A little catching up....

So- I haven't been on here in a long time. Just haven't had time. I started classes at GRCC to get my ECE certificate a few months ago and it has just kept me VERY busy!! Not to mention- alot of things going on in my personal life, end of school for the kids, and everything else. I decided that my life was quickly becoming unmanageable.... and I had decided to take a vacation to Utah for a couple weeks. Well, later I decided to make it for a couple months. I needed to take a step back from everything going on and get clear on some things. So, the kids and I are in Provo, Utah. We will be staying at least until the middle of August. The kids are loving it! I am staying with one of my BFF's from college (Ricks). She has a furnished basement that she had renters in, but they moved out about a month before we got here. Perfect timing! It was meant to be. Anyway- I am only 20 minutes away from another one of my college roommates- Rachelle, another one of my BFF's, and it is just so great being with them so much again! I love it! The kids all have their new friends..... Cee Cee has Jaimen who recently turned 5. Him and Jacob do everything together. Cee Cee also has Shea- who is 8 and her and Samantha do everything together! Rachelle has a little girl named Presley- who is the cutest little thing! And Joshua LOVES her! Although, it wasn't love at first sight. Pres is a bit of a bully and it took a while for Josh to warm up to her- and her to him... but they are great friends now, giving loves and sharing all the time! It is so cute!

Jacob has learned how to ride his bike without his training wheels! He was afraid at first, but I knew he was ready. I don't think his training wheels have been touching the ground for months now. It sure has sped him up though! He LOVES to ride his bike even more now. Cee Cee's oldest is Kai and He sure does play with the kids well too. It's the big brother they never had. and then Cee Cee also has Madilyn who is 11 I think. hmmmm.. hope I didn't get that wrong. Rachelle has a daughter Morgen who is 10- so they hang out when we are all together. Rachelle also has one more- Whitney who is 12. She just does whatever... The kids are getting to know everyone real well though. When we first got here, Danny- Rachelle's husband, was trying to get Josh to high 5 him... Josh just looked at him like "what is wrong with you!" But, amazingly- somehow Josh figured it out because the next time we saw Danny and he asked Josh to give him a high 5- Josh did it! It was so cute! Now, he walks up to everybody and gives them a high 5. I also got Josh's hair cut again-- the long hair was just too much in this heat! So- he looks like a bigger boy now!

Samantha has been trying everything with her friends... she has gone to hula, basketball camp, and she has been invited to go to a cheer class with Morgen. She is really loving it!

Anyway- since we are in UTAH, we celebrated the 4th of July on the 3rd of July.... really confusing to my kids... but, it was fun! It was different not being with my family! I really missed that. But, I did try my best to do it CARROLL style... I made my Dad's famous BBQ sauce and made ribs, a layered salad, corn on the cob, fruit and chips. It was so yummy! Peanut butter brownies for dessert as we watched BYU stadium fireworks going off. It was a good day! So- here are some pictures of some recent events.... I don't have 4th of July on here yet, but I will hopefully get those up soon! This is of Joshua golfing.... We went to hit some balls after my birthday dinner at Milam's and Joshua decided to try it out on his own. He actually looks like he knows what he is doing. CUTE! This is Samantha and Jacob at Gene Coulon Park in Renton. We had a 3 day weekend but didn't really do anything... .So, I decided to take an extra day and go play.. so we did! Had a great time!This is Joshua- playing at Gene Coulon Park. He had so much fun!