I have been trying to find a time to sit down (when I feel good) and write for a couple weeks now. It has been hard to sit this morning as Audrie was rushing out the door for swim practice (she rides her bike) only to return a few minutes later declaring she found a lost dog! She is such an animal lover...needless to say we "had" to go save it. So after getting up early to be able to write it is now almost 10am (and Tyler just rolled out of bed...teenager hood here we come!).
So it's been busy! And now this is going to be so short...sorry Everyone finished up school, Audrie graduated 5th grade (check out her gorgeous pic attached- she is so photogenic it is unbelievable). Tyler of course did really well as did Kaylee and Sam is just as happy as can be to have her idols home all the time (Audrie and Kaylee).
We did our "Disney Cruise reveal"...
(five days later...)
...our Disney cruise reveal was a lot of fun! We started off with a Disney themed dinner with "Lady and the Tramp" Spaghetti and Meatballs, a "Ratatouille sauce", a medley of vegetables "sprinkled with sea salt by Ariel", and finally the dessert of "Tiana's famous beignets". They each got a mickey shirt and wore them for the picture. We didn't tell them about the cruise right then because we were waiting for our phone call from Mickey, Minney and Goofy. They finally called and the girls eyes lit up! Sam had no clue what it really meant, I'm still not sure she understands, although she does ask about it a lot. Needless to say we are REALLY excited about it, and are starting to plan excursions and everything. Should be a blast!
We enjoyed our first week of summer with lots and lots of friends, swimming with friends and swimming competitively. Audrie has had swim practice daily for weeks now and has really blossomed. She has had two swim meets and done very well in both of them. She is among the top 4 in most of the heats she's raced. Her most impressive event was the 100yard Individual Medley (or IM). They have to swim the length of the pool (25 yards) doing a different stroke each length, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly and freestyle. SHE KILLED IT. Was in first place most of the race, got a little tired at the end, but pushed as hard as she could and won by a few seconds!! It was so fun to watch. She was on cloud nine for the rest of the night (which was a long night). Those swim meets are no laughing matter...they require you as parents to volunteer (or kick your kid off the team and a $200 fee) and they last from 6pm-11pm. We had one Monday and Weds, so by Thursday we were pooped, and sunburned ;)
Tyler has entered an entire different stage of life where friends are EVERYTHING. He has played at friends homes, or invited them over every single day. He simply can not live without them. Luckily his little group of friends are really, really good kids.
I have been able to go to the temple three times in the last three weeks. Tyler went with me and a couple of my YW a few weeks ago. He was able to do some family names which was great :) Then last week Andy and I went and did initiatory for some family names, which was the first time I've done initiatory in years! I have always loved that ceremony. I feel the spirit SO strongly every time I do it. The first name I did I just couldn't hold it together and ended up bawling like a baby...I think the fact that it's so personal makes so there are no barriers, no walls, no facades really creates an opportunity for to feel the spirit. Anyway, loved it. Then this week we had a our youth temple trip, where Tyler again did some family names (we are loaded on endowments and sealing's now!).
It actually was bittersweet this last time because Tyler had to leave early due to his Scout camp. He and a few other boys went through first and one of the leaders drove them to their caravan and I didn't even get to say goodbye to him :( He is gone for an entire week to Wimberly, TX (yes where all the major flooding was), but they are at a camp that is at a really high elevation (or so we were told to alleviate our worries). I'm such a baby when my kids are gone...I mean I started missing him BEFORE he even left. Ridiculous I know. Imagine me when he leaves on his mission! I'm going to be a hot mess. We are praying for his safety :)
We have had a lot of missionary work going on within our family. It's been great, not very successful with second visits, but still we are growing outside our comforts zones. It's definitely something I am having to push myself and really pump myself up to do sometimes. Hopefully we will have some successes soon :)
Our fruit cocktail tree's have been baring a plethora of fruit this year!! We had a decent apricot harvest, but our plum harvest has been GINORMOUS. We still have plums coming off that tree. Just buckets and buckets full of plums! I made a batch of raspberry plum jam using my newly discovered victorio strainer, which I am in love with. It turned out quite tart, but absolutely delicious!!
My pregnancy is going well. I just feel a little large, but that's just the way it goes with me. I went on a run on Thursday and it really, really affected my hip. Cami has always had hip issues when pregnant, but I have never experiences that before. It was terribly uncomfortable. But fortunately I seem to be okay now. I have been swimming the last few days hoping that it would help alleviate any issues and it seems to have helped a lot. Either way I think running is going to have to be out of my exercise routine for a while. I am determined to stay active throughout this pregnancy though! Maybe the pool with have to be my go to for the rest of the summer (I know Ali is craving a pool desperately, too bad you're not closer AL!). I
Audrie's birthday is Tuesday and we had big plans including a "Dive in movie" outside on a projector while her friends and her lounged in the pool, but a tropical disturbance seems to be really throwing a wrench into our plans. Right now it doesn't look good, so we are going to have to come up with a plan B. I'm thinking some fun games are in order. Time to get on Pinterest, hahaha.
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