Well, the boys have gone to school...I feel just the same inside as I did on their first day of Kindergarten! They both looked so handsome and grown up, but they will always be my little men.

Kenton got his braces off today! He has had them on, along with other appliances, for 37 months. He looks so handsome - I never believed that his unique problems would work out so fantastically! YAHOO! He will have to wear a retainer with a fake tooth until he is 18. When he is 18, he can have a tooth implant. If he doesn't wear his retainer, his teeth will begin to move, fill in the space and then he'll have to have braces again - EEEK! After hearing that, Kenton seems quite committed to wearing this retainer every day and night (thank you, Kenton!) We're about to have "back to school blessings". The boys start tomorrow. I will miss them horribly.

Kurtis had his 4 wisdom teeth out yesterday about 10:15 am. The lower right tooth was very impacted - it had been moving 2 mollars for the last couple of months. The surgery went quite well. They said he did not bleed much at all. He seems to be recovering astonishingly fast. (Cadi and Kenton are jealous of this and they are feeling kind of like "a baby" about their experience). So far there has been only minimal swelling (he had ice on alternately 20 min each side for about 9 hours) and no sign of bruising as of this morning. He is still asleep - going through the night without pain medicine. We are very pleased with the work/care they always give at Dr Christensen's office and Kurtis was inspired, again, to look seriously into the medical field as a vocation. Kurtis thought the whole experience was pleasant and "cool"!

I wanted to take a moment to thank Paul for his almost 12 hour job today of putting up our tile backsplash. It looks so awesome! I feel we have been launched into the 21st century, finally! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Paul - job very well done!! Today was only the glue and tile, so after it dries into next week Paul will do the grout. We look so modern! We will paint one wall in the kitchen and fix the island counter. This has been a good day - Paul I know you are exhausted, but I can see you have a happy look on your face!

It seems that life is constantly changing. Just a few of the recent changes: I no longer work at Medex. My last day was Wednesday, July 15. I was coming home so tired and still taught piano. The children were struggling more than ever with me out of the home. So, after 18 months, I am finally home again!! I will keep teaching piano and have started tending 2 children (from different families) that have been begging me to tend for many months. I have been asked several times if I am going to teach Preschool in the Fall, but I haven't decided. Kurtis is needing all four of his wisdom teeth out - this is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19. Ellianna called today for our decision as to whether we will be hosting a Ukrainian orphan again this October. Jessi is really wanting a job to earn more money and have a car. Kenton's braces come off 2 days before school starts. We are waiting on pins and needles to see if Paul gets his reclassification or not. We are so blessed - life might be crazy, but it is rich and full!

Today was a good day! Paul got a call at 8:00 am to come and help at the Temple open house. Apparently, another Stake flaked out and the open house was way under staffed. In the meantime, Cadi, Jessi and I went to Bland Nursery twice getting perrinials for our yard (finally!). They are all planted! Jessi got her shopping done and we got to the library. Tonight we made jam - and they all sealed! Wha-hoo! First time I have ever made jam...hope it tastes ok. We made a "combination" jam of homegrown Gooseberries, Marionberries and Raspberries. It looks so pretty. Kenton's friend down the street helped take the stems off both ends of the Gooseberries (he calls them Googleberries) Thursday afternoon and he begged for a jar of jam if and when we made it. Kenton wants to take a jar of jam to him before church tomorrow! Kurtis worked tonight and Jessi went to ward Temple night. They had dinner, a speaker and those that could, did an endowment session; Jessi and others did baptisms for the dead. It truly has been a good day - we are so blessed!

Mom and Dad are here for the 4th of July celebration and Kurtis' b-day celebration. Great food, great company and great weather! Wish you were all here, too!