9/11

Last Sunday I had intended to post pictures of Guymon onto my blog today. I had planned on a few funny remarks about the quirks of this town but hadn't realized then what today's date would be.

I remember ten years ago. Brayten had already gone to work at Salt Lake Cable and Harness. I was alone in our small North Salt Lake Apartment. I was assembling cables, a small side job I did with Brayten to help pay for college. I sat on the tan colored carpet, listening only to the sound of my own breathing, with yellow, purple, red, and black cables before me all organized in rows.

Brayten called me, without saying, "Hi babe," or even, "Hello." He said, "Steph, turn on the radio." At the time we didn't have a television and this seemed like a funny request.

"Why? What's up?" I asked.

"Just turn it on," he said.

I did. Then I sat cross legged on the floor and listened as the world came tumbling down.

Brayten came home shortly thereafter. We clung to each other for a moment and then headed to my parent's house to watch as the calamity of history took place. I was young. I recall that this was the first time I ever realized that there are people in this world who hate Americans. The reasoning for this hatred was confounded. I wanted a direct answer, "They hate us because..." But I wasn't getting that. I couldn't fathom this. I had never really hated anyone in my life so it was hard for me to understand.

I remember being glued to the tv, all day. I remember the vivid images, the moments in time that are now etched in my memory. I remember my civil engineer Dad saying over and over again, "Those towers can't collapse. They won't collapse. They're constructed to not collapse." And then they did. I remember my two year old nephew being nervous about airplanes for years after 9/11. I remember feeling so sick, so sad.

Ten years have now passed. I've grown up a lot, I'm, unfortunately, not quite as naive as I used to be. I've brought two beautiful children into this crazy, mixed up, muddled up world. A world that sometimes seems too awful for sweet babies to come into. A world that sometimes scares me and at times I fear for my kids being in it. But in the words of Mr. Frank (Anne Frank's father), "We must have children, and raise them to be fine people. That is how the world can be changed."

So we move forward with faith, we accomplish hard things, and take one step at a time into the unknown future.

I'm grateful for my family, I'm grateful for my religion, I'm grateful for all of my blessings, and I'm grateful for this amazing nation in which we live. I'm grateful for all of those throughout our history who have fought for freedom, been in harms way for freedom, and died for freedom. I wonder what the next ten years will bring. Hopefully a bit more good in the world...hopefully a bit more peace...hopefully a bit more love because Heaven knows we could use it.

I love you all, until next time.

Welcome

Welcome to our apartment in lovely Guymon, Oklahoma. Now a few of my family members have been after me to actually take a some pix of where we live. This week I finally obliged them with photos of our apartment. I have been hesitating for so long because I just know that a few of you will be green with envy. I know, I know, you wish you could live here too, just try to keep your jealousy in check alright? Next week I'll take a few pictures of the town, it should only take a few (the town's not very big).


Apache Trace Apartments, Unit 109.

Master Bath, I know, it is phenomenal, right?

Computer Station on a Walmart rectangular card table, equipped with folding chair.

The "Work Bench" as quoted from Grandpa Wilding. And, yes, my night stand is an action packer with a sweet Walmart special lamp, $4.99 baby!

Family Room as viewed from the kitchen. Couch $150.00 from a garage sale. That thing in the corner, a continued source of marital tribulation, a Walmart special. Obviously Brayten won that one but he hasn't won the cable disagreement...yet...I'm holding strong.

Dining Table, I'm still curious why we chose not to bring any furniture with us. I guess, however, when it comes to moving again and we can just fold up our tiny table we will relish our genius...in the meantime, I'm not sure what we were thinking.

The spacious Kitchen.

Kids Bath.

Kids Room, featuring Maddie's cage.

Kids Room, featuring bunk beds that we purchased before we realized Maddie should be caged.

