Crazy days....

Everyday for the past month I have vowed that I will update the ole' blog. After all, I have like THREE readers depending on me. Right? The days come and go and I go to bed without an update. Now if I had an immaculate home to show for my lack of blogging, then that would be understandable. But no, my home is messier than it has ever been, I rarely have time to cook a meal and I am realizing how many hours I need to put in to whip this place into shape. I feel like I can't get anything done....the minute I start something, I need to stop what I am doing and take a child somewhere, change laundry, get the boys a snack, turn on a video game, pick up someone from piano, go to the orthodontist, explain for the fifth time to my boys why they can't play every waking minute, pick up from cross country.....it's literally one thing after another. Combine that with a summer where several weeks have passed and we find ourselves "minus one" family member due to an--EFY, Oakcrest, overnight babysitting job, Trek, Florida trip, EFY (again). This week we are finally all home at the same time. It's nice. Next week--we will be separated again when the older three head off to girls camp. Life is busy. But I wouldn't trade a thing. When I start doing the math of when my "chickens" can start flying the coop, I get real sad. Life does really pass you by. Enjoy the journey right? And in the meantime, hope that they want to live with me when they "leave" for college.... below are some pics of what we've been up to....

I joined Robb for his EFY speaking assignment in Florida. We flew into the Tampa Bay area, spent some time with our good friends the Emery's for a couple of days then we headed to Daytona Beach.

We both took a spin with a professional race car driver...you thought roller coasters made you queasy? At one point, I thought we were upside down. Funny story--Robb got two "ride alongs" His driver had to slow down quickly to accomodate a family of ducks crossing the speedway. After mama duck got her family to safety, he started his ride again. We visited Florida's tallest lighthouse. We got there early enough to be two of 25 guests to climb to the top and witness the last space shuttle launch. Wow--it was amazing! We called our kids to make sure they were watching it with us.
A total contrast to our Florida vacation--the week before, Robb and I accompanied the youth in our ward on Trek. We were the "Ma and Pa" to ten fantastic teenagers. We had a great time but were exhausted when we arrived home. Grandma and Grandpa Hoch watched the three younger kids while we were gone. Sadly, Chase had to get a second set of stitches while were away. Only one week after his first set. Now he has a cute scar for each eye.We celebrated the 4th of July at the Stadium of Fire. Ashley is a HUGE David Archuleta fan. So this was a must. And a certain 38 year old may or maynot think Brad Paisley is pretty cute....haha! A plus--my three nieces (Maizie and Mollie, not pictured Kennedy) were "Stadium of Fire" dancers. They did a great job! I loved the program and felt the spirit several times as they spoke of our freedoms. A great night.
And finally--my babies wrapped up their first year of elementary education. Their program was darling. I love these little guys. They have grown up so fast. The program didn't disappoint. The theme--Everything I ever needed to know, I learned in Kindergarten. Oh, to be a Kindergartner again....And last, no picture to share for this one, but it's worth sharing....Robb was put in the Bishopric in June. Kind of a funny story--the last Bishop he served with was Bishop Lewis from our Taylorsville Ward. The new Bishop he is serving with--Bishop Lewis in our West Jordan Ward. He is enjoying his new assignment and I'm getting reacquainted with being a single mom Sunday mornings.