This is why I never can keep a good journal

Well this is exactly why I am really bad at journaling I wait so long that it is always too overwhelming to start back up. I thought that I was okay because every time there was something that I wanted to Blog about I would right it on this great big yellow note book well now the note book is full. So I will try to quickly give you an up date and throw in a whole bunch of random pictures. Since my last post we had fathers day which was wonderful. We tried our darnedest to give Tom a great day I think I failed miserably.

Then In June a bunch of my friends from high school got together with all 20 something children and we had a blast we ate lunch and let the kids roam the back yard and swim it was great.

We spent a lot of the summer poolside at grandma and grandpas. The kids are great swimmers they love to do flips of the side of the pool and Kelsey is very proud that she can swim all over with no life jacket. We probably were at the pool a good three days a week all summer long. Wha What a great way to relax.

Angie came int0 town and her and Keith went to Park City for there anniversary and I watched there four children. With four extra what was the big deal if we took on a few more so we invited Natalie's three boys over for a sleep over we had a blast.

This summer Brent sang with his band in the battle of the bands down in provo and we were able to go down and support them that was a lot of fun and they did and awesome job.

I also turned 30 this summer and Tom was so cute he threw me a surprise party at my mom and dads. I had no idea he had it in him. He is very thoughtful and he is always trying to make me happy. I love him. Thanks Tom!!

For my Grandma Jo's birthday we took her golfing which turned out to be such a great thing. I golfed more this summer then I have golfed my entire life. IO really like it and Tom and I fill that is something fun we can do together forever.

June is crazy with birthday's so we just plan on celebrating the last week of June all day everyday it is fun.

Then over my real birthday we had the Steed reunion which was a blast we rented out the roy pool and a I finally crossed the line off the straight slide. YES!! Then on Saturday we did the normal golfed, ate breakfast, had some farm history, the kids played and swam while the adults catch up for the entire year of not seeing one another. The brothers and sisters have a "meeting" We do one big family picture eat lunch and say goodbye.

That night we went to Aunt Jeannette house and watched the Syracuse days fireworks. So in all you could call that the Ross reunion. It was fun.

We had a great big shower for Kennedy and Dani in which we had over 60 attend and we had great food and played some fun games.

Then in mid July we hopped on an airplane and headed to Cali. When we arrived we grabbed our luggage and headed to Disneyland. The kids had a riot. Derek and Kelsey rode space mountain, Matterhorn, and thunder mountain with Tom. They loved every second. We thought it would be way crowded but the longest we waited in line for was space mountain and it was for about 30 min. Buzz light Year is of course the ride of choice. Tom wins every time. We enjoyed the parade and the fireworks. Kelsey was also chosen to be a Jedi knight in training and fought Darth Vader she was awesome. The next day we caught up with the rest of the family and went to Wild Rivers Water Park. We had grown up going to this park we absolutely loved it so we wanted to share with our children. We only had a short time because the wedding dinner was that night so we got there right at opening, and I guess we had forgotten just how big the park was. Kelsey once again was a trooper wanting to ride all the big rides with her Dad who was eating it up. She even went down the toilet bowl. After that ride though she was ready for some kiddy rides. That night we had the wedding dinner for Christian and Kennedy then we were off to Balboa Island we rode the ferry over on our car the kids thought that was pretty cool and we walked up and down the Pier where fisherman were catching fish left and right. WE even saw some catch sting rays and one shark. AWESOME!! The next day was the wedding at the San Diego Temple which was beautiful a little lunch and off the the reception where we scooped ice cream, caught up with friends I hadn't seen in 10-15 years and danced the night away it was a blast. We slept in the next morning a little bit went to late breakfast and headed for the beach. It was cold Kelsey and Derek were both taken out by some pretty big waves so they were content building sand castles. Tom tried surfing for the first time and pretty much had to be rescued by the life guards he got caught in a rip tide. On Sunday we were lucky to go hear a cousin speak that just got home from his mission and he did an awesome job. We went straight from there to Dana Point to our favorite spot the tide pools. We got some really pretty pictures with the sun setting it was very nice and relaxing.

