The Doghouse welcomes all different breeds of Dog.

Summer time is always exciting at the Doghouse, but this summer there was an assortment of different breeds of Dog, each with unique characteristics.

The Old Dogs: You know the saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Not so with these two. If you can wake them up, they are quite entertaining. They enjoy heated games of "sets and runs" and watching old westerns like "the magnificient seven."The Papa Dog: I guess you could call him spot, because sometime you can spot him there and sometimes you can't. Papa dog had to drive back and forth to work a few days a week.

The Mama Dog: Always predictable, this dog would rather surf than wakeboard-surf the internet that is.

The Blonde Dogs: I don't even need to explain.

The Veteran Dogs: These pups have had lots of experience with the Doghouse and know how to do lots of tricks. They can wakeboard, stay on a tube, and pack a couch full of bodies.

The Idaho Dog: Likes potatoes and speaks Finnish, but comes around mostly in Summer. Funny story is that he wore this shirt in front of my friend Bubs...a Hawaiian Dog...LOL! (It says Hawaiian girls have nice coconuts)
The Cousin Dogs: Its always fun when the cousins come out, but Uncle Kenny is a bit like the paparazzi with his new interest in photography.

The Friendly Dogs: The Hales Family is always fun hang out with. Especially when Brent convinces Dad to ride on the tube with him. What a good sport. I don't think I've ever seen the tube whip that fast.

The Island Dogs: Usually colored a little darker than the other dogs, these two have a blast learning tricks they've never done before.

There were even more that came and went this summer, and all of them added to the fun.

Baby I swear it's...Deja...Vu!

Have you ever had déjà vu? You know where you think that something has happened before. Well this time, I don’t think I had déjà vu, I know it.

My family went to our friend Gerald Allen’s missionary setting apart. When we arrived I noticed that the scene was strangely familiar to my own setting apart almost four years ago—I know I’m old! We walked in the door and the Hales were there, their son Derek is on his mission in Baltimore, Maryland, and I was in Hawaii when he got set apart, but I have a feeling that it would have been strangely familiar as well. The Allen’s had prepared food, and my mother was helping set up the table. In walked my old young men’s president, still helping boys go out I see, and then we all waited sat there waiting for the stake president.

When President Smith walked in, the ceremony began. He was asked to speak, and he said something that I will never forget: “I pretty much knew everyone that was going to be here today!” That’s how he began his testimony! He had déjà vu too! As he said that, I became really grateful for the wonderful people in the room.

I am very lucky to have had such a support system while I was on my mission and Derrick and Gerald are too! I am so proud of them and their decision to go on missions. They are great examples to me and they will make great missionaries.

I have gotten to see a video of Derrick while he bore his testimony and I know that he has changed so much for the better and I can’t wait for that to happen to Gerald as well!

My Kids Are Joining The Swim Team!

So I have totally decided that my kids are going to the Olympics! Ever since the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics I have been completely obsessed! I love watching them and I discovered that I am actually insanely patriotic. I find myself screaming at the TV and totally rooting for Team USA whether it is bicycling, gymnastics, or rowing I just can’t get enough. I say to myself all of the time that if I was famous I would totally be at the Olympics so that I could meet all of these incredible athletes. I’m a little sad to admit that just like a crazed-teenage girl fixated on the Backstreet Boys I am obsessed with Team USA!

But while I enjoy watching all the other events tremendously, I totally love the swimmers! Seriously, Michael Phelps is the man!!!! He is freakin’ amazing at everything he does. I was a swimmer in High School and I totally appreciate the sport and can see how amazing Phelps’ strokes are. He has to be part fish! I mean, I’m watching him swim the 200 Butterfly (Which is the hardest stroke and the distance would kill me) and he is amazing. There are no words for it. His Dolphin kick is flawless! AND HE WINS THE GOLD!!!!!!

Michael Phelps is not the only amazing swimmer though. I think that my favorite race was the 4X100 Relay with Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak. It probably was the best race of all times! NO, I take it back…It WAS the best race of all times!!!! If you missed it, you have to You-tube it or something because it was amazing. Jason Lezak anchors and swims the fastest split time ever to come back and beat the French, who had previously said they were going to smash the Americans. It was incredible! WAY TO GO GUYS!

Swimming is usually an individual sport, I mean you get points for your team, but when it comes down to it, you want to get first. The comradery that is involved in a relay team is an amazing feeling. If you win, you win together, if you lose you lose together. Its just a great feeling! Anyways, I guess you get the picture! I’ve decided that my kids are going to be Olympic Swimmers! No if, and, or buts! LOL!

On a side note, I can’t wait for the pole vaulting….I know that’s weird, but I actually have been hired to write articles for this pole vaulting site (www.vaultingpoletips.com) so you can check it out and see some of my work. All I gotta say:

“GO TEAM USA”