Happy Birthday Fat Nat!!

I love the "talk" words by Mary Schmich about sunscreen (I will post it later).

One part I really love is "Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young."

I got really lucky on Friday night... got to spend an evening with "Fat Nat" on her birthday. As you can tell from the pictures Fat Nat is anything but fat... it is just a nicer version of one of her old nicknames.

I've known Natalie my whole life. In fact I don't remember ever not knowing Nat.

We went to Elementary, Jr. High, High School, 1 year of BYU together. We spent every summer playing growing up playing night games, running back and forth between each others houses, we vacationed with each other's families, skied together every weekend for 2 years, girls camp/youth conferences/EFY, good double dates and bad double dates, went through multiple broken hearts and boyfriends, sicknesses, adoptions, sealings, parents dying, family stress and more. At BYU everyone thought we were sisters -- I guess we just as well could be sisters. Somehow through the years and living in different states we've managed to stay in touch -- a lot of that is thanks to Nat. My kids always thought they were relatives.

I remember when we were probably 4 and 5 and we were sitting on her wall and she got red ants in her pants. I remember her mom's chocolate chip cookies. I remember when we went skiing in Park City and stayed at a condo and I got the world's worse case of strep. Unfortunately I'll never forget our Ward Campout at Cherry Hill and our 1984 National Championship Football "friends." (Nat I don't share the details of those stories.) When Lauren was adopted she came down and spent the weekend for the adoption and sealing. I remember her sitting and listening to all my stories... it kind of felt like my mom was actually here with me!

There really is something comforting about someone that has known you forever, knows everything about you and still loves you anyway!

Brent and their kids are moving to Virginia at the end of this month. I'm really hoping/planning for a trip out to see them Spring 2013.

Happy Birthday Nat!!!

The Drive-In Movie

Pre-Movie Relaxation

Cam practicing "The Smolder"

Saturday night we took the kids to see the Smurf Movie at the Drive-In. I haven't been to a drive in movie since my sophmore year of college. I must admit I was a little scared about the adventure (I was really expecting a Lisa/Steph disaster since it was Lisa's idea and then they couldn't even come) but Dave and I were both pleasantly surprised. I think it is something we would add to an annual summer activity and invite a few more people to come next time.

Ironically with the 1000s of cars out there Chelsea Hawkes and her cute little family pulled up right next to us so we had a fun time visiting with them.

It definitely brought back good and bad memories for both Dave and I.

• My worst date ever .. BYU sophomore year when Simone and her boyfriend Dave talked me into going out with their friend (who had asked me out 10 times and I had already said no). We went to a drive-in and sat in the back of a truck with Dave tickling my dates neck so he thought it was me. All of the sudden he started to try to kiss me because he thought I was tickling his back. It went down hill from there. Not sure what was worse, the hair that came off his mustache when he tried to kiss me or when he told me he could tell I was going to be fat when I was 40 because I had fat arms. (Can I just say I had about 10% body fat at the time and had toothpick arms... any wonder why I had told him no 10 times before I consented to go out with him!)
• Dave said when he was little they went to a drive-in and he looked over at the other screen to see a naked women... ok a drawback of the drive-in.
• Our 1st apartment in Orem was right next to a drive-in movie theatre and Aracnaphobia. Every night at 11:15 pm there was massive screaming!

Happy 4th... Ok a Little Late

Along with the fun ward 4th of July breakfast, Street of Fire BBQ and firework show with friends we added a new twist to the 4th of July and volunteered at the Stadium of Fire.

It was great to watch all the teens and pre-teen girls sing along with David Archuleta and I loved Brad Paisley. The fireworks of course we the best!

Probably the best part was being out on the football field after when it was quiet and imagining what it might be like to play football there -- Cam and Uncle Mike even practiced some tackling.

We added a before and after cabin night, threw in a hike and picnic at Bridal Veil Falls, 17 Miracles movie and turned it into a tiring, fun weekend.

Braces, Braces Everywhere!

We spent the afternoon/evening with 1/2 of South Davis County at Cherry Hill at our orthodontists' Summer Party. Great weather, fabulous prizes (an IPAD won by a 6 year old -- my kids were so jealous) and a lot of fun.

