San Diego!

 We had a great trip with Grandma & Grandpa Greenhalgh to San Diego this month.  We played at the beach on Coronado Island ...

 We swam in the pool at the condo ...

 For Owen, we visited LEGOLAND!!

 ... and we stopped by the San Diego Temple ... beautiful!!!

 On Sunday we visited the Mormon Battalion Visitor Center in Old Town San Diego ...

 made bricks ...

 panned for gold ...

 and pretended we were pioneers.

 We were able to spend 2 days at Sea World ...

 and an afternoon at the Wild Animal Safari Park ...

 We made lots of memories and now our summer is complete.

Highlights from our Summer

Well, school starts tomorrow so our summer is done.  We've had weddings, fishing trips, girls camp & youth conference, swimming, a fun 4th of July, and lots of playtime with friends.  But the biggest event of our summer was making the decision to build a new HOME!!!  The hole was dug this week, and we eagerly await moving into this beautiful house this holiday season.

Brent & I just did something we have NEVER done before ... we went on a vacation without the children.  I missed my babies, but they hardly missed me, and Brent & I had the time of our lives running around Washington DC.  Sister Sue was our sweet tour guide & taxi driver ... thanks, Susan!!  We were absolutely inspired by Mt. Vernon, the Smithsonians, the memorials, etc., etc., etc.  Loved it!

Irish Dance Feis

 Becca & her teacher talked me into competing in an Irish Dance feis (competition) with them a few weeks ago.  Becca did awesome.  So did aunt Emma.  And, well, I did pretty good myself.

 This is Becca and her 2-hand dance partner backstage, waiting to compete.

 Becca's wig was sweet ... and I don't need a wig, thank goodness.  By the way, I hate to take the wind out of my own sail, but those 6 beautiful gold medals were awarded to the ONLY competitor in my age category.  Maybe next time I'll earn them fair & square!

Owen's Preschool Graduation

Congrats to our preschool graduate!  Kindergarten, here we come!!!

 Tecia has taught 3 of our preschoolers.  We are so sad to see her move away from the neighborhood this year!  What a great lady.

Becca's 9!

 Beautiful Becca is 9 years old!  For her friend party, she took her girlfriends out to Pizza Pie Cafe.  They stuffed their faces & had a lovely time.  For her family party, she requested pies instead of cake ... taking after her father.  I love you, Becca!

Engineer Owen

 The other day, Owen was trying to explain to me how his mind works.  He told me (and I already knew this from observation) that his mind gets ideas about things to build and he just has to do it!  He told me that some boys are creative, and that he was one of them.  I love that my five year old knows the meaning of creativity and uses his daily (although I confess the messes are sometimes phenomenal).  He really is very thoughtful & detail-oriented.  I suggested that maybe this builder talent of his was a gift from Heavenly Father.  He liked that idea.

 Here he is on his birthday a couple months ago receiving all things builder (legos, lego idea books, and his very first erector set!)

Owen reminds us of this cartoon quite regularly.

Sam is Seven!

My sweet Sam is growing up.  He's still as handsome as ever, and such a sweetheart.  I love this boy!!  He enjoyed a good family party this month & took his friends bowling, too.