Summer 2012 Part 1

I know I am way behind on my posts.  

Kyle reminded me last night that I need to update our blog.  

Here goes...

Our summer was a crazy whirlwind.  It started in May before school got out.  Kyle began the first trips of his traveling summer.  While he was gone it seems like anything that could go wrong did.  Savannah's battery died and I had to go jump start it.  That same day, our refrigerator quit working.  After searching online, I found out that there is a defect on our fridge and I could pay a repair person to come fix it, only to have the problem reoccur, or I could take everything out of our fridge and freezer and turn the power off, let the fridge defrost a couple of days and then turn the power back on, and voila.  I tried the do it yourself way.  Luckily for me we have a deep freezer  and an extra fridge in the garage that we use for water. It was a success.  Our fridge is still working today.  We will see how long it lasts.  My garage door also broke and I couldn't get out of the garage.  Thank goodness my dad was around and he  helped me lift that big heavy garage door, so I could get my car out.  I was adding it up and including our vacation this summer, we were with Kyle 21/2 weeks from May to the start of school in August.  Crazy, I know!

Savannah had a dance recital in June.  It was downtown during Fanfare week( or what ever it is they call it now).  That was FUN!  It was crazy trying to find parking.

Savannah in her costumes...

 Savannah all ready for hip hop

Sisters, sisters...  White Christmas anyone?

Savannah and her friend from dance class.

Zachary loved camping with the scouts...

We took the kids to the beach for a week.
We made it back before the tropical storm came through.  We had nice weather while we were there though.

I couldn't resist these pictures.
Kyle busy at work on vacation.
At least he got to relax on the beach some. 

Savannah working on Summer reading.

 Hannah actually relaxing, reading for fun.

Zachary our "beach bum" .  

He loves the water.

 Savannah, forever keeping Zachary in line, reminding him who's the boss.

They do love each other after all.  

Zachary is dying to be taller than his sisters.

I don't think he has too far to go.

Kyle walked out to the water and Hannah got up and walked out to him and wrapped her arms around him giving him a big hug.  I missed that perfect moment, but I took a picture of them together right after that, so I would remember it.

collecting shells

beautiful sunsets

Phase Ten  

A family favorite!

Summer 2012 Part 2

Carrie and her girls came into town in June.  Over the spring, Zachary was going through the things in his room and boxing up what he didn't want anymore.  Since "T" loves Pokemon, he put all of his Pokemon in a box and put it away until Carrie and her family came.  He was so excited to give his Pokemon to her that he went out on the front porch to watch for them.  It was steamy hot outside and I thought it was so cute that he would go out there and wait for her to come.

We also had our first Brunson Family reunion.  We are missing a few people, but we had a good turn out.  Kyle of course was on his way to Puerto Rico, so he missed all of the fun.

Speaking of Puerto Rico, you know how I just love me some Walmart.  When Kyle was in Puerto Rico he sends me this text.

Looks like our typical Walmart.

Except on the outside... 

Notice the guard tower with the armed guard watching the parking lot.

I think we could use that at some of our Walmart's!  

Kyle was gone over the 4th of July.  The kids and I went to see my dad play in a band with his friend Marty and then we watched fireworks.

Miss P trying to stay cool!

Getting ready for the fireworks!

All excited about the fireworks!

The next day, after we celebrated the 4th, Savannah and I headed to girls camp!

Camp certification first aid relay-

run down, show off first aid skills, grab a puzzle piece.

Go down the slip n slide

Take the puzzle piece to your teams board under the tent

Once all of your team has shown off their first aid skills and your teams puzzle is worked, all sit on the slip n slide.  What are they playing for you ask?  The first choice in the ice-cream treat of their choice.

Each ward has a flag to decorate.  Savannah designed the flag and painted it.

Savannah and her friends 

-Crazy Hair-

Youth Conference

This year the youth did a service project in the area where our new stake center will be built. They cleaned out the creek and surrounding areas where there was damage from the flood 2 years ago.

