Summer, almost at an end!

 My last post was in April!  That's a long time ago with a lot that's happened between then and now.  I won't be able to catch up on all of it but I can do highlights.

--We got another dog!  We called her Olive.  She's a mini bernadoodle with a really gentle temperament.  She is still a puppy so we still have puppy behaviors.  She loves chewing on socks, toilet paper rolls, and Felicity's dolls.  She is in love with me, which is very sweet and also means when I leave a room, she either follows me or whines until I come back.  She is finally sleeping through the night and hasn't had an accident in the house for a few weeks.  

--Mike got selected for promotion.  That means that in about a year and a half he'll be promoted to Colonel and that we will have to move next summer (most likely).  We have even less say in this next assignment so things in that area are very up in the air and will stay that way for awhile.  

--The kids finished school and it was an awesome school year for them and has been an awesome summer.  The girls helped me make a "summer vibes" list and we've been checking things off.  Not all of the things on the list were fun, we also included things that we needed to take care of in the summer like getting Piper braces and signing Eli up for a driving class.  So, yes, Piper got braces!  She's adorable and so far only needs the top teeth but the bottom ones will come soon.  And, Eli is almost done with his 50 hrs of driving and one year of having a permit that is required in Colorado.  His driving class will mostly be just so he can practice before his test and then in September he will finally have his license.  

--Mike has been working at the temple every other Saturday so he's gone from 10-6:30.  It's a long day and some days he takes on an extra shift but he's really enjoying it so far and comes home happy every single time.  

--The summer has been filled with fun including, a trip to Utah so Eli could hang out with his Tokyo buddy Asher, followed by FSY with Asher.  Girls camp for Piper, going to Utah for the 4th of July, art classes for the girls, swimming, playdates, boating days with friends for Eli and Piper, and a trip to Canada for me.  Eli, Piper and I have trek in a week an a half (I'm the designated photographer for trek).  

--My sisters and I surprised my mom with a trip to Prince Edward Island in Canada.  It was only made possible by my brothers; Jess, David, and Adam.  They watched Dad and Ammon so that Mom could come with us.  It was so beautiful.  I loved waking up and stretching out on the deck overlooking the bay and feeling the wind on my face.  We went to the beach, ate yummy ice cream, went deep sea fishing, visited L.M Montgomery's childhood home where she was inspired to write Anne of Green Gables.  We also visited the boardwalk in Halifax, which was a highlight.  It was a challenge to get us all together (three canceled flights for Chelsey and one for myself and Kaitlin).  I will cherish the time I had with Mom and my sisters forever.  

I think for now, this is a good highlight list.  Probably by the time I write again, Will is going to be home (only 6 more weeks!).  School will probably already be in session and I can only hope it is as good a year for the kids this year as it was the last.  Maybe Olive will be coming to me every time I call her.  Eli should also have taken his final SAT and be writing his college essays.  Lots to look forward to.

There is no possible way to include all the photos I've taken over the last three and a half months, even though, I've kind of lost my photography spark and didn't even take that many.  I'll maybe do multiple posts of just photos.  Or, maybe I just won't post that many.