Officially Outnumbered by "teenagers"!

Don and I are officially outnumbered by TEENAGERS!!! 

Ashlee turned 13 on the 3rd of August.

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She really is a  good kid but there is a lot more drama with her than there ever was with the boys....which makes sense because, she is a girl....and the ONLY girl at that.  She had a sleepover party with some of her close friends and cousins. 

7 girls+ too much sugar =CRAZINESS!!

I also made chocolate cupcakes and decorated them instead of a cake.

  I really can't believe another year has gone by.....Sheesh!  Where does the time go? 

"Let her eat cake"!

I can't believe that my baby girl is 13!!  Wow, where does the time go?  She is such a beautiful girl with a beautiful spirit to match:)!!  She is having her friend party on Tuesday, so I haven't really made her a cake yet, when Sarah brought her a cake she was sooo excited! The cake was absolutely  fabulous,, and it's  better than anything  I  could  have EVER made. 

***Not only did it look great!!!  It tasted just as good:)!!

**** Thanks Sarah,,,You're Awesome!!

Happy Birthday ASHLEE!

Customize your own scrapbooking design

Arizona Cousins:)

For the past 2 weeks Don's brother Jay and his family came for a visit from Mesa, Arizona!  Ashlee LOVES to spend time with Jays girl's, Katelyn and Brittney.

  I really feel so bad that they are so far away and aren't as close as we would like.  They are leaving to go home this weekend and Ashlee is really going to miss them...they have been with each other almost everyday...breakfast in the canyon, movies, making cookies, swimming....Grandpa Hulet even gave them some art lessons:)! 

