To the cabin for the Holiday

Happy Birthday Sam!

This is my brother "Sam the Man" as we called him. He is my older brother. He has had his trials in life. But he is a man of faith and has been a great example to me. His wife Carolyn is a rock. I love them both dearly. Thanks Sam for being you. I love you!

The Bohemian bag

I have had a lot of fun sewing this last month. Jessie has been coming over to sew and she has made a few cute hand bags by Amy Butler. I have helped Carlie and Rylie sew a few things. We made Carlie the cutest skirt and Rylie a really cute jumper and skirt. I will post pictures of those later. The Bohemian bag is a Lila Tueller Design. I really enjoyed making it. I learned a few new things making this bag. She has her own line of fabric coming out in Sept. I can't wait! She is a good friend of mine and you can check out her blog here.

Geoff the BEST part of the trip!

Geoff showing his iPhone.

We had the best time visiting Geoff. It was too short but you take what you can get. We went to church with Geoff and Nick, then we went to breakfast at IHOP. Then we went to the harbor and did "Ride the Ducks." As you can see, you ride on land then splash into the harbor. Geoff's good friends, Nick Olsen, Mark and Mark's wife Paityn went with us. It was a lot of fun. Then we went to Cheesecake Factory. YUM! Good as always. Geoff has had a great summer and is extending a few week to make more sales. We have truly missed him. It is a good thing to have your only son doing so well and when they move out and are on their own you realize what a great blessing he has been in your life and all the great things he has taught you. I am very proud of Geoff and the things he is doing. I love him so much!

Fort McHenry

Birthplace of the National Anthem

“O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,” a large red, white and blue banner? “Whose broad stripes and bright stars . . . were so gallantly streaming!” over the star-shaped Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, September 13-14, 1814. The valiant defense of the fort by 1,000 dedicated Americans inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

This was also a very inspiring place for us. My girls really enjoy the American History trip and they are looking forward to History this year in school because they are going to be learning all about US History and the places that we went.

Valley Forge

Washington Headquarters.

Gen. Washington's faith in the moral rightness of the American cause never wavered. At Valley Forge he attempted to balance the wants of hungry soldiers and dissatisfied officers against the nearly incessant demand from political leaders the he pursue the war more aggressively against the British occupying th patriot capital all while operating in a disputed area where friend and foe were difficult to distinguish.

We experienced the History of Philadelphia!

We did a bus tour of the City and that was fun!

Tradition tells of a chime that changed the world on July 8, 1776, with the Liberty Bell ringing out from the tower of Independence Hall summoning the citizens of Philadelphia to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.


Independence Hall is, by every estimate, the birthplace of the United States. It was within its walls that the Declaration of Independence was adopted. It was here that the Constitution of the United States was debated, drafted and signed. That document is the oldest federal constitution in existence and was framed by a convention of delegates from 12 of the original 13 colonies. Rhode Island did not send a delegate. George Washington presided over the debate which ran from May to September 1787. The draft comprising a preamble and seven Articles, was submitted to all thirteen states and was to take effect when ratified by nine states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire, the ninth state, approved it and it became effective in March 1789.

What a great experience we had in Philadelphia! This is the heart of American History. It gives you chills to be where all our founding fathers were. These great men who were inspired and directed by God.

Baltimore here we come!

I love this picture of Geoff

Best buddies.

Halloween in 7th grade

This is Geoff being Geoff. We are leaving Tuesday to go to Philadelphia then to Baltimore to see Geoff, I can't wait to see him, he has been gone for over three months. Geoff is selling security system in Baltimore this summer, and is doing very well. Everyday I pray that Geoff will have the experience that the Lord wants him to have. I pray for his safety and well being. I miss him so much! He lived at home winter semester while going to UVU. It was the best time for all of us. We miss him so much. See you Geoff in 6 more days. I won't be posting until I get back with a lot of pictures of our trip.

Cheer Swim Party

Yummy Food!

Cute girls going down the slide.

Throwing Coach Carly in the pool

The cute girls that Carlie will be cheering with a OHS. Each morning Carlie has been going to cheer practice at 7:00 am. This is getting her ready for when school starts and she will need to be there at 6:45. I love it because Carlie now has to go to bed earlier then she has been and she must get up early. I love the early to bed early to rise.

Look what Rylie made!

Rylie made this cute Amy Butler frenchy bag hand bag. ( with a little help from mom) It was a lot of fun and I hope she catches the sewing bug.

Girls trip to St. George

Cousins at Tuacahn getting ready for Les Miserables.

Me, Courtney and Judy

Me and my sisters

Shopping

Debbie, Me and Judy

More shopping

The cousins

Brigham Young's home

We had a blast in St. George. We love being together. We laugh alot and laughter is good for the soul. We missed Jessie. She just got back from girls camp and was missing Jason so she stayed home.

Templeton Holiday

Today is a very special day. You see, today is one of the best holidays of the year. Not Christmas, not even my birthday (which was last week, thanks everyone for your sweet comments!) ( This is off of Jessie's blog it was her birthday not mine) Today is Templeton Holiday. Oh you've never heard of it? What a pity.

Templeton Holiday originated in the early 1990's when a young mother from Orem, Utah, decided that before school started and drug her kids away from their care-free lives, they needed one last hoopla to celebrate their independence. Taking inspiration from Templeton the rat and his shmorgishborg at the fair, this day became a day where her kids could do - and eat - whatever their hearts desired. It doesn't always fall on August 7, just any agreed upon day before the commencement of the school year.

It starts out early in the morning, earlier than Christmas, when the kids wake up and go downstairs to sit by the phone, waiting for the big hand on the clock to hit the 6. At six o'clock sharp, the children grab the phone and call the other observers of Templeton Holiday.

The first activity on the agenda is head to the nearest grocery store and purchase all the necessary items. The children, still sporting their sleeping attire, walk alongside the grocery cart grabbing every sugary cereal, sugary drink and sugary sugar treat in sight.

Upon arriving home, the treats are immediately torn into, with dessert coming before - and sometimes replacing - every meal. Traditional Templeton Holiday activities included swimming in pajamas for everyone, playing army men for the boys and some sort of beauty regime for the girls. As long as it was legal, it is acceptable on Templeton Holiday. From sun up, to sun down the festivities fill the day with joy until the stroke of midnight signals the end of the most glorious holiday.

(I stole this off of Jessie's blog. Way fun Holiday for the kids.)