OLYMPICS

I've really enjoyed watching the olympics this year. I've spent what seems like way too much time day and night watching them, and have really enjoyed it. One of the stories that really touched me was the U.S. Men's Volleyball team. The coache's in-laws were attacked in Beijing and his Father -in-law was killed. His team went on to win the gold medal. He had to get away from the cameras for a few seconds after the game to compose himself. I'll put a link to the article about it here. I wish I could post some pictures, but I can't get them off the web-site.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/volleyball/news/newsid=253178.html#from+tragedy+triumph+u+s+wins+gold

All the Things We've Repaired or Replaced this Summer

I know these pictures aren't very exciting, but together it can be quite impressive/sad that we've had to replace or repair (or still need to replace or repair) all of them this summer. Not good for our very light pocketbooks!!! I thought if I document it this time, maybe we won't ever have to repeat it.

It all started with the Dryer being repaired - not the biggest deal - except it was a bit difficult for Jeff to have to climb up in the attic and clean out the dryer vent. The repairman only charged us for one service call and the price to replace the sensor.

Next we replaced our Salt System in the pool so we wouldn't have to spend so much time and money keeping our chlorine levels right. We found out after about a year with our first one that it was pretty much the worst system out there.

While Jeff was replacing the Salt System he found out that one of the pool pumps was broken - we didn't have to replace the whole pump - just the motor.

The same day Jeff was working on the pool systems I was checking on parts to fix the water heater for our bathroom - but the cheap fix wouldn't work - we had to replace that too.

Somewhere right around the same time our Garage door opener belt snapped -Jeff took a trip to the Home Depot and replaced it.

Then - this last Tuesday I came into the house after a washload had been run and smelled something burning - I searched the house and found the smell came from the washer. The call to the repairman said that it would be cheaper to replace the washer than to repair it. We think we've found what we want, but still haven't purchased it yet. Thank goodness Mom has a washer in her place so I don't have to head to the laundramat tomorrow.

After our weightloss program, we've been pretty tied to the scale making sure we don't ever gain more than 2 pounds. Now our nice scale won't work and we just hope we haven't ballooned without even knowing it! (I'm sure the cake for Sunday night dessert won't help matters at all.)

My cell phone now seems to be dropping calls constantly even though it still holds a charge. It's a good thing that can be a free replacement - it only requires another 2 year contract with Alltel.

And last but not least we got Dicey "Fixed". She wasn't broken - but easily could have been had some of the neighborhood dogs gotten hold of her!

I'm so lucky that Jeff is such a great Handyman. I don't know where we would be had he not been able to be the labor portion of the majority of these repairs.

SCHOOL'S BACK

Have you ever seen cuter kids?

1st day of school pictures

Shelby and Cooper had to get back into a grueling schedule after a great San Diego vacation. School's back in with early hours and homework and both of the favorite part - practicing the piano regularly again.

Shelby's in 9th grade - thank heavens she doesn't have to jump in that big pond called High School yet. She's busy with classes, likes most of her teachers, loves orchestra and seminary - and will have new experiences with a biology teacher telling her about evolution vs. creationism. Isn't it a good thing that she has that seminary to counter-balance un-proven science.

Cooper is in 4th grade. His teacher is Debbie Freestone - who is a friend of ours from our last ward. I already had to get after her because Cooper used what she told the class against me. I was telling him about how piano was so good for him and that I made him play because I love him so much - when he came back telling me that Mrs. Freestone says that grandparents (she is a grandmother)love grandkids more than parents do. She responded that she knew when she said that that she might get called on that one sometime. I signed him up to play flag football through the YMCA again this year. He loved that last year.

How are my kids growing up so fast?

They both had a good week at school. Friday after school we went to Pine and Camp Lo Mia for a ward campout. We had a great time with our ward family. There was lots of visiting - a talent show finished off by a member of our ward who is a comedian/juggler on cruise ships, great food and the kids had a great time exploring the camp and visiting Mona's bridge. I only got a couple of pictures taken before my batteries died in my camera.

Cooper and the other kids in the ward are awaiting instructions for the egg toss.

More Slides from the Beach

Monday and Tuesday at the Beach

San Diego Vacation

Final night at Fillippi's

Mark, Katie, and Conner Hunsaker

Shelby with Megan Hunsaker

Conner H. brought his friend Trevor McClaws on this vacation

Jeff and Cooper

4 pieces of Fillippi's is something to brag about (You usually feel like crying later)

Doesn't he look GOOD?!

Shelby, Lily, Annie Cate, Conner and Trevor

Star Fish out on the Jetty

Jetty hiker group

View from the end of the Jetty

Cooper with Jackson Young

Shelby with her cousins Annie Cate and Lily Sheedy

Jeff and Celeste Bathing Beauties

We love heading over to San Diego with many other Phoenicians for the 1st week of August. The sticky monsoon weather gets to be just about unbearable at that point, and San Diego seems to be the perfect escape.

We don't usually add any extras to our trip. Last year we spent two weeks, so we snuck in a day at Sea World, but this year our trip consisted of eating, heading out to the beach, eating, riding some waves, eating some more, heading in at sunset, eating dinner, hanging out with Jeff's family, the kids hanging out on the boardwalk (I swore when my kids were young that would not happen - but we do look out the window at them often to make sure there's no mischeif), sleeping, and waking up to do it all over again. Talk about a wonderful vacation!!!

We make sure to hit the best eating spots. Usually Sarah's mexican food and Fillippi's pizza make a couple of appearances.

It's great to be there with so many members of Jeff's family. His parents were both there. We shared a condo on the beach with Tim and Jenny and their four girls. Two of Julie's kids stayed with us while she and her younger boys slept at the condo with John and Sandy. John and Kathy came for a couple of days and stayed at a hotel.