The Master Shower Makeover

I had finally had it! I got tired of showering in a moldy shower. I never felt totally clean! We would spray bleach everywhere after every shower, we would soak the shower head in bleach and clean out the mold, but the mold would continually come back. So we decided to rip it out and put in a new one.

This is what it looked like before:

Nasty, right? Well, look at what you can do for $3500!

Pretty cool, huh? By adding that corner, it's much bigger!

Here is a side by side before and after picture. I can't wait until my first shower! (Still waiting for everything to set - but Monday morning I have the green light. So if you happen to have a cold shower on Monday morning..............)

The Month of Stitches - at least for the boys.

So Nick and Jeff had the privilege of getting their wisdom teeth taken out. This was the last thing that needed to be done for Jeff to be able to send his mission papers in. Nick's wisdom teeth were growing in at an angle, and in order to prevent the teeth from destroying any orthodontic work that had been done, the orthodontist requested that they be removed asap. Jeff only had the 2 wisdom teeth on the top, and Nick only had the 2 on the bottom. All of them were impacted. The oral surgeon mentioned that Jeff was the lucky one because removing wisdom teeth from the top jaw is not very traumatic. But Nick's recovery, on the other hand, would be tougher because they had to crush the teeth and remove the pieces one at a time. They both did great and recovered quickly. Fortunately, they were both able to participate in the ward choir number 2 days later.

Before Pictures - don't they look excited?

After pictures - just another day for Jeff!

Their diet the first day consisted of icecream and pudding. (I know, don't you feel for them?) The second day, we added scrambled eggs, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes.

Michael, in Provo, must have felt he was missing out on all of the attention, I guess. He called a few days later to inform us that he was on his way to the ER. He had been swimming with a bunch of friends and decided to dive through an intertube - in the shallow end. His comment, when I asked "what the heck were you thinking," was "I guess I didn't think things through very well." Well, I guess not! 19 stitches later, 4 on the inside, and 15 on the outside, and he is doing quite well. He even went to class the next day! I'm so glad it wasn't worse, ie., he could have had a concussion, broke his neck - I try not to even go there. We are so thankful for his close friends that rushed him to the ER and stayed with him through the ordeal. I asked him to send me a picture after the stitches were removed. He was so nice to humor me, knowing full well that the story and picture would be made public :) So, now you understand his new nickname, "FrankenPotter."

Nick's Summer Internship

Nicholas had an amazing experience this summer. Nick's school, The Gwinnett School of Math, Science, and Technology, offers a fellowship/internship program for all Juniors and Seniors. As an upcoming Junior, Nick was placed with a company called "Market Force" to be an summer intern for 5 weeks (3 days a week/7 hours a day). Market Force does marketing research and mystery shopping for popular retail chains. Nick helped organize data and did other jobs to help alleviate the workload of staff members. Nick was given a security badge, his own window office with a computer, and his own company email address. He was known as "the intern." We had the understanding that Nick would be paid a stipend of some sort for his work, but we didn't know for sure what the amount would be.

Nick was sad when the 5 weeks was over. He loved the staff, especially his mentor, Mr. Valentine. He had a great experience. He was able to get a glimpse into the world of Corporate America. He learned new skills, and improved many as well. What a pleasant surprise today when Nick opened an envelope that included a check for $1000.00 and the following letter:

"Dear Nick:

Thank you so much for participating in the second annual Summer Internship Program delivered by the TAG Education Collaberative. [the group that worked with GSMST to place student interns] We have heard wonderful news about your performance at Market Force. I hope that the experience was beneficial to you as an education exercise; and provided you with a clearer picture regarding your career plans.

You have been very professional throughout this process and a pleasure to work with.

I wish you all the best in the future.

Sincerely,

xxxxxxx

Executive Director

TAG Education Collaborative"

We are so proud of you Nick!