Despite our living conditions being drastically different than what we are used to, we are doing great. The kids are doing well. This has actually been a good exercise for me. I recognize all of the "things" that were necessary for me before are actually not necessary at all. It is nice being able to clean our entire living space in less than two hours. I can be happy without the granite counter tops, I can be happy without the exercise room, I can be happy without the steam shower-oh, actually scratch that one, I actually think I really need a steam shower.

We are happy but we are not happy about some little, little being a relative term, unwelcome "friends" who think they own our apartment. The other day while Tommy was at school and Maddie napped I actually splurged and decided to read a book. I laid down on our bed, picked up my nook, and started reading in the silence of our apartment. Soon my literary rendezvous was interrupted. I could hear the slight scampering of critters. On occassion they even had the audacity to chirp. "You shall die my small friends," I thought.

Let me introduce you to one of the hundreds that currently occupy our home. Not cool.

When we first moved in we would catch them and throw them outside... Then we began to flush them down the toilet... Now, in an effort to preserve water, we just squash them in a tissue. And trust me if you have never actually squashed a large cricket in your hand, you are missing out! I get the shivers each time I do it and then promptly coat my hands in sanitizer. We kill at a minimum fifteen crickets a day, inside. Sweet!

The other day we were cleaning the house. While I scrubbed the bathrooms Tommy was running the vacuum with the hose. He is awesome with this! I love it and he actually loves it too. He cleans areas I would almost never take the time to do. So he is working along and I am working along and Maddie is working along making messes for us to clean. When all of a sudden Tommy emits the scream of death. This is never a good sound, definitely something to be avoided if at all possible. The scream of death was followed by severe blubbering and frantic crying and just for good measure another scream of death.

I ran to him scooped him up to see what had happened. Through his tears he says, "There is a giant spider under your exercise mat."

He had been vacuuming in our entry closet and was emptying it out to get it even more clean, when he moved my yoga mat, and the world came tumbling down. I put my little boy down, sucked up my courage, put my brave face on, and gentle grabbed my yoga mat and while carefully inspecting it moved it out of the closet. I then emitted the scream of death. Took the still running vacuum with it's long hose and sucked up the 1/4 lb. spider.

Then leaving the vacuum on, I picked up Tommy and said, "Are you okay buddy? Because I'm not, hold me."

Well we survived. I had Tommy vacuum for another 20 minutes and once he was done I took extra precautions to make sure the apprentice to the devil was unable to emerge from the vacuum.

I think the giant spiders that live around here are actually Wolf Spiders. Now, I'm not talking about the little fuzzy, almost cute, black ones we have in Utah. I'm talking about Wolf Spiders that have bred with giants and mutated to flesh eating monsters. The spider that was in our entry closet, a mere five feet from my bedroom, was the size of my palm.

I get the shivers just thinking about it. In fact, I was agitated to the extreme for the rest of that day. So what did we do. We finished cleaning, mopped really well, and then coated the apartment with spider spray. That cute little entry closet, yeah, it has about two cups of dried spider spray on its floor. Die, vermin!

Well, enough about that. We probably should end on a positive note that has nothing to do with the terrible things that live with us. Tommy has been making great strides in swimming (well really, if he wasn't I would think something might be wrong with him considering we swim every single day). Here is the little man, doing what he does:

Well I hope you enjoyed a tour of our house and an introduction to our cohabitants. I know, you wish you were me right now! We love you all! Have a great week!

I Can't Believe Fall Is Almost Here...The Count Down to Christmas Begins!

Here we are coming to the end of August, can you believe it? Fall is almost upon us...and with that Christmas is around the corner with a trip to Utah, the count down begins. I can't believe we have now lived in Oklahoma for four months (well technically the kids and I have been back in Utah sporadically totaling one whole month of those four, so I suppose we have been physically in Oklahoma for three months). Crazy.

It is interesting this town is about fifty percent Hispanic. We have felt like we have been emersed in Spanish culture. It has been a good experience, there are some excellent little Mexican food joints here and there. One thing that we see all the time are the suped up vehicles that a lot of Hispanics drive. Tommy will see these cars and...HE...LOVES...THEM! Racing stripes, bright colors, low riders, even flames...awesome! If he sees these cars as we are traveling about he freaks out, "Mom, look at that car, that's so cool!"

