Summer Memories

It's time to print/publish my blog for the year... and I've got a few catch up pictures to go.

The last couple of summer outings... the Lake (thanks Brooke) one of our favorite summer afternoon activities of the summer.  And Cam and Kenzi doing one last day at Lagoon -- with Cameron spending some money/points he earned for summer incentives on games.

Oh I miss summer!

Grandma & Grandpa & Aunt Ralene

A month or so ago we had a chance to go and visit Aunt Ralene at her new Assisted Living facility.  Lauren loved it and wants to move in... popcorn machines and soda fountains and a little putting green!

Although she didn't want to be there, it is a good place for her.  We got lost trying to find her room with her and she definitely is having balance issues.  It is so hard to watch others get old and lose their independence.  (I went back to see her a few weeks ago and I can't believe how quickly she is deteriorating... it was really so sad.)

It was fun to see Grandma & Grandpa, and the kids had a great time taking a Lion Hunt with Aunt Ralene!

Kenzi National Anthem, Rachie Making the final volleyball kill against WX... doesn't get any better

 A couple of weeks ago Kenzi sang the National Anthem at the Bountiful v. WX volleyball game.  She sang it Acapella and did a great job... I don't think she was even nervous.

The night was topped off with Bountiful beating WX and Rachel making the final point.

Good job Rachel and Kenzi!!

Fall Football

Perfect Fall Weather + Best Coach Ever ... Coach Allen + Stars for Great Skills = Fabulous Fall Football

Happy Halloween! (with Cam trying to do the smolder)

O-K-L-A-H-0-M-A... ok

If you spend much time at th Hess house right now, you'll be sure to hear the following "Oh what a beautiful morning... oh what a beautiful day" and "Poor Judd is dead..."  Everyone, including Cameron is humming away Oklahoma songs.

Kenzi just fnished Oklahoma at Bountiful High and had a great time being a village girl.   

Amazing Girls

During the last few weeks we've had several situations with the girls (particularly with Lauren) that have left me amazed with their maturity and attitude.  Like many parents, I sometimes tend to focus on the negative or things that need to be improved, but I really have been impressed with how they are dealing with things as they get older.

Each of them had a situation in the same weekend with parties with friends, where Dave and I were not sure if we would let them go.  Kenzi said "you guys are the mom and dad and I will respect whatever you decided."  Lauren didn't come out and say that, but said just let me know what you decide.  

Ultimately one of them got to go to all of the party she was invited to, and the other one went to just part of it.  Not one cranky word -- not one "I have the dumbest mom and dad."

Lauren has had three more situations this week, again one with an activity with a group of good friends that I just wasn't 100% comfortable with the activity and didn't have time to really find out if it was ok and the other two involving some money and priorities and responsibility.   When she called her friends back about the activity we didn't want her to go to she didn't bash us, whine or anything -- Dave overheard her and she just said "my mom won't let me go since she doesn't know a whole lot about it and she had to leave so we'll just have to do something next weekend."  She then picked up the phone, called a different friend and made other plans for the night.

I'm trying to remember if at 13 if I was that respectful to my parents counsel and as far as the $$ stuff if I was nearly as responsible as Lauren.  I'm pretty sure in one of the $$ situations I would have been really mad and made a big deal about it -- but she was great!!!

So Lauren and Kenzi -- thanks so much for trusting us, for being responsible and being such great girls!!

Smile Baby... Smile!!!

She's always been beautiful and had a great smile -- but look at this gorgeous Young Women!  Today was the big "braces off day."  Such a cute office -- they rolled out a red carpet and had walked down the red carpet after she got them off and sent her out the door with balloons and a bag of candy and treats that "she couldn't eat.. ha ha..." the whole time she had her braces!

There are good things about Birthdays!

I haven't had the camera out a lot lately, but love the pictures that provide a few of my birthday memories.  Although I don't love getting older each year, I do love being reminded what great family and friends I have!  I'm so blessed to be surrounded by so many fabulous people!!!

Pizza in the Cul-de-Sac... One of the Stranger Sites I've Seen

Tonight after coming home from Stake Volleyball at 9:00pm, I pulled into the cul-de-sac to find Lauren, Kenzi and Kaylee sitting in the dark in the middle of the circle eating pizza.  Pizza?  In the middle of the street in the dark?

"The grass was wet" was their only response.


So I parked my car by them (protective mother) and Cam and I joined them.

