We have FRIENDS....

okay...well we ALWAYS had friends,

but not always friends that INVITED us to do stuff...

and I have to admit...it's mostly our fault.

Ron's work schedule,

me working,

kids' schedule,

church schedule,

being party poopers, etc and the list could go on.

But the Letner's are

AWESOME

and didn't let any of those excuses stop them from being our friends!

So when an invite to Rocky Point (Mexico)

with them came about...we originally said NO.

Again...for all the reasons I listed above.

But Dennis is pretty persuasive and he DIDN'T take no for an answer.  

We are so GLAD he didn't...because we had a blast.

I can't believe how much fun we had in just 2 short days!

Here is our itinerary of fun in pictures:
 
GIRLS must SHOP!!
 

While the girls shop...the boys will wait!

After an afternoon of HOT shopping...ice cream is promised!
 
Thrifty Ice Cream...one of our favorites is everywhere!

Boy...my kids are CUTE!

The girls got cute cover ups and Christopher looks Top Gun stylish  in sunglasses.

Jacob got a slingshot...watch out!

Christopher

Rachel and Amorette

My BAYWATCH cuties!

 
 I love this baby...he is so HAPPY and the funniest kid ever.

I love how tender these pictures are and shows the LOVE and TRUST he has for his parents.

Seriously...does he just make your heart melt!

Jared, I sure do love you!

But this man is the MAN of my dreams.

(Ronald...you truly are the VERY best part of me.)

Awww...still got the love after 16 years!

Dennis and Kinley we sure love ya guys.

The kids couldn't wait to join us on the beach that first night after dinner.  The tide was low and we were on a mission to search for all kinds of sea life!

What an amazing sunset.

We spent hours and hours at the BEACH or POOL...

we have the sunburns to prove it!

Jacob had a LOVE hate relationship with the ocean...
he spent hours running from the waves...
then decided to jump on in,
before coming to the shore to spit out SALT water.
An unexpected taste he didn't like!

The girls spent lots of time with RON...
on his shoulders...what a great stepdad!

And we found out you can't leave Rocky Point without one of their 

FAMOUS

chili and lime covered Mangoes!

YUMMY!

YUM!

Kinley and I talked about what makes a great vacation for a mom is to know that her FAMILY is enjoying it...
and that we DID!

The list of KIDS activities goes on and on...

Now that summer is almost over...

(I can't believe school starts again in 3 weeks!)

I knew that I must not forget all the wonderful activities my kids

were able to participate in.

Christopher was in a 

BASKETBALL league 

with all his friends from church and while they didn't take any championship trophy home...they did develop and nourish many great relationships...and oh yea,

they had some FUN along the way.

Rachel was my BUSY bee 

being involved with Yearbook, Dance and Color Guard.

She also was in the coveted 6th grade year where all the kids were able to spend 3 days at Science Camp.

Her Color Guard kept our Saturday's busy with competitions and they went undefeated...even against high school teams.

Her dance pushed her to new limits as she learned a new style of dance...Lyrical.

She is EVER busy with friends, friends and Lots of friends.  

This girl could MAJOR in Sociability! 

Katie picked up TWO new activities this year including

volleyball and piano.

In just two months of playing the piano she played her

recital piece in front of 60 parents and kids at church.

I was so proud of her bravery.

Jacob tried his hand at a new sport...
FOOTBALL.
But came home angry on the first day...
saying he didn't know that he was going to have to
"practice!"
He soon learned he didn't know all that he thought he did...
and managed to even listen to the advice of
his coach, Ron and Cameron.
This is just a short list of the activities the kids participate in...
as I could go on and on about
Mutual
Activity Days
Friends Birthday parties
Sleepovers
Trips
Tournaments
School Dances
but it makes me tired just thinking about starting it all over again,
in just 3 weeks!
So for now...
I will take a minute to enjoy the calm before the storm,
and knowing that in the end...
"I love every minute of it!"

Proud accomplishments....

I hope my children know how VERY

proud I am of their 

MANY

accomplishments.

While most of their accomplishments are small,

like when they take out the trash without being asked,

or read to their sibling,

or pay their tithing...

some GET recognized by more than just Ron and myself.

Like Katie and Jacob

who both were Student of the Months this last year at school.

Jacob was student of the month in 

SEPTEMBER,

and those who know the struggles he had during his

kindergarten year know what an 

AMAZING accomplishment it was for him to be the FIRST kid

in his class to get Student of the Month.

Katie my EVER bright student was 

Student of the Month in January and went on to make straight A's

all year long.