July 1 update

Another busy, eventful, productive week!

We loved Kayla and Brandon’s fun and creative announcement that they will be having a baby girl! We are so excited to have her joining our awesome family in November!  They are at a family reunion in Idaho this weekend.

Marisa made it to Brazil successfully and seems to be enjoying it a lot so far!

I was able to attend the Iowa Reading conference in Ames again. I always look forward to going. Its a great break for me. I wasn't as impressed with the classes this year but I did leave with some exciting ideas for next year!

View from my hotel

Tim Green- NFL football player, author, and lawyer

Roland Smith- my new hero.  Has been a zookeeper, research biologist, and travels the world saving all animals, including endangered ones.

We had another successful Shelter Buddies! The shelter is FULL with over 200 animals and boy did they love having all these little ones come read to them! It takes all I have not to bring a puppy home with me.

We had a fun walk at Thomas Park to start out our 4th of July weekend

Alayna made her bird house this week:

Soaking up all the free time I have left!

Weekly Update

We have a ton going on but also getting lots of relaxing in!

1. We did go see Wonder Woman and seriously it was one of the best movies ever!  I must see again!

2. We went to the shelter for dog walking.  I wish we could take them all!  Except the pitbulls- those things are vicious!  We took one allowed out and he body slammed tyler to the ground, ripped my shoes off, attacked alaynas feet and pulled his head out his collar.  We will stick with the little guys from now on.

Here is Maggie Mae: What a perfect dog for families! Loves to play catch and run!

Here is June: I think she was adopted yesterday!  Beautiful sweet shy dog who loves running and snuggles

Also here is Mishko- she is 13 and has been there the longest of any animal.  Super sweet and mellow

3. We watched the babies more.

4. Alayna left this morning for girls camp.  I hope the weather will be wonderful!

5. We had a crazy, beautiful storm hit- look at these gorgeous clouds!!!

6. This weekend we made homemade bread and homemade jam using the raspberries from our garden. So yummy!

All sorts of babies

We are so excited that Kayla and Brandon announced their baby!  In a couple of weeks they will find out the gender.  So exciting!

Alayna and I have been helping out a single mom investigating the church that has twin 2 month old girls plus a 9 and 11 year old and just moved..  Lease is up in 2 weeks and will have to move again. It has been so fun to get my baby fix with these beautify=ul girls!!!

We started volunteering at the shelter this week too! We took Herky for a walk or actually he took me.  You should have seen me being dragged through the forest. He was so excited!

I started my new “Shelter Buddy” program with the shelter today!  We had 4 kids show and it was so awesome! They just got a shipment last night of 33 dogs who were scheduled to be euthanized yesterday in Texas. So while they were bathing the new dogs and getting them settled, we got to read to them.  I wish I could take them all, but after the guinea palace we built…

I am on a great regime of Isagenix. I have been working out, eating great, and finally sleeping.  I have a dr appt tomorrow and hope to get help with sleeping when Im working (not while I work, but the months I work). This has made a huge difference for me!

Free at last!

It has been a very busy last week of school! We had a great memorial day with Corey and Hal visiting from AZ! We went to see Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and I absolutely fell in love with baby Groot!

They helped us Bob knock out a ton of projects we have been needing to do, from a floor and ramp replacement in the shed, to planting new flowers, to putting a new light in the laundry room, etc.  Thank you so much for all the help! We miss you already!

On Tuesday everyone came to help me with my “Read and Feed with Rescue Animals” mini course for school.  We brought my 7 guinea pigs and our dwarf bunny along with my friends 5 bunnies.  It was exhausting but a huge success!!!

Wednesday was Alayna’s last day of school.  She went to a friends house afterwards for a fun sleepover.  My last day was Friday and Boy am I happy to be done. It was such a fast and amazing year but I am blown away by the exhaustion.  I need this summer to reboot.

Yesterday, Alayna went on the ward Youth Temple Trip to Nauvoo. She said it was very fun trip.

This sums up how we feel…

Happy Freedom of Summer!!!!