I Looked Out the Window and What Did I See?

Last night we were eating dinner and I happened to see something moving in the backyard out of the corner of my eye. Up on the planter box, there was skunk scurrying along his way!! He was not quite as cute as the picture above. Yuck!! Luckily he hurried under the fence into the neighbors yard, but within a few minutes, there he was again going the other way and went into the other neighbor's yard. I think I won't be taking trash out any time soon - - at least not at night. Last year we had one in our backyard, but it was at night. He kept running back and forth trying to figure how to get out. Needless to say, as much as we wanted him out, we were in no hurry to go help him. The weirdest thing that has happened so far though is one night when Matt heard an odd noise and turned on the light to see two opossums chasing each other around our pool. I didn't know they could make noise, however, that noise is engrained in my mind forever. Creepy!!

Happy Birthday to Kendall

Kendall's birthday was September 11th. Yep. That's right. THE September 11th. Hard to believe it was 7 years ago. We have always thought she was such a wonderful blessing on such an otherwise horrible day.

This year Maelen's first field hockey game was on Kendall's birthday. I have to go to most of the games now (not that I didn't before) because I have become field hockey booster secretary. Not only that, but it was their Baja Fresh fundraiser, so to support the team, we bought dinner at Baja Fresh. (The team received 20% of all sales.) Kendall is not big on Mexican food, so we bought her pizza at the restaurant next door since it was her birthday. We got home late and had to hurry so Matt could rush off to his OCMCO practice. Here are the kids singing happy birthday with a candle in the birthday brownie?? Trust me, it is what Kendall likes. Oh - another highlight - we received text birthday wishes and Kendall was thrilled to be able to text back to her Aunt Vicki and cousin Brent.


Sunday was the family party with a Hannah Montana theme for Kendall and Matt. (Don't judge.) Mom remembered how much Kendall liked a jar of shells and seastars in her classroom last year and so she made her one of her own. Mom always knows how to buy for the heart.


I could even be a rock star in these glasses - a little Hannah Montana humor. If you don't get the joke, be proud that you don't.


Kendall and Grandma being rock stars. The glasses were fun, but the echo microphones made a big hit. After everyone left, Matt and Maelen continued to speak to each other only using the microphones. Annoying? Yes. My husband communicating with his teenage daughter? Priceless.


If you are wondering what was so interesting to everyone in this room........



Hole in the Wall - where contestants have to contort to fit in shapes that come their way. It is oddly compelling.

Arrow of Light

Jared FINALLY received his Arrow of Light at the end of August!! He had earned it some time ago, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, there wasn't a time to award it until the end of August. This was one Mom had to rush him through since our ward was lacking in scout leadership for a while. Now things are back on track and the scout program is moving forward. They have some amazing leaders working with all the boys now.


Mom and Dad, our ever faithful supporters, came and entertained Kendall as well as being there for Jared. They have been known to take Jared to den meetings when we cannot be there. We are very lucky.

Slip Slidin' Away

One day coming home from errands, we saw my good friend Sharon Klecker in her yard and stopped to talk to her. She invited the kids to come swim. This may seem like it wouldn't be a big deal since we have a pool ourselves, however, Sharon has a SLIDE!! Not only that, but she has cool pool toys, like these boats that the kids could float around and shoot each other with water guns on either side of their boat. Sharon and I got enjoy a nice chat in her beautiful yard while the kids "watered" her garden.