One step forward, two steps back

Last month our power bill was double it's normal size and we've been keeping the house at 82 degrees to try and lower it this month. Much suffering and complaining going on. But it was for the greater good. Now, two days ago we came home from dinner and game night at a friends house and heard water running. After checking all the toilets and faucets inside, I realized it was the hose out back. The kids had been playing in the water before we left and they didn't turn the hose off. It had been running for 5 hours! Not just a little trickle, mind you, but almost full blast. I was so livid I couldn't even speak.

Now that's entertainment

Get ready to laugh out loud when you watch this video!

I love how calm Hannah is "ho-hum"

Fourth of July fireworks display by Daddy in the cul de sac.

Swim buddies

 
Shortly after Bekah learned how to swim, Sarah thought she would like to try as well. We took off her floaties and she learned to swim that day. She was apprehensive at first and we would keep one finger under her tummy as she swam, but pretty soon she saw that we would let go for a few seconds and she could still keep herself up. So that gave her the confidence she needed and she started doing it on her own. She would even jump off the side and swim over to us without help. We just couldn't believe it, but we have been so happy with both of them. We've had to be careful and acknowledge all the kids' progress because it's been kindof like when Rachel was learning how to walk and we got so excited for her that the older kids would want to show us that they could walk to us too.

Photos of Oregon

 

Trip to Oregon

Mike went up to Oregon to visit his Parents and Sister. He took Rachel because they had never seen her before and she could lap ride. I dropped them off at the airport at 3:00pm on a Thursday and then took the other kids swimming. When we got home at 7:30, there were a few messages from Mike saying they couldn't take off due to weather in Denver. When he called at 10:00 I was very shocked to learn that they still had not left Wichita! The next morning I got a call from Mike in Denver and found out that they had spent the night in the airport because they couldn't get a flight that was going anywhere near Portland till SATURDAY morning. Well, rather than spend ANOTHER day and night in the airport, he had them fly him to Salt Lake where there was family that could put him up for the night (he only left with 4 diapers, mind you). So, I called all my family out in Salt Lake and they all came through at the last minute and picked him up, showed him a good time and got him off to his flight the next day. So, needless to say he was very relieved to make it to Oregon and he had a great time with his family. He did make it in time to ordain his Father to the office of High Priest on Sunday. They took him on a lovely drive to see the beautiful area, and the beach where they live. He enjoyed his Dad's dutch oven cooking and got to spend his Mom's birthday at the Greenville Aviation Museum where the Spruce Goose rests. Everyone loved spending time with Rachel too. She was a little shy at first with everyone new, but warmed up quick enough to let them see her fun side too.

Bekah learns to swim

We have been fortunate this summer to have a lot of swimming opportunities. We've been to the Cessna Employee's Club swimming pool and the Anderson's have invited us to swim with them many times as well. Swimming with the Anderson's allows the kids to have more one on one attention and Bekah has used it well. She can now swim without floaties in the DEEP END! She actually swam for the first time while Mike was in Oregon, so we got this video to show him.

Camp Red Rock

Last month was my first chance to go to girls camp as an adult. Much has changed since I was a young woman. I remember setting up our tent, digging trenches and then wondering why we bothered when we woke up wet anyway, cooking my meals at the campfire, digging a "toilet", and showering under a tree wherein there hung the milk carton shower I made. These girls have it made in the shade. Air conditioned lodge where meals are made for you, cabins to sleep in, flushy toilets, and running water showers. There was even a pool! Come on. Since this was my first year as an adult, I was given my camp name. Charmin-because I'm always needed. The last night the girls went on a faith walk. The leaders set up a huge iron rod and the girls got to experience Lehi's dream. The Stake President spoke to them and the spirit was very powerful. Camp is definately one of the main experiences that shape your testimony-whether your roughing it or not.