Week In Review

In an effort to journal more, I thought maybe I'd try to write weekly? No promises and probably not really that interesting but in an effort to remember.....

Things I loved about this week:

Rylee sent me a snap chat of her lip syncing in the hall outside the bathroom door while Alex is in the shower singing and the top of his lungs! I love that he sings in the shower. Austin and Rylee do that too. The fact that Alex does it just warms my heart. You have to feel at home to sing in the shower right?

I had a great talk with Kambree this week. I had a dream about her earlier this week where she was being kept from me and refusing to talk to me. I was sobbing in my dream and woke up with heart palpitations. It was nice to have a chat with her on the phone this week. She is in the thick of nursing school and got a 96% on her first test! That's my girl!
Today is Cameron's birthday. He is 23 years old! She sent this picture:

They seem to be doing well. They're tied to the motel so we don't see them in person much but luckily she Instagrams pretty often.

Unlike her brother Austin! 

Here is my text conversation with this week:

And later this week I found this picture of his back side on Facebook through a new college friend that tagged him. Yes, I stalk  my children on Facebook. Why else have an account?

Devree got home late last night and came in (very late) and sang me a song that she and her friends sang to some boy last night to answer him for homecoming. She is hitting the books hard this week with her four college courses. This Saturday is homecoming and she's going with Tyler. (Her boyfriend - even though that's not what they call themselves?)

Devree and Rylee and I went to Tarzan at Hale Center Friday night. James had no interest in "seeing a guy in a loin cloth run around on stage." We had a nice time. 

Alex is playing water polo and graduated to a Speedo this week. He was the only guy on the team not wearing one. This is him last week in his jammer:

And this week at a distance in his speedo:

I find it funny that it took him so long to decide to wear one since he grew up wearing one and surrounded by a culture that embraces such small mens swimwear? (He looks like I don't feed him in the picture but, I do. He really doesn't go hungry - the funny part you can't see is that he saw me trying to catch a picture so he did a little hula hip motion for me. I wish I had the video on instead of the camera.)

James is away at work so of course I ran over the sprinkler head and broke it within hours of him leaving. Jake came and fixed it for me. They have a pack, James and Jake. They work opposite hitches and cover for each other on the home front when the wives have repairs beyond their abilities. James was out fixing Jake's sprinklers last hitch home and low and behold, Jake had to fix ours this hitch!

Alex got his hair cut really short this week. It's very cute and while listening to two hours of Stake Conference today he laid his head in my lap and put my hands on his head for a massage - at one point I was trying to take notes to share with James later and needed both my hands so he took Rylee's hand and placed it on his head for her to continue where I took off. Afterwards his hair was sticking up silly and when I told him, he said it was worth it! 

Alex is officially as tall as me - which is crazy because less than a month ago he was still a quarter inch shorter! It won't be long until he's taller than me and he just can't wait!

Rylee started on toe last week. It's pretty painful. I hope she callouses soon. She's dancing three nights a week for a total of six hours but only 1.5 is on toe.
This is her being fit for toe shoes. Our appointment took over an hour. Who knew it was such a fine balance? $150 dollars later we finally ended up with the shoes, little toe socks for her big toes,  some sort  of rubbery little toe pad, ribbons, elastic and a "breathable" bag.

Alex is playing water polo two nights a week and swimming on MAC two afternoons a week with water polo games on Saturday. He's scored a goal in each of his three games so far. He's a good player - very accurate and strong at throwing but not as strong and fast at swimming - that's why he's swimming at MAC - to work on speed and endurance.
I think water polo must be the WORST sport to photograph since all I have is a floating head in the pool? He's #5.

Devree is conditioning to play basketball. Tryouts are in November. Basketball will be such a blessed relief from drill. 

I am trying to ride my bike 4-5 times a week to prepare for the Wicked Witch Ride at the end of this month. It's a 70 mile ride with a wicked 3 mile climb in the middle. I need to get more hill climbing in to get conditioned.
I am happy to report that I am 3.5 inches smaller around my waist, tummy, and thighs and 4 inches smaller around my hips since last year at this time. It's all due to my "mostly Paleo" way of life AND my bike. I love riding my bike. I am dreading the cold weather for that very reason.

In other news, Alex is singing next month for General Conference in the priesthood session. This is him and Jared Walton leaving for practice tonight.

Well, that's a pretty good review of the last couple of weeks. 

Until next time.....