Speeding Cars

Everybody is back to their normal blogging routines....but me, I am still looking at the blog tab on my screen and saying "Maybe tomorrow". I just can never seem to find the time. But I made myself a cup of tea and have decided to drink while I catch up with you guys.

To say that this summer was "busy" is indeed an understatement. But when you are busy and it is mostly with stuff that is fun, there is no complaining! Summers always go by quickly but this one was just so short. As I sat in the welcome back orientation at the kids school a few weeks ago I thought "I was JUST here for an end of the year awards ceremony!! I swear it was just last week!"

We have had such a good summer. Family, friends, fun.....just the way it should be. And the kids are back at school. They love their teachers and are so excited to see the rest of their friends.

Christian is a SENIOR! He has done most of the classes that he needs so he just goes to school in the morning and then is home for lunch and goes to work. This should be a pretty easy year for him. Dylan is playing football this year. I cannot wait to go to their first game and show pictures. They are so cute..but don't tell him that I said that. Trinity is playing soccer which will be a first for her. She has always done dance or gymnastics. She went to a basketball camp this summer (which was her idea!) and loved it. Her coach said she is very naturally athletic...who knew? So she asked to play soccer, and gymnastics. I think it may end being that my girl is the athlete and my boys are the musicians...and I could not be happier. They do what they love, just like me ☺

OK, I will post some pics that highlight our awesome summer.

Family <3

Our circus family goes to the Circus

Lille's first circus (she loved it, we think!)

We added some Palmolive to the Slip n slide, much more fun

Dave and Buster's

Concerts...this one was Jack's Mannequin and the Fray

On the way home, all jacked up on Mt Dew

Our annual concert with Monika and Lance to see the Counting Crows

Visa Gymnastics Championship

Our Favorite Bridget Sloan ↑

Nastia Lukin Olympic Champion ↑

The rest of the 2008 Olympic Team ↓

Trinity went to church camp for the first time. She had waited for this day for years. Every time her brothers would come back and talk about the fun that they had, she would start counting down the days until she was old enough!

Deciding that maybe they were not quite ready.....

Calmed down and on the bus...

We got worried that they were sitting there crying all day missing us so my friend (and Tori's Mom) Brie and I headed up to the camp the next day to check on them. It was about an hour and half away. I didnt get to take many pics as I left my camera in the car...but they were all smiles when we got there! Such a relief. And they loved showing us their bunks and cafeteria and pool and water slide....we even got kisses and sent back home happy!

Here is one pic I did get..working on a craft...

Water Walk for Blood:Water Mission

We were asked to walk back in silence and really think and pray. This became so overwhelming for me...so many people and just dead silence. Watching my kids struggle with the weight of the water and the heat.....and to think about the kids that have to do this everyday and do not have an air conditioned car to get in at the end and bottled water passed out to them. How blessed our families truly are. I am so thankful.

So proud of my kids and their compassion at such young ages.

And then it was my birthday. I had to work a 14 hour day outside in 100 degree weather (and it was for a Def Leppard/poison show which just made it all the more miserable) on my actual birthday and repeated that on the next day (with Incubus which was a little less miserable) BUT the next day....my mother had a birthday party with the family for me! The best part was that while I was at work, she had helped the kids make cakes for me! They each designed and decorated their own. Each one suited their personalities and each one had a part of mine...

Christian's was modern and trendy

Dylan's was artistic and funny (that is me with little replicas of cakes that I have done)

And Trinity's was cute and girly

Christian's plants that started as seeds grew into lovely plants and flowers that we have enjoyed and continue to enjoy all summer. Here is one of the Jalepeno plants. We also had lots of basil and several different kinds of flowers.

By the way, this blog post took me several days...and several cups of tea. I have learned my lesson and will post more regularly.