Simple Pleasures of Summer

Up late and sleeping in...Taylor and Abby look so sweet as they slumber, it's hard to believe they would ever be anything but nice to each other! (That's why I left them sleeping!)

I love it when Whitney is home and sits down to play the piano! Her little fingers make it look so easy as she plays song after song...worth every penny spent on lessons!

Poor Abby...she biffed it riding down a steep and rocky hill (after being warned not to) and did a face plant in the road. She skinned her forehead, chin, both elbows, her belly, and knees and came up laughing! Good thing she's so tough! (She's not smiling cause she hates getting her picture taken, not cause she's sad.)

Here's a happier moment when she and her BFF Chesnee were eating grapes and giggling hysterically. They are practically inseparable during the summer.


One of Abby's weekly rituals is making brownies on Sunday evenings. She is a pro at making them by now. Half of us like nuts and half of us don't, so she made a special batch to please everyone. Brownies always make her happy!

Definition of a Muumuu

I was asked, "What's a muumuu?" by an old friend. Of course he's male, so I suppose he really may not know. In case any of you are wondering here it is: according to Wikipedia: The muumuu or muʻumuʻu (English pronunciation: /ˈmuːmuː/) is a loose dress of Hawaiian origin that hangs from the shoulder. Like the Aloha shirt, muumuu exports are often brilliantly colored with floral patterns of generic Polynesian motifs. Muumuu for local Hawaiian residents are more subdued in tone. Muumuu are not as widely worn at work as the aloha shirt, but may be worn as a uniform by women working in the hotel industry. Muumuu are also popular as maternity gowns and with obese people because they do not restrict the waist.
I'll try to forget that last line of the definition..even if it it true. If you haven't tried a muumuu yet, you should. It's the only way to survive the humid months of July and August when the swamp cooler doesn't quite cut it. There are those who think they are only for the "older" or "larger" women, however, I've found them to be quite comfortable at any age, size, or stage of life! Caution: They are, however, meant for females only!

Congratulations to Trent

Trent received his mission call today to Raleigh, North Carolina!

It was so exciting to watch him open the letter from the First Presidency. His parents had just dropped some things off at the school and went to the post office across the street. They came back immediately and called him over from work. He was going to wait to read it to everyone at a BBQ this evening, but within 5 minutes, his boss had sent him over to read it. There were several of us gathered in my classroom to find out where he's going. Word travels very quickly with cell phones! Within a half hour after that, I went to the Panaca Merc where there was buzzing all around with excitement for him! Just one of the many perks of living in a small town!

Happy Birthday, Whitney

Today is Whitney's 19th birthday. We made the traditional BLTs the night before since that is what I craved at 3:00am 19 yrs ago when Evan lovingly got up and made me one! (Now he would just keep on snoring!)

Anyway, we all went to eat at Pizza Factory for lunch. The host served her a personal pizza in the shape of a one and a nine! She was sad they didn't sing for her, but threatened me if I did! What the heck? She's going to Vegas to see Lion King with her work friends tomorrow. Happy Birthday E-E! WE LOVE YOU!!

Whitney and Trent at Lake Powell before he leaves on his mission to . . .TBA!

Lake Powell Vacation

Sun, sand, water...family, friends, food...all make for an exceptionally FUN time at Lone Rock Beach! Cooling off before we pack up to come home! More pics to come soon!

Headed for Lake Powell

Whew! I can check "update blog" off my list of things to do before vacation! I had started a few posts, but didn't get them completed until today! It has been a busy couple of weeks as summers usually are but in a good, relaxing way mostly. We also had the annual Schimbeck Reunion last weekend over the 4th of July, but my camera wasn't working, so I'll have to get pics from the sis-in-laws after Lake Powell!

Must haves for Lake Powell:

1. Sunscreen, aloe vera, and lip protection
2. Plenty of water & ice
3. Shade Tent
4. Plenty of food & snacks
5. Reading material and lounge chair
6. Life jackets
7. Boat, kayak, jet skiis, or other water toys
8. Flip flops, hat, sunglasses
9. Money, Husband and kids, friends, extended family, etc.
10. Oh. . . and a swimsuit for daylight hours! LOL

Thanks for reading my blog and commenting...it's like getting a letter in the mail instead of bills!