Lauren Sick -- Yes ... Dead -- No

Health is one of those things you really don't appreciate... until something makes you pay attention to it.  A couple of weeks ago Lauren was prancing around the house flexing her muscles and telling me how great she is!  Now my poor little baby Lolo has been sick... really sick for almost a week now.  Fever up to 104.7, no food, no moving and just generally feeling awful.    

Really sick, but not dead!


Funny story -- I was at a soccer fundraiser on Friday night for Lauren (who was home sick) and she had also missed a soccer game earlier -- and she never misses soccer games.  One of her teammates and I had the following conversation:
Sadie:  Is Lauren ok?
Me:  Yes.. she is starting to feel a little better.
Sadie:  I thought she was dead.
Me:  What?
Sadie:  There was a rumor going around at CJH that a girl named Lauren from Millcreek had died because she was so sick from the flu.  I thought it was true and thought it was Lauren and I was freeking out!
Me:  Laugh, laugh, laugh.
Lauren:  Later that night -- not in a good mood from being sick.  Didn't think it was funny.  I told her she will think it is funny when she is better.
Me:  Still thought it was funny.



It is just as awful to worry about your 13-year baby as it was when she was 6 months old and had her first awful ear infection.  I'm grateful for her nice friends who have brought her Kevas and homework, her nice siblings who have done all of her jobs and been so sweet to her, and her wonderful dad who gave her a priesthood blessing.


So Lolo, hurry and get better and start prancing around, flexing your muscles and telling me again about your great physical health!!!  It is much funner that way. 

New Reading Spot ... Oh My!

Kenzi and Cameron and Zoe found a new before bedtime reading spot.   Not sure if you can tell by the picture from Kenzi's ipod, but it is a little tent on the tire swing, with a flashlight coming through the center.  Zoe just laid there while the kids did their reading.  Funny how excited they were with their new hangout!

9-11: Mormon Tabernacle Choir Tribute

The kids and I just watched a special Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcast with Tom Brokaw.  I can't add anything to the beauty, the sacredness, the sacrifice that this program made me feel.  I just wish I had taken my kids down to the broadcast this morning.  If you didn't watch it -- please find a rebroadcast and watch it with your family today!!

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The kids asked me if I remembered the day.  I was laying in bed with Lauren and Kenzi and turned on the TV and saw all of the images.  I wasn't really paying attention so I called Dave and asked him if there was an anniversary of some tragedy that day.  I was sickened when he said no -- it is real and it is happening now.  Like everyone else sadness, fear and disbelief took over... I hardly even dared take Lauren up to preschool that morning. 

You are very, very kind ... and very beautiful!

I forget sometimes how much a few kind words can mean to someone... even to me.  


I was having a grumpy morning yesterday (sorry kids and Dave) -- long story and mostly just a feel sorry for myself -- but later in the day I was playing on a swing with a little 6-year old girl I had just met.  


As I was pushing her she looked up at me and said, "You are very, very kind and VERY beautiful!"  Her sweet and genuine words stayed in my head all day long.  It reminded me that a little bit of kindness is what we all need and that I need to be grateful for the little things in my life.  Lately I feel like I am not being a very grateful person and I need to focus on blessings and gratitude..  


If anyone would tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness they would tell you to make it a rule to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you. For it is certain that whatever seeming calamity befalls you, if you can thank and praise God for it you turn it into a blessing.  William Law

Triple Sneeze, Super Smeller and Interrupted Sleep Boy... Hess Kids Physical Phenomenons

We all have quirky little things about us -- funny but in the last week I've been reminded about 3 quirky physical features of all 3 of my kids.  


Triple Sneeze:  Lauren only sneezes in threes.  She can't do a single sneeze -- she says they always come in 3s.  Fortunately they are very polite sneezes, but I don't think I've ever heard her do a single sneeze.


Super Smeller:  Kenzi has the world's most sensitive nose!  One of her 1st sentences was "You have smewwy breath" as she would climb in bed with us in the morning.  She can pick out spices in food, she has duct taped her nose at dinner because the smells bothered her and honestly she can smell things I have no idea are even there.  She reminds me of Gus on Psych.  


Interrupted Sleep Boy:  Cam is now 7 1/2 and I honestly don't know if he has ever slept through the night.  This started at conception.  The entire time I was pregnant I didn't sleep through the night -- I was up for at least 2 or 3 hours every night so apparently this started when he was a little zygote.   He ate once a night until he was weaned at 1 and as anyone who knows of my baggy circles, he hasn't slept through the night since.  Many times in the morning I find him in a different sleeping location, he exercises, we wanders, he has strange dreams and more.