A huge part of summer!

Kyler and Karlee decided to try something new and participate on a neighborhood swim team (the Fins) this summer.  They had a great time!  And they got to swim with their cousins - Collin and Samantha - and their good friends, Keaton, Braden, Jaren, and Dallin.

The set up.

The neighborhood pool we swam at the most.

The starting blocks.

Getting ready.

Warming up.

Kyler

Our good friend, Keaton.

Waiting.

It was a hot summer here in Augusta.  Umbrellas helped a little!

Jana and our good friend, Denise.

Keaton and Kyler  :)

There was an artist among the parents, who would often decorate the kids!  The girls loved this!  Pretty fun!

A timer.  As parents, we helped work the swim meets.  I liked being a timer.

Ready to race.

Kyler

Samantha

Collin

Karlee

Karlee - making sure she is at the right place at the right time.

Samantha

Kyler

Collin

This is probably hard to see, but checkout block 2 and block 5. 
Samantha versus Collin - starting swimmers for a mixed relay!  :)

Racing.

Samantha

Samantha

Karlee

Kyler

Karlee

Kyler

Collin

For one of the meets, the coaches asked the kids if there was any particular race that they wanted to be in.  Karlee volunteered for an IM.  This race involves 4 different strokes and 4 lengths of the pool.  Now Karlee was known to cheat at practices - especially when tired - by walking on the bottom of the pool.  In a race that disqualifies you.  She also, in a hurry by the coaches, got pulled into a race that she was not supposed to swim in, but had to swim 2 lengths of the pool (unknown to her) - and came out crying.  With that history I said, "You volunteered for an IM?!?"  Karlee said, "Yep!"  So I said, "Well ok - but you need to work hard and do your very best.  And if you try your very best it does not matter if you get disqualified, unless you touch the bottom of the pool."  She just smiled and walked away. 

Her race.

Karlee getting ready.

Off she goes!

Racing.

And done.  Did she make it? 
Yes she did, and she worked so hard! 
I was so proud of her and I think she was too!  A great accomplishment!

Silly boys taking a break and having fun!

I loved how everyone cheered on and supported each other.

Samantha

Braden, Collin, Kyler, and Keaton

Karlee getting a high five from her friend.

Awards morning and party.

Samantha

Kyler and Karlee enjoying the breakfast.

The coaches threw cans of soda and bottles of Gatorade
into the pool for the kids to get - Crazy, but super fun!

Kyler, Keaton, and Collin. 
Collin got a stash and was very good at trading!

After the season was over, Divisionals were held at the Aquatics Center.  The kids were very excited and had a great time.  They swam maybe 3-4 races each.  Karlee's best... 8th overall in the backstroke in her age group, and Kyler's best... 3rd overall in the backstroke.   

Remembering 9/11

10 years ago I was 9 months pregnant, at the mall picking out a "going home" outfit for our "soon to be born" baby.  Everything got very quiet - all music turned off - and I just remember it being so weird.  After a phone conversation, the cashier in the store told me what had just happened.  We both looked at each other like, "what?"  I walked back to the car, called Layne, and went home. 

I am truly thankful for the people that try to protect and serve this country and our freedoms, everyday.  There are so many heroes among us! 

Today at church we sang, America the Beautiful and We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet.     

Karlee

This is going to sound awful coming from a mom, but...

"Nice and sweet" are not the first words that come to mind when describing Karlee.  I often think freckles and feisty.  With that being said, many of you know that her emotions and reactions run high and extreme on both ends - sweet or rotten - excited or sad.  Anyway, today I went to the school to eat lunch first with Kavan and then Karlee!  It was a great time!  And I had not one, but three teachers come to me and express just how sweet and helpful Karlee is.  Karlee has two children in her class with special needs, and guess who just happens to willingly love and help these children?  I love her!  :) 

The Temple

This past Saturday I was able to go with our church youth group to the temple.  It was a beautiful day!  And it was Kyler's first temple trip to be able to do the work.  He was so excited!  He had a great day!  When Kyler and I were talking about it he really focused on the importance of being baptized by immersion.  He said, "Mom, I thought about life, death, and resurrection each time."  (And the fact that Brother Heath would just pop him right up out of the water each time.)  After we were done, we headed to the bookstore where Brandon (a 17 year old youth) came to Kyler, put an arm around his shoulder and said, "So, how was it?"  Kyler smiled real big and just nodded.  Then Brandon asked, "Do you remember any names?"  Kyler did, and he also remembered that one shared his birth month and day.  Kyler was able to do the work for some of Brother Carlsen's ancestors, which he thought was pretty neat!  I had such a great time sharing this beautiful day with McKenzie and Kyler!  I love them!

So Fun!

McKenzie and Zach - they always have a fun time.



You gotta watch out for that Bishop Anderson!  :)

  

   

Spaetzle

So I have this awesome aunt that I love!  She makes all kinds of yummy stuff in her kitchen - with all her neat kitchen tools and gadgets!  I was in Ohio for a family reunion just a short while ago and she taught me how to make homemade noodles and spaetzle.  Just so you know, I love spaetzle!  After I came home from Ohio McKenzie and I made spaetzle.  However, we made quite a mess because we didn't own a "spaetzle maker."  It was still really good, but I was ready to order a "spaetzle maker."  Then to my surprise what comes in the mail just a couple days later...a box from my aunt containing a pasta cutter and a "spaetzle maker."  How awesome is that!?!  So we had spaetzle for dinner.  Making spaetzle (with a spaetzle maker) takes about 10 minutes from start to finish - and it is yummy!!!

Karlee took these pictures while Layne and I made spaetzle with the "spaetzle maker"...

Make dough while boiling water.

Drop dough in hopper.

Move the hopper back and forth over pot.

When dough floats it is done.

Drain.

Serve it and or mix it with just about anything.  Aaaand it can be a main dish - a side dish - or a snack!  :)  Perfect for a tired mama and hungry kids!  And so yummy!  Thanks, Aunt Patty!  Sure do love you! :)

Where did summer go?

The summer went by so very fast and school is already in full swing. 

Kenzie (a freshman) is out the door for seminary by 5:55am,

Kyler (7th grade) catches the bus with Collin (8th grade) and Samantha (6th grade) at 7:00am,

and Karlee (4th grade) and Kavan (2nd grade) are on the bus by 7:24am.

My house is quiet, yet responsibility beckons.  I can remember telling my mom at age 11 that I wanted to stay 11 forever... things change!  :)  I've come to the conclusion that no matter who you are or what you do - life is busy.  Layne reminds me often to "pick out the good" - remember the "good" from each day. 

So today, I will do laundry with "sunshine in my soul!"  And relish in the freshness of clean clothes! :)

(Kyler planted sunflowers this year.  They were beautiful!)

A long time ago...

my brother and I played on the Jersey shore! :)