New Councilman and Mayor

Evan and Mayor Larsen being sworn into office. Now they're official and important! Let the fun begin!

Happy Birthday Abby & Happy Father's Day Evan

These two events have only occurred on the same day twice since Abby's birth. Eleven years ago it wasn't such a good Father's Day for Evan when Abby decided to enter this world much too early. Evan wondered if he'd be a single dad left to raise his little girls alone. Thank goodness our story has had a happy and blessed ending. Looking at her today, one would never guess Abby was a 26 week preemie. Evan has more grey hair from raising three girls (he claims), and they still share a very special Daddy-Daughter bond between them. Both are stubborn about sharing their affections, emotions, and feelings, so we sneak in hugs and kisses whenever we get the chance. ABBY and EVAN, We love you very much! You have blessed our lives in so many ways! Abby enjoying Hot Fudge Cake for her 11th birthday dessert. She LOVES chocolate in any way, shape, or form. She makes brownies nearly every Sunday evening.

Guns Are For Girls, Too--Silly Boys

The girls wanted to go shooting at the gun range with the "Range Master" (Evan) during Father's Day Weekend. Very important to wear protection so we don't lose our hearing like Dad! Cousin Chandler shows up on our doorstep like a little orphan from time to time, so he was thrilled to go along and shoot guns with Uncle Evan. He brought home cups and pocketfuls of bullets in a variety of sizes and shapes. We told him he could take as many home as he wanted to along with his pollywog and crawdad from the creek. (Lucky for the little crawdad...he was too small for Chan to boil up and eat!)

Whitney brought her roommate, Noelle, to visit. Not bad shooting skills for a couple of college girls!


Chicka was disappointed that there wasn't a shooting range this year at Girls Camp, so Evan made up for that by letting her shoot his AR15, 22s, 223 preparing for deer hunting in October since she drew her first tag. Woo Hoo!

Girls Camp on Kolob Mountain

Taylor and I had a great time at Girls Camp! The theme was: Anchor Your Soul in Christ. We had so much fun as a camp committee putting our ideas and plans together over the past few months. It was a lot cooler this year with light rainshowers nearly every day. I was in the Stake Camp while Taylor was in our ward camp, but we saw each other daily. Some of the activities were: canoeing at the reservoir, performing silly skits, watching a movie, hiking, pranks, secret sister messages, special firesides each night with music, great food, and lots of testimony building experiences and events. We can't wait to initiate Abby to Girls Camp next summer! I'll have to post pictures later as we only took disposable cameras.

Top Ten Reasons I LOVE Summer

10. Time to catch up on unfinished projects (or not).
9. Family Reunions and get-to-gethers with family and friends. (Camping, Lake Powell, BBQs, Birthdays, etc.)
8. Girls' Camp on beautiful Kolob Mountain. (2009 Theme: Anchor Your Soul in Christ)
7. Abby, Whitney, and I all celebrate summer birthdays. (Woo-hoo!)
6. Plenty of sunny days with occasional summer rainshowers. (Never enough rain in NV)
5. Variety of fruits and vegetables in season. (strawberries, watermelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, cherries, apricots, cilantro, Mmm. .Mmm!)
4. Barbeques, roasting marshmallows, and star-gazing. (Do ya hear those crickets?)
3. Laid back schedules with longer day-light hours. (Sleep in, up late...whatever)
2. School's out for 12 weeks. (Sure gonna miss those kids.)
1. More quality time to spend together with family! (Swimming, picnics, coloring, sewing, reading, watching great flicks, dad's salsa, organizing, painting, shopping, eating, bike rides, walks, longer visits, playing games or anything...as long as we're together!!)

Caliente or Mayberry?

When we moved to Caliente eight years ago, Evan began working as a deputy sheriff. In many ways Caliente is similar to Mayberry in the old tv show--The Andy Griffith Show. Who wouldn't want to live in Mayberry? He's been an active Barney Fife ever since (and is allowed to carry more than one bullet!) He began serving on the City Planning Committee the past year and enjoyed it. Then he came up with the crazy idea to run for City Council. Well.....elections were Tuesday, and he won with the highest number of votes! He says it's a trial run to see if he'll want to run for Mayor or Sheriff someday. I just wish I had some of Aunt Bee's homemade pie to celebrate with!