Greg's 46th Birthday

Greg had a very lowkey birthday this year. With all the money spent on the cruise and upgrades in the home, money was scarce. Because Greg had scouts the night of his birthday, he and I went on a movie date the weekend before to see "Knight and Day" (Fun movie!)

Greg's buddy kidnapped him and took him shooting. They took their shotguns and had fun destroying clay pigeons. Thanks, Jared!

On the morning of his birthday, he got a yummy breakfast:

Dinner was homemade lettuce wraps -PF Chang style - Yum! Sorry, no pictures. Lauralee surprised Greg and his scout troop with cookies.

We hope he felt loved!

Jeffrey playing Rachmaninoff

Jeff has a passion for playing piano and considers himself a pianist. This thrills me to no end because of the money and time I have spent over the years for piano lessons and creating performing opportunities. I am happy that 1 of my children have caught the vision, and hope the others soon follow :) Jeff loves to learn difficult piano pieces. Below is a piece that Jeff learned in just a few weeks after coming home from BYU. I am so proud and impressed! (Even more impressed because it is a Rachmaninoff piece. Anyone see the movie "Shine?")

Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C Sharp Minor

Team Edward or Team Jacob? Neither! Team Isaiah Mustafa!!!

Ok, so we all know this hilarious commercial with the hot guy that sports abs that can rival Jacob's, right? (click on picture to get full frame)

Well, here is a parody that BYU did for the Harold B. Lee Library. Hilariously Awesome! Go BYU! (click on picture to get full frame)

July - Only 7 days in and Look! at the fun we are having!

Wow! What a fun month so far! Although, we would be having more fun if Megan and Michael were with us. Megan is playing with Grandma and Grandpa in Texas. I'm already hearing of all the fun she is having, ie., painting G-ma's nails while she naps, and styling G-pa's hair with a curl (I hope she brings home pictures!) Michael is keeping busy at BYU with his math and cs class. Although, he finds time to play and hang out with his buds - the majority being of the female persuasion. :)

The fun began when Greg and I finally got to celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary. We started with shopping! It was time to update the den.

We added an ottoman and pillows on the couch:

Then, we finally replaced the entertainment center and updated the tv:

After over spending our budget, we headed to the Chattahoochee River where Greg and I tried out our brand new double inflatable kayak. It was a very relaxing and romantic ride, until we hit the rapids and flipped over. Before the panic set in, Greg yelled for me to ride the rapids with my feet in front of me, and everything worked out fine. Besides the shock hitting me after we were both back in the boat, and having my feet ache for way too long because of the cold, I thought I handled the situation rather well. I proved that my survivor skills will kick in if needed. I'm just a basket case afterwards. (I recommend the book: The Survivor's Club) We only lost a water bottle and a water shoe. I wish I had pictures to share, but if I had brought my camera with me, it probably would have been ruined anyways. It was quite an adventure and very memorable. Now, I just need to go back to face my fears and conquer those rapids once and for all. We celebrated our great survivor skills by engorging ourselves on raw fish! Sushi is our favorite!

That night, we took Nick and Jeff and the Nelsons -minus Genevieve and Amy :( - to see the fireworks at the Sugar Hill City 4th of July Celebration. We sang along with the Bon Jovi cover band and enjoyed the spectacular firework display. I'm sorry to not have any pictures of the fireworks!

On Monday, July 5th, we headed to the lake. We brought a picnic lunch our 2 single kayaks plus the inflatable. We even duped the Nelsons into hanging out with us again! We had a blast!

And then to end this post with a bang, Greg, Jeff, Nick, and I went to go see "Phantom of the Opera" at the Fox Theatre. What a treat! The movie is great, but there is nothing like seeing it live. As soon as the music started, the goosebumps began! This was Jeff and Nick's first time to see it in person, my 2nd, and Greg's 3rd (he took another date - Megan - a few years ago). We stopped by the Varsity and enjoyed "Frosty O's" and onion rings on the drive home.