Summer fun 2012

Wow! What a crazy, busy summer we had this year. Logan and Alaina didn't have to wait long after school and dance finished up for the year before they had plenty of things to keep them busy until the start of school again. In May, before the end of school, we took the kids to the Museum of Idaho's exhibit of "A T.Rex named Sue." The kids had a lot of fun seeing all the dinosaurs and their bones.

I think they were shocked to see just how big these things really were. Garrett and Logan also went on their annual Father/Son soccer game weekend with my brother Wade and nephew Warren. This is the 3rd year in a row they have had this weekend and they all look forward to it every year.

Starting in June, both kids were busy with baseball/Tball. This was Logan's second year playing and he did really well. MUCH MUCH improved from last year. He had a great time and was lucky to be on a team with kids he already knew from school and church. June also brought Garrett and I to Salt Lake to attend the Real Salt Lake soccer game with our great friends, Chris and Jamie. Sadly RSL lost this game, but as always it was exciting and so much fun. Logan started into two new activities this summer; piano and karate. We have been super fortunate that he has great instructors for both. I can't believe how quickly he has taken to the piano. Within only 4 short weeks of starting lessons, not only was Logan ready for the piano recital that he is teacher was having, but he had both of his songs memorized. He did really well, and he has continued to excel.

With karate he has really done well also. He has great instructors who teach him the importance of respect and control: control of yourself and your temper. The better he gets with his karate the more self-confidence I see in him. Alaina loved T-ball and this was her first year. She had great coaches and she made some great friends on her team. She really had a lot of fun playing and she is looking forward to next year.

July was a mixture of emotions for sure. Garrett's grandmother passed away after battling with ovarian cancer. It was a really tough time for the family, but was a blessing to have her be out of her pain. She was truly an elect lady, and was always very sensitive to the needs of those around her. I am thankful for the knowledge of eternal families. That knowledge has been a great comfort to all the family. Barbra loved the 4th of July, it was one of her favorite holidays. She loved having the family together for picnics and the fireworks. The timing of her passing made it possible for all for all of the family to be together over the 4th, one last time. During this time of heartache was also a time of joy. We were blessed to have all of Garrett's family up for the funeral, and he was able to have some much needed brotherly time. The kids were able to play and have fun with their cousins at grandma's and built some great memories. July also brought more fun times for the kids. Logan and Alaina were able to take 2 sessions of swimming lessons, which they both did really well with this year. They worked hard, listed to their teachers, and made great progress this year.

The end of July was Garrett and my 10th wedding anniversary. We were able as a whole family to go down to attend another Real Salt Lake soccer game with our friends Chris and Jamie. This was Alaina's first time getting to go and she was so excited.

Thankfully Real won this game, and we all had a great time.

"If you believe, then just stand up on your feet and shout it loud, REAL! Here at the RioT the battle hymns begun, we're here for R S L!"

We are big time Kyle Beckerman fans (he's the team captain for Real), but Alaina LOVES Beckerman. She watches with us when we watch them on T.V. and loves watching Beckerman and her other favorite player Alvaro Saborio. She was ecstatic to see them in person. Beckerman keeps his hair in dreadlocks, and Alaina wanted her hair like his. So before we headed down I put her hair into multiple little braids all over her head. I think we had 25 braids when it was all said and done with.

August was pretty laid back. Logan was still busy with Cub Scouts, piano, and Karate; but overall they were able to just enjoy the rest of their summer playing before the back-to-school madness began. They are both happy to be back in school and to be seeing all of their friends.

They have been lucky, especially Alaina, to have super teachers this year. I can't believe Logan is in 3rd and Alaina is in 1st. It is going by so quickly!

September is almost here and the kids will be starting dance classes again. Logan is going to be taking a hip/hop class again, while Alaina will be starting baton this year in addition to her ballet/clogging/jazz class. I will be volunteering at the kids school in their classrooms as well as helping out with the PTO. Garrett is starting a new adventure as well in September. He will be taking a computer programming course, the first of many for him.