The oldest has flown the coop

Jess and I spent the day together today.  She is officially moving out today and tomorrow.  I have had such mixed emotions over all of this...I am so excited for her but sad for me.  Anyways today was really fun.  We went shopping for new school clothes, bought school books, moved a load to her new apartment, and found her new UVU classes.  Tonight we had a moving out party.  wE made her favorite dinner, chicken sundaes.  Tanner made a party cake and we had peanut butter cup ice cream.  We also all gave Jess a present she will need when she moves out.  She got toilet paper, tooth paste, an iron, and a bunch of food.

School Day Blues

School started on an insane early date of August 18th this year.  No one in my family was ready to go back to the everyday routine that comes from school starting.  We had such a great summer it was hard to see it all end.  Conner started 1st grade with Ms. Barrus.  He thinks she is very pretty and hasn't given me an ounce of trouble about getting up at 7 every morning.  It must be love.  Nikki has Miss Clayson.  She had Miss Clayson in 2nd grade also and Nikki is enjoying being back with all her girl friends and her old teacher.  Sidney started 8th grade.  She really misses not having Ozzy in school with her.  She also broke out with a bad case of cold sores the 2nd day of school.  Sorry Sid.  She has a great schedule and likes some of her classes.  Austin started High School.  He is a very busy boy now.  He leaves to school and then has football right after.  We usually don't see him until 6:30 and then he is dead tired.  He eats and eats and eats, then starts on homework and usually wants to sleep by 9:30 or so.  Jess starts next week so I'll give you that update then.

Best Buddies

Conner and Easton Wilkey can't get enough of each other lately.  Every day right after school Conner wants to play with Easton.  Does he want to take a minute, have a snack, and talk to his Mom about how the big world of  first grade was. NO! Just give him the phone to call Wilkey.  Ahhh my baby is growing up. Actually Conner seems to be loving 1st grade so far.  The fact that he has to be in school all day now and still loves it amazes me.   

Education Week

I have been going to education on and off for the past 15 years.  Usually more off because of children.  I did manage to get to 2 classes a day this year and it was so inspiring.  I always leave every day feeling energized to go home and do a little better.  This year my favorite was Christi  Bergen.  She taught "Becoming a better parent".  She taught about disciplining with a method called "Induction"  I have used this form of discipline (without knowing it had a name and was preferred among child psychologist) with my children just naturally so it was good to hear her lectures and fine tune some areas.  This week has been really an emotional week for me with school starting, all the kids having their own stresses and telling me about them, Jess leaving the house, and other various things.  Education Week and being close to my Heavenly Father has really pulled me through.  After a week like this I just really want to be back on the cruise ship.........

Our crazy friends

For the past 6 years we have gone to Jordanelle with our best friends the Wilkeys and Donaldsons.  Our kids and husbands get along great and Lisa and Meredith are my best girl friends.   Every year the Wilkeys ( who have 6 boys) bring some new toy to the lake.  Last year it was a potato shooter and this year.......they built a bike ramp right in the lake.  Check out Jess going off the ramp.  Everyone in our family went off the ramp, including Conner. None of us wanted to leave after three days of fun.  I think it had something to do with school starting on Monday!

The Olympics

Yay!!! The summer olympics have started.  We had so much fun tonight watching the events as a family all day today.  None of us could leave the family room.  Every event is like a championship game.  So much on the line.  A matter of 100'ths of seconds or points deciding the winner.  These athletes have trained for years for this one chance to shine. The funnest event of the night was watching the USA mens swim team beat France.  When that happened tonight our whole family stood and cheered.  Nikki even ran over and gave me a hug. My kids all remember going to the Utah Winter games 4 years ago and I think that helped give them a love and appreciation of the games.  Go USA!!

