IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE FALL

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. The weather starts to cool and its so nice to be outside. We also have lots of family birthdays and it's a fun excuse to get together.

C Man climbing in Maple Canyon.

Princess P and I at a family birthday party.

C Man with baby W at the birthday party.

BACK TO SCHOOL PICS

If you know me at all, you know I hate going back to school. When I had tons of littles at home, it was different, but my kids take care of themselves now and they are my buddies and I really miss them when they're gone all day. I also hate going back to a regimented schedule. I love the freedom and spontaneousness of summer and I miss it dreadfully when I get back into the school routine.

My youngest two- C Man 10th grade, Princess P 7th grade.

C Man had a friend take some pictures of he and his buddies. Looks like they're in a band.

Nice socks! I feel a vibe of the 80's...

Our McDonald's opened back up this month after being closed all summer. Here's the girls going in to check it out.

FAREWELL, ELDER C

Another Elder from my side of the family has gone out! He got called to Arizona and is such a cute, good kid. I know he'll do wonderful. I'm sure my parents are up in heaven dancing the jitterbug in happiness!

Future Elders- cousins: M, M and C Man.

We had a good time in Price listening to him speak, eating at the luncheon, visiting with family and friends and saying good-bye.

Cousins: M, C Man, RM A, and the man of the hour- Elder C.

The family that was there from my side.

GORDON FAMILY REUNIONS ROCK!

My husband's family really does put on a great reunion. We have such a blast even though we do almost the same thing every year. It just never gets old.

BREAKFAST IN THE MOUNTAINS:

Princess P holds her new cousin! Aren't they pretty in pink??

When your mom gives you a tattoo...

Awesome A, Sister S and Elder D wait patiently for their breakfast.

We sure do love cousin time!

The guys gotta mountain bike down!

RED NECK SLIP-N-SLIDE:

One of the all time favorite traditions of the reunion.

Then, because going down on your bum gets boring, we have to go down standing up.

Sister S helps Little W.

Me with my cute boys!

Princess P, Miss G and Miss J- the Middle School girls.

SCANDINAVIAN FESTIVAL 2016

My family has a strong tradition of attending our town's Scandinavian Days over Memorial Day weekend. It is so ingrained that Big C has even quit doing anything else on that day. He actually enjoys my family and extended family and I am so glad because I really enjoy them too. I am very blessed to have amazing family!

Some of my kids (the middle 4) with friends and cousins.

All my kids were home this weekend too, so it was really fun to be with everyone!

Watching the parade for the last time from my sister's old house.

Princess P and her friend Miss K with the vikings!

Some of our family that was there. I have such great cousins! I just love them!

My sweetheart, ready to do the Vike on a Bike race he helped plan.

Elder D was the only other one to race this year.

After a nice day, with a brief rainstorm, BBQ turkey lunch, a little bit of shopping at the venders, visiting with all the friends and relatives we saw at the festival, we had the traditional BBQ at my house with all my family, cousins and friends that were in town. It was SO much fun! Can't wait for next year.

SCHOOL'S OUT!

I, along with most parents on the planet, have very mixed feelings about school being out. I love the unstructured freedom that comes with summer, but not all the boredom and trying to keep kids busy that tags along as well. Summer never seems long enough though, so I must love it more than I dread it.

3x3 Tournament

Sqwad FC- C Man's 3x3 tournament team and coach. (C Man in the Qatar jersey).

Princess P plays a purple cello at Arts Night.

JAR OF DATES

I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again... my daughter is awesome. She was sick of my son doing the same old worn out dates, i.e. watch a movie, go to a movie, etc... So she sent him a list of ideas that he could do for his dates and I just loved them. I thought they were definitely share-able, so here they are (plus a few more I added)... 

Dates! Appropriate for ages 16 and up, but probably more appealing to the younger crowd. Print out the ones you want, cut them into strips and put them in a jar. Let your date choose or just let it be inspiring for you, so you don't get in a date rut!

•  Build a fire and roast mallows

•  Go doorbell ditching

• Cover your eyes and pick $5 movie

• Go to an art show and get hot chocolate

• Go get frozen yogurt and get on the roof of the Eccles center or other building

• Draw with sidewalk chalk

• Cook her pizza

•  Find a music concert/local event

• Go Sledding (on snow or sand)

• Get hot chocolate or a soda, walk around a park and swing on swings

• Buy fruit and make smoothies/milkshakes

• Denny's run no matter what time- play 'I Spy' on the way

• Paint each other's faces and then go out for ice cream

• Play chess (winner gets something/ loser loses something- like choosing where to eat/what movie to watch)

• Play 20 questions while making brownies

• Get temporary tattoos, put them in matching visible places, buy candy and have Mario Cart battle

• Play a board game in student center or a random public place

• Play a prank on a mutual friend (decorate car, TP their house)

• Hit golf balls into a lake

• Buy each other outfits at a second-hand store and go out to dinner

• Go on a hike, but not on a trail

• Find coupons online and let them decide what you do that night

• Get away from the lights of town and go stargazing with the free Sky Map app

• Create a scavenger hunt for other couples and compete

• Go play pool, mini golf or arcade games

• Go to an art museum

MHS JV SOCCER 2016

I really love soccer and it has been so much fun watching C Man playing this year in his first High School season. He's been playing forward striker most of the time and had a good season. He's pretty devoted to the game and practices on his own A LOT, so it's been great to see his hard work paying off. Here are some of my favorite pictures from his Freshman season.

One of my friends caught one of his goals on film! I'm too much of a spaz to film during exciting times.

Corner kick.

Cuddling up with the girls during the Varsity game.

Good buddies! T, N, C Man and C.

Corner kick.

Throw in.

The MHS JV team for 2016.

Pre-game prayer. (C Man's happy about it).

ELECTION CAMPAIGN

You win some and you lose some. C Man wanted to run for Sophomore VP, so we made some posters and he handed out candy and made a speech. When it came to the election, though, he didn't win. As we know from our current presidential election, however, the best man does not always win. I thought we did run a good campaign though. 

Here's some poster ideas. They didn't work for us, but hey, maybe they will for you. I thought some of them were pretty good... (if I do say so myself).

CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME

My two college boys went to California with their buddies to camp on the beach for their Spring Break. I think they had a great time, but it was pretty windy and their stuff came back coated in sand. 

My boys are the ones in the hats.

Point Mugu, with no filter according to Awesome A...

EASTER WITHOUT MOM

I missed Easter this year. I left the day before and the day the Gordons do their big Easter shindig at the farm. It was sad that I missed, but I sure did have fun on my trip, so I can't be too sad. Thanks to my SIL I got so super cute pictures to share!

Getting lined up for the big candy hunt in the orchard.

Girl cousins!

The kids with their sugar!

The Gordon Guys!

Candy exchange.

Princess P and Miss G.