Trip to the Dells!

Newest member of the family, Jackson!!

Don't we look dorky?? Something Clark would do right...

Boat ride around the Dells! Probably one of the best activities! Boy did we get wet!!

The great top secret White House attraction! Wasn't so great afterall!!

Scott got his head stuck in the elephants butt! I am sure it was pretty dark in there!

Family pose!

Emma loves to make fun of her "dumb butt" dad!

Tanner and Emma enjoying the great outdoors.

Elle was the only one that "dared" to go surfing! She did great!

Elle was the great picture taker here!

Well lets see...where should I begin?? We just got back from a great 3 day trip to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. It was a great get away and just what Elle ordered for her 12th birthday. We left Sunday morning it was a two and a half hour drive (just the right amount of time before you start to go a little crazy in the car with 3 big kids). It was a beautiful area of the United States. It was very green but much more trees and hills then we have here in Rochester. This town was tourist trap USA! The whole town is made of swimming parks some outside some inside (for the winter crowd). We stayed in a place that wonderfully offered both options. We took the inside water park route. The kids enjoyed the playing in water while Scott and I watched in disbelief at the lack of swimsuits that women had on (or should I say didn't have on). We also enjoyed a great boat ride around the lake in the area (I can't remember what it is called) and we did lots of sight seeing. The best part of the trip was an activity we did on our last day there called Wizard Quest in which you play an interactive game in teams where you try to solve riddles and find 4 wizards before your time runs out. The Greer team was unable to accomplish the task in the allotted 90 minutes we went over time by 5 minutes much to Elle, Tanner and Scott's disappointment! Overall this was a terrific trip with fun to be had by all (even Emma).

We now have our newest member of the family. Jackson moved in about a week ago and so far it is wonderful to have him around. I am sure it will continue to be a great experience one we will look back on with much fondness. It is going so great that his sister Hannah has decided she too wants to move back to Rochester and give it a try with the Greers! We are looking forward to having her move here as well!!

I have decided to return to school again!! I know you are all thinking "I think I have heard that before" but really barring any unforeseen circumstances I will be going back in November to get my cosmetology license. I am really excited to take this step in life and look forward to the many great experiences this will bring into my life.

What a Great Summer!

Emma and Eddie being silly girls!

My beautiful girls at Harry Potter opening night. To much fun to be had! We will for sure do this again!

Girls camp in June. We were rained and tornadoed out...which means we had to come home early! But it was a great time!!

My BFF!! Ann is always a sport when I drag her on all my goofy outings! This is Harry Potter opening night midnight! We got to the movie theater at 6:30 and were the first in line with our friend Autumn. 6 hours of fun and games then we got to enjoy Harry Potter! It was great!!

Tanner got his eyes dilated and thought he looked so cool in his specs!

Elle's birthday poster...12 reasons why we love you!!!

Elle on her birthday. We went out to lunch (just mommy and daughter) and then shopping. The real fun begins next week when we go to the Dells for 3 days (largest water park in USA) for her birthday!

Emma and BFF Edna making homemade tortilla's (for a boy, of course)! After they finished their cooking skills they decided to have fun with the flour.

Emma and friend Kaylee from New Mexico. They had a great time at EFY and then playing around Rochester.

Hello fans, family and friends!! Has it been forever or what?? I have been busy having fun this summer and so that doesn't leave much time to blog. But today I have made time to catch everyone up on life and share a few photos of life in the Greer family.

We have been busy with one visitor after another so far this summer but know are coming to an end of that. We have loved every moment of Grandma(s), Grandpa, Kaylee and Ceri's visit. We had grand trips to the Mall of America, movies and just visiting in the living room. Thank you everyone that came and made our life fuller this summer.

Tanner has been busy playing with his friends all summer long. I think he realizes he is moving into a new chapter of his life soon and he is enjoying saying his farewells to his many wonderful friends here in Rochester. He has also been taking dancing lessons and passing on his new found love of dancing to his sister Emma by teaching her what he is learning. (Katie do you remember what he danced like in Kindergarten??...he has come a long way!) Tanner will be leaving for Hawaii in Sept. he has to be at orientation on Sept. 14 (his birthday!). I still have my many moments of quiet crying and don't think it will become any easier as I see him prepare to leave my life (as life is now). I guess I have been getting ready for this moment from the day he was born. I guess I never realized how quickly it comes.

Emma is such a joyful teenager this summer!! Not even being sarcastic!! The only thing she whines about is taking her to Burger King all the time! She is having a great summer with EFY, New Mexico friends visiting, midnight movie showings, youth conference, dances, flour and whip cream fights! She seems to really be enjoying herself much more this summer then she did last. The girls are still taking horse back riding lesson and enjoying it again this summer. As I see Tanner getting ready to go off to school I am realizing that Emma will not be far behind. I am already starting to miss her before Tanner is even gone. I know I need to live in the present not the past or future but it is still painful to understand that my children are growing up and soon leaving. Emma is so great and I love her!

Elle just turned 12!! I remember the day that I realized that when I was 40 Tanner would be 18 and Elle would be 12. This was when Elle was 1 year old! I didn't think that I would ever get to this stage in my life. I know that my kids need me more then ever now that they are teenagers but it is so different then when they were babies. I think I also need them as much as they need me. Elle is going through some hard times and trying to figure out what she is all about going into her teenage years. We are just doing our best to help her in this hard transition into teenage years. Elle has had a great experience at girls camp this year as it was her first and her mom was the camp director she is also thrilled to move out of primary and attend young womens with her sister! Elle has also started to offically babysit and earn money from it. I am looking forward to the next 7 years of Elle growing into a beautiful strong woman. I love my baby!!!

We are getting a new family member!!! Jackson Minton a family friend of ours will be moving in with us next week. He has lived in Rochester for the last year with some family members of his who are no longer able to offer him a place to live. We love Jackson and he is a great kid and we are looking forward to all the great times and lessons in life we will be able to learn from opening up our home to him. He is 18 and will be attending Century High to finish getting credits to graduate from high school. Jackson will fit well with our family because he is laid back and lots of fun. We are truly looking forward to having him join us!

Well I know lots of things have happened this summer but most of all we have had a grand time and felt lots of love! I will begin to write more often as my life has slowed down considerably. We are only half way through with our adventure this summer and so I will keep you all posted on our activities and thoughts. Just know now I am happy and truly feel blessed to live the life I have been given.