Also... a disproportionate number of 7-15 year olds with braces or crooked teeth just waiting to get fixed. And when I say disproportionate, I mean probably 200-300 kids. I felt really bad for the paying customers.

It cracked me up -- everywhere I turned there was a big smile with braces. Happy, laughing, wet braces!

Glad my kids enjoyed it -- we paid a heck of a lot of money to enjoy our Cherry Hill party and be among the metal-mouthed, darling kids.

A Hunting they Will Go...

Net -- check
Carrots and Celery -- check
Reflective Vest -- check
Race for the Cure Pink Capes -- check
Leis -- check
Flashlight -- check
Hard Hats -- check

I arrived home from an evening at Lagoon last night to find Lauren dressed in a very strange outfit, heading out to catch a rabbit with Emily.

The night before we had been walking and saw a little wild rabbit hopping down the street. Last night Lisa saw it and told Lauren so at 10:30 pm Lauren, Emily and Kenzi -- in their very strange rabbit hunting outfits -- set out to catch the rabbit. Not sure what they are were going to do if they found it. Apparently they saw it, came close to catching it, but had no luck. They were a little irritated I made them stop hunting at 11:30 pm.

(Hopefully this little bunny has a better fate than last year when our cat Max, unfortunately got to a little wild rabbit in the middle of the night faster than I did. Let's just say the kids had a funeral the next day.)

The kids rabbit hunting brought back several kid memories:
* Playing night games/chinese tortue with picnic benches as a kid.
* Selling green corn bread we made in our easy-bake-oven.
* King Muimui under the waterfall in the backyard with Jenn, Nat, Rona and Steve.

Oh to be a kid in the summer again!!!

The Smolder ...

• Cam (and Dave's) recent favorite movie is Tangled. Cam loves Flynn Rider and "the smolder."


• He even did the smolder on his Lagoon season pass. While this isn't the "smolder" look he is practicing for the "love of his life" 20 years from now -- love this picture Becca took of him on the 4th of July.


• And Cam... you have to stop growing. I measured him at the 1st of June, and we measured again yesterday -- 1 inch taller!!!

It Just Takes One... Thank you cute girl at Space Camp

You always hear "it just takes one person, or you never know what just a smile will do" etc.

In the last week Lauren has been the giver and recipient of this.

To Lolo -- I am so proud of you for reaching out and caring -- phone calls or visits may not have seemed like a big deal to you, but to the recipient, you were making all of the difference in the world.

.. and can I just say to the sweet girl at Space Camp who will never know how much that smile and "hey weren't you here last year -- come on!" (and just so happens to be in the same group as Lauren) -- thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You just made all of the difference in the world to the next 4 days for Lauren and were the answer to my really quick silent prayers!!

Book of Mormon in 100 Days

Our YW were challenged to read the Book of Mormon in 100 days -- before girls camp this summer.

I am happy to report that all 3 Hess Women have completed this! I've read the Book of Mormon lots of time, but never in a short time like that. Amazing how it feels so much more of a continuous story and how much the stories and verses would come to my mind during the day.

Kenzi doesn't start YW until August but was at New Beginnings and begged to do it. Sweet Jenny brought her over one of the booklets and I have to say she was the 1st to complete, the most diligent about it and the most excited. I am so proud of her -- reading the entire Book of Mormon by herself at 11.

Lauren did great too and was done a few days before camp. Great idea Barton Creek!

Potty Time

Cracks me up. This week Kenzi did a paid studio recording (most are volunteer and they do it for fun/service and maybe get a little gift card -- she wasn't super happy I made her stop at the bank on the way home and deposit a little more than 1/2 in her savings account.)

The Theme.... Potty Training. "Flush, flush, flush, flush the toilet. Watch, watch, watch, watch it go. Mom or Dad can help you." Not sure of the real words, but that was 1 of the 5 songs.

It was the back track for Signing Time DVD for potty training. Definitely the funniest recording she has every done. I told the girls they could hire themselves out now to neighbors to do their potty training and they will never forget the songs and can use them when they are moms!

Cooking with Kenz

Kenzi and I are doing weekly "Cooking with Kenz" classes.

• Week 1: German Pancakes --with buttermilk syrup of course.


• Week 2: Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls... mmmm sooooo good.


