The top 10 of Summer

There are just too many pictures from the summer to post, and way to much typing involved. So I decided to do the top 10... They are in no particular order... I know it's almost October andI'm barely getting around posting summer pictures.

10. Shane had a few interviews while we were in Utah, and accepted a job at Alta View Hospital! I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. After being in school for 14 years, it's hard to imagine how life will change for us. No more 120 hour work weeks, for one. That's a big one. I'm so excited, and thankful.

9. Shane had some much needed down time... This guy can sleep anytime, anywhere. I love and hate this special talent he has.

8. Lagoon!! What's a trip to Utah without Lagoon? My parents took us to Lagoon, a big highlight for the boys...

You know Bella wouldn't settle for anything less than the PINK boat.

7. Campfire chatter... loved sitting at the campfire and visiting with family. Here are my cute neices and sister in law.

6. Camping out. We went to my family's cabin in Wyoming and had our first family camp out. I know it's sad, my oldest boys are 9 and this is their first camp out with the family. The kids were really into setting up the camp, and very excited to get into their sleeping bags.

Jackson looks so grown up and capable in this picture.

5. Hiking. Oh how I miss the mountains, and a good hike!!! We had a great time hiking with my family in the mountains of Wyoming. I can't say enough how much I love being in the mountains with my family, and not being in a time crunch,

4. Spending time with our wonderful parents!

3. Boating at Lake Powell... according to Shane, it's heaven on earth.

Heaven is:

spending time in nature, with people you love...

two thumbs up...

having a friend who "gets" you...

running down a sand hill with your cousin...

smiles :)

Never being too old to build a sand castle ...

overcoming fears and accomplishing big milestones

2. Being together with my entire family for the first time in 6 years and being able to hold my baby nephews. Here we are showing our true colors.

1. Spending much needed time with the kids and Shane. Here in one picture, my top 5 favorite people.

Summer Recap part 1-- The Race

Our vacation to Utah this year was wonderful... no airline mishaps as in years previous. No suitcase/ child pileup on the escalator, no barfing kids sitting on my lap, no 4 hour wait on the tarmac, like last year. This year, we lucked out and sat in a row surrounded by rows and rows of deaf people. No I'm not kidding, they must have been coming back from a convention. I couldn't believe my luck... Bella could whine and fuss to her hearts content and I didn't have to worry about what anyone was thinking of my inept parenting ... perfect.

The next morning we woke up at 4:00 a.m. and went to run the Deseret News 10K with Shane's family. Mason and Jackson ran it with us... I use the word "ran" very loosely here... maybe "finished" would be a better word for it. Mason woke up bleary eyed and said, "I wish I never let you talk me into this... but I don't have 30 dollars to pay you back " I could tell we were going to have a great race.

Having "run" a 5K with the boys before I knew I didn't have the patience to drag them across the finish line. So I handed that job off to Shane who was happy to do it since he had only done one training run in the past 2 years. I knew Shane was in for a long race. Apparently, not even a mile into the race, he was dragging them both by the hands. Adding to his misery, Jackson had to take a "number 2" rest stop around mile 3... poor kid had been holding it since before the race.

Grandpa Lewis came in first place, as always. At 61 years old he has never been beaten by any of us young whipper snappers. Before you start judging all of us losers, you should know he finished in 42 minutes... that's a 7 minute mile. I came in next at 49 minutes... not even close this year. Then we waited, and waited... I was getting really nervous until I saw Mason running in at 1 hour and 15 minutes. He was by himself and looked exhausted and miserable and determined. It made me very proud to be his mom. I jumped in and finished the race with him, along with my little 3 year old nephew, Lewis.

Finally at 1 hour and 30 minutes I saw Shane and Jackson, poor kid was not a happy camper but he was determined to finish, and I was so proud of him for sticking it out and not giving up. I got choked up as he crossed the finish line. It was hard, and long, and hot... and he proved he could do it at 9 years old. Here he is finishing with his cousin, Eric.

More to come...

Captain Jim Bob

I have a lot of work to do. We just got back from the annual Utah vacation and had a blast but catching up is no fun. I've spent the last few days sorting out bills, shopping for school supplies and unraveling the mess that was caused when our bank mysteriously deducted $400 from our account... apparently there are two Shane Lewis' in this town. Long story...

We started the week off with a little Family Home Evening about family scripture study, since it's something that has been neglected over the summer. It was obvious last night when we were having a little scripture quiz and Shane asked the boys, "Who is the man who raised the Title of Liberty and led his army to battle?"

.... ummmm... Jackson --"Helium? I mean Helaman!"

BUZZ wrong answer. "I'll give you a clue, it starts with Captain"...

Mason answers--"Captain America?" Double BUZZ!!!

Isaac? "Captain Jim Bob!!!" And bursts out in hysterical laughter. Oh good grief.

It's good to be back. I'll get around to posting some of our Utah adventures when I get my feet back under me. Hope everyone had a wonderful summer.