Read-In

 Ya know it's gonna be a good afternoon when you start with this!!!  We wanted to do a Read-In!!  It was sooo fun!  It gave us a really good excuse to turn off the tv, the computer, the phones, the music and just have some quiet reading time.  We went to the library the day before so everyone had books.  I even had one to read!  We went to Walmart and everyone got to pick out all the junk food they wanted and then it was home to read.  I LOVED doing read-ins when I was in elementary school!!  They were the most fun days! All the kids got to pick the spot in the house that they wanted to read and hang out.  We read for 3 hours!  They are all asking to do another one, so I think we just might! 

 Tyson read Fablehaven.  (I read the Alchemyst)

Austin lounged in the bathtub with his books

Kyler wanted to be under his bed...tight space.  He lasted an hour and then came downstairs and found a new spot! 

Kailee was reading The Book Thief...it is her required summer reading for English.

Temple Trip

One of the things the kids and I put on our "Summer To-Do" list was to go to the Houston Temple.  We wanted to go up, walk around and take pictures.  It is soooo beautiful there!  The grounds are gorgeous!  The kids were troopers cuz it was HOT outside!  We will have to go back in the fall when it's cooler and we can get pictures without the sweaty heads and red cheeks!  Our besties the Daileys went with us!

 Adam and Kyler...first thing Kyler did was run to the fountain and got his head all wet!

 avoiding the sun...kinda

  That was quite the crew we were walking around with!

 Austin took these ones of the temple

 Kailee had this great idea for a picture!  I can't wait to go back to this exact spot and do one with all the kids!!  It was perfect!

 Man...is he growing or what?!!!  I forget how short I am when he is right next to me!

 The cute Daileys...Leah was the only one looking at me...the kids were looking at Tyson or Kailee (i can't remember who was taking their picture)  this is the best one I got though!

 Sarah took all of these ones...I think that girl has a real future in photography

  hit by the sprinklers

 hmmm....did I mention how hot it was?...look at all of them laying on the concrete at the water to cool off!

 Look at these 2 beautiful girls!!  I am so thankful that Kailee has such a great friend in Sarah!!!!

This was funny...Madelyn was curious why Kyler was sad!

well at least we got 8 of the 9 to smile!

 Austin took pics of the moms...Leah and I were both so sweaty we were trying not to get yuck on each other! 

cooling off in the air conditioned waiting room!!!  We love the A/C!!!!

 What a fun day!  After the temple we went to IT'Z pizza for lunch! 

just cuz....

playing around with my new iphone (which I am completely head over heels in love with!!!)  and a new app i found that lets you do fun things with the pics you take!  also i was bored while i was waiting for the kiddos to get done in piano so i had to entertain myself somehow!!

Kailee---driving!!!

Say it isn't so!!!!

Seminary Graduation

 Kailee loved seminary this year!  They studied the Doctorine & Covenants.  She got a course completion certificate and a Master Scriptorian Award!  She did awesome!  She also served as Seminary Class President!  Way to go Kailee!!!

Releasing the Pigeons

 Ty and Kyler have been totally loving their camp!  Today their names were chosen to bring home the Homing Pigeons!!!  Kyler brought home Stripes and Tyson brought home Shadow. 

 They were very clear that we had to GO STRAIGHT HOME to release them!  If we were stopping at the mall then we would release them at the mall!  :o) 

 I did ask them if they could wait long enough for me to grab the camera out of the office and they both said "Fine, but hurry!!"  (How far away do they think the office it?)

 Here is the box with the instructions

 Kyler taking his lid off

 Stripes looks around for about 3 seconds before he takes off

 There he goes

 Kyler can't wait to go to camp tomorrow to see if Stripes made it back that quickly!  (If not tomorrow he should be there before camp is over at the end of the week)

 Ty waiting for Shadow

 Shadow took his time...I thought this picture was sooo funny.  Ty just patiently put his hands in his lap and waited for Shadow to be ready!  It was about 30 seconds to a minute before he even showed his little head.

 there he is!

 and after some thought he took off too!

 Ty chose Shadow because he usually takes a little longer to get back than some of the other birds and he thought that was cool.

 Stripes circled back around well after they were both let go

there is Shadow with one last goodbye
**UPDATE**  When they got to camp the next morning both pigeons were there!!!