Summer is finally winding down

Well, here we are, finally finding some respite from the heat.  When I say respite, I mean that it hasn't been in  the hundreds for the last few days.  We are slowly getting settled into our house, and enjoying every minute of it.  We have everything cleared out except my craft/spare room, a corner of a room that magically is full of boxes that no one wants anymore, and lastly our garage.  Unfortunately for me, our Excursion is parked outside due to the amount of clutter that has managed to invade our garage as well.  For a few wonderful days, we were able to park it in the garage, but I willingly gave up my parking space for the boxes that we had been waiting 2 months for.

We went out and bought bicycles for the whole family, with the exception of Emma.  Her bike was practically brand new, but try explaining that to a 9 year old middle child.  She was very gracious and didn't complain....much.  Mike and I are determined to get into better shape, and thanks to the example of our wonderful friends Mike and Melinda, we bought the bikes.  My biggest deterrent has been the heat, and well, okay, lack of motivation.  BUT, I can gladly say that I have been pretty consistent about going out.  There have been the occasional appointments that have happened in the morning.  If I didn't get out in the morning right after the kids got off to school, it wasn't happening.  The weather is a little hot here if you haven't heard.

We just had our big Stake Relief Society Retreat this weekend.  It was lots of fun, and a great success.  They estimated that probably 400 women participated.  I was asked to be the ward rep shortly after we got here, and was given more congratulations that I deserved.  The R.S. Presidency really deserved all the credit for our ward's part.  It was lots of fun, and I've been able to make lots of friends already.  They have certainly kept me busy here, quite opposite to how it normally is with Mike usually the more active one.  They've called me to help with music in Relief Society, but I've been spending most of my time in the Primary lately helping on the piano.  They have their program at the end of the month.  Let's see...we've both talked in sacrament, I've taught R.S, Mike's subbed in Gospel Doctrine, I did a little 5 minute talk during Enrichment, helped as Rep for the stake activity.  Lots of stuff to do in just 2 1/2 months.  Mike, unfortunately, has yet to get a calling.  But, we love our ward, and feel like we are fitting in nicely.

The kids are doing great in school.  Kaylea loves it because I finally let out the apron strings a bit and let her bike to school with a couple of girls from church.  I finally relented after one of the moms told me what an absolute madhouse it is around there if you try to drive.  Emma and Logan are going on track break this next week.  With us getting here so late, we didn't have a lot of choice when it came to choosing which track the kids got, so we ended up with one of the lesser desirable ones.  They have been in school for 3 weeks, and now will be on break for 3.  Hopefully we will get Logan experienced enough on his bike that I can ride them to school each morning.

Feeling like such a bad parent, Logan just recently learned to ride a 2 wheel bicycle.  I will admit that he was on it for 5 minutes and was already riding around like a pro.  It's just that living where we did in Chile didn't allow much for riding and he never had the opportunity to learn.  He loves it, and begs his sisters every day to ride with him around the neighborhood.  We'll work on getting him a little more stable before I get him out on the busier streets.  There are a couple of steep hills around our house, so I don't want him getting away from me.