Happy Birthday Tom!!!

Tom's birthday with Mom! Cute baby! I've always loved the picture on the left and the one on the right is because of the shirt he's wearing!!
This picture is for grama and grampa who just sent Tom a Red Sox hat from Boston!!!
February 1986!

It's Tom's big 42nd birthday today! At breakfast, this morn, I mentioned to the kids that 42 years ago today, dad was in Germany! He was at Mt. Potosi from Thursday morning until 6:30 Saturday night with a bunch of Scouters for Wood Badge. So, by the time he arrived home he was too tired to do anything. Today has been a day of church service. So when he arrives home from meetings tonight, we'll have dinner, cake and ice cream to celebrate his day.

The kids and I made a birthday card which mentions 42 things we love about dad. I won't list them all, but here's a few:

2. Nobody knows music like you!

3. You Rock at Rock Band!

6. You patiently help us with our homework.

10. You take up too much time in the bathroom when you take the DS or Game Boy with you. 13. You're a great example to us and show us how to serve the Lord and others.

16. You would rather be with your family than anywhere else in the world!

19. You are the best snowman maker.

21. You're the most fun dad in the swimming pool.

22. You freak out when Katelynn grabs your big toe!!!

28. You give the best back rubs and foot massages. Mom loves that!!!

32. You try not to get mad when fixing broken things around the house!!

40. You work very hard for us.

42. You are the best husband and dad a family could ever have!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!

Wilson grandchild #32

The latest addition to the Wilson family arrived Saturday night and she's a beauty. They're just a cute little family. Congrats D and K! We wish you didn't live so far away. We hope to see y'all next summer.

More the EFY than meets the EYE!

Mmmmm. I think there' s more to EFY than
just spiritual experiences. Now I know why
it was "Soooooo Awesome"

Summer Fun

Kate swimming at grandmas
Caroline and Koley!

The old roller coaster!!

On the train with daddy!
The "after picture"
The "before" picture

Okay. Since I'm almost at the bottom of Carla and Jen's list, Carla suggested that I update the happenings of my little cuties! That's for you, Carla!!!

Our family has been apart for over three weeks. Braeden left for Volleyball camp at BYU on the 20th, just a few hours before I got home from New York. His team won the final tournament, which was pretty cool. He and Trevor spent a few days at grama and grampa Bolton's house, swimming, golfing and playing basketball with cousins. Braeden was most excited to take over the place as tallest cousin and he's going to enjoy it while it lasts, cuz it won't last! He just hit the six foot mark. It's crazy to think that he was 5'5" at the beginning of last summer. He then went to EFY in Cedar City. It was great to hear his stories of fun times with new and old friends, good classes and spiritual experiences. I also learned what COW means....crush of the week!

Katelynn went to Utah to hang out with cousins and grandparents for 10 days. She had a blast going to Lagoon, parties, High School Musical, more parties, a baptism, a museum, more parties, swimming, sleepovers, manicures and did I mention parties?!

The rest of the family joined Katelynn in Utah on the 6th of August and it was nice to have everybody back together. We had a great time at Lagoon. Braeden and Katelynn even rode the Catapult, which is a crazy ride that even costs extra. The are in a ball that is shot about 200 feet up, like a sling shot. It's crazy!!!! Caroline is big enough for all the crazy rides, but doesn't care for them, so Tom and I took turns taking her around. I must say that after a few hours of spinning in circles, I was beginning to get sick! I prefer the fast moving, upside-down crazy rides that last a few seconds and you're done!

The rest of the trip was spent swimming, hanging out with family, eating, celebrating Steve's birthday and joining Jim, Kym, Taylor and Lauren at church, where Taylor was advanced to a Priest. It was great seeing you guys!!! We were going home after lunch at Kym's house and we forgot that we had Crystal (Kate's dog) with us. We couldn't just leave her in the car so we called Jim and asked if we could leave her in the back yard. Jim was worried that she might jump over the fence, but I assured him that the fat dog can't jump that high. Well apparently the fat dog can squeeze through the fence. After two hours at church and Kym's house we went back for the dog and found her sitting under a tree in the front yard. It was pretty funny to just pull up, open the door, dog jumped in and we drove away!