What I didn't learn in school

I have been in Cedar City with my girl friends for the past three days.  Every year for the past four years we have gone to the Shakespear Festival.  I really enjoy the shopping, chick flicks, eating out and laughing all night.....but I also really love Shakespear.  In High School I hated English and especially early writings and plays.  Now I have learned to appreciate what a great wit and art these writers had.  In the past years I have especially loved the comedies of William.  The actors are also really good.  Drama geeks, but very good at their art.  I hate to admit it but my Mom was right.."One day you will appreciate the talent of William Shakespear"

Us and Grandpa Miller in feb.

Grandpa Miller Passes

Grandpa Miller passed away today at the ripe old age of 94.  He was ready to go on to Heaven so we are happy for him.  Some things we remeber grandpa Miller for was his great sense of humor, how much he always loved his sweetheart Letha, he used to let all the kids punch him in the stomach all the time, all his guns around the house, his home was the first place Scott and I called home when we got married ( we house sat while they were on their mission).  It sounds like the funeral will be Tuesday night. We'll miss you grandpa. 

Red Hots are Hot

My little softball team "The Red Hot Flames" took last place in the regular season.  We had a lot of close games and always seemed to lose them.  But bring on the playoffs.  Our team rocked.  Nikki was the main pitcher.  We won game after game and ended up in the championship and then only lost by one point.  Darn!! It was super fun though.  The girls got t-shirts for taking second place. I missed half the tournament because of girls camp and it almost killed me.  Scott took over for me and did a great job.  Congrats Girls!!

Scotty's G-day

Last year Scott started his own birthday tradition.  The seven days of Scott.  No he doesn't get seven days of presents or special treatment.  He gives his family a different present everyday for 7 days.  He sends us on a treasure hunts every morning.  No one knows who's day it is to get a present until we find it.  I don't know anyone more loving or giving than my sweet husband.  He goes out of his way to make life easier for everyone he knows.  I'm one lucky gal.

Which wake boarder is me????

That's right! It was the Stalker family reunion and after 20 years of Scott trying to get me to try water skiing or wake boarding.  At the age of 41 I tried it for the first time and I got up.  Only for about 30 seconds but I was up and boarding.  I have to say my little sis was my motivation.  After she came in and said she tried I thought hard about it.  The lake was great as usual.  After being at girls camp for 5 days I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to camping for another 3 but it was a blast.  So fun to catch up with everyone and see the cousins play together.

Girls Camp and Sid and Sandi

Girls Camp was everything I could of wished for and more.  We have the most fantastic girls in our ward.  While all the other wards had to deal with drama galore.  We didn't have one incidence, that I was aware of, at our camp.  Our girls loved each other, were kind to one another and stayed involved the entire time.  That was a huge stress off of me.  Mia Shalom was as beautiful as ever.  We had great 80 degree weather, it never rained and the bugs weren't that bad.  The greatest thing about Shalom is the spirit that is felt everytime you go there.  Our testimony meeting was a very special experience I will not soon forget. 

Misti had puppies

So about two months ago Misti found a way to escape from our backyard.  We had never fixed her because we thought having little beagle puppies would be fun.  When we got home from Florida a few weeks ago it was obvious Misti was prego with who knows.  We took her to the vet and he said she would have about 8 puppies.  He also said it looked like she would be able to have the pups without problem....Well let me jsut say yesterday was the most stressful day I have had in a long time.  Misti had the first pup at 5 am, a stillborn.  Then gave birth to a live cute little pup.  She then had another pup after about 2 hours.  This pup was huge and spent too much time in the birth canal.  Just as we were about to load her in the car to take her to the vet she had another one.  This one also alive and very cute.  We, Grandma Lorna and I, then thought maybe the big one was just blocking things and now everything would go smooth.  I made grandma stay at our home all day.  She was so great for doing that.  I found I am quit wimpy when it comes to things like this.  Misti had another puppy about 2 hours later. It came out and struggled to get going. Grandma intervened and we got it breathing.  Yay three cute pups.  Misti then went into a very long rest period.  We thought she was finished but then she gave birth to yet another still born pup.  She must be finished but almost 24 hours later she had another dead pup this morning when we woke up.  I guess we should just be grateful for the three that made it. We are getting her fixed asap as we should of done in the first place. Stupid Sandi.