When we got home from Cali there was no rest for the weary Kelsey was competing in the Muttin Bustin contest at the Ogden pioneer day rodeo. She was excited but a little nervous. She ended u-p getting a lame sheep he ran about ten steps and then he ducked his head and Kelsey rolled off. She was a cute cow girl though. Then we stayed for the rest of the rodeo Brooke loved it and so did Kelsey and Derek. Then we celebrated the 24Th of July we were poolside with the Gardner's and then we ate lots of good food at grandma Jo's I love this holiday it is one of my favorites.

We had a Hill family reunion where we also get the Roy pool and it was a lot of fun . I little interesting as always but we always enjoy it. We have had the swim party for as long as a can remember. What a great tradition.

We had a really neat family home evening with all the steeds we talk about holding to the rod and we had each family make some goals and sign them and then we had a rope going through the yard and we blind folded all the kids and told them that they needed to hold on no matter what and if they did that there would be an award for them at the end. Then as the kids were holding tight walking through the yard we had some of the adults trying to coax them off with a tootsie roll and then we had some of the adults acting as good angels trying to keep the kids on for the bigger prize at the end. It was very neat lesson and I got a small glimpse of how our Heavenly Father must feel as I was helping one stay on another some one else was pulling another one off. I did not anyone to not make it. I thought it went really well. We had a lot of fun.

Then again in August we were off to Cali for Matthews wedding this time all the adults went and we left the kids with babysitters(Thanks Sharon) We flew into Long Beach and we headed for LA to Venice beach. We rented bicycles (including Grandma Jo) and rode along the beach. We saw the taping of wipe out and if they choose just the right taping I'll be on it. We saw muscle beach. Chad and Tom Climbed to the top of the rope and we saw some freaks from Cali. We rode all the way to Santa Monica Pier . It was a so much fun. We then had the wedding dinner and just hung out. The next day we were off to San Diego for another beautiful Temple wedding. We hit PF Changs on the way back and then we hung out as brothers and sisters it was very nice without the children. We flew home on Sunday. Short and sweet.

When we got home soccer started for Kelsey and Derek. Tom is Derek's coach and I am Kelsey's coach it is fun. Then school started for Kelsey and I bawled like a baby. It is so hard watching my little girl grow up. She was so tired the first week and now she is doing great her favorite lunch is the chicken sandwich and she is becoming a great reader. Her teacher is amazing and she loves her class. Kelsey also danced with her cute friend Riley and the Syracuse High Football game. They were so cute.

Tom turned 30 and we celebrated our 8 year anniversary. On Tom's birthday we went to the Timbermine and then we were off to the Alaskan Inn. We had a in room one hour massage and it was heaven. Then the next morning we woke up to breakfast in bed and then we were off to Remuda golf course where we golfed 9 holes I played horrible. It was a fun birthday and anniversary. I hope Tom doesn't mind combing the two holidays.

That was basically our summer in a nut shell. I am tired just remembering all that we did. What a fun time though.

Derek started pre-school at Kristy's and he absolutely loves it. She is an amazing teacher and Derek soaks up everything that she says and wants to learn how to read really really bad.

Brooke and I Volunteer at the school while they are gone and Brooke gets to spend time with her Grandma Jo while mom works out.

This past Sunday was our primary program the kids were great. They knew there parts by heart and they did a fabulous job. I knew it was going to be a tough meeting when the opening song I was fighting back the tears. Derek's part was "Living here on the earth gives me the chance to learn and to be more like the Savior." Kelsey's part was "I can be reverent, Dress modestly, speak kindly to be worthy to enter the Temple." The spirit was strong.

This morning at a bout 7:40 AM I get a call from my friend Michelle telling me that if you go down to the Delta Center by 9:00 AM with 5 items of food, per person, for the Utah food bank you could get free Disney on Ice tickets so I woke everyone up we quickly got ready and headed for Salt Lake I parked the car in front of the Delta Center at about 8:54 ran with all my food and children to turn in the food made it with 4 minutes to spare. But now we are all going to Disney on Ice for free regularly $125 for the whole family. We are on the 17Th row in the lower bowl not bad huh? We stopped at Einsteins on the way home and Kelsey said,"mom that was the best day ever." We had fun. Crazy mom sometimes it is fun being spur of the moment.

Now I will Just add pictures in from June till now.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!