"It sure is," I respond while I'm thinking, "Oh Heaven help us."

Currently he has fallen in love, thankfully, with a more mild car. This car happens to be at our apartment complex so he gets to google at it everyday. As we drove by it last week he said, "Mom, that car is even cooler than Grandpa's car." I beg to differ...however, Dad, here is your competition, an old, dented, blue Camaro, I know you want one, forget that sweet Mustang.

Maddie is growing up more and more. Lately she likes to jabber and jabber and jabber. (I think she learned this from her cousin Gavin). We have complete conversations together, I'm just not really sure what they are about. I took this video the other day, I actually had to sneak it, because whenever she sees the camera she just wants to see pictures rather than actually perform for me. So the quality and angle, not great, but this is what it is like most mornings. She has lots to say.

Brayten is doing well. Their project is beginning to slow down for a few months so we are hoping that we will see him a little more often. At the same time we are a bit anxious and unsure if his company will move us anytime soon. They may choose to move us at anytime. It could be right away. It could be around December. Or it could be at the end of this project which would probably be next August. So we'll see what happens.

In the meantime though he is keeping himself busy and even doing a bit of missionary work. He might be keeping himself too busy though...he is losing his hair. The other day he decided enough was enough and took out the razor.

As for me, I am doing well. Keeping busy. I have found as long as I am so busy that I don't have too many spare moments it is better for me. The other day I was driving home from dropping Tommy off at school and a bit of home sickness snuck up on me. Ugh. I'm a baby. I think it has been a month, one single month, since the last time I was with my family and friends in Utah and already I have these pangs in my heart. So I have learned stay busy, busy, busy, and think about home relatively sparingly. Oh and start the count down to Christmas, I already can't wait. I love you guys and miss you...try not to make me cry this week. Have a good one!

Back To School

Well the biggest change this week was Tommy adventuring back to school. I had debated whether to put him in school at all or just home school him, he is still in Pre-K. Ultimately I decided to send him considering the abundance of fun things to do in Guymon. School is helping combat his boredom. One problem, instead of two days a week for two hours like preschool is in Utah it is Every. Single. Day. For. Three. Hours. A. Day.

Before I had kids I always smirked a bit to myself when I saw those "crazy" women blubbering because their babies have headed back to school. I just want to know why it is that every single thing I have ever made fun of in my life I end up doing, why? I sat in my car, with my big, bug eye sun glasses on, and cried like a baby. Maddie was in the back seat, crying too, she didn't like dropping him off either.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I leave a chunk of my heart at his school each day when I drop him off.

He is attending Northridge Christian School. It is one of the two preschool options in Guymon. He started school last Wednesday and so far he can quote Genesis 1: 1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth." FYI, I have it memorized too now, I get to hear it everyday, multiple times a day. I think Tommy wants to hammer it in my head just to make sure I don't forget it. Funny though Genesis 1:1 was quoted in church today, weird I know, when was the last time you heard that scripture in church, not very often. Anyway, he got all excited, "Mom, mom, I know that scripture!"

Tommy is a good kid and I can't believe how much he grows up every single day! On our way to school last Friday we passed a snow cone shack, which really are like our little oasis in the midst of the desert, and Tommy completely dismayed said, "Mom, we forgot to get snow cones last night!"

"Yeah we did buddy, maybe another day."

"I know Mom! You should make a list and then we won't forget," he matter of factly stated.

Hmmm, good idea, I think this kid knows me quite well.

This week the temperature actually dipped into the nineties, so of course we hit the park. I just keep hoping that pretty soon being outside won't feel like stepping into a sauna fully clothed. Just thinking about going outside I start to sweat.

