Isaac turned the big eight this year--which means a friend party for him, too--we celebrated on his actual birthday with just us and a fancy schmancy cake-NOT created by me
His friend party was the next night where we had a "video game" party and took all his buddies to the nicklecade (a party option i highly recommend--only minimal planning required and they were super-entertained by me simply handing them a roll of nickles--no party games, no crafts, nothing to take home...ie: fabulous)
All nickled up
Eli's reaction to running out of nickles
Eli and Dad
Isaac taking a spin on some motocross thingy
Mal driving the big rig 
We got 'em all juiced up and sent 'em home to bounce off their parents walls:)
Viola!
Isaac at eight....
Lets see...
His newest job this summer has been mowing the lawn--an upgrade from last year
He's a computer/video game junkie...well as much as one can be with only one computer game and no gaming system. So i guess he's the junkiest member of our family (which isn't very hard)
He's a great reader--but he doesn't love to read like Megs--he'll only read when forced--otherwise he's playing his aforementioned video game
He played jr. jazz for the first time last winter and we could not for the life of us get him to use the backboard to bank in a shot--we have since gotten him a outside hoop and he's finally learned to use that stinkin' square! EVERY TIME!!!
He loves soccer and improves drastically every season. He starts up this week and can't wait to see what his new jersey color will be... hoping for something besides blue.
Isaac watches Matt and the young men very closely and knows which ones he wants to be like--he knows which qualities in those boys he wants to build in himself. i can see him measuring himself up to them. last month for a ym activity, matt had the ym run up to the temple while carrying gallons of water so they could pass out water to the patrons and workers there. Megs and Isaac wanted to go too so they carried their jugs of water and ran from our house up to the temple (about a mile--all uphill) with the priests. Matt said Isaac was determined to make it to the top without any help..to be just like those boys.
After school one day, i was asking him about his day..who he sat by at lunch today? and he thought for a sec..."um, today is tuesday...that means i sat by coleman. tuesday is coleman's day
Me: "What do you mean, tuesday is coleman's day?"
Him: "Well, all my friends were fighting about who got to sit by me every day so i made up a schedule, Monday is Jefferson's day, Tuesday is Coleman's day, Wednesday is Fisher's day, Thursday is Brennan's day, and Friday is Joey's day. That way everyone gets a turn and no one fights over me anymore" i couldn't stop giggling...this kid truly has kids flocking to him...which matt and i will take over being the smartest or most athletic any day...he's just a good kid. And we'll keep him. Happy Birthday Buddy!
the mcqueens were in charge of the hawes family campout this year and we decided to take everyone up to diamond fork--up spanish fork canyon. our little clan got there a few days before everyone to scope out our campsite and test out the hike to the hot pots. we had a lot of fun with just us, but my kids couldn't stop asking when EVERYONE ELSE WAS GOING TO GET HERE?We took a 5 miler up and back to the hot pots (which BTW, was way too long for little kids and the hot pots at the end were scortching) and ended back to camp at noon where everyone was scortched so we spent the rest of the afternoon swimming in the diamond fork river that ran right by our campsite. (We could have just skipped the hike;)) and then played a lot of "PIT" and "Bocce Ball" and braided hair while we waited for everyone. 
thanks old friends, for the fabulous lunch and fun times catching up. we miss you guys!
ditto!
