August is so much fun

There have been so many fun things going on in our lives these days.

First, we had Marty's birthday. Can you believe I'm married to such an old man? He's getting a little salty around the temples these days. For his birthday he asked for a camera so he can go on photo-safari with me (usually the only wildlife we ever spot is our kids though). He told me that he likes the fact that we can do the hobby together and that I can teach him about it. And he actually listens when I try to explain, although I must not be too good at it because we keep going over it again. "Okay now remind me, what is shutter speed?" He wants to learn how to do everything manually, which is admirable. I usually use the auto settings myself because I'm too lazy and it takes to long to adjust everything so you miss the shot.

Then we had our anniversary. 18 years we've been married now. To celebrate, we went out to shoot some photos in Millcreek Canyon and Garden Park Ward. It was a really nice way to spend some quiet time together.



Then we had Joseph's birthday. He and I headed to Cedar City for the Shakespeare Festival. We had a lovely time, just the two of us. We saw three plays and ate at Subway three separate times! I think that the Subway was a bigger hit than the plays, but Joe took it all in stride. I had enough alone time with him to last for a while, and decided that if he continues in the path he is on, both of us will be ready for him to go on his mission and I won't need to tag along with him after all. Although, the jury's still out on Henry. Don't get me wrong, he is a joy to be with and he was a gentleman for the whole trip, but there's a limit to how much ten-year old boy a grown woman can take.





When we came back home, Marty, Caroline, and Henry were practicing skateboarding. Marty can still skateboard despite the fact that he hasn't done it since before his mission. I think he'll wear out his new board before Joseph does (they both got boards for Joseph's birthday).



And the crowning event of August-- the kids went back to school! Independence day and financial relief for the parents (because paying for daycare for 3 kids everyday costs a mid-sized fortune). Marty was so enjoying his first day of freedom from children (he is a working-at-home Dad). Now he only has to babysit his co-workers!

September is here and has brought with it cool weather. We celebrated by having a backyard fire with S'mores on Sunday night. That had to be a highlight for me as we had an ad-hoc family night, sharing our testimonies with the kids. Of course, they responded by sharing their Descartian hermenuetics, "Mom, sometimes do you wonder if we are all a dream and we are not real?" You have to hope that something is sinking in.