We also spent some quality time on the trampoline. Tommy has now figured out how to do a front flip, I suppose he just wants to be like his cousins, so thanks for that one Logan and Cole. I have a slight cringe every time he tries a new trick, isn't he too young for this? Anyway, I just hope next week I don't have pictures of him getting his first cast.

I want to give a shout out to all of my nephews and neices heading back to school this week (unfortunately, I mean fortunately, for you Kaden and Karson you have already been enjoying the delights of a wholesome education for quite some time) but to the rest of you, good luck, work hard, get good grades, read, read, and read some more. I love you guys!

The Blog Sabbatical Has Finally Ceased

Well I suppose if you are one of the unfortunate few who actually reads my blog, whether you have been coerced to or whether it is your obligation because, let's face it, you are my mother, you've probably been wondering, where have the McGee's gone? Well I'm happy to announce that the blogging sabbatical is now ending and I will continue to happily pour out my soul on the World Wide Web every single Sunday...unless of course I don't feel like it...or perchance I am taking a nice, albeit rare, Sunday nap.

So where have the McGee's been over the past month? Oregon, Utah...and now back to paradise...oh, I mean Guymon, Oklahoma.

On July 8th, I set out with two kids in tow. (Unfortunately Brayten had to work...or maybe he was just challenging my mothering skills, I'm still not sure). We drove four and a half hours to Oklahoma City and spent the night at a Holiday Inn Express (which by the way is a hotel, yep that's an "H" not an "M"). Can I just tell you, when you pull up to a hotel, with a trunk full of luggage and two small kids you really need to calculate your mode of action. How can I get me, my children, and all of these bags from point "A" to point "B"? Well, first you tote the kids inside to check in. Once the room key is in hand you then tote the children back to the car along with a luggage cart. You fill up the luggage cart, while ensuring the children do not run out into traffic, then put the children on top of the luggage...and off you go. I must tell you though that once you actually get to your room you may need to take a well needed break, lay back on the bed for at least a few seconds, and wipe the sweat from your brow.

The next day we boarded a plane. We flew two hours to Minnesota, had a two hour lay over, and then boarded another plane flying for four and a half hours to Portland, Oregon. I must confess, just the thought of this travel day had given me anxiety for a week before we actually left. As such, I was like Super Mom, traveling through the airports equipped with blankets, binkies, bottles, bandaids, toys, books, Ipod's bursting with kids movies from the Wiggles all the way to Snow Buddies, and snacks lots and lots of snacks. But we survived, Heaven be thanked the "devil" didn't join us on this trip, Maddie actually slept the whole flight from Minnesota to Oregon, can I hear a HALLELUJAH please!

We joined the rest of the Wilding crew in gorgeous, stunning, and absolutely freezing Oregon. You'd think I had been living in 110 degree weather for the past two months I was so cold! Alas, a week in Oregon was a blast! I'll give you a high point and a low point of the trip to save you from what would be an infinitely long travel log (because let's face it, can I ever just write a few words about anything, nope, blah blah blah blah blah...that's what I'm all about, I think I can write almost as much as my cute little sister can talk (I love you Shannon!)).

High Point: Beer Batter Halibut...oh my land, Tom, how have you not shared that amazing recipe you have until now. It was like Heaven on my tongue and I am generally not a fried foods person but wow. AWESOME!

Low Point: It was always great to see which one was going to be more terrible in a restaurant, Maddie or Preston. I think they took turns at extreme naughtiness. "Yep that's my kid," I sighed to myself over and over again. But on occassion I would be laughing because, "Oh good, it's not my kid this time I guess it's Preston's turn. Whew!" In hindsight however, this low point is now becoming quite a fond memory. In fact, one day in Oregon my kids and I, Russ, Meg, and Preston, and Grandma and Grandpa Wilding were having lunch together. My mom was talking about how she wanted to take the whole family to a nice dinner to celebrate my Dad's birthday. As she is going on and on about this great idea for a great dinner I am thinking, "Please spare me." Ultimately toward the end of that magnificent lunch my mom said, "Um, I think maybe we should just cook dinner tonight and not go out." But what she was really thinking was, "We better keep these gremlins home...for two or three more years." It was a good day.

