 5 years old, his head 

was run over by our suburban. 

 He had facial reconstructive surgery

 and metal plates put in place of
a cheekbone.  

While still young, he survived a serious car crash and needed the "jaws of life" to be extracted 

and then a few years later suffered a compound fracture while rolling an ATV.

His latest was getting hit by a car, while cycling the alpine loop, near Sundance.  

He broke his cheekbone....again, punctured a lung,

 broke a rib and got pretty ripped up from sliding on the road.

When I got the phone call from my sister--I appreciated the fact that she started out by saying

"Chad is fine-BUT......."

My heart dropped when I heard how serious it could have been.

He has someone watching out for him.

I love Chad's friends and how well they are taking care of him.   Spencer and Larry have been so good to him.  Spencer and his wife put Chad up at their place for the weekend.  Larry (right) covered his shift at work and got him a new phone (his was destroyed).  

The Shills also took time out of their vacation to go by and visit

 him and to deliver a care package from home.  

So grateful

Mend quickly Chad. 

 I know your going to love these pictures I posted (:

July 4th

Our neighborhood proudly posts the flag 8 times a year. 

 Cole had the opportunity to

help post and take down the flags today.

I am so grateful for what happened 234 years ago.  

Happy Fourth of July

America is another name for opportunity.  

Our whole history appears like a last effort 

of divine providence

 on behalf of the human race. 

 ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  

I like to see a man live

 so that his place will be proud of him.  

~Abraham Lincoln

How little do my countrymen know what 

precious blessings they are in possession of,

 and which no other people on earth enjoy! 

 ~Thomas Jefferson

We dare not forget that we 

are the heirs 

of that first revolution.

  ~John F. Kennedy

Cabin Dayz

I love long, 

lazy days at the cabin.  

My 6 year old staying in character 

as  "Bear Cub"

Standing under a bridge during a down pour...

we Arizonans thirst for rain like this.

Oh...and getting into my sister-in-law's car to go

 home and realizing that the sunroof was open the whole downpour time.

(White car in background)

Attempts to save nature

Nice retired couple

 built this train village in their front yard. 

When we stopped to take a look,

they darted outside to 

start up the train

for us....so nice.

Mud Masks before bed

Cole pulled Isaac's "man card" after seeing this picture 

and Isaac had to repent of girly things and

then he got his "man card" back.

Craw Fishing 

with a rock, string, and slimy bacon

Got one and then it fell off the string.....so close!

Treasure Hunts  

Carefully designed and carried out by

Summer, Cosi, and Liz

Walking for our Breakfast