• Week 3: New York Style Cheesecake topped with Blackberry Freezer Jam (yes we made both and Kenzi was surprised how easy the cheesecake was -- we just need a trick for not having it split.


• Week 4: Rocky Road Ice Cream

The rest of the summer agenda she has designed includes home-made marshmallows, soft pretzels, jello jigglers, cinnamon wheat bread, whole wheat granola pancakes and a few others TBD.

We should have been taking pictures everything has not only been delicious, but beautiful!!!

He's Come a Long Way Baby...

• At my cousins church on Father's Day. The Primary gets up to sing Father's Day songs. I look over and Cam and ask him if he wants to sing. Really just kidding... no way he would ever go up with kids he doesn't know, in a church he's never been in. He looks at Kenzi and says please come up with me. She laughs. No way. Cam's eyes tear up. Wants to go, but not by himself. I tell him it is no big deal.



• He takes a deep breath, stands up and walks to the front. Most of the kids are already up there by now. He proudly stands there and sings. The first song he has never even heard of. My family all just laughing. My nieces think I made him go up and say I'm mean. Everyone in awe because up until last year he wouldn't even look at my aunts in the eye.



• He sings the songs, smile on his face and comes and sits down. No one else can appreciate this, but all of the Bevans, who know how painfully shy Cam use to be are in awe. At least 10 family members comment to him after at dinner how great it was.



• He was sad that morning that he wasn't going to our church. He really wanted to sing to his dad for Father's Day. I think that obedient/do-what-is-right part of him had a lot to do with it.



• I thought bearing his testimony in church was monumental. In a chapel full of strangers I couldn't believe it. Thank heavens for nursery, preschool, Kindgerten, primary, wonderful sisters and great friends that have helped Camo.

School is out for the summer...

School is out... summer is in. A few thoughts about the end of the year.

• I don't remember having so many end of year parties when I was growing up. On the last day of school Lauren and 40 other kids went to an end of year party, and Cameron hosted one at our house with Kenzi and a few of her friends. The following week I think between the 3 of them there were 5 more parties. Oh to be a kid again!


• I have this obsessive desire/need/obligation/something to go to every field trip and help with every field day. I did Cameron's field day in the morning, Kenzi's field day in the afternoon and I think every field trip Cam and Kenzi did this year. I think part of it might be the fact that my mom taught school so she never helped in my class or went on fields trips -- 2nd I must admit I really love being a part of their school lives.


• I couldn't have mapped out a better 7th grade year for Lauren. She had great friends... they are all pretty academic oriented, but very fun loving-outgoing-sporty kids. She had just enough "feelings hurt, not get invited to a couple of parties" etc. to keep her humble and to know what it feels like to be left out, but just has a great group of boys and girls both she hangs out with. Academically it was perfect. She had a few bumps the 1st term, got an unfair grade because of some 7th grade girl stuff in peer grading, and struggled on a couple of test. The last two semesters she got 4.0 and just did great. She worked hard and deserved the grades she got. I just pray that the next two have a similar positive 7th grade experience.


• I love summer. I love the kids being home. I love the slower pace... especially not having an every day crazy morning routine. I love playing games on the front porch and back patio with the kids. I actually kind of love Lagoon (now that we just go in 3 hour blocks). I love late nights and sleepy morning. I kind of love my early morning tennis class. And I love watching the kids love summer... they are outside right now playing night games and it brings back so many great memories!

Zumba!

Zumba... have you ever done it?

It makes me laugh and it make me sweat, and nothing makes me feel more like a 6ft, middle-aged, caucasian woman than going to a Zumba class.

A Broken Record

As part of the Millcreek Track tradition, Lauren got to "break a record" at the end of the year track party for "Breaking the 7th Grade Mile Record" at the school. Her goal is to make sure she adds to her collection of "broken records" during the next two years.

Her 4/400 team also got a medal for placing at District. Good job Lolo... can't wait til next year!

A Burnt Hamburger... or 3 minutes is too long for a cookie!!

Cam learned a good lesson last night. One piece of cookie dough, on a plastic plate, should not be cooked for 3 minutes in the microwave.

How did he learn this? Let's hope a smoke-filled house, almost 24 hours later a lingering burnt smell and this lovely picture will always be a good reminder!