Kyle's truck was the dirtiest I have ever seen it.  

His truck is always clean.

Savannah's car windows 

got decorated before youth conference

Savannah went to EFY

Savannah and a group of kids in our ward getting ready to leave for EFY

Well, I know these last two posts were long, but it had to be done.  

This was our summer 2012!

Whew!

First Day of School

It's official. The school year has started. Savannah is a junior and a freshman mentor. She is excited about that. School is a half day today, but the freshman orientation is after school so she is staying with no complaints. It did at least make her first day wardrobe pick easy. She has to wear her bright pink freshman mentor shirt, so that the freshman can spot her.

Zachary is in 8th grade. He is already ready to be out of middle school. He goes for a half day and gets out of school at 11am. I'm ready to hear all about his first half day. Last year wasn't so great. I'm hoping today goes better for him.

Last Week Of Summer

This is what our house has looked like this past week.



Savannah had to finish her summer reading for AP English. She waited until 2 weeks before school starts to kick it in gear and get it done.

Zachary had optional reading and an essay to write. I was the mean mom that made him do the optional assignment. I also made him get going on his Duty to God which is what he is working on in this picture.

Hannah was having fun. Savannah's car smells like melted crayons. It really stinks and we can't seem to get rid of the smell. At first we thought it was just her car until she found out that her friends VW Beetle smells the same way. Hannah googled it and found that there is nothing we can do. Apparently the smell comes from the rust proof spray that is applied to the medal inside the car. Hannah was getting a kick out of all the info out there as well as all of the complaints. We have tried almost everything to get rid of the smell. It wouldn't be so bad other than the smell lingers on all those that ride in the vehicle. Not so nice!!!

At least I have now found that using 3 Fabreze car deodorizers helps tremendously.

That has been our last week of summer in a nut shell. School starts tomorrow.
BOO!!! I'm not ready yet!

Chick Fil A Day!

We supported Chick Fil A today.  I am not a big fast food eater, but sometimes you just have to stand up for what is right.  At least that is what I am always telling my kids and how can I ask them to stand for something if I am not willing to do the same?

Kyle was out early this morning and stopped for breakfast.  His line wasn't so bad.  The girls were out baby siting, so Zachary and I decided to tackle Chick Fil A for lunch.  I would have loved to take the girls and wait until dinner, but with church tonight, I knew we would never make it.

Here is our adventure.
We were getting to Chick Fil A around 1:15pm.  I chose to avoid the Galleria Mall area and went to a smaller town hoping for less traffic.  No Such Luck!  Good for Chick Fil A though.

This is the line waiting to turn on the street where Chick Fil A is.

25 minutes later

At least we are on the street.  We saw lots of people walking back to their cars from Chick Fil A.  They parked on the street or at nearby businesses.

Zachary waiting patiently for lunch.

He was amazed at the crowd.

35 minute wait

At least we can see the Chick Fil A

 The line coming from the other direction.  

the white van ahead is parked on the street.

 I found a parking spot, so I parked the car thinking it may be faster than waiting in the drive through line.  

Maybe Not!

We finally got our food around 2:10.  It was so full, people were standing everywhere and they would take your order and then attach your order to your name.  They were constantly yelling out names.  We were lucky we found a seat.  Actually, we were standing right by this booth waiting for our food when a family got up, so we quickly took their seat when they left.

This is the line of people waiting to get in as we were leaving.  It was so full, people were even sitting at the outdoor tables even though it was 100 degrees before you count the humidity.

 Back at the car...take 1

 trying to get a good shot of us with our Chick Fil A cups.  That is always fun with Zachary.  He always squints and hates the pictures, but he forgot his sunglasses.

Take 2

 Oops!!!

No Zachary

Maybe Zachary isn't the only problem.  Maybe it is photographer error?

Take 3

I give up!

I guess this is as good as it gets!

We had fun together anyway!