Update

Stan has been busy at work surveying for burrowing owls. It means leaving the house before sunrise, but he is an early riser and we are grateful that he is busy because that means a job.

I was released from my calling as Young Women President today. I don't have another calling. I will miss being with the teenage girls in the ward. They are so much fun. It is a good thing I have a few of my own teenage girls to keep me company.

I remember noticing that the seniors above me in high school did unexpected things. It was like they knew they were leaving soon and weren't constrained by the box that high school had put them in. Well, it happened at our house, too. Summer joined a couple of clubs this year and even took part in their homecoming lip sync competitions.

Rachel is taking guitar lessons and loving it.

Heather is homeschooling this year for middle school. It is wonderful having her around.

Gwen was Student of the Month for September. Woot, woot, Gwen!

Kelly is in public school for the first time this year. She is holding her own, but it has been a hard transition. One of the best things about her going to school, and one of the reasons we sent her, was for new friends. She has already made a bunch.

Michael is in kindergarten at home with me. He likes to get up before I do and come into my bedroom to ask if we can do schoolwork, RIGHT NOW.

Naomi is happy being the baby of the family. She has decided that she will stay the size that she is and never grow up. She is bound and determined. Good luck!

Summer on the Cello

Odds, Ends and Funny Bubbles

Thursday night, the company Stan works for had a party. Clients and spouses were invited. I washed my hair, had the girls make dinner and took off. There was a live band, good food, displays in some of the offices, and interesting people. The caterer had a set up where you chose your pasta and your sauce and the chef sautéed fresh herbs, added the sauce and pasta and heated it all together for you, which was fun. Stan put some pressed plants and a collection of bees and flies out for visitors to peruse as well as a slide show of pictures of species they survey for. One of his fellow biologists spent her time, between eating and visiting, dissecting owl pellets and explaining her findings. The Archeology Dept. had some of the fossils that they had rescued from bulldozers. My favorite was half of a mammoth tooth that whole would have weighed more than the baby I will have in February (I hope!!!). I had a great time and, as you can see, socially I was a hit, causing other party goers to roll their eyes and try to escape.


Saturday, Summer, Rachel and I went with the Young Women on the Metrolink into LA to Olvera Street. There is a Mexican marketplace and quite a few historical buildings. We went on a tour with a docent and had an overview of the history of the city's beginnings. We had a lot of fun and Rachel bought a sombrero. Not the one she is wearing - hers is doll sized, but isn't she cute in this one?

Lastly, here's a link to Funny Bubbles - http://pageup.info/blog/funnybubbles.html. Every time we watch it, we laugh - hope you do, too!