Yep, that's generally what Russell looks like all the time. Cute, huh?

I'm pretty much a hottie...this is post breast augmentation.

The great thing that you don't see in this picture is Maddie tantruming at my feet. Good job Meg, keeping the tiny terror out of the picture. I promise Maddie is cute, and she is in fact good...sometimes.

Well the good times in Oregon ended and the McGee crew headed back to Utah for two weeks.

High Point: Two words... Harry Potter.

Low Point: Attempting to conceal my blubbering during Harry Potter.

Utah was awesome! It was great to see family, friends, mountains, and even trees. It was great to have a Pace's grape rainbow, to indulge myself with Mandarin Chinese Food, and to shop at stores not titled Walmart. However, it was definitely not cool to say good bye, yet again.

But here we are...doing OK in OK. I just thought I better share these next two photos with you. Brayten has a new calling as Elder's Quorum President and we had to drive to Hugoton, Kansas to have him set apart. Luckily our Branch President drew us a map so we wouldn't get lost.

Yeah, that's how we do it round here.

But it is nice to be back and get settled into our regular routines. Church was particularly welcoming today, it was like the McGee show. I was the chorister in Sacrament Meeting. Tommy spoke, I sang a solo, I spoke, and then Brayten spoke. Brayten then taught Priesthood and I taught Primary. Hmmm, I think I'm ready for another vacation. We did however have an extra special visitor at Church today. Nope not a General Authority, nope not the Stake President, we had a snake inside the Church. Awesome... Note: don't leave your doors open for prolonged periods in Guymon, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has it's perks though. The other day we went to the Walmart (yes, I do go to the Walmart at least three times a week, I'll bet your jealous). Brayten found these cute license plates for kids bikes with their names on them. We had purchased some Utah "plates" already for our kids and he thought we should get them another set but from Oklahoma. They had Maddie...hmmm, but not Thomas. Instead they had names like Bubba and Mary Lou. See, perks, I told you!

One last story and I will let you get back to your life, for at least another week. The other day the temperature here took a drastic dip. We had a storm front moving in and it was a frigid 68 degrees outside. Tommy went out onto our porch, turned immediately around and came back inside. "Mom," he said, "I need my coat."

Well, all is well here in Oklahoma! I just want to say, Greg thanks for the notes, you're awesome! Logan, thanks for helping pick out my birthday present, you're a stud and you did well! Mom and Dad I love you guys and miss you. Everyone else, family and friends, hugs and kisses from the McGee's! Until next time, we love you!

It's Hot!!!

Well you may ask, what is there to do in Guymon, Oklahoma? Hmmm, not much... In fact, my parents keep asking, "When can we come out there and see you?"

The answer of course is an absolute and resounding anytime...with a clause of course, "You understand that there is nothing to do, don't you?"


"How about August?" they suggest.

With that one there is no hesitation, no clause, it is a resounding, "No. It's way too hot! We would just sit around, staring at each other, and sweating at the same time."

Most days it is over 100 degrees here. If it dips into the nineties it is like manna from Heaven above. About a week ago we had some storming and it got close to being down right cold at 85 degrees. Can I just say the wind is wonderful when it is so incredibly and inescapably hot, it makes 115 degrees feel like 110. Awesome, right?

So what do you do in the summertime when the world is scorching hot? Do you jump in the pool, or climb in the fridge, or run in the nude all day? Is that what you do? So do I! (Sorry, I find I can answer most questions with a reference to the Primary song. I know, I'm cool).

Anyway, we swim, every single day, after having slathered every inch of our white bodies in 70 spf. Well, after having slathered my white body, Maddie's white body, and Tommy's brown body in 70 spf. It is quite unfathomable that boy. I promise he wears sunscreen religiously everyday and right now he is a little Oreo cookie. Brown back, brown legs, with a little white booty in between. It is funny!

