Nothing Says the 4th of July Weekend Like....

Swimming on a 95 Degree Day -- A Neighborhood BBQ and Firework Extravaganza -- Children's Bike Parade led by Fabulous Veterans -- Ward Breakfast -- Steenblik's Cool Food Toys -- Oakley Rodeo -- Soccer and Fireworks with Katie -- Hiking at Cascade Springs -- and a Flat Tire!!!!

Hiking at Cascade Springs

Going 4-wheel'n and Getting a Flat Tire... 1st One Ever for Hess Kids... Thanks heavens Dave and Cam hadn't headed off to hike down to the cabin like they had planned to.

A Therapuetic Dream... or My Worst Nightmare?

If you know me very well you know I've been completely stressed/depressed about all 3 of my kids being in school full-time as of yesterday. Also, for the 3 people in the world that have had the most sleepovers with me (mom, Dave and my 6 year roommate Sue), I have very vivid, emotional and bizarre dreams -- that tend to really affect me for good or bad. Last night I added a new dream that is now in my "Top 3 Affect me Dreams."

• #3. In college while dating my 3 year boyfriend/unofficial fiance, I had a horrible dream about him one night and woke up super mad. We were living in two different states at the time and when I called him the next morning to tell him about it we ended up in this huge fight which ended up being the beginning of the end for us.

• #2. After my mom died I wanted her to come back and visit me so badly. I was missed her so much and was really having a hard time. One night while I was asleep she came to me. She was so beautiful. She was far away and got closer and closer. I was so excited. She had finally come back to say another "goodbye" and give me some profound advice that she wasn't allowed to give me on earth. As I started to throw my arms around her she said "Stephanie, you have really bad breath. You need to brush your teeth first." I was devastated and woke up crying. As I thought about it I decided I knew that my mom loved me, she taught me everything she could while she was alive and there really was no reason for her to need to come to me now.

So last night was #1 emotional dream for me. In my dream Cameron and my dad both died. I remember laying on the grass of my front lawn sobbing so uncontrollably that I couldn't even get up. The strange thing was that no one except for me seemed to be really shaken by this. For 3 days I kept trying to call my brother Scott and he wouldn't answer my calls. As I lay on the grass crying my mom was there (I think she was still alive in my dream because I wasn't surprised to see her.) I told her it wasn't fair. I had only had Cam for 6 years and that just wasn't enough time. She assured me that 6 years were perfect for him and that everything was as it should be.

When I woke up and remembered the dream I starting crying... and I have to admit I'm crying typing this again. When I told Dave about the dream his response was "well obviously you are really sad about Cam heading off to school." At breakfast I was telling the kids about my horrible dream and they were kind of laughing at me as I started tearing up again. I told them about my "mom bad breath dream" and that I guess I must think that Cam and my dad are two people that have always needed me a lot, and now that Cam is in 1st grade he is big and old and as he should, he doesn't need me the same way.

Sweet Cam (which is why I miss him so much already) got up and put his arms around me and said "Mom... I'll always need you!" He then just hugged me for a couple of minutes while Kenzi laughed at us.

So... I guess I'll be in tears while I'm at Costco getting copies of "Mockingjay" and I can blame it on the awful dream!!!!

(Funny side note... my sweet friend Lisa texted me yesterday to see how I was doing. I told her I would be ok on Monday, but it was Tuesday I would get depressed. As I was writing this post I started crying again and there was knock at the door. There was Lisa with a bag of decadent chocolate cookies and me in tears. She just laughed at me and said she was hoping if she got to my house earlier enough I wouldn't be in tears yet!!)

The Most Commonly Used Phrase Used in Our House the Last 24 Hours

Yes it is back-to-school -- Lauren's 1st day at Jr. High, Cam's 1st day in 1st grade... more about that later.

But... I have to laugh. At least 20+ times in the last 24 hours I have heard "Kaylee says..." "Kaylee told me..." "I think I should do... because Kaylee..."

So... thank you Lisa for having such a nice daughter. Thank you Kaylee for taking my little Lolo under your wing. And Kaylee, if you ever do anything bad or teach my daughter anything bad (beyond what you have already taught her) you'll have me to deal with!!

