Last Days of Summer

Ahh, the lazy days of summer are coming to an end. One last trip to the waterpark. School starts in 1 week.

I think this sign is hilarous!

Jenna couldn't get enough of the slides. And she let us know that she was big enough to go by herself.

My 36th Birthday

I had a low-key birthday and it was perfect. I don't ask for a lot. Just a clean house and a happy family. I got that, beautiful flowers from my in-laws, phone calls, FB messages, birthday cards, a movie and an impromptu birthday party. Is that another word for surprise? Jason and I took Ryan and Kate to see Harry Potter (Kelsey had Marching Band camp). My good friend Amy volunteered??(I'm not sure if that was the right word-I couldn't find a babysitter) to watch Eric and Jenna. To top it off she invited us all over afterward for pizza and then even made me a cake. According to Jason that was all part of his plan. Right. Sure! Some other good friends, the Jorgensens, came over and we played cards. It was a great day. Exactly how I like it!

Summer Happenings

Just finished another season with the O'Fallon Breakers Swim Team-Kids had a great season. All of them made Conference and their team came in second. Kate swam IM & FLY, Ryan-Back & Kesley-IM, BACK, BREAST & FLY.With Coaches Mike, Mary, Lindsay and Head Coach Kim. Kim is already recruiting Kelsey for the High School TeamVisits from the Keating Cousins. It was a quick overnighter as they were passing through but it was great to see them!Nothing says summer like ICE SKATING! The local rink gave out free passes for every A on your report card. Jenna couldn't wait to give it a try!Hanging out at the Jorgensens And Picking their Vegetables-I wish I could say this was my garden.Trying out Snakes for Size

Raging Rivers Water Park -I took 8 kids all by myself. While everyone else ran off to do their thing I had the best day hanging out with Jenna! Camp Choo Choo-Jenna went 9-noon for a week x4. She played at the park, swam, did crafts. But the best part was she had her very own personal swing pusher! She loves those UNDERDOGS! Summer Job-Kate and Ryan's dream was to earn enough money for a Nintendo DS (newer version of a Game Boy) They pooled their money together and with the money they earned taking care of the neighbors cats, gecko and garden for 10 days 3 x a day they finally had enough. The original plan was to buy Kate's first and then work for Ryans. But this toy is expensive so Jason and I nixed that idea and they're sharing just fine.

Kelsey's First Dance

Kelsey's first dance was at Youth Conference. She was nervous and shy but excited. Oh, I so remember that feeling. Dances are a lot different than back in the "olden days". It's manly group dancing, pairing off only for the slow dances. The popular dance is the line type dances. I'm going to have to YouTube so I figure out how to do them and join in. That is if Kelsey will let me. The one thing that was the same was the music. They were playing music that I used to dance to. Think Rick Astley.

Her second dance was the next night. I offered Kelsey some advice:

1. Guys get tired of always asking girls to dance. Ask them. It boosts their self-esteem to know that you want to dance with them. Then they are more apt to ask you again.

2. There are 20 more girls than guys so if you want to dance you gotta ask.

She took my advice and according to her had the "BEST NIGHT!"

EIA-My New ENEMY

I got Strep throat again. The first time just happened to be on Mother's Day when Jason was out of town. The 2nd time was a month later. I have never felt more awful in my entire life. I didn't sleep for 2 days straight. I begged for stronger drugs because the Motrin and Tylenol I was taking did nothing for me. Jason called the Dr. and the Dr. said "Sorry, but I'm not going to give you anything but you'll feel better in 24 hours when the penicillin kicks in." What Dr. tells a patient in serious pain that?? Sorry you feel terrible but we're going to let you suffer another 24 hours. I was so mad!!!!! So I resorted to Benadryl just to sleep. One pill knocks me out. I took two just to make sure.

Though I recovered from strep I ended up in the E.R. a couple weeks later. This time because I couldn't breathe. After the strep I gave myself a couple days rest before starting to run again. While I used to run 3.6 miles every morning I couldn't even make .9 I just figured my body was still recovering. But after 2 weeks of wondering why I couldn't breathe when I exercised I headed to the E.R. I was given every test possible. Every test, the EKG, Chest X-rays, throat culture, Lab tests came back negative. Thanks goodness for TriCare. They took care of that $3000 bill. It was a boring 6 hours. I had no reading material, no t.v. , just my phone so I entertained myself by taking pictures!

Diagnosis: Exercise Induced Asthma. At first I didn't believe it. I was so sure it had to do with my strep. After googling and talking with people I've accepted that I do. I now have an inhaler. I still struggle to breath when I exercise. I'm going in for more tests so hopefully I'll get more answers. Mentally it's been a challenge to. My mind tells me I can do something but then my body steps in and says no.

Anyone have any experience with this? I'm looking for a support group.

New Calling/Girls Camp

I'm the new Young Women's President. It's been 9 years since I was last in YW. I got called just in time for a week at Girls Camp and then Youth Conference. The Youth are amazing and fun! I have 12 girls but no Beehives. I'm still figuring out everything I need to do but I think the most important thing I can do is just be there for the girls, share my testimony and love them for who they are.
Girls Camp-BOOT CAMP (Build Our Own Testimonies)

A few of us Before Camp

Camp was 1 1/2 hrs. away at Quiver River, MO . Yes, we had cabins with electricity and a mess hall with cooks and showers but we still roughed it. We had to deal with ticks and. . .nothing else. It was a perfect week! The food was fabulous especially since I didn't have to shop, cook or clean-up. The weather was gorgeous-hot but not too hot. But if it got hot we'd just park ourself in front of a fan or under a tree. The girls were fun and responsible and I didn't have to worry about any of them. When it was time for them to clean the latrine I didn't even have to remind them. We hiked 6 miles, we swam in the lake nearby, sang lots of camp songs (ones I remembered from when I was in YW), made bracelets and played Big Booty. I won of course. When Friday morning came I really wasn't ready to leave my paradise. Can't wait until next year.The Stake divided the wards into ARMY, NAVY, MARINES and AIR FORCE. We were in Army with 2 other wards.Cabins had bunkbeds that slept 8. I loved sleeping with the windows open at night.Learning to play Big BootyThe LakeSporting the camouflage look. Don't you think I could pass as a young woman?

The Stake cooked lunch and dinner. The sister wards cooked breakfast at their campsite. This is Kelsey with a delicious Egg, Sausage McMuffin.Leaders-We didn't speak, hear or see no evil-that doesn't mean we didn't do . . .I tried to be a good example but then got called out for wearing flip flops to dinner. Oops. 4 of us had to go back and change into our tennis shoes. My Girls! Aren't they lovely? I just love them!

What Eric's Been Up To. . .

or should I say into? I left Kelsey in charge and Eric took advantage. He not only got that thick Eucerin lotion all over himself but the carpet too. And we'd just gotten our carpets clean a couple days before too. But his skin never felt softer!<