Maybe a trip to Mesa is in our future?  I guess we'll see.

~~~HULET cousins~~~~

Katelyn, Ashlee, James, Jake  & 

Danielle.....Brittney wasn't in the picture because she was sick 

and couldn't come for a visit.

"Faith In Every Footstep".

Martin's Cove
Distance: 993 miles from Nauvoo
Having started late from Iowa and suffered innumerable mishaps and miscalculations along the way, two handcart companies under the leadership of Captains Edward Martin and James G. Willie were caught in early snows near the Continental Divide in 1856. In one of the greatest tragedies in overland trail history, hundreds died of exposure and starvation before rescuers from the Salt Lake Valley brought them to this location a few miles west of Devil's Gate in early November.

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On this particular Holiday, my thoughts turn to the Pioneers.  Many of my  ancestors who lived before me and loved this Gospel enough to  courageously  leave all of the comforts of  home and many worldly posessions, and in many instances give up their lives to make the Trek out West... I am so grateful for those who had the faith to  make that sacrifice.  It often brings me to tears to read these stories and to feel the spirit as I do.  It truly makes me appreciate all that I have, and hope that I can strive to have that kind of faith, courage and dignity, when facing adversity and challenges in my life. 

'A night with Paul McCartney:)'

I love Music... and... really, if you love music,  then you MUST love the "Beatles" and Paul McCartney"! 

Don and I went to the Paul McCartney Concert last night at the Rio Tinto Stadium!!  

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WOW! 

~What can I say.... It was such an amazing show. Our seats were down on the floor, they were really good!.  He really put on a great show, and he sounded awesome....I wouldn't expect anything less from him!!  .  This is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for me,( who knows) I am so glad that we went..  It was definitely a night to remember:, and I LOVED  it!  

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...and yet ANOTHER camping trip!

Wow!!  Life since school's been out has been absolutely crazy......It seems like the kids have been going to camps, Trek and vacations all Summer long.  Seriously I am exhausted just thinking about it.  Every year Don tries to schedule at least two camping trips for him and the kids to take, usually on Memorial day and the 4th of July.  So this last weekend Don, James, Ashlee and Ashlee's friend, Monique went camping..

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Ashlee and Monique

.Jake decided that he needed a rest from all of his travels and decided to stay home with me, which I loved BTW..

Anyway my family absolutely LOVES to go  camping!! They love it so much that none of them wanted to come home.(I've heard this from at least 3 people since 2:30 this afternoon), interestingly enough only 3 people went...hmmmm... go figure!  They really had a good time playing phase 10, horseshoes, and shotgun shooting.  Spending time with cousins, sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows,  and eating good food!  

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Ashlee, Monique and; James  playing a "WICKED" game of "Phase 10" Our family takes this game VERY seriously!!!                                                               

 James playing a good game of "Horseshoes". 

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 AND Ashlee shot a shotgun for the very first time today, and she did awesome and Don was so proud of her:)! 

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It was a nice Holiday weekend , but it sure is nice to have everyone home tonight.  I think this may be the last of our Summer vacations, but we'll see.

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****sidenote:  Don and I are getting really excited to go to the Paul McCartney concert a week from tomorrow.

Happy Birthday AMERICA!!

I have been doing  A LOT of scrap booking lately, which forces me to go through TONS of pictures.  I came across this cute little picture of my kids in 1999 today..  I really can' believe how fast they have grown up.

I sure do love my kids:)!!
James~7, Jake~5 and Ashlee 2

Such a sad story!

Sophie Barton was a young girl who went to Olympus High School with James. Monday afternoon while hiking at girls camp up in Heber she collapsed, (her mom was also there).  Emergency Vehicles were called and responded at around 4:00 p.m and she was taken to the hospital where she passed away @ around 7:00.p.m.  She was such a beautiful and talented girl.  You can read her story here, and her obituary here.  

 

James was so shocked and sad by this, teenagers have a tendency to think that they are invincible, so when something like this happens  to someone that they  know, especially someone their age,  it hits close to home because they can relate to it.  I have to say it breaks my heart also...it has been bothering me since it happened..  You never know when tragedy can strike you or someone you love, which is why it is so important to always let those close to you know how you feel..  As I was reading her obituary I noticed that her dad grew up in the same ward I did.  I can't imagine the pain that their family is going through.  Luckily she was a really good girl and her family has the gospel in their lives....and although it doesn't take away the pain they do have the knowledge that this is just a temporary separation.

"Trek" & "Brighton Camp"!

~TREK~

This last week our Stake had it's pioneer Trek."Be Strong and of good courage" was the theme.   Most of the youth only have the chance to go once, since they only go every 4 years.  James was lucky enough to be able to go twice ...the first time was when he just turned 14, they went to "Martin's Cove.This was Jake's one and only time..I am just grateful that he was able to go at least once.  They started out on Tuesday morning with a devotional and Breakfast at the Stake center.  They actually walked  the same trail as the pioneers did, ending where Brigham Young said "This is the place"!

