After-School Activity

Whatever happened to riding bikes, running in the yard, spying, playing hide-n-seek, etc.??? There's a new activity in town, and it's got nothing to do with being active. It's called Webkinz, and it's all the rage (even with some adults). Here is Elisabeth with some of her friends playing after school. (Actually, they do quite a bit of bike riding and skate/long boarding too, so I guess I'll cut them some slack.)

...Pink Panthers on the Prowl...

Elisabeth just started her second year of soccer. This year she is a Pink Panther, and she is lucky number 13!!! It was really fun watching them play their first game. She has four of her good friends on her team this time. I have a video of her making a goal, but I have to figure out how to get it to work on the computer before I can post it here.

Christmas Shopping

So...it's August and every year at this time I start Christmas shopping. It's actually more than that because we seem to have all of our big expenses in the last five months of the year. In August we have Roy's birthday, in September we register one car (and it needs a new windshield this year), in October we register the other car, in November we have Elisabeth's birthday, in December we have Elisabeth's baptism and Rebekah's birthday and Christmas. WHEW! Amazon...here I come!!!

A Great Man...Keith Shumway

We are so sad that Lorin and Janice Shumway (Janice is Laura's sister) are mourning another loss in their family. Lorin's youngest brother, Keith, was killed in the plane crash near Moab last Friday, August 22nd. From everything we have heard about Keith, he was a very great man. We know he was reunited with his mother and oldest brother when he died, and we hope that helps bring some comfort to his family. We pray for his wife, Lisa, and his infant son, Landon, and that they will be able to move forward and be happy. The Shumway family supported us so much when Samuel died, and we want them to know that we love them.

Here is a link to the story KSL did last night about the Memorial in Cedar City. It shows Janice and Lorin as they file into their seats. http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4128285&autostart=y

Here is a link to a blog set up where people can offer condolences to the families affected by this tragedy. http://cedarcondolences.blogspot.com/

Word to the Wise

Don't change your blog address or you will lose your links to everyone else's blogs. I know...because I did it. Bad, BAD computer!!!

Back to School

Our sweet, little, I-think-I'm-a-teenager-and-act-like-it-too Elisabeth went back to school yesterday (Monday, August 18). She is in Mrs. Gatenby's 2nd grade class. She was so excited to wear her new clothes and use her new High School Musical backpack (I wanted to buy her a My Little Pony backpack, but I guess she's "too old" for that now). She said she only got homesick a couple times during the day. This year we are letting her walk to school with her friends, which is really kinda nice for the moms. We are only a couple blocks away from the school, and it is a straight shot down the street. They really should have been walking last year too. We didn't realize, however, that early out day had been adjusted to 15 minutes longer than last year, so we were a little worried when the kids didn't come home right away. Now we know. No homework yet either!

Rainbow Promise

Sunlight peaks through clouds of gray,
Rays shining through heaven’s tears.
Colors full and vibrant gleam,
A rainbow beautiful appears.

Red is for love undying,
Orange warmth fills up my heart,
Peaceful yellow offers hope anew,
Everlasting green a brand new start.

Blue for life eternal,
Divine rewards in violet,
These promises of blessings,
When life’s challenges are met.

Not merely nice to look at,
No, a rainbow is so much more.
A rainbow is God’s sweet promise,
Of endless joy if we endure.

I miss the flowers that I had at our home in Payson!

Great Grandma Gwenyth McCluskey

This is Roy's grandmother, Gwenyth McCluskey (Rebekah's middle name is Gwenyth). She is AWESOME!!! She is 83 years old, but you would never know it by the way she acts. She lives in Renton, Washington, so we do not get to see her very often. :( She is an excellent seamstress. She has made us many beautiful quilts, and at least once a year, she makes something for Elisabeth and Rebekah. Recently she made them these ADORABLE skirts. They absolutely love them! And it's so neat for them to have a great grandmother who can still do things like this. Grandma just had surgery on her right hand, so we hope she is back to better-than-normal soon!

Happy Birthday, Roy!

Friday, August 8th, was Roy's birthday. We had a little party for him before he went to work. He laughed when he saw his cake made to look like a can of Mtn. Dew. It is the first cake Laura has ever actually "decorated" (so no laughing). It took 4 hours, but it was worth the smile on Roy's face. Elisabeth and Rebekah had fun helping him open his gifts. Roy is the best husband and father this family could ever wish for. He works hard for us and makes us happy. We love you, Roy/Daddy!!!

Twilight Update

We finished "Breaking Dawn" a few days ago, and it was well worth the read for sure. I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. However, I did want to say that I feel the books are most appropriate for the 18-years-and-over crowd. (My personal opinion.)

Twilight

OK...so Roy and I both love the Twilight series...and we are fighting over the new book and who gets to read it when (because I was too cheap to get 2 copies). Actually, Roy was probably more excited about "Breaking Dawn" than I was. But just barely, and only because for me it brought back a flood of hospital memories since that is where I read the first three books. I cried when I left the Twilight party I went to Friday night; the emotions overwhelmed me. Silly, I guess. I need to reread them and make a new memory. So far..."Breaking Dawn" is AWESOME!!! And this is coming from someone who hates vampires and werewolves. Seriously...you gotta try this. :-)