Mystery solved

This spring we planted another container garden. We had tomatoes, squash, peppers, and cucumbers. Everything was starting to come up real good and I was getting so excited to have all the fresh vegies. Especially cucumbers, our family LOVES garden cucumbers!

We haven't really had a very good crop of anything (ok maybe a few tomatoes).
I wasn't sure why our cukes weren't doing very well when one day I walked outside and saw this....

Hummmm.... I guess that might be why our cucumbers are disappearing.
Next year we'll have to put a cage around them or better yet.... just have one less dog!
(Just kidding kids)

Pioneer Day Celebration

Ryan was in charge of the Stake Pioneer Day celebration since he is over Stake Activities as a High Councilman.

Our Ward was in charge of watermelon (we also were assigned to wear Red)
We also had hot dogs, dutch oven potatoes and snow cones! Each ward was in charge of an activity so there was lots of fun for the kids.
We couldn't have asked for better weather and we had a terrific turnout! Our ward set up a booth for Old Fashioned Photos. I, of course, couldn't pass up a good photo opportunity. Here is a few of my favorites....

Pottercast People

Parker and Miranda are great fans of something called Pottercast
From what I understand there are 4 people who get together on the computer and discuss all things about Harry Potter.
Parker has been known to download their podcast onto his ipod and fall asleep listening to it. They also created a website called The Leaky Cauldron which also has all things Harry Potter.

Well, tonight they had the opportunity of meeting two of the four Pottercasters...
Melissa and Frak at the Clark County Library. Frak is a Ravenclaw like Miranda and Parker, Melissa is a Gryffindor.
They were able to meet and talk with them while they autographed posters for each of them.
Parker also owns a book that Melissa wrote called Harry, A History and he got it autographed as well.
They each also got a T-shirt to remember this night. They were pretty excited to be able to meet at least two of the Pottercast People.
I'm sure Parker will be having sweet dreams tonight listening to Pottercast in bed.

Sore Sophie

Sophie had quite a traumatic week...
On Monday morning she went into the Vet to be spayed.
Poor Sophie... she was very dazed and sleepy when we brought her home later that night.
She slept and slept for 2 days and we could tell she was very sore.
When we had to leave her alone, she had to wear the "Cone of shame"(think the new movie "UP") so she wouldn't lick her wounds. It was also tricky keeping Gus from licking the wounds as well.
She was so sad and wouldn't move a muscle when it was on.
She's doing much better now, and we go in tomorrow for her follow up appointment. Except for her shaved "chicken leg" and belly, you would never know she had such a stressful week.

Party.... Potter Style

For Miranda's birthday she decided she wanted to invite some friends for a sleepover and all attend the midnight show of the new Harry Potter 6. All her friends are big Potter fans and love the books, so this was perfect! They all came over and hung out for a while and had pizza.
Parker also came along and invited his buddy BreckenEating Birthday CakeMiranda made the Oreo Ice cream cake herself... it was delicious
After opening gifts around 9 pm it was off to Texas Station to wait in line until midnight.
The girls didn't have any problem keeping busy while waiting.
The boys had their own way to pass the time
They let us into the theater around 11:15 where we sat and waited some more....
We got home from the movie by 3:00 am and everyone had mixed emotions about how good the movie was. I thought it was good, however those who read the book were disappointed.
Well, at least they had a great time together.
Now Miranda is officially 14 and has moved up to in Mia Maids, she can even go to dances (how scary is that?!)

Miranda's 14 !!

I really don't know how this happened... how on earth could I have a daughter that is 14?

It seems like only yesterday when she was a head strong toddler who was always giving us fits.
My Grandma was always worried about how we would be able to handle her when she became a teenager.
I'm so glad Miranda decided to take it easy on us and make being the parent of a teenage girl seem easy.
She is such a kind hearted person. She always thinks of others before herself. She is constantly amazing me with her wonderful talents - both on the outside and inside. I'm so proud to be her mother.

I had to go back and find photo's of her birthday's to verify that Miranda was actually 14, ..... sure enough she's already had 13 of them.
(I also noticed in reviewing her birthday photo's that after her 10th birthday I became a slacker on creating birthday cakes) ( But in my defense, she stopped wanting me to make them, and even made the 14th herself)

So here is the proof that Miranda has 13 birthday's under her belt....
(photo of birthday #14 to be added later today)

Happy Birthday Sweetie!