About 10 minutes into their Journey, because it was SO HARD  they decided that they needed to pray for help, because it was too much for them to do on their own.  So they had a ward prayer...James said it got easier and you could tell a difference.  What an amazing lesson on the power of prayer.

One night the campground was near a hay field. 4 of the kids had allergies.   Luckily  there were 4 Doctors there, because one of the Young Women had hay fever so bad that it aggravated her Asthma, and at one point was having a hard time breathing,  The Dr. gave her medicine and an inhaler and a blessing.  She had the comfort and the peace she needed to finish the Trek.  I am so grateful for all of the wonderful and dedicated leaders who work so hard and sacrifice so much so that my kids can have these life changing experiences!!! 

Here they are with their families...
JAMES

JAKE

~BRIGHTON CAMP~
Ashlee also had her first girls camp.  She  had soooo much fun.  I remember when I went to Camp Oakcrest as a Beehive and how much I LOVED it....the girls are strengthening their testimonies through songs and activities and they don't realize it.  Ashlee was in the same unit as 3 of her close friends.

Ashlee and the new girl in the ward Bree. She is such a good friend to everyone.

 Ashlee, Talia and  Bree

  Her Camp Counselor's name was  Sarah Cate A.K.A "WOLFGANG" she loved her so much,  It was so sweet as soon as she got home she found her on facebook and a new friend was made.  I have to admit that I had so much fun going through her camp songbook.  It brought back so many sweet memories for me.  I really love this Gospel and all of the opportunities it gives me and my family:)!!

I had almost the whole week alone..(even Don was out of town on business).  I got a lot done but I sure missed everyone and I am so glad they all returned to me safe and sound!

Jake was also Ordained to the office of a "Priest"  today.  It was so special  for James, Don and I to be a part of that.  James was also able to stand in the circle..
It has been a very special week for us, we have had many spiritual experiences, our testimonies have grown, and we have become closer to our Heavenly Father.
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~Life is really good...I love it!!

P*A*R*T*Y

Seriously, this month has been CRAZY!!  With our vacation, Pioneer Trek and Brighton girls camp I feel like I have been soo  overwhelmed with things to do to get ready that we didn't really celebrate James and Jake's Birthdays.  So we finally did it!!!  Nothing says " Birthday party" like cake and ice cream!!

James and his "U" cake...he couldn't have been happier.

  Blowing out his candles.{All 18 of them WOW}

And Jake.....

Yes, we made him light his own candles...

BUT, we also let him blow them out :)!

I'm sure all of his wishes will come true,,,Maybe!
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Sidenote: So here is a funny story.....James LOVES chocolate cookie dough ice-cream. The other day when the kids went to get ice cream cones from Baskin Robbins, he decided to by a HUGE container of ice cream for $50.00.  That's my boy!!!

Wow! 18 years.old already....

Well I can't believe that my first born child is turning '18' in just a few short hours! It seems like just yesterday!!  I can still remember the day that chubby little baby was placed in my arms...It was "love at first sight".  He was just so precious then and  I never knew that I could love him any more than I did at that instant, but as he grew ...so did my love for him!.

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Since he was little he has always had a love for life and he really is the friendliest kid around.(it's that yellow personality of his)...he loves everyone!  As with all teenagers there are hard times & it was no different with James,  but he is really growing into a fine young man!!!

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  This last couple of months he has accomplished so much, he  graduated  early from High School and Seminary...He has just finished earning his Eagle and last Sunday he was called to be a Primary teacher for the 11 year old boys in our ward.  One more year and we'll be sending him on his mission:)!  We love you James and we are grateful  you're ours!!

Our California Adventure:)

Last week we took our family to California and Disneyland!!!  We had SO much fun!!!

Monday night we went to a Dodgers baseball game, we met up with the Olsen's and the Smith's which made it much more fun.

The weather was just perfect for Disneyland ...cloudy and overcast with a little wind, the lines weren't very long either, we were able to get on the rides fairly quickly. LOVED every minute that we were there..

We also spent time at the beach and got some good tans.

On Friday we went to Seaport Village in San Diego, it is a cute little place with lots of  souvenir shops. While the kids went shopping, Don and I had lunch at  a cute little restaurant right on the Pier.  They had the best Fish and Chips ever and it was so fun to eat right on the water.

I think I took over 100 pictures so there is no way I can post all of them, but here are a few of the highlights!!

Ashlee was not very happy about leaving....I think her face says it all!

"Sweet 16"

Jake celebrated his 16th birthday in California this year!!  We spent the day on the beach with family. Since it was kind of a crazy week,we will have his party next week.....We  love you Jake and hope that you had a great day! I am so glad you're part of our family:)!

Ashlee's year end Dance Recital

Ashlee and her friends from our Ward...Samantha Sheets (who is also a Smith cousin...She is Andrea Sheets daughter who is Bud Smiths daughter) and Olivia Wilde

 Ashlee had her yearly dance recital last night....She did both a Jazz dance and a Ballet dance and she was AMAZING in both!! The theme for the recital was CELEBRATE...So since  there was a  coupon for a free yogurt on every program to a little yogurt place in Holladay  called "TOP IT" where you build your own frozen yogurt with toppings. We went there afterward. to celebrate!! Love ya Ash!!  You're Awesome:)!