Yard work has been our answer to every question about our plans or our thoughts in the recent weeks.
Here's a pic from the east side of the back yard last fall. Lush ivy on fence, lots of lawn, edge rimmed with river rock.
We had a desire to expand our vegetable garden opportunities and came up with a plan to change this area (the winter was really hard on that ivy, but it's growing back). We started by removing a lot of the river rock and sod.Cam carefully leveled out areas for gardening boxes......and then began building them.WOW!When it came time to fill the boxes, we got the kids involved in mixing up the soil.Dane planned out where the 44 veggie plants should be placed. Bryce and I planted them all, some of them while it rained. We also planted two peach trees (on the right). Although we're not finished yet, we're so excited about the progress than has been made. So much hard work!
I didn't help a lot because I've been working on the west side of the yard.
Just over the edge of our deck was a lawn that wouldn't grow. Too much shade, spindly little blades of grass...Last fall we had a cement patio poured.On May 16th, I began building a retaining wall out of river bed rock.
This is only a fourth of the rock delivered to our house.

The work is basically a little bit puzzle and a little bit Lego and a lot of chiseling.

The progress is mostly slow, but every now and again a whole bunch of rocks will align perfectly together, one right after another. Believe me, it's such a blessing when that happens. It's a bit taller now than pictured and I have to add one more foot worth of height over a 15 foot stretch, but when this thing is finally finished, I think I'm really going to proud of what I've accomplished. More pictures to come, when we're all finished!

I have a lot of pictures to post and thought a summary would be the best way to get them on here.

Bryce has loved preschool so far. Back on the 5th Cameron and I got to present his VIP (which happens in honor of the child's birthday). It was so fun to help our youngest child feel special by talking about him and telling his classmates the things he enjoys to do. He loved handing out a special treat to his preschool friends. When you are the VIP you also get to take the class book home. Bryce looked through it over and over again. It contains a profile on each student and has pictures of things they've done in class up to that time. He took pictures of the book with my camera.

The morning of the 9th we had a long photo session with my parents and siblings and families. I'm really excited to see them when they're done. The kids loved being with their cousins and crazy uncles. After the photos Cameron and Dane had to take off for Dane's soccer game.

Dane thoroughly enjoyed soccer again this year. He gets kind of goofy, not very focused, but the kid has fun!

After the soccer games, Dane had the very special opportunity to go to the BYU game with his dad. I painted the Y insignia on his cheeks and after than, Bryce and Ella wanted in on the face painting.

This is a butterfly...sort of. I think my skills are a bit rusty. Bryce just wanted two lightning bolts on his cheeks.Cam reported that Dane enjoyed the football game (it probably helped that they won), but it's still a bit long for him. He crashed on the way home. It was a long day. While they were at the game, Ella and Bryce and I went to Toy Story 3 at the dollar movie. I had an awesome time watching them watch and I cried again.

A week ago, Bryce and I took a trip to Gardener Village with Angie and Sophie. As Buzz Lightyear he was a CELEBRITY! Every little boy 2 and older were whispering excitely to their mothers as he passed. I told him that any time he heard someone say 'Buzz Lightyear' that he should wave. My son was his own parade. One mother even had her child shake hands with Bryce and got her son's photo with him. The kid was in awe.

Bryce ATE IT UP!

Sophie and Bryce helped their mommies with the Witch Scavenger Hunt that would yield a prize at the end of a 25 cent cookie.
Bryce took a bunch of odd pictures, but this one turned out all right.He insisted on this final one.This past week we watched our final soccer games of the season.

I think Bryce was relieved it was all over.

This week has been an excellent one spiritually for me. I feel so full of gratitude. I am generally more at ease and I'm definitely happier. It's wonderful to see your own efforts pay off and the blessings that come.

Speaking of blessings, yesterday Zealand came to visit. He brought my mom with him. He's at one of those stranger anxiety stages and doesn't much like us, but Ella began playing the piano for him and it really settled him down and he started to babble and crawl around. (He's 10 months now)

At the end, though, Cam wanted to hold him (he's been very wary of his uncle lately). You can see how nervous he is, but he didn't cry.

I hope your Halloween preparations go well. I need to get started on Cameron's. Lots to do!

This past weekend the Maynes family invited us to join them at their family cabin.
We had an incredible time and it was so nice to just relax, relax, relax (except for the cooking...the moms had to do that, but the food was so good it was well worth it).
We hiked, played and enjoyed mild weather and of course, the very good company.Saw this
McK didn't think I would do the rope swing, so of course I had to do it.
Get on the groovy train

Cam arranged a get-away for us this past weekend that was most welcome! Yay for good husbands!

On our way to St. George we read The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling outloud and listened to Miss Saigon since Cam had never heard it and we're going to the show in SLC.

We took our traditional travelling snacks: Double Stuf Oreos, licorice, bagels and cream cheese, string cheese, salt & vinegar chips, and apples. We didn't even have to share.

In St. George we just relaxed. We shopped a bit, saw a movie, ate out and played Lord of the Rings Risk in our hotel that evening.

The next morning we ate the hotel continental breakfast and finished our game right before check-out and going to church at 11 AM.

After church we took the long way home and enjoyed visiting the Jacob Hamblin home in Santa Clara, UT. We drove through Snow Canyon and hiked a bit there.

We visited one of the oldest LDS chapels still in operation in a little place called Pine Valley and we went rockhounding by Central, UT.

We listened to Les Miz and The Phantom of the Opera, read more Beedle the Bard and genuinely enjoyed being on our own on a road trip for the first time since 2004.

Love you Cameron!