STORY IN PICTURES

Thinking about going private...

Any thoughts?

After a few discussions with the husband, he thinks it would be a good idea. I told him that nobody even reads blogs anymore anyway, well, other than the two of you.

I am sitting on the fence. Might be making the switch. Still trying to figure out what to do. I do use this as my journal for our family happenings and would like to be as open as I would if it really were my regular old fashioned journal.

IF I make the switch, are you in? Do you want to be invited? I would love to invite you, but make sure I know your email address. You may post it here, or drop me a line on my email and let me know. schmlz@msn.com

UP UP AND AWAY...

IN MY BEAUTIFUL BALLOON
Fun Friday began at the crack of 5:30 in the morning to go to the Freedom Festival Balloon Fest.
It was a lot of fun to go see all the colorful hot air balloons and to be so up close to all the action. We got to see a lot of the balloons getting blown up, and lift off was very exciting, to be right there, right in the middle of it all.
We had so much fun together. Being together. Sharing in the beauty of the earth. The beautiful sun coming over the mountains. The lovely morning. The patriotic music to kick off a fun 4th of July weekend.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE...

That it's been TWENTY YEARS!

Way back on July 2, 1989 Xandi and I started dating. The story of us getting together is a fun one. People are always amazed when they find out that Xandi and I are that time old tradition of high school sweethearts. I "waited" for him while he served in the army and on his mission. I am sure that people thought that we would never make it, but I always knew in my heart that he was the one for me, and thankfully he thought likewise.

I love our relationship. I can honestly say that he is my very best friend as well as my husband and the love of my life. I love how I can be myself with him and he loves me for who and what I am. We joke around and we know how to have a good time with each other. He says please and thank you and when he asks me to do something he always is very mindful of what I already have on my plate. I’m always amazed at how few other couples are like us. Of course we know we are the lucky ones.

Xandi and I are complete opposites in a lot of ways, but very alike when it comes to the important things. Two peas in a pod. Our family always comes first, we help each other chase our dreams and support each other and our kids. We have made a pretty great life together. Had our ups and downs just like anybody else, but when the going gets tough, I would want no other on my side.

Twenty years ago I would have never thought that on that first date of a shared banana cream pie shake and a long drive talking about our dreams could lead to what we have now. It wasn't until the second date!

I have been kissing the same lips for twenty years now. Life couldn't be sweeter.

SCIENCE CAMP

Sophie had a fun opportunity this past week, she got to go to science camp!

I knew Sophie was a little bit worried about going before she left for the week because she thought that she had to be REALLY smart in order to go. "Ya know, like Gavin!" I reassured her that she WAS REALLY SMART and she would have a great time, not only at camp, but with her grandparents who don't get one on one time with the kids very often, so I was sure they would spoil her rotten.
Thanks to grandma, Sophie had blast and science camp was great fun! Soph got to build her very own robot that she named Bobert. She also made a solar car and a rocket, that she got to blast off on the very last day.
When she wasn't at science camp, the highlights of the week were swimming, bike rides, cooking with grandma, going to see the play Guys and Dolls, and getting to have a sleepover with Rebecca.
I know Sophie had a great time. She probably talked everyone's ears right off! I know this because it was awfully quiet here on the home front. I had no idea that I would miss her so much. She is such a fun girl to have around and our home is most definitely missing someone when she is not here. It's just not the same without my Sophie Girl!

The Schmalz Family Plus One

Do you notice anyone new? Little miss Kylie perhaps? Having six kids is really not much different than five, in fact, it's one more person to add to the fun! This week we had the extreme pleasure of having Kylie join our family for a few days while her parents traveled the world. Three boys and Three girls. Really, it's the perfect family! We did drag her all over creation though and we are hoping that she has been having a fun time with our herd. We sure have enjoyed her :)

For fun Friday, we decided to hit some of the museums at BYU. The Walter Wick display that they have is really cool. He is the artist that does the eye spy books as well as some other children's literature. The kids had a great time even though we marched them all around the BYU campus. The art museum was just the beginning.


After that we went and walked around the Bean Museum. Gavin was in animal heaven with every kind of animal that you could possibly imagine before our eyes. He is our animal buff that could tell you just about everything that you would ever need to know about any animal.

And what would a trip to BYU be without a stop at the creamery. No day is a bad day when you top it off with ice cream!

BEEN LOVING...

FRESH PEAS from my beautiful garden. Yummy!

The sound of BABY BIRDS that are nesting on my front porch. The mom and dad are here for the second year in a row. Lots and lots of poop, but worth it.

Being home with MY KIDS brightens every one of my summer days. They are great kids and I love them to pieces.

HOT CEMENT under my feet as I go over to say hello to my neighbor. It really is too hot for my liking, but when I think of the alternative of snow and never seeing my neighbors, I'll take the hot for a little longer.

My funny little guy GENTRY and his comment after I called him a ladies man. He said, "yep I am, and you're a laaaady!"