Summer Updates

Great photo of Taylor. He is starting to work on his Eagle for Scouts. Taylor is busy with work at the complex and is spending time with friends. He will be a junior at East!!! Taylor is a great young man and I love being around him. It's been a great summer because he hasn't been in trouble! He has a new cell phone and loves to check in with Aunt Missy. He is learning how quick you can spend your money! I love this photo of Tanner. It's a rare photo of when he is serious. Summer Baseball at East just ended last week. Tanner is working on his summer English assignment to read "The House of Scorpions" and write a paper on it. He is bored with summer but has a few more activities with the youth group. Tan Man is taller than me and has changed the most this past year. I can't believe he starts high school!!! He continues to have a tight bond with Aunt Missy. They share the middle child syndrome.

Jordan attended Beehive Camp at Brighton. She had a great time but sprained her ankle hiking to Seven Peaks. Youth Leaders were invited to visit Thursday night and I was able to see her when I found out about the ankle. Fortunately, the Bishop and his wife were sitting next to me when I found out. My thoughts were quite different than my actions. Jordan loved the outdoors and met many terrific youth her age. She returned home on Friday and went straight to Physical Therapy. The ankle is swollen and the injury will cause a delay in her training. She will have therapy all this week and we hope to have her back on the ice by the end of the week. She also spoke in Sacrament today. Jordan did a terrific job and enjoys being in Young Women's.



Squirrel Count: 16 and it's slowing down...

Liberty Competition in Philadelphia

Jordan and I had a terrific experience in Philadelphia. She skated well, additional news on her skating is listed on her website, http://www.jordanking.us/. We had Sunday to explore the historical sites of Philadelphia. We saw the Liberty Bell, ate a philly cheese steak (Jordan loved it!), walked to the Ben Franklin grounds and saw many historical buildings. It was a fun day. The boys also had a great week while we were gone.

Jordan places 1st at Copper Cup

Jordan had a terrific performance at our local competition in Bountiful. She took 1st place and landed her double lutz, double toe, double loop combination. It was a fun evening! Cordero came downstairs with his outfit and I started to laugh because it matched Jordan's. He is such an awesome skater and young man. Cordero has a contagious positive attitude and our family enjoyed every day he spent with us. Jordan found a new older brother and a dedicated skater to train with.

Surprise for ME!!!

Jason came home today with a special surprise for me!!! I now have a phone that works long distance (same cell number) and a new beautiful laptop!!! He has been working so hard! You are awesome Jason, thanks so much...Now I will be spending many hours getting use to the new computer and programs.

Girls Camp

Jordan attended her first year of girls camp. It was only for one day...skating comes first! She couldn't stay long because she is competing at Copper Cup this Saturday and leaving for Philadelphia on Monday. It was fun to spend the day with the youth in our ward. It wasn't quite the same camp as my years in San Rafael Ward. I cherish those memories!!!

Squirrel Count: 13...it has slowed down the past few days. It's been so hot, I doubt the pesty squirrels cared about my apricots!!!

Happy 4th of July!

I love 4th of July. Twelve years ago I was in the hospital expecting Jordan, only to have her arrive 12:10 a.m. July 5th. For the past few years we attend the Bee's Baseball Game in Salt Lake City. After the game we watch a spectacular firework show. Last year it rained, this year we melted..We sat in the outfield on blankets. After the game, we had to move on to the baseball field to watch the fireworks. It had to be at least 100 degrees.

Meet our new family friend, Cordero from Alaska. He is a skater we met at Junior Nationals in Ohio last year. He told me he has never gone to a baseball game. I about lost my breath. We arrived early for a good spot in outfield, I also enjoy watching them prep the field. It about killed me when Cordero thought the bases were going to be placed in the outfield and it seems like a long distance to run. We spent much time explaining the game. Cordero isn't use to this heat, altitude or time change, also include a full day of skating and conditioning. Missy was afraid Cordero would never recover watching a game of baseball in this heat. Within a few hours, the sun went down and it was much better for everyone.

Taylor, Jason and Tanner on the baseball field waiting for the fireworks. It was the best show I have seen since living in Utah! Loud American Music, sitting with my family on a baseball field, warm night and amazing fireworks...what a night. It was a great time! The Bee's also won with a homerun in the bottom of the 9th!

P.S. Squirrel #11 was caught today and released to his new home.

More Squirrels

On Monday, Squirrel #7 was caught and released to reunite with his friends. Above is a photo from Squirrel #8. He was a runt and made a mess with the peanut butter!

Today, Tanner caught Squirrel #9 and built a holding jail cell till I came home from the rink.

While we released Squirrel #9 from the holding jail cell, the trap was out and caught Squirrel #10. As we were now heading back to release Squirrel #10, two squirrels ran up the apricot tree. Do you think they are following me back home?????

SQUIRRELS....everywhere

We have two great apricot trees in our backyard that have attract every squirrel on the east side of Salt Lake. They have made a massive mess in our backyard. They are no longer cute. Our sweet landlord, Marla joined us in this adventure of catching squirrels. She provided the fancy trap and organic, expensive peanut butter. The squirrels thank you Marla!

This is Squirrel #4

Tanner is releasing Squirrel #4 near Emigration Canyon. Squirrel #3 was trapped sometime in the late night and was exhausted this morning when Jason released him.

Squirrel #5 was caught while we were in church. Squirrel #6 was caught within the first 15 minutes after we came home...Missy now calls me Snow White because as I was watching the squirrel being trapped, three other squirrels were watching me. She thinks I attract them!!! The worst part is driving the squirrels to their new home. I am always afraid the boys will release the trap while I am driving....and if they do, Taylor will never drive and I will shave their heads bald!