The deck is completed!

Les and I laid the patio, built the deck and three sets of stairs, built the pergola, stained it all, and planted and mulched. I was on the nail gun and he was on the saw. It was a great project, but it sure is nice just to enjoy it now.

GiGi's visit cont'd...

Tessa's gymnastics class. She is doing level 3 gymnastics and goes 4 hours a week.




Elise also takes gymnastics and wants to pass up Tessa's level.

GiGi's visit cont'd...

Tessa's class,
Elise introducing GiGi to her class,

Grant at his desk.

Gigi's visit cont'd...

Evan loves chocolate ice cream!




















Grant got braces.

















The latest rock band in our house...
















Elise at her desk at school...

GiGi's visit cont'd...

Evan playing in the rain in a puddle.





























And no, Grant, we won't let you in public in this. It is too small!

My Russian and German girl...

GiGi's visit cont'd...

Yes, the kids did swim in Fall's Lake. The day was October 3. We love North Carolina!

GiGi visits the Hall's!

Leslie's grandmother, Bonnie Allen, was able to visit us in September for 2 weeks. We loved having her here!



















We even got to all go out on Reta's boat, a 1957 Runabout that has been fully restored. Thank you Tante!

Grant's Favorite Sport

Grant plays fall and spring baseball. We did 2 games and a practice every week for the month of September. It was crazy, but he loves it. He has been with the same team for 3 years. Both of his coaches played for NC State. They are great coaches. Last year, we won the championship. This year, we made it to the last game before the championship. Grant plays center field. He has quite an arm.

Girls Camp 2008

Here are a few shots from Girls Camp this year. I am the Stake YW Camp Director. (It was only one night because they did the Trek this summer.) My great friends Liz Brown and Laura Alvarez (Stake YW Pres) and I decided to do a pyramid. Liz didn't want to because she's always on the bottom (she's 5'10"). Fine, Liz, be on the top! Other items worthy of noting, the girls were drawing on their faces and I let them color mine as well. I told them I did used to do that in college (right Ingrid?), but then you had to kidnap someone using a bathroom appliance as a weapon (bathroom only). I think I need to find that picture and post it.

I am posting this stuff, because sometimes I feel like we only post stuff about our kids (or cats, as the case may be) and I always want to also see what the "posters" are up to.

The Zoo (not BYU)

During track out, we went to the Zoo with our friends, the Marcellinos. As usual, we go with our trusty 4-wheel drive wagon, to carry all things possible, including, sometimes Mommy or Daddy when needed. Evan loved the animals, but was most interested in the train/shuttle. Of course. You'll notice that Les is finally pictured in his true character, zoo keeper of our family (of mostly monkeys).

The FAIR!!!

We love the North Carolina State Fair! It has been a long time tradition in our family. Besides enjoying the rides, feeding, petting and milking the livestock, perusing the crafts and gardens, enriching our minds from the truly southern culture, we really go for the FOOD! Can't you tell? You always must have a funnel cake, a turkey leg, roasted corn on the cob, cotton candy, NC State Dairy ice cream, a fresh Mount Olive pickel, a cold glass of milk, a sampling of fudge and a caramel apple with nuts. (We preloaded the Mylanta.) Fun was had by all.

Labor Day at the Lake in Georgia with the Robison's

We all went down to Georgia to spend Labor Day with Ron, LoAnn, Marleice and Richmond. We had a great time as usual. Of course, Les loved the boat and the dogs, two things he won't have of his own for a long time, Grant loved gaming and water sports with Richmond, Elise and Tessa loved watersports and doing anything with Marleice, and Evan only had eyes for the boat and the jetskis. He cried when we had to get off. I (Anne) loved teasing Ron and chatting with LoAnn. It's always great to go there and see them. I wish we could do it more.
Well, if you haven't noticed already, I'll leave the writing to Rachel, for the most part, and just post pictures of our life on this blog. I consider it mostly a picture blog site (you know, since I'm so good at going to the post office and sending them).
Highlights from the Lake: That is both Elise and Tessa jumping off the 15 foot high dock.
Evan loved to catch the boat spray in his mouth.
Evan did also not like his first tube ride. However, later he wanted to get back on.
Les had MANY great busts.
I didn't want to stand up on the wake surfer (but I did).
Grant, Elise and Tessa all knee boarded. Crazy!
Both Les and Cocoa (one of the dogs) got sick the next day. Go figure!
Les got all the kids up on the wake surfer with him at the same time. Skills, Brian and Andy, skills.