Hallie

July is always a busy month for soccer. I lost track of how many tournaments Hallie has played in this month. She has been crushing it in soccer, however. It has been fun to see her play so well especially being the youngest on her team. She was asked to sub for the team in her grade level and it was so apparent how much better she is then most of her grade level. It was nice to know we made the right choice with her playing up. Her team will challenge her in ways she needed. 

Hallie and Navy. They are best friends at church and at school

She still sleeps on our floor every night

1v1 training with coach Nik. This group challenges her and scares her yet she competes just great against them. I hope one day she starts to develop that confidence in herself.

Went to the temple with Grandma Becky and Grandpa Joe and her cousins (Caleb, Brecken and Taya)

Girls Camp

Hallie's first girls camp ever! Her team scheduled a tournament at the same time and Hallie really wanted to do both. Luckily the tournament was literally 30 minutes away from girls camp. What are the chances of that?! So, we got a hotel up in Heber to make this happen for her. She missed probably about half of girls camp and was there for her entire tournament. She played amazing, even with the lack of sleep, and loved the combination of both the camp and the tournament. I was nervous she would regret choosing to do both, but she didn't. 

She loved girls camp!!! She shared a bunk with her bff, Navy. Navy's parents, who Hallie knows well and is very comfortable with, were the camp leaders. I was so relieved to know she was up there with Navy's family because I knew she would be well-taken care of. Hallie struggles to sleep at night. She gets very scared of sleeping away from her parents. I was proud of her sleeping both nights in the cabin. She said she was scared but said some prayers and read her kindle and did great. 

Her favorite part of the camp was the Faith Walk. She said it was so spiritual and everyone was crying. Except her, because she doesn't cry. Haha. Before the walk they wrote down (anonymously) something they are struggling with on a piece of paper with invisible ink. They then hung up everyone's paper in a tunnel for the girls to walk through. The tunnel allowed everyone to read what people wrote on their paper. It was heartbreaking to hear what some girls in the stake struggle with. Suicide. Pornography. No sense of belonging. Hallie wrote that she struggles to sleep. Throughout the tunnel there were also videos of how kids have been influenced by Jesus in their life and the last video was of Christ's crucification. At the end, the kids wrote down what Jesus would say to them if He were there. Most of the kids wrote down that he would say that "He loved them." After the faith walk they had a testimony meeting. 

What a neat walk that Hallie was able to participate in. Hallie really is a special girl. She is starting to develop a testimony of the Gospel and of Jesus. She is sensitive to the Spirit and that comes naturally for her. It really doesn't have much to do with Russ and I. We all know we could teach more of the Gospel in our home. It is just something she was born with. To know and to feel the love of God. 

Rosie

 My sweet Rosie girl. I love how she waits for my on the downstairs couch while I'm working out. She wags her little tail when I discover her snuggled up on the couch and she realizes I am coming towards her. She had to have a tooth pulled at the vet this month. Unfortunately, one of her teeth cracked and was starting to rot and develop an abscess. She was put out for that and I hate when she goes under anesthesia. While under anesthesia they checked her urine and apparently she has a UTI as well. Poor little baby. I spent the afternoon snuggling her and loving her. I love how she loves cozy blankets, follows me around everywhere, and is just the most well-behaved dog. Yes, occasionally she barks in during the 10 pm hour when she goes outside but it is usually short-lived and she comes back in the house when we yell at her. I like that to think she is telling the world "good night." Haha. If you can't tell I'm quite obsessed with my Rosie girl. 

Kids

 July photo download of the kids. Russ taught them how he used to fold his legs up into his pants and walk around on his knees when he was a kid. The kids got a kick out of it. Russ and I were laughing pretty hard too. We got out the slip-n-slide out again this month. The kids love surfing on dad's back. Brooks and Taco also went to a Jazz Summer league game as well.