Mud room project

This room turned out to be more time consuming than we thought. We or I should say Matt just finished the final touches last week. He work so hard with his limited time and with family coming and going this summer. Once again, I am amazed at what he did with the mud room. It looks great!

A new look...

The kitchen table needed a refinish like 5 years ago, so we finally got tired of the stickiness and just went for it. Matt and I have never done this before and it turned out to be a great project to do during Saturday's session of General Conference. We sanded the table and put a rejuvenating oil over the natural wood and then put a clear coat to make it smooth and shine. This whole process had to be in steps and had to wait 2 hours between coats so, hence a great conference project. It looks and smells so new! Now, when we have guests over to eat we don't have to worry about placing them on the good side of the table to avoid the embarrassment of the old grime that would not come off.

Birthday Girl

Monday was my birthday and this day of the year always makes me think of what kind of a person I am and what I want to accomplish before my next birthday. It also is a day I reflect on all my many blessings I have in my life. This year on my birthday I got to meet with both the kids teachers and got to listen about all the great things the kids do and how they are a pleasure in class. Blessing accounted for that I have this opportunity to be a mother to these nicely behaved kids that their teachers can't say enough about. Then it was on to getting Carter's haircut and torchering the kids to get their flu shots. (Just kidding no torchering, just heavily convincing them that we needed to get it done). Then they were relieved that they only had to get the mist and of course they got a a new toy.
We ended the day at the Olive Garden (my favorite place) and I thoroughly enjoyed not having to cook dinner that night.
Always a treat!
Thanks to everybody that called, sent packages, cards, treats and text messages. All of them are much appreciated and makes the day just a bit different than all the rest.

Future Cardinelle's

Ashlynn got to participate in a performance during half time at our local High School. Go Northridge Knights! The girls were taught by the dance team (The Cardinelle's) and got to watch one of the Cardinelle's dance routines. I was even impressed by their talent!

The girls had so much fun performing and the game was exciting with us scoring so much at the beginning of the game. I loved Carter's comment in the car after the game "Were you nervous with all the people in the stands" and Ashlynn stating "Nope, it was fun!" They are definitely two different kids, but I love them both.

Ashlynn and her friend Riley after the performance with their glow necklaces.

This is a horrible picture, but I had to post a group photo for my blog book.

Our Labor Day

The kids have been eyeing the Boondocks every time we pass it. They have been asking when are we going to go. I think they have forgot that we have been to the Boise Boondocks several times. Since it is here in Utah too they were convinced it was different. So, we decided to go on Labor Day with every other person in Davis County. It was the busiest day they have ever seen so far this year. We still managed to have fun and enjoy ourselves. Carter and Ashlynn got the hang of miniature golf. Carter even got a hole in one and Ashlynn was just glad to get the ball in the hole.

We also did some track racing. This place did have a Rookie Track that Carter could drive the car without any help. He thoroughly enjoyed being a driver! After racing we played some arcade games and scored some googly eyes, tiara and a Lego set. Then we headed home to watch the Boise State Game which ended the night with a big victory over Virgina Tech. We still support our Broncos!

Kite Festival

Off Track Swimming Lessons

On our last 3 weeks of break from school the kids have been busy taking swim lessons. I am so impressed with both of their swimming skills and their confidence in the water. They both have improved immensely.

Last year, Ashlynn would not leave the platform and swim to water where she could not touch. This year she has mastered that skill and has finally graduated level 2 and she completed 1 session of level 3. She just needs to fine tune her swimming strokes and not be just a spaz in the water. The girls just makes me laugh! Everything is a game and fun to her as she is pretending to drown and drive her teacher crazy. I just love her fun attitude!

She loves sporting her new goggles.

Carter continues to impress me each time he steps into the water. It just amazes me that he struggles so much with other life worries, but when it comes to being in the water he is totally different boy. When I first saw that his class was being held in the 12 foot water, I wasn't sure if he could handle it because he has been able to touch the bottom of the pool in all of his previous lessons. Carter proved himself and did not struggle with it at all. He passed levels 3 & 4 for the summer lessons. He is now entering level 5 and this is last lesson before he can join the competition swim team. He is going to take the last level in November when we are off track from school and maybe see about getting him on the swim team this Spring. His swim teacher said that he maybe the youngest kid in the class, but he can definitely keep up and even out swim most of the kids in his class. He is slightly nervous to be swimming with the 10-12 year olds. He is excited to learn how to do the turns underwater with lap swimming and most of all he wants to learn more tricks jumping off the diving board. We are just ecstatic that swimming is something that makes him feel happy, relaxed and continue to build his confidence.