The other day we were at the pool. Maddie was playing in a little kiddie pool that is just barely too deep and she is brazenly too brave. So subsequently I am watching her like a hawk. She happened to slip and fall. Her face went into the water for about a millisecond but enough time for her most beloved binkie to fall out. I grabbed her out, checking to see if she is okay, and while she is gasping for breath she is frantically looking about and saying, "Binkie, binkie, binkie!" Sometimes I think she likes that thing more than me!

Yesterday we thought we would take a road trip to Amarillo, Texas. Now George Straight sings a song about Amarillo, Texas, so I assumed that Amarillo would be impressive. Hmmm, I'm not quite sure why George is enamored with that place but that is beside the point.

Highlights:
-Michael's Craft Store.
-Petco (I know, I know, you must be thinking, "Golly these here folks must be from up yonder in Guymon, Oklahoma. They been fixin' to come to Amarillo and they come to this here Petco fir fun." Well you're right.)
-And finally an actual destination that is worthy of a two hour road trip, Wonderland Amusement Park.



Well I learned precisely three things from this wonderful Wonderland trip.
1) (Amusement Park + Texas) Heat = Torture. The only way an amusement park in Texas in the summer could be fun, or rather tolerable, is if you were covered in sunscreen of course but running about sans clothing.
2) Tommy is not a fan of roller coasters yet. He was dying to go on a log ride. You know the kind, a log in a stream, they carry you up a hill and then drop you down the other side with a large splash along the way. He was incredibly excited. He and I got into our log raft, all laughter and smiles. As the ride progressed his smile began to waiver and the laughter all but faded away. As we climbed the hill his little body tensed and the brisk patter of his heart seemed visible through his shirt. When we got to the top of the hill I would have given anything to stop the ride and get my little buddy off...but such is the fate of amusement park rides...down we fell. I clutched him as tight as I could attempting to reassure him that in fact he would live through this. As the torrent of water splashed us at the bottom, a torrent of tears fell down his face. I'm sure people were looking at me thinking, "Way to go Mom, take your little kid on that scary ride." So, yet again, Mother of the Year Award coming my way. Really do these events have to happen in such quick succession?
3) Finally, it has been way too long since I have unabashedly screamed while riding a rollercoaster. Confession: I love them...too much...really. My idea of a super fun vacation would be sending the kiddos to Grandmas, hopping on a plane, and heading for Six Flags. It would be awesome, I promise.

So the moral of the story: don't visit Guymon, Oklahoma, but if you must (say because two of your cute grandchildren are here) then come, but only once the temperature has fallen. December perhaps?

One last thing...Have a happy Independence Day and all my Utah family and friends, enjoy your fireworks for me please. It is so hot here and surrounded by dry (and by dry I mean dead) grass fields meaning no fireworks. You could probably start a fire just by thinking about fireworks, really, it's true. So enjoy! Maybe next year we will enjoy them too!

Love to all!

Do I Have Everything?

This past week was a whirlwind... To be honest, it is quite strange packing a suitcase to visit my parents. It is even more strange to pack a suitcase, drive four and a half hours to the airport, and then take a plane for two and a half more hours to visit your parents. Um, I used to be able to walk to my parents house and did quite often. I found that I asked myself before this venture, throughout the entirety of it, and on the venture home, "Do I have everything?" about seven hundred times. I'm sure we have left possessions like a little trail behind us. From tiny plastic penguins, to books, and possibly even clothes, who knows. I always however made sure I had the essentials: the children, passports, money, and of course the binky (well at least four binkies because Heaven help us if we don't have one). As we were visiting family my mom even had the audacity to suggest, "You know if Maddie can ask for a binky then it might be about time to get rid of it." I was aghast, "Are you crazy?"

A few hours later my mom saw the Mr. Hyde side of Maddie...She relinquished her former comment.
The trip was pretty darn good. On the four and a half hour drive to the airport the kids did surprisingly well. I was patting myself on the back for Mother of the Year award thinking and smiling all along, "Hey I can do this! I can travel to a city I have never been before, find the airport, hop on a plane and take a ride with two kids in tow. I'm pretty much amazing!"

