I had some bananas that had gone bad, so I made banana bread with them, and thought that it would be a great after school snack for the kids, cause they love banana bread. I doubled the recipe, and wanted to freeze what we didn't use. I kind of new that this would happen if I used my food saver, since I know that bread is airy. I had to try it anyway though, and here's the result. Now you know, so don't try this yourself - lol!

Our handsome 1st grader:)

Good lookin' 5th grader:)

They will never be in the same school again!:(

Last night was Zane's back to school night, tonight is McCall's. I can't believe we've already reached the end of summer, it seemed super short this year. It's because of this crazy wet summer we've had. I hope autumn stretches out and is nice and loooooong. McCall is starting a whole new school, and taking the bus. It just seems so unreal. I remember when he started kindergarten and how I thought that he was getting so big. Now here he is, starting 5th grade, playing football and he signed up to play the trumpet! He tells me almost everyday that he doesn't want to play football anymore. He hasn't even had his first game yet! But, we've told him that this is something that he has committed to, and he just can't quit when he thinks it's hard. Life's not like that. He is funny though, cause he'll come home afterwards and tell us how much fun it was. He is so like me, it's scary! My mom always, and I mean ALWAYS, had to force me to do stuff,(especially go to girls camp) but I always came home happy and telling her how much fun I'd had. I guess I still do that. Anyway, that is one thing that I wish he didn't get from me, cause you can miss out on so much! He is lucky to have parents like us though, cause we won't let him quit certain things;-}

I have started shopping for Christmas. I just hate it when it's almost the middle of December and I still have half my shopping left. Whenever the kids have told me they want something, I write it down. Now "all" I have to do is remember what I bought and for whom plus where I put it!

My mom will be here in 28 days!!!!!!

Amanda, Zane and Charly playing in the water.

Derick, McCall and Justin playing in the water.

Amanda trying to eat a HUGE marshmallow

without making a huge mess. It was so

FUNNY!:)

Randy wouldn't let me take his picture, this is

all I got:(

Jerry and Linda

I will post some more pictures on here later today. Right now I don't have time because I am going up to the cannery to help make swiss bread for Swiss Days. That bread is mighty tasty - mmmm;-}

Mar and Brandi's profile:)

Jordy, Mar and Bryce

Zack and Bart. Bart is Brent's younger brother,
and Zack is Sandy's oldest son.

Marlee posing:)

Tammy, don't be mad at me! You do to look good

in pictures!:)

Derick, Cary, Megan and Bailey. Makin' smores -

mmmmm!

Cary, Megan(Bailey's friend), Bailey and Barbara

in the background.

Jordy(Maria's little brother), Bryce, baby David

and Maria. Bryce can't seem to help himself when
there's a camera around:)

American Monument called a few hours before we left for Bear Lake and said that they were coming the following morning to put up Jake's headstone. So typical. The guy I talked to was very nice though, and sent an e-mail with a picture of the headstone. We went to the cemetery today and I took some pictures of it that I will put up here, along with some pictures from Bear Lake. We had a really good time there, and my niece Amanda came along with us, which made it more fun:) It was her first time being there. I missed Jake a lot while we were there. Just knowing how he would have loved every minute of it, especially roasting marshmallows:) One day we'll see him again and my world will be perfect:) I just need to say again how thankful I am for Derick, McCall and Zane. They are awesome and I love them so much!

It is the middle of the night and I am awake. Why, you ask? Because at 10:30pm, just as we were about to go to bed we heard a weird noise coming from Zane's room. We hurried in there, and there our little guy had thrown up in bed! It seems like these kinds of things always have to happen at night, and I for one would like to know why. It's bad enough when it happens during the daytime, but it's a lot worse at night when both the child and the parents are tired. He has done it twice since then, and I hope this is it cause he just doesn't have anymore in him. And of course I can't sleep because I am worrying about him, wondering if he is done or not. Poor little guy! We are supposed to leave for Bear Lake tomorrow, so I hope no one else gets it, or that we don't get it while we are there. Thank heaven for washers an dryers!

