A labor free day

We had a pretty relaxing Labor Day as we spent the morning at the beach. We are loving our yellow cart that carries all our stuff!

Finished the day playing croquet with some family.

A nice and relaxing day. Just how we like it.

Church skirts

The boys wore "church skirts" for Friday and Sunday activities during their cultural week.  I asked them for a picture before they took off to Pulehu chapel Sunday morning. (The boys like to wear the skirts because they get to wear slippers and shorts underneath, but for some reason some of them forgot to wear them.) The youth had Sunday services at the Pulehu chapel, the first lds chapel on the Hawaiian Islands, along with the 9 other wards in our stake.

It's a Samoan Thing

Instead of doing a youth conference this year, the youth in our ward had a cultural fair. Each ward got a different culture. We got Samoan. We started practicing way back in January. I have nothing to do with youth but was asked to perform because some of the youth leaders did not want to dance. It was so much work, I feel like one performance was not enough. I'm sure Jordan feels otherwise. He did great though and I am glad we got to do this together. My sis in law Suzy recorded most of the dance so everyone could enjoy. Thanks suz!

Finishing what I started

It only took me a year but I finally finished the quilts I started last year. I wanted to completely quilt them myself by stippling (machine quilting by moving my quilt in a random pattern) them so I put it off until I got brave enough, and time enough, to learn to do it. After practicing for a little bit on a 12x12 scrap, I just decided to go for it. By the end of the first quilt I was getting the hang of it. I don't have it perfected but it think it is well enough to pass.

A much needed lesson

For Family Home Evening we learned how to tie ties. It is a lesson that is long overdue for one of them, but I needed it just as much. As a mother of 4 sons, it is one of those "things you need to know" just as reflexes like a ninja are helpful when they decide it time to play catch with anything hard they just found on the floor. To make the triangle at the top of the tie is harder than I thought but I'm sure with practice it will all become too easy.

For the treat-We went to McDonald's and ordered 4 strawberry and 1 hot fudge for Rich sundae's. Love that dollar menu!

Quiet house

The first day was school started today and I couldn't believe how quiet my house was.

Dylan was pretty nervous about his first day as a 1st grader in a new building with new teachers. He came home tired but ready to do it all again. My 1st Grader

My 8th Grader

My 6th Grader

I have the best family and friends

We had such a fun vacation I wish I would have taken more pictures.
Here are some random pictures from our 2 1/2 weeks in Utah.
Highlights
There was fishing, fishing, and more fishing.
Bowling x2
Seeing old neighbors who will always be friends.
Cramming in elevators like a bunch of sardines.

A vacation in Utah wouldn't be a vacation without eating at the BYU creamery!
Adult time at P.F. Chang's we missed you Amiel and Melynda!
Parachute fireworks. It sometimes causes crying but mostly it is just so much fun!
Meeting my new nephew Owen.
Enjoying the Stadium of Fire Fireworks outside the Stadium. It may be the cheap way to go but I really enjoy it.
Jacob started walking down stairs.

Spending time with 4 families all under one roof. Good times. Thanks Rebekah and Danny!

Enjoying the Zoo in the hot sun. We couldn't get enough of the mist machines.

Richard vandalizing property to proclaim love is that so wrong?

Fireworks at the park

Packing all my nieces in a minivan rocking out to I've got a Feeling

Spending time with family-the best!

No pictures of shopping but definitely a highlight