A little of this and a little of that

Keri and Brett are in town with their kids this week!  While packing up to move back to Utah, they decided to take a quick jaunt to the Midwest and spend a week with us.  I was a bit hesitant at first because we aren't exactly great hosts at the moment.  Between cancer treatments and cleaning up the rental house, I don't have a lot of time for fun.  But they have jumped right in to help since getting here!  Families rock.

Lindsey has loved having Uncle Brett as a playmate this week.  He even sits patiently while she makes him pretty.

About Brevan:

• As of today, he has officially made over $2000 at his summer job.  
• He loved Youth Conference last weekend, and danced with 18 girls in one evening.  Although while dancing with his "crush" (who shall remain nameless because the stinker won't even share her name with me), she began speaking with another boy and gave out her phone number.  Ouch.  He pouted on my bed for an hour after getting home, but was laughing by the time he headed to bed.  Being a teenager is hard work.
• He got his driving permit last week, so he can legally drive!  We forced him to get it because he's so terrified to drive.  This is the goofy face he pulled when I made him show off the permit.  Although he looks like he suited up in honor of getting his permit, he was actually dressed for a Youth Conference event.  

Just another Scout Camp picture of my handsome boy. 

About Brynlie:

• The girl is in high demand as a babysitter.  She's been racking in the dough by entertaining kids and mowing our lawn.
• She is taking several dance classes this summer, plus co-teaches two Musical Theater classes.
• Cries anytime someone mentions school.  Literally.  She's considering a career as an arson so she can burn down the Middle School.
• Attended a workshop where she got to meet Autumn Miller and be trained by a professional dancer.
• Her dance teacher, Clair, spent an entire day taking Bryn and Siara shopping.  Clair is such an awesome role model to the young girls!  All three of them even bought matching dance shirts.

Brynlie had Autumn sign her ducky cell phone case.

About Lindsey:

• She got her groove thing on at the Swim Banquet by dancing under the fluorescent lights for a couple hours.
• She is taking 3 dance classes this summer:  Sassy Jazz, Hip Hop and Acro.  
• Spends time every day styling her own hair in big pigtails and fancy braids. 

About Logan:

• He's taking a Hip Hop class this summer, and loves his teacher.  There's nothing cuter than a tow-headed white boy copying the moves of his swagger black coach.
• Has become addicted to video games.  He never played them until about a month ago.  Now that's all he wants to do.  And unfortunately, our summer has been so chaotic that I let him play for hours on end.
• Can't wait for school to start!
• Is turning 7 this weekend.  How is that possible?  

About Bella:

• Loves the wind in her hair, the sun on her cheeks and the treats nearby.  She lives quite a charmed life.

 About Ryan:

• Starting radiation cancer treatment next week.
• Ryan and I spend hours (and hours) ((and hours)) every day working on the rental house.  It's starting to look (and smell) much better.  There's a family who wants to move in and eventually purchase the house.  I'm hesitant but excited.  Cross our fingers we don't get taken again, because this has been a nightmare.
• While on a business trip in San Diego, Ryan got an opportunity to close a deal in Santa Barbara.  He, Ammon and Nate drove the 4 hours to Santa Barbara and realized all the hotels in town were booked.  They ended up staying in a Motel 6 room with one queen bed.  Haha, I would have loved to see them all snuggled on the bed together in a filthy motel room!
• Ryan keeps us giggling every day.  While Facetiming Brynlie one day, he made these faces.  Now we know how we will look in 30 years!

About me:

• It's official:  I got STRAIGHT A's my first year back in college!  Yay me!  This summer has just not been a fairytale, and I was ready to eliminate one stress factor from my life, so I locked myself inside the bedroom for two days until I finished all my assignments and tests.  It was such a relief to get over that hurdle!  I just got my ecclesiastical endorsement from the Stake President tonight (I promise not to let any boys into my dorm room - hehe) so I can start registering for Fall classes.  I'm thinking I will only take one class, because . . . I'm tired.  This year has worn me out so far, and I need to take a breathe and get caught up on life before I load up on schoolwork again.
• Last weekend, I stayed at a hotel in Kansas City with a few friends to celebrate Christine turning FORTY.  I love that my sisters and most of my friends are in their forties, because I can feel like the baby of the group as a mere 37-year-old.  Pictured are Jen, Christine, me and Kim.  The short time away from the usual stressors felt great!