It's the middle of summer, but for year round schools, time to kick off the new school year.  Brenna will be in 6th grade this year.  Crazy. I remember when I was in 6th grade.   She has spent the past few years on B track in ALP (Accelerated Learning Program)  but decided to transition back to C track with the class she was with back in K, 1st and 2nd grade.  She has stayed close with most of those kids, so her friend circle will just be increasing.

She is loving her new backpack and looking forward to having Mr. Youtz as her teacher this year.  Emily really enjoyed having him for 6th grade, and Brenna is planning on it being just as awesome and fun as Emily has promised her.

Here's to a great 6th-grade year with Youtz!

One of the reasons we love birthdays so much is because we love celebrating people!  Today we got to celebrate BRENNA!  The family showered with some of her favorite things.....

Legos 

 Beauty and the Beast record to play on her record player 

shoes 

and more legos! 

Sure glad this crew could all be here to celebrate with us!

Then onto a family bike ride along the Jordan River Parkway

We love you B.  So grateful you are part of our eternal family!

Walking past the Oreo section at the store today thinking we need to have another Oreo Party.  We were introduced to such an events by the Hostetter's while visiting with them in Kansas City.  

Who's up for it?

We're always looking for fun adventures. often non-traditional fun adventures.  With the remodel finishing up, we've had lots of deliveries lately, leaving us lots of empty cardboard boxes.  Time to go 'Cardboard Surfing' down our favorite Daybreak Hill.

I always knew one day the girls would each go through the temple to recieve their own endownments and I'd be able to enjoy going to the temple with them, but I didn't know just how WONDERFUL that would be.  For me, it is one of the purest joys in this life.  Sometimes it's planned and sometimes Aubs just stops by or text me about going the temple and I am happy to leave whatever I am doing to join her. For years we have talked about and texted to each other the scripture  3 John 1:4 (click on link to read).  It goes hand in hand with our Family Motto of  'No Empty Chairs', but as the years go by and we all grow older, that depth and meaning of that scripture penetrates my heart even more.  I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It brings hope, peace, and an eternal perspective to me life.   I love to live it, to testify of it, and to share the goodness of God's love with others.  And I love being able to be in the Lord's house serving others and worshipping God alongside my family. 

My crew was Bergen, Brenna & Mason.  The store was packed, as usual, and they were having a drawing for a free cow stuffed animal, so all the kids entered while we waited for our food. 

2 weeks later we get a call from our friendly South Jordan Chik=Fil-A location saying that Brenna was the WINNER of the drawing.  Welcome to the family Cow-van

Swimming with friends today.  It's fun to have little ones over to swim, as it reminds us of the days when our girls were little.  Crazy how fast the time goes.  

We don't often get pictures of the girls on Sundays, but how nice it is to see them each week, rise early, and get ready to partake of the sacrament and worship on the Sabbath Day.  They have a very mature understanding of the Sabbath and we know that is a continual blessing and protection to our family. 

Ryan Tomlinson is 8 years old and today he was baptized by his dad Gary, and became an official member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  

Gary is my cousin (dad's sister's son) and grew up in Orange, CA.  He and his awesome wife Michelle have lived up here in Utah for several years and we love seeing them and watching their kids grow up.  Above is Cousins group + spouses  (Brian, Steve, Cheryl. Robert, Jenna, Megan, John, Michelle & Gary)

The Tomlinson Crew