Happy Birthday to Me

Yes, it's true. . .I had another birthday. The family said since I post everyone else's b-days, I should post mine; however, they said "NO" about posting me in my new 40-something birthday suit. Anyway, I had a great day. The girls and I joined friends at Kershaw-Ryan for a picnic and swim. Abby had a softball game in Pioche and Evan gave me money to buy my own cheeseburger and soda at the concession stands while he coached! Wow! Since he outdid himself on Mother's Day less than a month ago, I told him I'd take care of my birthday. He just doesn't get the whole "spa" thing.

I have always loved having a birthday in June because I'm out of school and can do whatever I want to. On Monday I'll be joining girlfriends at the spa for some pampering and relaxing. That will be a treat! Thanks Evan for being so understanding!!

Trent's Graduation

Check out all the medals, ribbons, honors, and champion rings on each finger! What an amazing guy he is!

A very proud Tibbitts family. Whitney is the shortest one in the center. His twelve year old sister is taller than Whitney!

Here's Whitney posing with her "boyfriends", Talen and Trent. Trent's dad teases them both about Trent leaving and Talen "keeping her company" while he's on his mission!

And last of all. . . Whitney with Trent . . . lots of emotions. . .college, mission, separation . . . I'm glad I'm past that season in my life!

Chicka Visits Lehman Caves

Taylor had fun on a field trip to Lehman Caves with the middle school. The caves are located in Great Basin National Park. Students learned about unique rock formations. Chicka learned that it's difficult to take good pictures in a deep, dark cave! Thank goodness she didn't scream and scare the bats away.

School's Out For Summer

I don't know who is more excited about summer. . .the teachers or the kids. Anyway, we had a lot of fun events to end the school year including swimming at the pool, beach day at the school, cleaning and checking in all our books and supplies until August! Here's Abby and friends cooling off with shaved ice.


Water slides are so much fun!

5th Grade Class posing after our swim party!

The cutest puppy face getting soaked in sponge toss!

What's More American?

Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet! Softball season is nearing an end. We've all eaten our share of hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, scones, slushes, and junk food while watching Abby's softball games! Abby can eat and spit sunflower seeds as good as the boys, and she knows that "there's no cryin' in softball". Evan has enjoyed coaching the girls with all their drama and spunk! I never thought sports could be so much fun. . . watching our kids is the best sport ever!

Just Three Days Left of School

For any of you ladies who may covet the time off teachers get each summer, I have come up with an analogy that may put it all in perspective for you. Remember the joyous and difficult moments of pregnancy over the course of nine months? Remember the last trimester when you were so worn out, tired, out of patience, and ready to explode? All you can do is to continue doing your best, endure to the end and await the joyous end results. You hope that all the tests come back within normal ranges and that what you have done during this time will produce a happy, healthy and thriving human being. Well, that is what May is like for teachers! We must have our summer months off to recuperate, mend our hearts, and dry our tears of joy as we forgive and forget the pain and agony these little brats have put us through.
Then come August, we will once again be at the school for hours beyond our contract time planning curriculum, learning activities, and excitedly looking forward to teaching the little darlings once again with renewed vigor and vim! We will have forgotten the evil things they may have done or said and that many of their parents believe their child would never do wrong. . . ever! We will come back with more responsibilities than before with little hopes of a pay increase due to budget cuts and we will gladly spend our own money to supplement our supplies and make due with whatever materials we have. . . and we'll believe we can once again make a diffference! Ha! I hope that helps those of you who covet our time off during the summer months!

Happy Mother's Day Surprise

I was greeted this morning with the traditional breakfast in bed which was, of course, a delicious omelette, hash browns, bacon, toast, strawberries, and served with a beautiful bouquet of lilacs and yellow tulips. As Evan placed the tray on my lap, I saw each girl coming in with a large black and white picture of herself. They are 16 x 16's framed with an extra wide black frame made by handy-man Evan himself. WOW! Did they ever surprise me?!? I had no idea at all that they had schemed and pulled this together with everyone's schedules to work around. I didn't know they were such good story-tellers until they told me how they worked it all out! I LOVE THEM! Thanks to my amazing photographer friend, Janine @ Moments and Milestones Photography, she has already sized them and forwarded them to me so I can blog them today! Aren't they adorable?