San Antonio Temple...

Our Primary leaders asked all the families in our ward to visit a Temple in the month of August. So being the dedicated procrastinators that we are, we waited until the last Saturday of the month to take a trip to San Antonio.

Central Texas has been in a drought lately, so the fountain wasn't on, and the grounds weren't as green and plush as they usually are. This Sunday our Stake is fasting for rain.

Lunch at Olive Garden after the Temple.

It was a very quick trip. Felt like we drove to San Antonio to go to the bathroom at the visitor center/distribution center and then drive back home. BUT - we accomplished what we were assigned to do. Woo Hoo!

WICKED

Last night I took Sydney and Rylee to see WICKED. We loved it!

Dad snapped a pic before we left.

We sat next to James and Mhari in the nose-bleed section. Sydney and Rylee took turns sitting on my lap so they could see better. By the time the play was over my legs were tingling. James was also sweet and let Rylee plaster herself up next to him for a better view.

James and Mhari

AND - very exciting news! Rylee discovered she has a loose tooth while at the play. She couldn't keep her fingers out of her mouth wiggling it back and forth the entire time. She was so excited, she had to run down to show Ken and Keri who were sitting at a lower altitude.

Waiting for the fun to begin.

First Day of School 2009

My favorite day of the year has come and gone without any emotional meltdowns. Yay! Last year I was a blubbering idiot because it was the first day with all the kids in school ALL DAY.

This year - I'm proud to say, not a single tear was shed. We now have children in 3 different schools, which means 3 different start times. What a mess.

Matt (high school) has to get up at 5:00 am for early morning seminary - catches a ride at 5:30, but then comes home after that until school starts at 9:00.

The rest of us are up at 6:15. Del then goes to pick up Matt from Seminary by 6:50.

Bug (Middle School) has to catch his bus at 7:10.

The younger 3 (Elementary School) leave the house by 7:20.

Mornings are psycho now.

I was making them laugh. CHEESY!

This is Bug on the 2nd day of school, as he already left to catch his bus before I remembered to take a pic on the FIRST day.

We love school. School is our friend.

Grandma's visit...

This is Grandma Karen. Also the star of the "Scaring Karen" blog that you can find to your right. We love her - she's fun, creative, and likes to help organize things.

Everybody says she and I look alike. We just don't see it.

These were taken during her visit. We miss her already.

Playa del Carmen & Cali....

Del and I went on a trip August 8th - 14th to Playa del Carmen - it's close to Cancun. We spent most of the week walking up and down the beach, or sitting by the pool. No outings, no excursions, just hanging out 24/7 talking. We have no pictures. OK, we have 2. One when we arrived, and then one when we left to come home. They're really not that exciting, so I'm not posting.

Mom came to stay with the kids while we were gone. The kids said they had a great time - she even helped them make their own pillow cases. AND she organized my hair-color stuff, cleaned out my fridge, my bathroom, helped the kids with their rooms, etc. LOVE you, Mom.

Del had to go to California that Monday for a business trip. He came home for lunch to see us before his flight, and asked if I wanted to go with him. YES PLEASE! We coerced Mom into staying a few more days - and she happily agreed. THANKS MOM!

Last Tuesday Del ditched his afternoon meetings, and we played in San Francisco all day. We hadn't been for quite a while together. It was fun playing tourist.

We started at Fisherman's Wharf. Had to buy a jacket - it gets COLD around the bay.

It's tradition - must eat at Bubba Gumps for lunch.

Del - waiting for lunch to arrive.

Wow - we're tan. Del looks Mexican.

Next stop - Alcatraz. We've already done the tour of Alcatraz last time we were there - so this is just a pic in front of it.

Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory. We always go for their Sundaes. YUMMMM.

LOVE this pic. He's practicing his "CHEESE" for the camera.

Del's mad photography skills. Love how I'm blurred, and the cars on the bridge are in focus. Cracks me up.

We decided to walk across the length of the bridge to work off our Sundaes. Took us about an hour and 15 minutes. SUPER WINDY!

Don't JUMP! Del was wondering if this really stopped people.

Video from on top of the bridge. It's really windy, so you can barely hear the talking.

This is the lovely hairdo after our walk across the bridge. SOOOO windy. Whole new meaning to the "wind blown" look.

On Wednesday I took a quick trip to Elk Grove to see my sister Kelsey and all the girlfriends while Del had to work all day.

Met Kenna in the Rite Aid parking lot. She was working and took a break. We hung out in the car talking for about an hour. It was nice.

Lunch at BJ's with Nicole, Suzi, Jill, and Kelsey. Tami and Shelley were stuck in a meeting.

That night Del and I stopped in to see Ryan and Rebekah and their clan. Georgia and Bear were already in bed. Everybody's getting so big!

It was a nice quick trip. Glad we got to see everybody we did, but missed some others. Hopefully next time.

OR - they could come visit US?! (not holding my breath)

Cataracts....

A couple weeks ago all the kids went in for an eye exam. Time for new glasses for 3 of the hoodlums (Matt, Trav & Syd). The other 2 have MY eyes - 20/20 Thankyouverymuch.

One time when we lived in Mesa, Del wanted me to get tested to see if I needed glasses. He thought I had a depth perception problem, because I couldn't see the car in front of me until I was almost on top of it, and would slam on my brakes. After the exam, I had to break the news to him that I had 20/20 vision, and it was just my driving. He still complains that I need my brakes changed more than anybody else he knows. I come by it naturally - I get it from my MOM. (yeah, you know it, don't deny it.)

As part of the exam all the kids got their pupils dilated. Sooooo funny driving home with a bunch of kids that look like geriatrics with cataracts.

Had to snap a pic. They were not thrilled. Ehhhh - who cares.

(Bug looks like a hit-man, and I think Rylee looks blind - like she doesn't know which direction the camera is.)

Idle hands.....

My dad used to say "Idle hands are the devil's workshop."

I never really understood just how true that is until these last few months. This summer has been less-productive than I had anticipated.

Alas, I am turning over a new leaf. No more idle hands. I have projects planned, menus to prepare, rooms to decorate, and the blog to keep updated on a regular basis.

No more slacking.

Wish me luck.