I am a little confused about the day - it's Wednesday, but I haven't been in bed yet so it feels like Tuesday still. On Tuesday we went on a hike with some friends. Alyson and her kids, and Malinda with her kids. Alyson also brought her niece and nephew, and I brought my niece Amanda along as well:) We hiked Timpanooke, but only to Scout Falls, which isn't even half way to the top, but we had 9 kids, and we started out too late in the day, cause it got HOT! We still had a good time, and none of the kids complained as far as I know, which is even better:)

Monday was McCall's football draft. That is going to be tough, but good for him. They are going to have practises every weekday for 1 hour and 45 minutes. He is going to be one hungry and tired kid at the end of each day I think, especially when school starts.

I am so tired and just want to go lay down in my nice, cozy bed, but, Zane was just sick again, so I guess I will hang out in the living room with him and watch him sleep.

I have been on this cleaning kick lately, and I am LOVING it! We have a walk in closet, and for the last long while I haven't been able to stand next to where my shirts and skirts are hanging, I've had to lean towards it to grab clothes. That's bad. Derick's half has been picked up and organized, can I just say ACCOUNTANT! It definitely fits his personality, cause he likes things orderly and organized. I do too, but I don't get all bent out of shape if things aren't just so. I love the smell of Murphy's oil that I use to mop our wood floors, and the smell of citrus scented pine sol I use on our bathroom and bedroom floors:)

Last night we went to see Derick's grandma Smith. She lives in South Jordan at a retirement place. She has a wheelchair that the kids love to use, cause it's battery operated. It's actually Derick's uncle Kendall, that has gotten the kids into it:) Anyway, yesterday I asked them what it's called, (I can tell at times that English is my second language) and they said a rolling chair, and then Zane said 'it's an electric chair' - lol! If he only knew what that is, right?

I just found out a week ago that my good friend Lisbeth, in Norway got married! I am so happy for her and her husband Kjetil! I wish them all the best, CONGRATS guys! They just wanted it to be a small and quiet affair, and I guess it was;-} If we were to get married now, both Derick and I agree that we would have eloped. Well, I am just glad I don't have to worry about that, cause we are going to celebrate our 13th anniversary in just over 3 months.

We FINALLY, FINALLY! heard from American Monument! But that was because both Derick and I contacted them. Derick e-mailed them and I called them without knowing that Derick had already made contact. Can you believe it? They still hadn't received the granite! When Derick corresponded with them they said that it was being shipped from China. CHINA??? Holy heck, could they get it any further away? It's not like we ordered an extremely rare granite, either, it looks just like any other that we have seen at the cemetery. They called and left a message yesterday that it had arrived, and that it was going into production today, and they say that it will be about a week before it's done. With our luck they will probably call and tell us that they are putting it up when we are in Bear Lake next weekend. This has been bad customer service. Not once did they contact us to let us know that it would be delayed. They really should refund us some money since it's past the due date. Not holding my breath on that one though.

Yesterday it was 3 weeks until school starts! It hasn't even felt like summer yet, but I guess time goes by even if the weather is crappy. I am not ready for the hustle and bustle that it will bring with it, especially the dreaded homework! It really shouldn't be legal to send kids to school for that long and then expect them to continue the process after they get home, grrrrrr! McCall has been telling us that he wants to play tackle football, so on Tuesday we went and got him signed up! Draft night is Monday, whatever that means. I have no clue whatsoever about any of this, so it'll be interesting:) Zane wants to wrestle, but that doesn't start until November.

My mom has been talking about coming to visit us again, which we are so excited about! She got her ticket this week and she comes next month!:) That will be a record this year for seeing each other, since we went there in January, then she came here in March for Kristine and Brent's wedding, and then now - awesome! Glad i deg, mamma:)