But today is August 31. Pretty much the end of summer. So here are just a few snippets of what our summer has been like:
- Failed camping attempt: At the beginning of June, we tried to go camping at Crystal Hot Springs. We loaded up the car Friday midday and headed up. Pitched our tent, and hit the mineral pools. Then we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. The only problem, we didn't plan for my allergies and A.J.'s cold. Saturday morning I woke up miserable, sneezing non stop and with itchy eyes and nose. And A.J. woke up with pink eye. We packed it up and headed home to find a doctor. So much for camping this summer!
- Work, work work: June was just a crazy month over all. James was working or traveling all the time. We were all glad when July rolled around and he was home more often.
- Just keep swimming: A.J. took three sessions of swim lessons this summer. He started out strong and passed level 1 with flying colors. Then his urge to goof off in the water took over and he still didn't pass level 2 after the second go around. But I feel strongly that he will keep taking lessons. I don't want to tell him he can't go to swim parties when he is 9 because he doesn't know how to swim.
- Raise those eyebrows: A.J. started physical therapy for his face. We've heard lots of good things about retraining the muscles to compensate for the nerve damage. We were blessed to find a great physical therapist who specialize in facial therapy right here in Salt Lake. (Even if A.J. is the youngest patient she has ever worked with). The next closest one is in Orange County, CA. So now we spend 10 minutes every day practicing smiling without closing his eye and sticking his tongue straight out.
- Cache Valley or Bust: At the end of June, A.J. and I got to go to Logan for the weekend for my cousin David's mission farewell. I love Cache Valley and it was great to spend time with my Aunt LeAnne and her family. I spent so much time with them when I was in college that I am closer to them than any of my other cousins. We took the Wii with us and introduced her family to the joys of Wii bowling, tennis, etc.
- Cubs is a bust: I finally had a total break down over the whole cub scout thing and ended up getting released. Still not entirely sure what I had to learn from the whole experience other than I am not cut out for cub scouts. But I did get to fill in a lot for the Primary Chorister this summer (which I love to do!) and I got called to teach Relief Society! I almost gave out a big "Woo Hoo" right in the bishop's office. It's one of my favorite callings and after the whole cubs fiasco, I feel like it really is a celestial vacation.
- B-W Adventure 2008 edition: It took a couple of tries and a whole lot of flexible planning, but we did manage to have a fun staycation with the Butlers this summer. They were suppose to come at the beginning of July but Darren hurt is back in a car accident so it turned into the end of July. We had big plans to go to Lagoon and Park City, but Darren's back was still giving him trouble, so we scaled back, but still managed to entertain the kids and the adults. Tera and I got to stamp and go shopping, the boys got to go to the movies and we took the kids to the Children's Museum and Liberty Park. We are lucky to have them for our friends and adventure buddies!
- July=swapping, convention style: Since Stampin' Up is located right here in Riverton, UT, they held their 20th Anniversary Convention in Salt Lake City the end of July/beginning of August. That means that I got to go! (I never would have gone if I had to pay for airfare and a hotel room). But I got a little carried away signing up for organized swaps through Split Coast Stampers and spent most of July (and June for that matter) making over 300 swap items. But convention was awesome! I got to meet some of my "virtual" friends and I learned that I am not the craziest person when it comes to stamping either. There were 7000 others just like me (dare I say some are even crazier?) all crammed into the Salt Palace! And I came away with lots of good ideas and things I wanted to buy. But it also inspired me to keep my business going. I am looking forward to next year, but I won't sign up for soooooo many swaps this time either. Here's a picture of my friends Amy and Amanda from Boise and Angie from North Carolina and me at convention:
- Watch for him in 2028: We watched the Olympics religiously. It brought back so many memories of our own Salt Lake Olympics. We cheered when Michael Phelps won the gold by a fingernail and when the Redeem team lived up to their hype. A.J. can't wait until 2028 when he is going to win a gold medal in Volleyball, Basketball, Swimming, Diving, and Running. I told him he better start eating his vegetables.
- August is a blur: I just asked James what we've been doing for the past month and neither of us can remember. So must be a whole lot of nothing. Actually, James spent a week working a special enforcement and then spent two weeks in Virginia. A.J. entertained himself by playing with matches and dialing 9-1-1 (not on the same day, and not related.) The new Stampin' Up Catalog came out and I signed up for a few more swaps through the mail. (Don't worry, I am a card carrying member of SA (Swappers Anonymous)).
- 51 weeks and counting til first grade: A.J. starts Kindergarten on Tuesday! I know I will be sad for a few minutes but then I will enjoy it and start counting down til he's in school all day!
- They are really letting him represent the USA?: James is off to El Salvador in a few weeks to do some training. He said to me yesterday, "Can you believe they are really sending me to El Salvador to represent the United States?" I said, "Why not, the LDS Church sent you to Canada as a representative when you were 19!" First he is going to a golf resort in Scottsdale for a "conference." (Did I really type that. Sorry that is just what I was thinking.)
- Cousins: My brother Hyrum and his family are coming to visit in just a few weeks. A.J. doesn't get to see his cousins too much so we are looking forward to seeing them while they are here.
- A Date with Mickey: we started out planning a trip to San Diego for October, but we just couldn't get the flights right into San Diego. But we could get perfect flights into Orange County, and they were offering amazing deals at the Disneyland Hotel so we took that as a sign. We will still be going to San Diego, but making a little stop at the happiest place on earth first. Can't wait!
- PJ's Cozy Creations is back: That's right, my neighbor Jen and I are going to start gearing up for our holiday boutique.
