"I feel like a REAL woman!"

That is what Brooklyn said to me, as we were having a "Spa afternoon." We started with making chocolate cookies in the easy bake oven. Then I gave Brooklyn a french manicure (only because I didn't have any other colors). Then i put make up on her and did her hair. As I was putting make up on...she said, "I feel like a REAL woman!" I busted out laughing. She's already gorgeous, but look at the heart breaker that came out at the end.


FYI...we also worked on our minds, by practicing reading. She's not just all beautify...she's brains too! :)

Camping at Devils Fork and Hiking too!

Here are some photos from the rest of our camping trip including two hikes...one to white water falls and one to stump house mountain tunnel. Yummy camp food - this was our hot dog dinner and I made a yummy pineapple upside down cake in our new dutch oven! I love that thing!

This is the white water falls gang!

I seriously have the most beautiful kids...I just love taking pictures of them!

Now on to the stump house mountain tunnel. There is the enterance behind Bowen and Stephen! Such a cool place- literally!

Our long weekend trip ended on a bad note - Kate got bite by a spider at some point. Her ankel got huge and she couldn't even walk on it. It was red and swollen and tender to the touch. I had to take her to the doc and they put her on heavy antibiotics. Luckly after about 3 days on the meds we started to see improvement!

A day at Beautiful Lake Jocassee

As soon as school was out we headed off to camp with some of our neighbors for a long weekend! We were lucky to discover that some good friends of ours from church were planing on being on the lake near our camp site with their boat and sea-do. They were SO kind and great examples of good members of the church! They incited us all to join them on the lake and boated us out to a little island where they'd set up a shade tent in a little cove. Here is Clair riding off to the island with Brother Taylor - I think Clair is going to be our thrill seeker! She didn't' hesitate to jump on the sea-do and wanted to go faster! Just look at that lake - isn't it beautiful! Here is Brother Smith with the first of three boats full to ferry over to the island! Kate wanted to ride in the boat - NOT on the sea-do!

Now Bowen's turn on the sea-do!

Here we are on the island...the kids plated in the water and in the sand and just had a blast!

Bowen REALLY liked the sand! He also really liked taking a ride in the little kayak.

Clair and her little friend Zoe loved the rube ride! They kept their thumbs up to go faster the whole time!

Here is Clair after the tube ride - at which time she proclaimed -"This is the best day of my whole life!"

Kate rode on the purple scarier tube, but had the protection of her favorite YW from church, Alexis! I am so glad she has good girls to look up to that are kind and considerate!

Clair got her first sting - a wasp we think. She was "uncomfortable" for a long while...but later she said, "Even though I got stung, it was still the best day of my life!" So, no harm done I guess!

The weather got a little stormy - but man I love this place! Now the Bright family has been bit by the lake bug and we long to have a boat of our own!

Kate and 2nd Grade Awards Day

We were so proud of Kate and all her hard work this year. She really shined at 2nd grade award day! She won several medals for placing in the PTA Reflections contest...she placed in photography, writing, and art. Here is Mrs. Parker (principal) giving her another medal and a big hug! She also won other awards for jump rope for heart, St Jude's math marathon, and the Governors reading award...here is her whole class receiving the reading award they earned!

We were also proud that Kate earned the 2nd grade female music student of the year as well as principals honor roll for making all A's!

Way to go Kate - we are so proud!

Over half over!

The year is over half way done. Can you believe it? I can't. Time sure flies when you are having fun or at least when you are busy. I wanted to post a few things that I have done since December.

January found me in Tennessee (no pictures...my trip was too quick!), Philly (which I loved all the historical stuff. I got in a day early, so I could walk where our founding fathers walked.



The next week found me in Sacramento for a conference. I was disappointed that I didn't see Arnold at the CA state capitol. No terminator for me!

February took me to Utah.
I spent Valentine's day with my cousin KC and her family...great family and excellent food - what more could you ask for! I then headed to St. George for a much needed few days a Red Mountain Spa. It was delightful. I went with a co-worker. We had a blast. Brace yourselves...I went hiking! I know what was I thinking...but it wasn't hot and it was actually very beautiful.
I also traveled to Colorado for a quick meeting. Nothing exciting with that trip.

March brought me to Iowa. This was actually a very welcomed visit. I came in a day early, so that I could get to spend a Sunday with one of my most favorite college roommate Stephanie and her family. She has the most adorable 3 kids, with a new addition now. It was so much fun to see her and meet her children and husband. They were so hospitable and welcoming. I have to say it was a highlight of the first part of my year. The only thing that was a negative was that I didn't take one picture. I can't believe it...I don't think I even had my camera - what was I thinking! Oh well, it was a great visit. Iowa was actually a pretty amazing state. Brooklyn and I also went to see a couple of plays at the Children's theater. The best was Pinkalicious! It was great and we had such a fabulous time.

