Memorial Day Weekend

We took the kids out of school so we could head down to Portland with Phil for work and then hang out with the Phillips' for the long weekend. We went with Phil's employees to the Timberland Soccer game on Wednesday night and it was tons of fun. I am in love with soccer. I love to play it and I totally love watching it now that I know what is going on. Thursday and Friday the kids and I spent the day in the hotel pool while Phil was working. We ate out at our Portland restaurants and the kids think it is funny that whenever we eat at this one we get the same table in the back corner...we are always the only family there with kids and therefore the back corner out of everyone way.
We stopped by the library on the way down to Portland to get Miya some books and she managed to read all of them by the time we got back.

Kids

The weather was so great on Monday that the kids wanted to swim after school. Of course they got in and it took their breath away. Cannon dunked under a few times and then decided digging in the sand and sitting on a tube in the water was a better idea. Miya loves reading and it is hard to pull her away from her books, but she does love being outside too. Lyla is excited about going to Grandma's house next month to take swim lessons in the pool so she doesn't always have to have a life jacket on this summer. What a beautiful world we live in.

Summer

This weekend was fantastic. The weather was perfect and we were able to have friends over Friday for a BBQ and games. Saturday was ward temple night and we carpooled with some great friends and had super yummy food after. Sunday for Mother's Day Phil invited the Phillips' over and he grilled up some blackened salmon. It was in the upper 70s with a breeze off the water and the kids played around down by the water building a house for the ducks. They were busy playing "work" and Cannon was saying to his "boss" Vivian that work was really getting in the way of his life. Glad to see that we are teaching our kids such important things.
I am so happy to have such good friends. Friends that make me want to be better and make me laugh while we are together. I love having friends that always make me feel like I am loved and important. I also love having a husband that always makes me feel that way.
I am super pumped and excited for summer and this weekend seemed like such a great start.

Nothing

I guess I just wanted to put a little note in here about how consuming my new calling seems to be. It is always on my mind...I mean ALWAYS. I think about visiting teaching, activities, meeting the sisters I don't know, why people aren't going to the temple, why they aren't coming to church, how I can help them know and understand the love Christ and Heavenly Father have for them, how I can better show them the love I have for them...and the list goes on and on. I have had way less sleep over the past month because my mind will not shut off. Life is good, but sometimes it is just so busy. I really do love all of it and feel very bless to have the opportunity to serve. I am just trying to find the balance again and make sure things get done.
I watched the training for the RS Presidency last week and loved it and hated it at the same time. I felt loved and supported and thought of and completely overwhelmed. Heavenly Father sure knows how to show us our weaknesses and then He steps in to give us the strength required to do His work. The first lesson I taught for RS I told the sisters that I was well aware of my weaknesses and I didn't need their help in pointing them out. I have to remind myself that we all feel that way and to not judge others and the job they are doing. No one asked for their calling, but they are trying to be obedient and do what is asked of them and just might feel as inadequate as I do. In the training Sister Beck said there is a flood of information out there, yet a drought of the things that will save us. What does being a missionary mean? How do we bring sheep into his fold? What am I doing for others?

Smashy

Michael and Phil enjoying the sunset at the beach.

The sports court at our resort.

Ashlee is getting ready to have her baby this next week so she finally got all the pictures from our trip to California off her camera. We had a wonderful time and we so love hanging out with them. We loved the sunshine and time at the beach and they spent the night at our condo we stayed in while we were there. Ashlee is always so great at coming down and spending the days with me while Phil works. We took the kids swimming, enjoyed dinner out and time together. Now Nicki will be down in San Diego this next December when Phil and I go down for the company party so we can all get together. I am so excited!