GIRLS CAMP 2009

This week, I spent Monday through Thursday in the mountains at Camp Ensign with the teenage girls from church at Girls Camp. I was ward camp director meaning I was in charge of 23 girls from our ward going up to camp. We had so much fun! I hadn't been to girls camp since I was 17...which was 17 years ago.

I had awesome women up there helping me. So much thanks goes to Amy Durst, my mother-in-law Ruth Drennan, Kim Brereton, Lori Hayden, and Kristy Hebdon who served as unit leaders.

This Man

I love this man....and he's all mine.....MINE! After 15 1/2 years, it's still hard for me to believe that he chose me! As we get older, he just gets sexier and sexier....just goes to show that the brain is a very appealing organ!

For Father's Day, the kids planted him a willow tree. This is a tree for our FUTURE grandkids to climb in. If you think it about, it's really not that far off. Let's just hope it's not any sooner than it should be! We also got him a Seattle Sounders MLS t shirt.

We had Mom and Dad Sousley, Mom and Dad Drennan, Gma Sousley, Aunt Judy, and the Smith's over to celebrate the special men in our lives.

I am one lucky girl. Not only do I have Ken, but I have an amazing Dad, too. How did I deserve to have these two men?

A Runner?

I've blogged 3 posts today so be sure to scroll down more, too.

I don't like to run. I detest it actually. I've tried to like it. Now I have a good excuse for not running...my knee accident. I've wanted to like it for many years now but have never gotten past the dislike.....but......it gives me great pleasure to know that my boys like it. Caden ran 85 miles during mileage club this year over the school year. Only 4 kids in his entire school made that accomplishment. Way to go...I mean run....Caden!

My Little Cute Cub

Caden is my cute little cub.......that is Cub Scout. I spent Friday afternoon at Day Camp helping out and really enjoyed the time with my son. His favorite things were my favorite things. We both loved archery and making popcorn over coals.

It's That Time Again!

It's jam time! Each year, Mom and I get together and make homemade jam. I can't buy store stuff anymore. I try and make enough to last me the whole year. Freezer jam is extremely easy and much better with to make WITH someone. I put our kids to work stemming the strawberries. They grumbled at first but then really got into it. They were done with it all in about 20 minutes and they did a great job!!!

My French Friend

I have a french friend. Who are you? You live somewhere in or near Nancy, France, and visit my blog on a fairly regular basis. I'm intrigued!

High School and Cell Phones

It's official! Madison is a high schooler......not only that but a high schooler with a cell phone!!! She has been wanting a cell phone for about 3 years now. We told her at the beginning of the school year that if she could get straight A's during 8th grade, we would get her a cell phone. She had straight A's during the whole year UNTIL the last week of school when her 90 in history fell to an 89 with the last quiz. Seriously! We figured she deserved it anyway, although, she did get a talk from Mom about how she better not learn from this that you can almost obtain a goal and reap the rewards anyway! Good job, Madison!

Catching Up!

Caden ran 85 miles during his 2nd grade year. There were only 4 kids in the entire school to do so and Caden got a mileage club t shirt for doing so.


I just love my honey!

Christian got his Webelos patch at Cub Scouts.....how? I'm still figuring that one out.
Caden had a piano recital and did awesome!

Feeling Philosophical

I road my bike along the river this morning....nothing special....just another day on my bike. I was alone today so the only person I could talk to was myself....I'm really good at that, by the way. Well, today, I forgot water. I told myself that it wasn't any big deal. I could handle the 15 mile ride without it...I was right...I did handle it....but I wanted water!

The whole ride took place right along the banks of the Columbia River. I was surrounded by water but none that I could partake of. I passed a park with a drinking fountain...it worked but just a small little stream came out and I wasn't willing to risk sucking on the mouth piece after who knows who. At the end of my ride, I stopped at the Hippie convenience store not far from where I parked....closed....couldn't get water. I ended up drinking my old water from yesterday's Taco Time lunch!

Here's where the philosophical part comes in. How many times do we want something so badly, we're surrounded by it, but it's still out of our grasp? Are you a smoker who has quit, a recovering alcoholic, someone with the right credentials for a job and your just waiting for the phone call to tell you YOU'RE HIRED! Whatever the case may be, it's a sucky feeling. The best we can do, is prepare our spirit and our minds and deal with things as they come.....ok, I never said I was a GREAT philosopher.

Memorial Day

We celebrated Memorial Day over the weekend....not necessarily on the day itself. This weekend was all about family. So fun....we mostly hung out at home but, man, we had a great time doing it!!!! Bob and Wendy came to town for the weekend and we enjoyed visiting with Aunt Lorel and Uncle Dan, Aunt Vera and Uncle Jim, and cousin Carol and her husband Gary.

On the News

Madison made it to television. Follow the link to see the story she is in.
Go to www.ksd.org and scroll down toward the bottom (under the photos) to where it says Desert Hills Middle School Student Store and click on it. A video will come up.

Yak Attack

So, by the title, did you think I was attacked by a yak? Come on, admit it....you did! Actually, the Yak Attack is a soccer tournament we spent all day Saturday at in Yakima where Caden and his team played 4 "speed" games of soccer. They were 24 minutes long on a smaller than normal field with a smaller than normal goal and less players on the field. I couldn't believe how intense the game was and felt!!!

The theme of the tournament was The Movies and Caden's team was called The Force. Each player was a different superhero and Caden was Dash from The Incredibles. We tied our first game and won the next 3 games. It was a fun day in the beautiful sunshine and I got to do one of my favorite things....watch one of my boys play soccer.

Dermahealth Ribbon Ceremony

Sid and Rosy and their kids are family to us....they are also our partners in our Dermacare Skin Care and Laser Clinic. Sid is a Dermatologist and opened up his own Dermatology clinic and surgery center called Dermahealth and today was the ribbon cutting ceremony. Congratulations, Sid and Rosy!