Do my children have superpowers?

I'm thinking of getting my children tested for super human power in destruction. Granted I haven't been "watching" my children during the summer because I have been engrossed in the twilight series (which I loved) and other books. A mother of eight once told me that children played better together without any adult interfering so I've taken this idea to the max. Anyway about the kids getting tested....they have been on a rampage lately. The twins have ripped a curtain rod out of the wall, Monica and james broke a door handle (not a knob but an L shaped door handle) in half...and it was metal, and they've been wresting with me to try and rip my books away from me and I really have to fight back hard to keep my books from getting hidden. I will keep my eyes open for more super human examples...how long til school starts again???? Oh a month from today!

More pictures from the island Mainau. We went with Elsbeth and met Colin's counsin's family there. It was a gorgeous day!!! lovely gardens and a little exhausting.

Here are some pictures of my kids and the Aeschbachers at the Verkehrs (transportation) museum in Luzern. They had a blast!






These two pictures are of the kids at a city park about an hour away. We always love coming here!


Here are the kids with their second cousins at the Island Mainau in Germany.

Today was our last day of school! Yeah! Finally!!! We gave the teachers' their presents this morning and school was out by noon. Then I took the kids out to a chinese restaurant for lunch with a friend and her kids. Afterwards I ran to give blood because I'm crazy. Then George had an afterschool party, then swimming lessons and then I ran Monica and James to their afterschool party (hosted at the school by the school). We will zoom down to Switzerland for a few weeks on Friday. Very excited to have nice, hot weather! Pool here we come!

Other news: Colin was ordained a high priest and called as second councillor in the Bishopbric at our church! I'm not being released as RS president so we will just juggle the kids. I will sit next to helpful people during sacrament meeting!! ha ha. We are very excited for this new experience for Colin!

Fun in the Sun

What a beautiful day to go to the beach! Here is my sister Mindy with the twins at Hayling Island by Portsbouth.
My husband told me recently that I could go to the beach with the 5 children every day in the summer....yeah right. I love the beach but I don't want to watch and rescue 5 children. I want to read and float on a tube. Also I hate the sandy mess. Its an hour and a half drive each way as well. So we may go once a week (if that) but this won't be a daily occurance. The twins loved getting soaked!
When we got home Tim ran out back and pooped in the garden. I hate potty training!!! Sorry no picture of that!

Stonehenge versus Avebury
Stonehenge gets a lot of hype but I prefer the small town of Avebury because: you don't have to pay to get in (except parking), you can get up close and personal with the rocks, the stones at Avebury are older (like 1000 years) and you can see interesting people worshipping the stones at Avebury. The gift shop is reasonably priced, there is an old creepy church there as well, a huge man made mound across the street at a white horse on the mountain! Totally better than stonehenge but advertising is everything I guess!
We went to both places today and here is stonehenge outside of the fence and my sister Mindy with the twins. (You aren't really supposed to climb on the rocks...) There are a lot less tourists there!

We've had quite a few "episodes" happen this weekend. My husband has been in charge and now he can't mock me for "not" watching the kids (the twins imparticuarly). I took all the boys to the barber on Tuesday so they can look "Smart" when school starts back up next week. On Saturday while Mindy and I were in London they found the scissors. They now have BUZZ cuts as that was the best the Barber could do to rectify the situation. It'll grow. Now its a bit easier to tell the twins apart! Tim is bald and Ben has a big bald spot in the middle of his head (barber salvaged more of his hair). Tim was a lost cause apparently. At least they are boys and they can wear hats!!! (Other episodes that happened mostly have to do with toilet training and I won't bore you with the gory details). (We will have to replace all the carpet when we leave)!