April started out in Oklahoma. Nothing exciting, just an over night trip. One of these visits to Oklahoma City I really want to go to the Oklahoma City memorial. I hear it's a site to see. I spent the middle of the month in Hawaii. This was of course for work, but it had some exciting parts. I spent the first 2 days in Honolulu. It was gorgeous, of course. I didn't get to lay out or anything, but it was still nice. I then spent a day and a night in Maui. What a beautiful island. I was just sorry that I didn't get to see anything except for the resort where I stayed and the where the conference was at. I spent my last night and day in Kauai. I've been there before, but it always takes my breath away. It's such a beautiful island. It's really hard to say which is my favorite island, because they are all so great.
After a couple of days home, I headed to San Diego and it was gorgeous. Oddly enough, my dad was in San Diego for work too. We got to eat lunch one of the days. I walked along the Pier and saw lots of Navy memorials and a place dedicated to Bob Hope adn the USO. It was a neat memorial.

From San Diego I headed to Indiana, where a co-worker was kind enough to take me in for the night before heading to Chicago. My co-workers home is an old farm house and her family was so great. They all came over for brunch to meet me. It was nice. I was in Chicago for 4 days at a conference. Henry Winkler...you know the Fonz was there signing books. My company publishes his children's books. The only really exciting thing I did was go to a Cubs game. It was pretty exciting, but very cold.
Oh yeah...I also ate Chicago deep dish pizza.

Sorry for those that love it, but honestly it doesn't compare to NYC pizza. Lucky for me that was my next stop.

I ended April and started May off in NYC with a sisters weekend. We had a glorious time. We ate, played, ate, walked, slept (a very little), ate some more and crammed as much of the city in as we could. We saw two Broadway plays...In the Heights and A little Night music. Both were good, but I LOVED a Little Night Music with Katherine Zeta Jones and Angela Landsbury.


I only spent a couple of days home from NYC before heading to Philly again. I was only there a couple of days, but I got to see the Patomic River and see the Washington crossing area. That part of the country is so full of history. I loved it.


Although I enjoy seeing bits and pieces of the world, there is no place like home...so thankfully most of May was spent at home. I did do an overnight trip in Oklahoma again - very quick trip.

In May I was called to be the Young Women's President, so that meant that my summer was going to be very busy. We did a temple trip, right at the beginning of the summer. We are a small group, but mighty in spirit! (At least that's what I tell the girls.) It started with Youth Conference in June. It was really great. I enjoyed it and I enjoyed watching the YW interact with others and grow. June got better with a visit from the Brights. It was great to spend a full week and a bit with them. I was only sad that it couldn't have been longer. I loved the beginning of the trip to see Kate, Clair, Bowen, and Brooklyn play with each other. We even spent a morning at the jumping castle place in the mall. More fun for the kids then for me and Ros.
There was just one thing missing...little Jack. Brooklyn and I had to head off just a few days after the Brights arrived to head to Utah. I had a work conference in Park City and Brooklyn had to meet up with her parents. I love Utah in the summer. The weather is gorgeous. I don't know what it is, but there is just something about driving into the valley and seeing that big "Y" on the mountain. It almost makes me a little giddy! I love the spirit of the Y! It was great seeing family and spending time with cousins/aunts/uncles. I just wish it could have been more time. One of the days, before heading to Park City for work I went with Brooklyn, Jack and Britni to the Bean Museum, at BYU and the Creamery. Gosh I love that BYU ice cream.

I ended my month in Denver at another conference. It's a lovely city, but really it's hard to see it when you are staying at a hotel, with no car and busy all day long.

It's only the beginning of July, but already it's been full of excitment. I spent 4 vacation days...brace yourself...camping! It was girls camp last week and I was lucky enough to get to go. Let me just dispell any rumors - YW camp is no walk in the park. It was hot and sticky, with lots of rain...which means mud and humidity. We did real camping...tent and all. Here is a picture of us having a relaxing cool mask to try to beat the heat, during ward time. I enjoyed working with the girls and getting to know the girls in our ward and the stake much better. Although I always baulk about going, I always end up having fun at the end, but I'm glad I have a whole year until the next camp! :) The theme was Anchored in Christ and our stake did an excellent job with this camp.

Phew! That's a lot of stuff. Hopefully it wasn't too boring to read.