We're now home and preparing for school to start. I'm getting ready to start up dance lessons and Hollywood Kids. Tom's busy with seminary registration. Braeden has been working for Greg Jensen as a runner for his law office. It was pretty funny when he called me on his first day and said, "I'm Lost". Collin is gearing up for middle school and Caroline has been in swim lessons. SUMMER HAS BEEN FLYING BY!!!

New York City!

Can you believe this is Central Park? Can you
believe I took this picture?
Jessica Elmer and I at Young Frankenstein!
Jackie, Cheri, Pam, Nicole and Jessica in front
of 2 of the billboards of shows we saw.

A early walk through the park with Nicole, Pam and Jackie.
The whole gang. Dinner at Bubba Gumps.

I just spent five fabulous days in New York City! Eight of us went to a Broadway Teachers Workshop where we learned much, ate much, played much and walked even more.



The workshop was incredible. It took place in the rehearsal rooms of the Hilton Theatre. I learned a dance from the dace captain of Young Frankenstein, and then watched her dance in the show. We met and learned from actors, composers, choreographers, music directors, writers, stage managers, casting directors from broadway shows such as Wicked, Legally Blonde, Rent, South Pacific, Spring Awakening, Grease, Phantom of the Opera and oh so much more. My favorites were composer Jason Robert Brown, Emma Hunton from Spring Awakening and Max Crumm who plays Danny in Grease. They all sang for us! I went home and downloaded Jason Robert Brown's song, "Someone to Fall Back On" it is soooo beautiful.



We saw five shows! Legally Blonde, Young Frankenstein, A Catered Affair, 39 Steps and South Pacific. They were all soooooo good. We also had the opportunity to go to the front the the theater after Young Frankenstein, a Catered Affair, and 39 Steps where we had a post show discussion with some of the actors, writers, managers, etc.. Harvey Fierstein was my favorite!



We had a backstage tour of the St. James Theatre with their stage manager and the stage manager of Phantom of the Opera. Very Interesting.



We also took in a few sights, went to the temple and spent a couple hours in Central Park, which isn't nearly enough!



It's great to be home. I missed my family, but after a few hours of bickering children, I was ready to go back!!!

CLEAR THE ROADS!

Braeden's wheels!!! 4th of July!!
Caroline and Tom lighting fireworks.
Collin was soooooo into the 4th!

It's official. He has a license to drive! Braeden passed the test on the first try, yesterday. When he asked if he could go to his friends house (which is a 20 minute round trip drive) I said YES!!!!! GO FOR IT!!!! He drove himself and Collin to scouts. I also sent him on a slurpee run! It's awesome! Although, when I get the first insurance bill, it won't be so exciting.

Happy Birthday Braeden!

"Muscle Beach" with friends in Carlsbad. March '08 Family trip to Park City, Utah '04.

Our excited family after Braeden's team won the State
Championship in Volleyball!

Learning to walk. Remember that cute blond hair?!!! Sledding with cousins Adrew (bottom), Taylor (middle), Braeden (middle), and Tyler (top). SWEET SIXTEEN

I can't believe Braeden is sixteen! He will be driving next week! That is if he can hold onto his license long enough. He's lost his permit once, along with his wallet and the money inside, and last night he lost the key to his car. Aaaahhh the joys of teenagers.

Watching Braeden grow has been an amazing ride these past sixteen years. I have always said that I'm thankful he was the first. He's a terrific big brother. He's helpful, kind, sensitive and he really doesn't torture his siblings. He has always looked out for everybody and I have stories, too numerous to tell, about his kindness (besides, he'll kill me). High school has been fun! He has amazing friends who have soooo much fun together and they are all great kids!

We wanted to have a big 16th birthday bash but we ended up doing Braeden's favorite things instead. Braeden loves the ocean so we took his friend Trevor and met Brig in Del Mar, California for a few days of play in the ocean. Tracy, Brigs mom, reserved the outdoor barbecue at their apartment, which is on the Pacific Coast Highway, and we had a birthday dinner and swim after an afternoon at the beach. The boys did some boogie boarding, skim boarding (no surfing this time), played a little volleyball, hung out and played their guitars. It was wonderful. Oh, and the temp never rose above 77 degrees. Sometimes I really hate Vegas!!!!

I kept leaving the camera in the car, so I'll have to get some pictures from Tracy. She got some great pictures of the kids, especially Caroline, who now loves boogie boarding. You could hear her squeals of delight each time she caught a wave! Sooooo cute!!!!

Anyway, Happy Birthday Braeden. We love you!!!!!!!!