We boarded the plane and the evil in Maddie emerged. Holy moly the plane ride from Hell I thought would never end. When it finally did end and hallelujah that it did Maddie had bit herself, bit me, pulled my hair, and even layed in the aisle on her stomach flailing all limbs while screaming. Tommy like a trooper sat right next to us holding his hands over his ears.

As we exited the plane my former self appraisal was unfortunately and begrudgingly relinquished and I almost knelt down and kissed the ground thankful to be done with that tragic nightmare. As I passed by other passengers, the flight crew, and even the pilot I was given looks that spoke clearly they said things like, "You poor woman." Also, "I don't know how you did that." Maybe even, "I'm so glad that's not my kid." Possibly, "She is cute but I'm afraid she may also be the Devil." And absolutely, "I hope I never see them again." But we survived. (Oh and I didn't take any pictures once Mr. Hyde was with us...I was too busy fighting him to deal with a camera but really who would want to see pictures of that?)

The week was awesome once the traveling was over. I have to admit there is quite a bit more to do in Utah than in Oklahoma. It was fun watching my crazy (but most definitely tough) siblings run the Ragnar, enjoy Father's Day with my Dad (I love him and always will), hit the Zoo, drive my Dad's car to Mueller Park Canyon for an afternoon of smores, play at Kangaroo Zoo, and spend time with good friends and family.

I learned a few things from this trip. First, I love Utah (more than I did before) and I will eventually live there again. Second, the Ragnar looks like a lot of fun on the first leg...second leg (hmmm I slept through that one)...but the third, yeah, not quite as fun. Despite that I think I'm game, next year. Third, I also had a glimpse at the slumbering Wilding tenacity (and Jonesy, you are included in that). It has been a long time since I have watched my siblings compete, especially in running. Scott you are Mr. Incredible. Shannon has always had the little dog syndrome and it blossomed in this race. She is just as tough as anyone no matter how small she is. Brandon is amazing, of course, and I feel sorry for that hill next year. Russ, you know he's in the zone when you are screaming for him and you don't get any type of Russell smirk, not a nod of the head, not even a hand wave of recognition. Yep, that's the Russell the muscle I know. And Tom-what can I say?!? You didn't die, which honestly I was ecstatic about! But, every time I saw you, you were running! Way to go Forrest! You did awesome! Fourth, driving my Dad's car, top down, makes me feel about ten times more cool than I actually am (thanks Dad, anytime you want me to take that thing off your hands I am willing and able). Finally, smores should be savored, as often as possible, no matter how old you are.

So the trip was good. It was so much fun to see everyone but Logan, Kaden, and Karson each of you are on my crap list. Really, who goes to scout camp when their favorite Aunt is in town??? For that you guys are going down, Oregon, Just Dance 2, in two weeks.

Well the trip ended, we hesitantly boarded a plane once again. I was scared, really scared. Let's just be honest as I walked down the aisle of the plane I was already apologizing to the other passengers. With my sweetest smile I would say, "I'm sorry in advance for how my child might behave on this flight." Or even, "I hope you brought ear plugs." And also, "Hey free baby, any takers, free baby!"

Luckily the flight home went a bit more smooth. She only cried for about four minutes instead of forty-five. I can handle four minutes. We arrived in the sweltering heat of Oklahoma, it was 107 degrees. Drove with the air conditioning full blast for four and a half hours. Then finally walked across the Welcome mat at our apartment. The traveling venture had started at 8:30 in the morning and ended at 10:15 that night, super fun!

But we are home with Daddy! While the kids were so sad to leave family and friends in Utah they were ecstatic to see Dad! And so was I. The next day we drove on up to Kansas and went to the water park. Because really, what else do you do in the middle of no where, and it is 111 degrees outside?

We love you all! Until next time, have a good week!