Haircut Time!!

I gave my first haircut to my husband...I was so nervous...but it looks much better than it did before. He told me he was going to have to go get his dog tags he looked so bad! :) Damon was not thrilled with getting his picture taken!

Summer time fun...

Today we took our summer camp kids to a water park...enjoy the pictures...

My kids this summer...

Here are some pictures of the kids that I am spending my days with this summer.

Birthday Beach Day...

This is my mom...guess I should learn how to turn the picture around!

This is the cottage that we go to when we need a little escape.
This is Damon and Papa John cathing some much needed sleep...

The Best Blast...

New Farmer's Market...

built one piece at a time...

This is a new farmer's market in a nearby town. I was more amazed at the construction of the building. This market is all indoors with a few stands on the outside. Inside you could find fruits & veggies and also all different kinds of little gift things. It was really fun to spend some time here this morning.

We have several things planned this weekend. It is my birthday tomorrow, July 1st...so we will be spending time with family. Also some relaxing activities...hope you all are good. I will be posting pictures of our other weekend activities!

Where has the time gone...?

WOW! I had not realized how long it had been since I posted a blog on here. The school year has ended and summer has begun. This summer I am working in a summer camp that is out of a day care center. It is a pay check...but I am not entirely happy there. I will survive the rest of the summer...but it is difficult to go each day. Many of the children in this camp are African American...and they act totally different then the kids that I have worked with for so long. I don't speak the language...they children seem to know so much more about wordly things than myself. It is always a learning experience.

Tomorrow is Father's Day...and I know that Damon is struggling with the fact that he will not be able to talk to his girls. I wish that I could change that for him. He is such a good daddy and worries that his girls will not remember him when they are able to make the choice to contact him on their own and not having to deal with their mom. I love him so much...and look forward to the day that we can adopt a special apirit into our home. Damon will be the best daddy! :) We are heading to the lake cottage tomorrow for the day after church. It will be nice to just relax...the beach is always comforting for me. We hope that you all are healthy. I don't even know that anyone reads this...but, I will do better in trying to post and keep you all updated in our lives!

The Girls...

Just wanted to share a picture of the girls in my family. This picture was taken on the day that my mom and her high school sweetheart were married. This was a wonderful weekend...we had tons of fun! Love you girls!

Sunday Afternoon Thoughts...

There are many things on my mind this Sunday afternoon. On Friday morning I received an email from my dear friend Katie who moved with her sweet family from Indiana to Mississippi 2 years ago. At one time she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer...she got through this trial. The email that I received told me that her cancer is back. I finally got to speak with her yesterday and she is so upbeat about life. They do not know where the cancer is right now, but she will be goin in for a CAT SCAN this coming Friday. The doctor has told her that it is a small amount and that things will be fine. As her friend, I am concerned for her...she has two little girls. One is turning 4 this summer and the other girl will be turning 1. Katie is married to a lovely man who loves her and his family so very much. Please keep this sweet family in your thoughts and prayers. As a ward Relief Sociey (even though she does not live here anymore) we are going to be making a quilt for her...to be wraped in love whenever she needs it. Many sisters today signed up for making a square even if they did not know her...my heart is amazed on how women gather together to do good for another sister in the gospel. I will be sure to post a picture of it when it is done!
My dear Aunt Sara has been gone for 20 years today. I was 12 years old when she died of cancer. My heart has been full all day. My husband and I spent time with my grandma today...we then spent time at the cemetary. I know that her spirit is not there, but I was crying while we stood there for a few quiet moments. I remember the last thing that she said to me. It was: "Kirsten, make me proud someday." I am far from perfect, but I hope the choices that I have made and will make in life makes her smile down on me and my little family. I feel very blessed to have had her in our lives before cancer took over her body.
Life is precious...and I often say that we need to take time and emjoy the simple pleasures in life. Take time to mend any wrongs with family members or friends before the time is to late. Tell them that you love them...
The flowers that are in this post are freshly cut from my grandmother's garden this afternoon. I love fresh flowers, and more than likely you will find at least one case full in my home at all times...enjoy the rest of your day...whatever you may be doing! Remember...SIMPLE PLEASURES!

More pictures...

This is the flower girl and Damon's nephew
Siblings...
View of Lake Tahoe from the 18th floor of Harrah's
Uncle and Nephew...

Nevada Adventure...

We left South Bend, Indiana at 1:50 AM on Friday morning to head to Chicago to catch a flight to Reno, Nevada for Damon's 1/2 sisters (biological) wedding. We had slept for about 2 hours and then the alarm went off. To make a long story short, I got us lost getting to the Chicago Ohare Airport. We got there...but just the long way. We stopped twice to ask for directions...and they assured us that we would get to the airport from the road we were on. I almost called my sister at 2:30 AM to have her get us on the right road...but I let her sleep. We did end up at the airport. Thank goodness for self check-in...it sure does save time...ONLY if there are more than 2 people working to get tags on luggage. We waited 20 mintues for the lady to even realixe we were there. She was more concerned about the people who had passports who were heading home to various countries. It was frustrating. I always get a bit frantic and anxious while traveling. I have this smooth trip built in my head...and when there is a qulich...it bothers me...just get me on the plane. Our flights were uneventfull...we slept almost the whole time...we had a very short connection in Phoenix.
Once we got to Reno, his family had been waiting for us...we got our rental car and went to breakfast. We are not used to driving where there are mountains. We felt like we were driving around in circles. We were so turned around...good thing we were following his mom. We went to a town Genoa (SPELLING) that was the first town where the Mormons setteled when they came to Nevada...it was all closed up...here is a picture of a sign that was there. We were thinking that the weather was going to be nice...but it was COLD!! After this we went back to his sisters new townhome that she is going to share with her new husband, and cute little boy from a previous marriage. It was nice to have lots of down time, and not be in charge of anything :)

My husband's sister was married the next day (Saturday) at the town that we visited the previous day. There is a family who owns a home there, and they open their home and yard for weddings. Here are a few pictures that we took on Friday!

Ok...I have not learned how to put pictures where I want them in the posts....UGH! So, here are some more pictures...one day I will figure out how to put them in a certain order. YIKES! Enjoy!

What a crazy few days! I guess that is what the end of the semester is all about...I had a biology lab presentation, and those who were to go yesturday chickened out...so I went first. Once I was done, it was nice to hear other classmates say, "Wow, she sure set the bar high!" Now I can sit back and enjoy the other presentations next week! This will be a busy weekend...we are having an Easter/birthday get together for mom. HOpe all is well with you all...

Snow?

Just wanted to share with you what we woke up to today...I think mother nature is a bit confused!

New Shelves...

We purchased a new bed last week...it is very nice. We put our old bed into our spare bedroom...I have been trying to organize our home office...and not doing it very well. Papa John cut us some barn wood from the Garlet's family barn. Here is a picture of them empty. I will post a picture of both rooms once they put together.

I have been sick with a cold for a week. Last Wednesday for our biology lab went down to the river in the rain...in the wind. So...I got sick. I have not been sick since Christmas with the flu...I was doing really well. Damon had his last wisdom tooth pulled this morning...he said that he was really nervous and just about got sick in the office...poor thing. He had to go right to work when he was done. I am sure he will be in pain once he gets home tonight. It is so cold here right now...I went from wearing short pants yesturday to wearing long pants and a fleece...YIKES! What is up with this CRAZY weather. Tomorrow Damon and I will have the entire day to ourselves...hopefully he will not have to work. Damon's biological mom ran into the girls at the mall...wish it was us running into them. We pray for them each day...