Time to breathe

Deep inhale in........big exhale out. Wow this summer has been busy! I have been looking forward to the "lazy days of summer" since March but they seem to have eluded me. I didn't even get a chance to try and catch them, they flew by so fast. Since I haven't taken the time to post all the enchanting things we've done, now that I have a second to record them, I find that their magic is disappearing and it makes me sad. At this late date, I'll never do their individual stories any justice, so here is my feeble attempt to document for my posterity the summer of 2009.

Grandma and Grandpa Peterson passed away while we were in Europe. Grandpa left us on May 21st and Grandma followed on the 23rd. Their funerals were held the 28th in Utah and in Idaho on the 29th. They were both amazing examples in every way and they will be seriously missed.

Jace celebrated a birthday on June 1st. He got a real party this time with friends, party games and goodie bags. I can't believe my baby is four!

The girls got out of school on the 5th. Lainie ended the year on the High Honor Roll and will now be an official Jr. High student. Ellie will head to the Jr. High building as a 5th grader.

We hosted the annual cul-de-sac BBQ at our house this year. (June 12th) I totally stressed out about the yard, the house and the bad weather! Somehow, the rain stopped and we had a great time with our neighbors.

Lainie competed at the Utah Dance Championships at Lagoon on the 13th. (because I didn't record them, I can't remember what places they won.) She did a great job!

Girls Camp was scheduled for the 16th-19th. Swine flu shut that down, and all church meetings for the next two weeks!

On the 18th, I celebrated my 30th birthday, again!

Sarah and her kids came from Seattle on the 19th. They got to stay through the 4th of July!

Shawn, Tammy and family helped us celebrated Father's Day on the 21st. The kids had a pie fight and then enjoyed running through the sprinklers!

Lainie's end-of-year dance recital was the 23rd and 24th. She has turned into a beautiful dancer and I'm so proud of this talent she has cultivated.

While Sarah was here, she sanded, primed and painted my kitchen table and chairs. It was my birthday present from her and my mom. It looks like I have a whole new dinning set, I love!

June 25th was Book Club at my house. Sarah helped me make a divine chocolate cake for the occasion. We both had a slice (our first bite of sugar since New Years) and got seriously ill!

We celebrated Sarah's birthday on the 27th. Cake-free since things didn't go well on the 25th.

Tony joined his family here on the 28th. They were so glad to see him.

The 30th took us to the courthouse to be part of Nick Jolley's official Adoption Day. So glad we could share in such a special milestone for their family.

Lainie got three little braces put back on her bottom teeth on the 1st and my mom came to spend the rest of the week with us and the Austins.

July 2nd was Lagoon Day! Sarah ended up with strep and spent the day in the ER, but the rest of us had a great time enjoying the rides and even the rain!

Fireworks finished off the 4th and our celebration of Tate's birthday.

The Austins left us on the 5th. I SO wish they lived closer.

I painted the kitchen on the 7th and 8th. It's blue! Very, very blue.

Dustin turned 40 on the 10th! We celebrated at Thiaphoon with the Jolleys.

The 11th brought the Jackson's to our house for a BBQ.... and a surprise party for Dustin! Tons of family and friends showed up to share in the festivities.

Did I mention that we were still taking piano lessons and gymnastics through all of this? As well as going to Achievement Days and YW's.

We got a bit of a break the week of the 13th and I thought things were slowing down....

Until we dropped the kids at my mom's on the 16th and Dustin and I headed for Driggs.

The 17th found us meeting the Sordyl's in Grand Teton National Park, where we took the boat across Jenny Lake and hiked to Hidden Falls.

We went whitewater rafting on the 18th. Bart and Jill were our guides. What a blast!

The 19th took us home and we lamented another vacation which was too short.

And now, here we are today. Worn out from running too fast and only 1 brief month away from starting school again. (The girls go back the 17th of August.) Luckily for Lainie, camp was rescheduled for that week, so she gets a few more days of summer than the rest of us. Hopefully things will slow down this fall and I will find the time to get back to posting more regularly. A pipe dream? Most likely!