TJ Graduated!

I can't believe my little sister is done with high school. It was fun to see her graduate and remember my graduation. My favorite part was getting to see her with all her friends afterwords. It was a different TJ than what we usually see.

I am proud of her. She is off to BYU in a few weeks (Becky and I are taking her out and setting her up in her dorm!). She was one of the valedictorians. She has received a full tuition scholarship to BYU and a good scholarship for a local organization. And she is supper cute.

This is one of her best friends- who got a full ride scholarship to U of U- so will be close enough for the two of them to get together on weekends. How great is that!

Hearst Castle

While we were at the coast we went to Hearst Castle. Alma had never been there! He isn't that familiar with the central coast- and it is one of my favorite spots on earth. I have so many childhood memories of this part of the world.

Here are some of my favorite things from our visit.

Garden Update

These little lovelies made a showing the summer. Very late because it has been such a cool summer. Yes it is almost august and I have not one tomato. Not a one. I also got a hydrangea with the same kind of variegated petals. I can't wait to see how it fits in next spring.

In June Alma and I made a trip to the central coast. It was a great weekend. We were sans kidiots- but Becky and Nick brought theirs. I actually enjoyed Charlie and Luke so much more when I wasn't worrying about our kids. I had this little beauty floating around my house since Christmas just waiting for the right little girl.

I think it found the perfect little girl.

My sister and her husband- I love them so much. It is the best when your siblings marry people you would be friends with on your own. Nick is my history nerd buddy.

You get pictures like this when two people with the sense of humor of 12 year old boys marry each other. Oh and they name their daughter CharlieBrown- that is really her name.

The Whole Family. Luke had some ants in his pants and didn't want to get his picture taken if he could be throwing rocks at trees.

I have been a Little Crafty This Summer

I actually sat down and scrapbooked the other night. I was feeling sorry for little Beckett who was sad when there were no pages about him. Yes it has been that long since I have cozied up in my paper room. I have also sewed a little this summer too. I haven't been knitting as it seems to agravate my back. I made these little quilts for a friends little twins Jake and Max. Twins! Acckkkk! Their room is green and brown. I wanted the quilts to go together but not be matchy matchy.

And these are dresses and skirts Andrea and I made for our friends who all seemed to be having girls this summer. We have to sew for other's little girls since we are mothers of BOYS. And it isn't much fun to sew for boys.

Have I ever told you how much Beckett loves cows?

Some thoughts on Summer

What ever happened to the lazy crazy days of summer? It seems like summer is one long round of trips, and visits to cousins, and less and less of days sitting by the river. I love it and each individual activity is one I really want to do but added all up it is exhausting. I don't think I am the only on in this boat. I was planning on a kick ball party with lots of other families to start the summer- but it is almost August!

One of the things I love about summer is walking to downtown and having dinner. This night we ate at Sopa Thai on their back patio. There were lots of mosquitos- and some turtles. The boys were very worried some one would step on the turtles. Of course and evening isn't complete with out a stop in at Treats. Mmmmmm.

Happy 4th of July

Hello all of my eight readers! I hope you have a great 4th of July. Coen requested that I make him a red bow tie for the holiday. And so I made one for Beckett too. And this morning before church while I was finishing the boys I asked Alma if he wanted one to (as a joke)- and I almost had a heart attack when he said he was game. Alma hates this kind of stuff. And to top it all off I got a picture of our entire family as well! Only one all the others were out of focus. sigh.

I did get to do a photo shoot with the boys before church- and Beckett kind of cooperated with the bribe of a popsicle (after church- I wasn't going to let them eat in the white shirts!).

And then Coen took over the photo shoot- first he made us move to the tree.

And then he did a classic foot up JC Penny catalogue pose.

And Beckett then was mad he wasn't getting in on the action.

And then Beckett tried Coen's pose in his own way.

The tricycle was also Coen's idea- nice to have a shoot stylist on hand.

Wishing you a day full of corn on the cob, family, music, and fireworks. We will be trying to survive the 100 degree weather in our house with no air conditioning.