Birthday Breakfast

It's that time a year again....4 birthdays in 4 days! No separate friend parties this year!!! I gave my kids fair warning. Ken is working 11am-11pm this month so we had to do a breakfast birthday. We invited our family and my kids' second families (AKA the Hansen's and Hebdon's) and each one of them got to have one friend. We had Cinnabon's and ice cream for breakfast!!!

Ken and I couldn't wait to see the boys reaction to their birthday present. They each got a Seattle Sounders soccer jersey and a note that said that we are taking them to a game in Seattle next Saturday against Chelsea (MLS). They were so excited!!!!!! We are spending the day with the girls shopping and they each have a $50 gift card to spend. FUN FUN!!!

Happy Birthday Caden

Today is Caden's "real" birthday. He has been counting down the days to turn 9! I love this boy soooo much. He was the calm child after the storm. I say that with love, Christian....you were an awesome happy little baby and toddler....just very busy!

There are so many things I love about Caden. He is genuinely kind and it is so evident when he is around a toddler or baby. He is so drawn to them. Yesterday, in line at Costco, he had a baby in the cart behind us just rolling with laughter and I peered around and found many adults in the lines around us just smiling and laughing at the scene Caden didn't even know he was a part of. He was simply having fun with a baby.

Caden is driven...more than any child I know. He will work so hard to succeed at something. He is outside DAILY kicking a soccer ball all by himself...he doesn't care. He just wants to get better and better and really enjoys putting in the time and practice.

Caden is adorable, smiles with his eyes, and has a beautiful heart. I love you, son.

Fun Pix from the 4th

We spent July 4th at home with family. Mike and Julina were visiting along with Julina's sister Michon and son Solomon. We spent the morning at the 4th of July parade, went swimming at the pool, ate Carne Asada for dinner, and shot off fireworks in the driveway. We took some fun pictures in the front lawn of everyone.

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!