First Day of School

The first day of school finally arrived.  Caitlin and Courtney bounded off the bus after their first day of kindergarten with big smiles on their faces.  They both love their teachers and enjoy going to school.  For Spencer, it was just another day. . . with another teacher but he's happy at school as well.  Rachel didn't get her picture taken this year.  Oops!  I forgot the camera.  Now the rat race begins with homework, tests, after school activities, sports, etc. 

Our Final Hurrah to Summer at Beltzville Lake

Rachel with her friend, M.

We spent our last weekend of summer at Beltzville Lake with some of our favorite friends.  We enjoyed boating, swimming, playing in the sand, eating and visiting!  It was a wonderful day!

My favorite friends, Tammy and Katherine, who keep me sane during good times and bad!  I love them!

I'm not very good at taking my own picture.  But isn't the sky blue and my friends beautiful? 

We love Brad's boat!

Coco

Rachey

Courtney shows off a shell she found in the lake

Splashing Fun!

 I love this picture of Courtney!

 Spencer kept running away from me when I tried to take a picture but I finally caught him with his best bud, E.

 Awww. . . twenty years together and we're still in love!

 Bob and Katherine are chillin' on the shore while our kids go crazy in the water.

 I love the light in this picture--the golden hour!

 The sun sets on our summer. 

Blue eyed beauties

 Sweetness

 Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy!

See ya, summer! 

The Start of Soccer Season

We have officially started soccer season.  Spencer and Rachel are busy playing and practicing.  We have soccer practice Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with games on Saturday.  Tuesday, our only soccer day off, is still busy with piano (Rachel) and guitar lessons (Spencer) and young women for Rachel.  Rachel is also playing basketball on Monday and Wednesday at the same time as Spencer's soccer practices so we spend every evening running kids to practices.  Spencer loves playing goalie or defense and Rachel plays forward or midfield.  Paul generally goes to Spencer's games so I'm going to have to send the camera with him sometime this season but here are some blurry pics from Rachel's 1st tournament this season.  I love watching soccer.  It's fast paced and I love cheering our teams on to victory.  It's especially exciting as the kids get older and the games become much more team-oriented and skill based.  Sitting along the sidelines on beautiful fall days create wonderful autumn memories.

Girls' Beach Day Out!

Right before school started, I realized we hadn't been to the beach enough this summer.  So I asked the kids if they wanted to go.  The girls got all excited but when I asked Spencer, he said, "Do we have to do something fun everyday?"  We had just returned from our three week vacation to Utah and he just wanted to stay home and play with his friend.  So Paul (who can't go to the beach anyway) and Spencer stayed home while the girls and I headed to the shore.  It was a fun day in the water and in the sand.  The tide came in, turning a small puddle behind us into a lake so we had to move our stuff as the waves met the lake.  We all love the ocean.

Beautiful Rachel

 While Rachel and I were wandering around the grounds of my mother-in-law's home, I took a few pictures.  Rachel is a great model and is beautiful inside and out.

South Fork with Susie & Aaron

Susan and I have been friends since 9th Grade.  We try to get together every summer.  This year, we took our families to South Fork and out to lunch.  The kids loved wading in the water and watching Aaron (Susie's husband) fly his model airplane around. 

We hoped Rachel and Aubrey would hit it off just like we did and so far they have.  Hopefully, it will be a friendship that will continue for ages just like ours!  

Spencer, Caitlin, Courtney and Paul watch Aaron fly his airplane

Rachel wades in the icy cold stream

Cute girls love wading in the water!

A Busy Day: Temple Date, BYU football practice, Show and Chamber Reunion

Paul and I took a chance to go to the Timpanogos Temple one morning.  It's always so wonderful to be in the temple together.  We went for many years going but taking turns while the other one watched the kids.  Now that Rachel's old enough to babysit, we occasionally get to go together.  I love it! 

That afternoon, Paul took the kids to watch an open BYU Football team practice while I got ready for my Show and Chamber reunion.  They all wore BYU shirts and cheered for our team. 

Last year, Show and Chamber got together for a 20 year reunion. It was awesome and we all loved it.  This year, I sent out an e-mail telling people I was coming into town and asking if anyone wanted to get together.  Surprisingly, 15 of us were able to make it.  We brought our families, ate food and visited, toured the new Orem High School (the old one has been torn down and the new one was built in the parking lot) and then sang to our hearts' content.  It was a wonderful evening of catching up and singing.  We still sound beautiful together.  We're hoping to make it an annual event. 

Paul, Steve, Michael, Trent, Dan & Jon

Jerrilynn, Amy, Stacey, Me, Pam, Miriam (now known as Juhl)

I love these girls!

Juhl, someone's family, Zina and her daughter

Trent, Dan & John

The crew:  Back row:  Pam, Jerrilynn, Dan, Paul, Mirm, Dan, Mike, Trent, Steve & Amy; Front Row:  Me, Kimberly, Stacey & Zina.  Missing:  Emily (she was here but missed the picture)

Cheesy grins!