Anyone else?

I am counting down to the new TV season. I was loving the olympics, but honestly I could care less about the presidential conventions, now I just want me some good new shows.
I always get this way at this time of the year. I hate that new seasons don't start until the end of September.
I am making myself a little calendar so I know what I will watch on what day. I have the start dates noted as well. i also leave some openings in case I try a new show and like it. The DVR makes it possible for me to enjoy more shows than ever after the kids are in bed.
It is sad I know, but my husband works most nights and it brings me joy to see a good new show. Does anyone share the anticipation or do you just think I am pathetic?

School House Rock Live!

If you are in Herriman tomorrow or Thursday come see the girls in the show! It is the childrens summer theater production. This is their second year in it and they have so much fun!
They both have a speaking part and they are in four songs. It is a cute production.
We have practiced our songs so much Jace and Abbie were singing and doing actions in the audience! We have gone to practice every tues and thurs for a couple months.
Abbie and Jace wanted their picture taken before the show!
I am sure I will post more pictures when Shane is with me and I can take some during the show. Tonight Jace had to have snacks constantly to keep him interested when "his guys" weren't on stage.

My latest obsession

Ok I have loved anything from the musical Wicked for some time now, but after seeing it the obsession has grown. I am getting myself geared up to see it here in Salt Lake next year. If I can't get tickets I might die. Anyway the Wicked obsession has carried over into an obsession with the Tony winning original Elphaba-Idina Menzel. I love her voice and her amazing talent. The more I see and hear the more I love her. She is amazing!

Does anyone share my love of her? Not to mention the very nice looking husband she has in Taye Diggs (he's the narrator/piano player in the movie Chicago and he is in the TV show Private Practice). Anyway I just thought I would share!

Also for anyone that doesn't know broadway stuff she is in Disney's Enchanted. She plays Nancy the girlfriend. You probably didn't know how talented she really was!

A fun summer activity!

What do you do ona hot summer day? Go to the local splash park of course! We went with some friends for a fun time at the park. It is free and the kids love it!:) Natalie and her best friend Lauren. They have been friends since before kindergarten. They were meant to be friends for sure--they even look alike!

They have the funniest story of how they became friends: Lauren moved in down the street and came out one day looking for someone to play with. She saw Natalie and she went up to her and said," I have pokey weeds in my bum will you help me pull them out?" Natalie helped her and she says that's how she and Lauren got to be friends. Natalie even wrote a story about it for school! If someone pulling out pokey weeds from your bum isn't a good friend then I don't know what is. Anyway, here's a shout out to all my good friends out there for all the things you have done for me!:) Hallie figuring out how to squirt the boys!
Abbie and her new favorite picture pose-"like a ballerina!"
And here is trouble! Jace is one crazy boy and he isn't afraid to try anything.
The super cute girls having a snack break in the shade! Natalie and Lauren, Hallie and Anna, Emily and Abbie.

First Day of School! (and Dad's birthday!)

This is yesterday before the first day of school. We had a family photo because Jace wouldn't move! Here we are with just the school girls!
I cant believe Nat is in the 5th grade! I have so many memories of 5th grade, so it seems so wierd that she will be having those experiences. I feel older every day!
Hallie is in 3rd grade obviously. All the kids got cute new haircuts and if you look close Nat's is longer on one side than the other. She really wanted it that way so whatever. I think it turned out cute. Better than her last idea when she told me she was going to "personally bring back the 80's side ponytail." What a funny girl.

Here we have sweet Abbie telling Jace it is ok that he doesn't get to go to school. Not a happy boy. All day he wanted to know where the kids were. He kept asking "Where's my guys?" He didn't like them being gone so long. I thought it was super cute.
It was also Shane's birthday yesterday so we went to dinner at Olive Garden and gave him a few gifts. He had a busy day at work so he didn't have the best birthday ever, but I just wanted to say Happy Birthday and tell him I love him.

Also after I told Abbie how old he was she got really sad and said "Is my dad going to die?" I said "why" and she said "because he is so old." I about died myself--laughing so hard. I love kids!

Why I miss living in Seattle.

Ok, obviously there are a lot of things to love and miss about Seattle, but one big thing was Hydrangias. I love them! Especially the purply-blue color. They were so big and beautiful there and I was so sad that I couldn't have them in Utah.

Well someone said that I could actually grow them here, but that I couldn't have the blue ones because their color is all from the acid or something in the soil. Anyway, I wanted to try and grow one. I planted it last year but it never bloomed, but this year it did finally bloom and I am feeling very proud that I got it to work! Here it is. I know it is nothing like you see by YOUR houses my Seattle friends, but I am just happy to have it and wanted to share the Joy!

Island Park Fun!

This is the Cabin where we stayed on Island Park Reservoir. It belongs to my sister in law's parents the Westergards. They were nice enough to let us use it and all the fun things that went along with it. Thanks Colette for making it work out! This is the whole Jaussi family. (My dad and all his siblings except one brother who was on call for work) I was so glad that my Grandma was feeling well enough to be there. She is a wonderful lady. This is the greatest family to be a part of. I am so lucky to have such great people to support me in my life.

One morning my mom sent all the kids out on a "bear hunt." All the grandkids got a new bear wearing a T-shirt with their name on it. My mom loves having fun with her grandkids. The hunt was a hit with the kids for sure!


We spent lots of time on the paddle boat, 4 wheelers, kayaks, tubes behind the boat, waterskiing, playing darts, playing pool, and eating! It was fun for everyone!

A stop at BIG JUDD'S

Here is my cute family waiting for food. Below are my mom, dad, Nate, Kenny, Meg, Grandma Beth and aunt Ann.

We went up to Idaho this past week for a family reunion with the Jaussi's. We were on our way to a cabin in Island Park, but we had to stop in Ashton on the way. Why you ask? Big Judds. It is a great hamburger place and they have 1 lb hamburgers for those that are little pigs. If you eat the 1, 3 or 5 lb burger you get your picture taken and put on the wall. Shane and my brother Nathan have the honor of being on the wall. Yes, they ate a one pound burger on huge bun. It covers a 12 inch dinner plate. Just looking at it makes a person ill, but on one trip to yellowstone they did it. Neither one wanted to try it again for the sake of my blog isn't that rude? Anyway it is a fun stop that we always like to make, so if you are ever in Ashton. . . .

Nothing beats a night in the canyon!

Saturday night we went with a lot of my family up to Mill Creek Canyon. We go a few times each summer with my aunts Jean, Jane and Ann and my uncle Reed. My sisters were both there and their hubbys and kids. We roast hot dogs and s'mores and banana boats and just have a fabulous time visiting and playing around. Having fun with cousins Aiden and Eliza.
Hallie and Aiden and Abbie couldn't resist the water!
My sister Dana(all the other kids are hers) with her beautiful baby Jack.
Jace even learned to like dogs on this trip. He actually decided to walk Ann's dog Maddie. He came a long way in a short time. Usually Jace LOVES dogs until they get anywhere near him and then he totally freaks out, so this was a little miracle and hopefully he won't get so nervous around them anymore.

Just keep swim-ming, just keep swim-ming. . .

We just got done with yet another year of swimming lessons. All the kids did great and loved every minute of it!
Hallie was so excited to go off the high dive, but didn't want to do it more than once in a row. I never quite got the action shot of the girls diving though I did try!
Natalie loved every chance she had to go off the high dive and did it over and over this time. It is fun to see them love swimming like their mom.

Abbie and Jace got put in the same class even though they were different levels this year. Not enough kids signed up. It was good for Jace though to see Abbie try everything. They had so much fun and thought they were as big as the older girls.