Thanks Kaylee... we love you!!!

August of Dirt

One of my favorite things to watch this summer is "J" & Cam's new obsesssion...the Long's backyard dirt field.

A hose, lego "guys", dirt quickly followed by mud, river paths and big shady trees have made for hours of fun. Cam lost part of lego guy's body in the mud the other day and you would have thought he had lost his own leg by the way he came in screaming and crying.

I can tell when Dave watches them or sees Cameron coming in the house covered with mud and re-telling the adventures they are having it takes him back 40+ years and he wishes he were 6 again!

We (12 of us) Did it... and it was pretty cool!

Thanks to Grandpa and my brave siblings and nieces and nephews, I did what I never thought I would do... skydiving. Despite the "uni-bomber" scare video we had to watch first it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be... although I'm not sure I could do it again. Jumping out of the plane wasn't bad because I didn't really jump... instead my tandem guy grabbed my head and flipped out of the plane for me. The best part was the 110 mph for 60 seconds free fall. Although I screamed the entire time what a cool feeling. Didn't love the parachuting part so much... all of the flipping around made me a little motion sick.

There were 12 of us, so we did 3 planes of 4 each. It was funny watching Scott count parachutes as each of his kids jumped... once he saw all 4 open he enjoyed it much better.

(Had major issues posting these pictures, so you have to scroll from the bottom up to see them in order.)

My kids weren't so sure about the tatoo'd, ponytailed tandom partners.. but I assured them I'd be safe with my 2000+ jump man.

Our photographer let the kids take a quick look at the plane.

Long-hair had to be in a braid or cap.
It was fun to watch as well...I think my kids were just glad when I was down. After all of the jumpers from each plane had landed they let the rest of us go on the field. My kids ran over to hug me and Cam said "Mom I'm glad you didn't die."
I highly recommend the place we did. Good times had by all... otter pops for the spectators and just an amazing day!

I went skydiving, rocky mountain climbing...

This song has been running through my head for the last 2 days and I think will be my "summer theme song."

Yes, I am getting ready right now to go skydiving. And to be honest, I'm not quite sure why I am doing it. Yes it sounds exhilarating, it is a once-in-a-lifetime activity, 10 other family members are going... but still isn't the goal generally to stay in a plane, not fall out?

I guess this is the summer that I am doing things I'm not so comfortable with and not really sure why I am doing. Putting our house up for sale has been a challenge to say the least. And just like skydiving in a few hours, I'm not really sure why we are doing it. It is definitely looking like plan C, D, E or F is in the future (not the Plan A or B we fasted and prayed about). I just wish I knew what Plan C, D, E or F was going to look like.

I heard a great quote a few weeks ago -- LIFE BEGINS WHERE YOUR COMFORT ZONE ENDS. Comfort zone is something I really, really like.

But just like the skydiving song... I guess events like today (if I don't chicken out), the process of deciding to sell our house regardless of whether the outcome is what I had originally planned, and doing HARD THINGS will ultimately be good for me.

Thanks Dave!

Ok... so every summer about this time I start to feel a little guilty about being a "stay at home mom." I love summers and I love my kids being home all day. I love the days we can sleep in, I love playing games, I love all of us just being home and having a big breakfast together on the patio.

And of course being a "stay at home" mom doesn't mean I have to stay at home. Tuesday Lagoon with all of the cousins, Wednesday Snowbird Tram/Hiking, shopping, Temple Square, Thursday skydiving... (that is if I don't chicken out). When relatives are in town Dave gets to enjoy the BBQ at night, but I am the lucky one that just gets to play all day!

Friday Lauren and I will be going to Draper Temple to do baptisms (2nd of our 4 in 4 weeks goal) and then to Pineview to play in the lake with cousins. And we have water park, candy factory tour, SL Temple baptisms, Olympic Park and a few other outings on the calendar.

All while Dave is at work all day ... I realize he would rather be at work than Lagoon, but still I feel a little guilty.

I'm just so grateful I have the chance to make so many wonderful memories with my kids... thanks Dave for making this possible!!