and so it begins.... Girls!

Stuart is growing up - the infatuation with girls is starting.  We stopped by the library, just the other afternoon.  I spent some time over in the fiction section.  As I head over to tell Stu he needs to hurry up - I notice a young lady, watching him from around one of the shelves.  I have to say - she was cute.  Of course, I'm also thinking that he is oblivious to her - but for the moment it gave me hope - that I will get a good d-law and grandkids. 

I can't wait to tell Joseph about it, the girl checking Stu out - and as soon as I catch up with them, I pull him aside.   Here is a brief transcript of our conversation

Me: - So - I have to tell you about the girl at the library (with a big grin on my face)
Joseph: - yeah - Jessica, right?
Me: ?? Jessica??
Joseph:  Yup - Stuart was telling me about seeing her at the library - and kinda watching what she was doing with out her noticing.

At this point?  I have to sit down I am laughing so hard.  Here I was, thinking "wow - a girl is checking out my son" that I didn't notice he was checking HER out!  and neither of them spotted each other doing it!!!!!   It is the young lady we think he has a crush on - but he insists that they are just friends.  Which we like, but we are also trying to get him to understand that while you don't ACT on those feelings at this point, its ok to have them, and he can offer to carry her books, or even dance with her.  He will be going to church dances in about 3 months.  Joseph is going to teach him how to dance - so at least he has some real moves.

Time will tell.  I think raising a teenage boy just became much more entertaining.

Family Camping

As always - we managed to scrape out a little time for a family trip.  We headed up Smithfield Canyon for a few nights.  We enjoy living so close to the National Forest, it makes small trips like this possible.  Matt and Crenda and the boys came up for the evening.  As always, it is great fun to see the boys.  I brought up cupcakes, since I missed their birthdays.  Logan - managed to con Aunt Sarah out of 2 cupcakes - but all he wanted was the frosting.  I have to say though, watching Andrew, was an education.  I have never watched anyone eat the cupcake OUT FROM UNDER the frosting!  It was amazing.  We had to give Crenda a bit of a hard time, as she wore white pants up.  Needless to say, they were no longer white by the end of the evening.

The next best part, was watching the power struggle, and yes - power struggle, between Joseph and Matt.  Its not a side of Joseph that comes out very often.  It took over 45 min for then to get the fire started.  Which I found incredibly amusing.   Both insisting that their way was the right way.   Needless to say, all the other fires Joseph built took right off, and I'm sure that any that Matt builds do the same, but I don't think I'm ever going to let them do it together again.

The rest of the trip was fairly normal.    The only other fun part, was when I was making pancakes.  I typically use a gallon ziplock bag, to mix in and then clip the end to pour out.  Well...I managed to cut  a hole in both ends - and instead of pouring out one pancake - I poured out the whole bowl.  I'm grateful that the griddle I take camping has a lip.  I managed to cook one GIANT pancake - 14" square.  Flipping it was a bit of a task.  Had to break it up a bit, but I managed.   Didn't taste to bad, either.

Joseph took some pictures of the stars, with the tripod.  I'm not sure how they came out - he said something about Venus in a crescent..... but all I could see was a bunch of dots.

Anyway - more to come!  School has started and I'm sure that there will much more to come.