Supa"Star"

This is a Happy Jack sandwich. You take one happy Jack and place between two proud parents. Very satisfying.
He has worked hard at both scout camp and at home to earn his rank of STAR. He also earned seven merit badges that night. Including the hard to get Enviromental Science.
Petting all his merit badges and putting them to bed for the night. On to earn his LIFE!
We love you Jack and are very proud of you! xoxoxo

Robbed

Forcast for Labor Day weekend.....the end of AUGUST!
"We may see some storms late in the day. On Sunday, the front moves in. Expect clouds and stormy weather at times. Rain could be heavy in some areas. COLD on Labor Day... with more rain possible. Our first taste of snow in the high elevations on the holiday! A true taste o' fall early next week." -KSL
Didn't summer not get here until the end of June? And now snow in late August! Hmmpf! Robbed of sun and fun :(

She'll live

I think Dana felt a little left out. She hasn't injured herself in years and it was about time for a good one. A few weeks ago, the night of the Olympic party, we were cleaning up, she went up the stairs of our front porch and broke her left foot. Now how does that happen? Anyway, we were again a few minutes late for Insta Care (memories of Jack in Colorado) so we had to go to the Emergency Room. She insisted on hopping accross the parking lot. "No wheel chair!" The nice doctor lady told us it was broken on her 5th metacarpal. She was fitted with a boot and handed crutches. Things were good for about one day, and then she was "done". She had to miss the end of summer hike with her friends. Not happy about that but she was a good sport. Youth Conference was few days away and I didn't think she could go. In the end they let her, and tried to baby her while she was there. I heard she took a few piggy back and wheel chair rides. After making it through her first day of school we went to see her Dr. He said it would take 4 more weeks to heal. She is able to wear a wrap and her tennis shoes. Prognosis: She'll live.

5th Grade...yeah that's right

Hank is sportin' a new title... "5th Grader"! I can hardly believe it! He's moved on to US History and decimals. Good thing I have Google and neighbors. The homework stuff is getting hard and I often need assistance. They say I learned "old math". I'm thinking it was "Ancient Math". These last few weeks he's been ready to see his friends again and break in a new teacher. He was hoping for Dr Pratt. And in his dream of dreams he would have Max, Bryndan and Riley all in his class together. We went to school Friday and he found out he has Mrs Mullinax, and no Max, Bryndan or Riley. Drats! Then yesterday he went to the first day of school. So afraid he'd call her Mullax or Mullix. He then came home and busted in the door all smiles. "Mrs Mullinax ROCKS!" Phew.

Jack is in 7th. Oh my gosh! And Dana in 9th. What!!! Yep, if you come to my house you are in the midst of two teenagers. Who know everything. Thank goodness.

Next year Dana will be in the new High School and Jack will be at the new Jr High. There are so many kids out here they could outgrow that in no time. So cool to see Jack going to Jr High. For those who haven't seen him in a while, he is taller than me. New clothes, new book bag, riding the bus, eight classes. He's pretty excited. Dana starts French and Seminary. And guitar next semester. And all this means....I am getting older. My babies are growing and will be gone tomorrow. Dana said the other day "You know, I could be married in 5 years. You could have a grandchild." I got up off the floor and then gave her some motherly advice. Wait until your in your twenties. Late twenties!

Empty nest aside, I am so excited for my kids and all their growing up experiences. Listening to their dreams and watching them make it happen. I have great kids. I am blessed and Jerry and I know how lucky we are. Lucky old dogs!

Goodbye Bob

Robert Varley Gillman
November 15, 1931 - August 9, 2008

Our family said goodbye to a very dear friend this week, Bob Gillman. Almost twenty years ago I worked at Bushman Press. There, besides finding the love of my life, I met one of my very best friends, Michelle. Over the years I have loved her, and loving her meant loving her whole family. Her parents, Bob and Joyce, her brother and sister and their families. I've been here and there, from family campouts to weddings to picking cherries in their backyard. Just a few months ago, I took my two sons to their house to have Bob help Hank with his school project. He was a member of the Timpanogos Gem and Mineral Club, and for years we have enjoyed his knowledge and love of rocks. He presented Hank with a nice little collection of rocks with a description of each one. I'm sure he had done that for many a scout. A few weeks later, at his invitation, I took my Webelos Den to the rock show in Spanish Fork. He loved the scouts and we all went to his side to thank him for inviting us to come. He had a great smile. I loved every moment I was able to spend with him and his beautiful wife Joyce. We'll miss him dearly. Bob was a good man. Plain and simple, a good man. I love you! Goodbye Bob.

And the Gold goes too...

Few people know that Beijing had some less reported events over here in the states. Lack of coverage is the worlds loss. I certainly did my best to cover as much as I could.

TEAM USA! TEAM USA!

Rings O' Cupcakes.
Olympians Noah, Hank, Bryndan and Max enjoy some Chinese food Beijing style. Fortune cookies were heard to read, "Do your best, and you will be rewarded.", "Today your hard work will pay off." and "Run fast and you'll be first!"
Zack with a Kung Poa Peanut Butter! Yummy!

Two Chinese flower blossoms Mckenna and Riley.
This was hilarious to watch. Mya wanted to taste test all of the cupcakes. Because, hey, yellow may taste totally different than blue. By the time we noticed her, she already had red and yellow frosting on her face. So we know that meant at least two cupcakes down. Then she was over at the table staring down the green cupcakes. She grabbed one and began licking the frosting off. While she was licking the green one she was already eying the red one. Atleast she was kind enough to put them back on the table, in case we wanted it. Ewww!

The Olympic Torch traveled from the Benhams c-l-e-a-r over to the Dobsons.

Our final torch bearer was Jack, who being the tallest Olympian, raised it high.
The flag was raised to the National Anthem, and we were ready for the games to begin!

First Event: The Shot Put...or Yoga Ball Put. **Max, Mya and Matt**
Way to "put" Paul.
Second Event: Hurdles. **Hurdlin Harrell (Jerry)** Look at that form!
**Hoppin Harrell (Dana) **
**Stephen and Matt**

** Lance** Weeeeee!
and numeral uno...**Tom**!
Kliss kept our times and distances fair.
Third Event: Long Jump **Ricky* Fourth Event: Poleless Pole Vault **Kevin** Nothing but air!
Sideways! **Jack** and why go over when you can go under! **Laurie**
And the Gold goes to **Mark** for a perfect somersault right over the bar!

Fifth Event: Balance Beam Shh **Zacks** in the zone.
Perfect foot work by **Brandt**. Spectator **Gavin** Go USA!
Sixth Event: Trampoline WOW! **Ben**
WOWER! **Dana**

Seventh Event: Pistol Shoot

**Dana** Don't mess with her! She's packin!

Eighth Event: Cycling

I don't have any pictures of this event. It was getting too dark and my pictures did not turn out. **Tyler and Riley**

Gold, silver and bronze!

Winter Wheat wins a perfect "10"! Thanks everyone. See you in London 2012!

Hank earns Arrow of Light

Hank is one awesome kid and tonight we are so proud! He has earned his Arrow of Light!
Cub Master Brother Evans reads off Hank's long list of awards.

He has really worked hard, with his troop and on his own. He set a goal for the Arrow and made it 6 months before he is set to leave the Webelos Den.
Pinning of the Mother's Pin.

Hank and his two buddies Thomas and Max.
Tah dah!!!