Shoot the Birdie

This is Ben with his new birthday present...a paintball gun.
He got two for his birthday. Matthew bought him one, he calls it
Vera. The rapid-fire gun hasn't been named yet.
He's wanted a paintball gun for over a year now. He's been paint balling a few times with friends and loved it.
With him is Ollie the Owl. I got the owl several years ago to scare away birds from my garden. The birds quickly got used to Ollie, even
with me placing him in different spots in the garden periodically.
Then they took to dive bombing him and pooping on him.
One of his eyes fell out a couple of years back.
Now Ben uses him for target practice.
Since Ben's birthday he's gone through 500 paint balls and 16 canisters of co2.
I think Ollie's in trouble now.

A Deacon

We have a new Deacon in the house.
Ben just turned 12 years old yesterday. For those of us who belong
to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it's a mile-
stone birthday. That's the birthday when a young boy leaves the kids
in primary behind and graduates to the young men program. But most
importantly, he is ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. It is a big
step in him becoming a successful man, priesthood holder,
missionary, and father.
Like his father before him, he will learn to serve in the offices of
the priesthood, acting in the name of God. A pretty awesome thought.
He also finished his requirements for his Faith in God Award.
I'd say he's off to a great start.

End Summer Vacation

Seems odd that summer vacation will be over in two days.
The kids go back to school on Wednesday. We've had a good summer, but it's gone way to fast. And then I was looking through some photos from the summer of '05.
That year four of us made it out to San Diego, Cal. for a vacation. David and Ross were working and couldn't go. We had a good time then.
And I think of all that's happened since then. Molly and Ben have sure grown up. Molly is a senior in high school now, and Ben will be ordained to the priesthood as a deacon in the next few weeks. Matthew has, like Ross moved out on his own. That August of 2005, David had back surgery and with it serious complications in the form of massive blood clots. We are still dealing with the effects of that.
Since then we've added on to the house...a new sun room/entertainment
room and doubled the garage space. We're 3/4 the way completed on construction, with a finish date set for Christmas of '08.
I've find myself getting older...hopefully wiser. I took up a hobby of jewelry making and continuing to refine my gardening skills. Most of the time I'm
just trying to keep it all together.
My, how quickly the time goes.