Harry Potter

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last night. I loved it! I couldn't have guessed all the details of the ending and the way things would resolve/unresolve/resolve in the last 120 pages. It was so entertaining, and a great read. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I'm one satisfied reader. I didn't think it could happen, but I was wrong.
After I finished, Cooper came walking in to my room (mind you, it was almost 2 a.m.) and turned on "Frosty the Snowman." He started watching it like it was the middle of the day--crazy kid! Shea was still up reading Harry Potter #6, and we just looked at each other and laughed. We all fell asleep sometime after that and no one woke up until 9:30!
We have my cousin, Eliza, over to play. She is 7 and just moved back from Virginia after her dad clerked for Supreme Court Judge Alito for a year. Cam and Coop missed her!
We are also getting ready for a ward party at Mutual Dell from 3:30 to 5:30 today. It should be nice to hang out somewhere less hot!

Sick with a stomach bug

Lucy, Cooper and I were up sick last night. Yuck. Today has been one of those lounge around, visit the bathroom often, sip on a Sprite kind of days. I am ready to feel better! Luckily (I hope it doesn't get worse tonight) Lucy has seemed to feel good today. She wanted to eat a banana for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch. She hasn't acted sick and has taken two naps! I hope she is over it. As for me and Coop...we're on the mend. Now I'm just dreading Camden and Shea getting it. Is it possible to escape? I hope so!
We had a relaxing Pioneer day yesterday. We had a lunch time bbq at Shea's parents. There was lots of good food and fun cousins. Boy how we miss those Todd Taylor kids! Family parties are so different.
The kids played water games, threw water balloons, did the slip and slide, and watched "Barnyard" while the adults gathered in the shade and talked. A storm blew in in the afternoon and it was so nice outside! It cooled down to about 78 degress. Perfect!
After Shea's parents' house, we ordered food from Bombay House and ate at Cory and Shannon's. We had a fun game of whiffle ball with everyone, the kids played Wii and on the swingset, and we did fireworks at dark. It was a fun day!
My parents and Matt and Marc are in Lake Powell this week. I love living by both families, but it was nice to spend some good quality time with just one on a holiday.
We also said goodbye to Shea's younger brother, Jake. He's moving to Raleigh, NC for a new Cisco job. He flew out today. It was sad but exciting for Jake at the same time. This will be an amazing opportunity for him. (I also think we'll be seeing a lot of him since he left a darling girlfriend, Andrea, at home.)
Shea got in touch with his best friend from North Carolina this week. They haven't been in touch for 10 years, when Shea found his MySpace page. Now we're planning a trip to see Jake and Shea's friend sometime in the Fall. I'm excited to see where Shea grew up!
Hope you all had a fun 24th!

Darling E

Do I not have the most darling nephew on the planet? Did I mention that his dad weighed 27 lbs. at 9 months? E looks like he's going to catch up!

Nordstrom Sale!

Oh, how I love the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! I have been going with my mom for probably 15 years. We used to go up to Fashion Place, but we now meet in Orem. This year we pre-shopped on Monday, which was awesome. We had gotten everything done and were home by 10 this morning. (We were there when the doors opened at 7...)

I have no problem shopping for Fall clothes--even when it's 100 degrees outside. I love that season's clothes more than any other. Sweaters, jeans, cute shoes...I just love back-to-school time in general. I used to get so excited and have my first day's outfit planned for a month. Of course, it was usually too hot to wear it, but I did anyway.

Now that the boys are headed to kindergarten in the Fall I love getting them ready. They are excited; I'm excited for them; it's a good thing. They keep asking if they can wear their school clothes, and I just brought some of them home today! That's going to be a fun battle. Hopefully they'll forget about them hanging in the closet.

I hate goodbyes

I've been kind of avoiding the blog world since I'm boycotting so many of our family leaving. All of them are going on and doing the things they need to and should do; I just don't like change. There are so many things I'll miss. There are so many things my kids will miss.

Adam, Ashley and E left last week to Loma Linda, CA to start 3 years of dental school in the fall.

Todd, Jane and kids leave tomorrow morning for Gilbert, AZ. Todd can work from anywhere, and it's time to share them with Jane's family for a while. Lucky Beesons.

Jake leaves next week for Raleigh, NC to start a year-long Cisco training program to further his career.

Camping at Nana and Papa's

Shea's parents planned the greatest sleepover of all time. They wanted all their grandkids (10 from age 3 to 13) to sleep over. They all arrived at 7 last night. Nana had hot dogs, chips, and Capri Suns for dinner. While Shea and Papa set up the tent the kids ate. They all got to paint on "cousins' camp" t shirts after that. My boys were loving it! The younger kids needed a little help, but I know we have some new favorite t shirts in the making!

The parents left after that, and the kids were going to watch a movie, enjoy smores, listen to bedtime stories told by Papa, and sleep in a tent! They were all so happy and excited; I hope they actually got some sleep.

This morning they were going to eat Papa pancakes (which my boys think are the greatest pancakes on the planet), and have a water balloon fight.

Last night I heard Brynn tell Nana, "if you ask us to do jobs, we'll do the jobs." I was laughing to myself. She has a good mom who teaches her to be a little helper. All these kids love being together. I'm sure they had a blast!

Thanks for the memories and the entertainment, Nana and Papa!

Happy Birthday, Olivia!

We love you! We are all so lucky to have you as a sister-in-law and aunt. My kids adore you and love being with you. You are always so patient, sweet, and very fun!

We hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy 8th Birthday Boston!

We had a wonderful experience at your baptism. We're so proud of you. Thank you for being a great example for Camden and Cooper to follow. You're one of the coolest kids we know!

My cousin, Marie with Lucy and Audrey Matt and some cute girls!
Adam, Ash, and E
Lucy and Audrey looked so darling!

Happy Fourth!

Lucy and my aunt's baby, Laila
Mitchell, Coop, and Cam at the Provo parade!


Lucy and cousin, Hannah at the Hansen party on Monday
Lucy, Marc and Audrey at the Burr picnic on Tuesday
Matt, Lucy, Shea, Coop and Grandpa at the picnic