Vacation Song.....

Matt's boss wrote him a little going away song for our vacation next week. To be sung to the tune of U2's "One".

It’s time for Matt’s vacation
Time to get away
He’s been working so hard, now
He’s earned a chance to play

Yes he’s Matt West
needs rest
His wife is Karen
and she ain’t sharin
him with us
next week … ooohoohyeah

Will he take her shopping?
Or maybe to Grant Park?
Will they get a baby sitter?
And stay out after dark?

Well, he’s Matt West
the best
And he’s takin
Paid Time Off
to go and play golf

You say:
“I need a slogan”
“I need a Power Point”
“I need a memo”
“Matt, don’t leave this joint”
You ask Matt to do it, but he just turns and says,
“I can’t keep doing work
when PTO is here”

“I’m Matt West,
the best
and I’m takin
Paid Time Off
So you can piss off”

Pretty Girl

Summer Plans

Monday was Gavin's first full day of summer. He woke up bright and early and said "Mom, what are all the fun things we are going to do this summer?" Luckily, we do have some great things to look forward to this summer. 

This week we are just kicking back and enjoying not having to do anything. Next week is our Worlton family reunion at the Grand Bear Lodge in Starved Rock, Illinois. It is a great indoor waterpark resort and all of my siblings and their children will be there. We are so excited!

 Gavin will continue to go to social skills classes everyday for 2 hours in the morning for most of the summer. He is also taking swimming lessons at the local pool (Abe opted out this year). We are hoping to spend a lot of time at the waterpark close to our house because we are a family who loves the water! We also love parades and are super excited for the Wheaton, Il 4th of July parade, our favorite parade of the year. At the end of July we are heading out to Seattle to visit the West/Paterson clan. We have not been out there in years so that will be an exciting trip. After we spend a few days visiting there, Matt and I are heading to Hawaii for a vacation with my parents. Gavin, Abe and Ella can't wait to get rid of us for a week and spend some quality time with Gramma and Grandpa West. We get back just in time to get ready for the new school year to start August 19th. All in all is sounds like the perfect combination of family, water, sun and parades ! That adds up to one fun summer!

What Matt does at work.....

What does a Vice President at a cutting edge employee communications practice do all day?



Creates 3-dimensional objects out of old business cards and then challenges his coworkers to a build-off!

Matt's is the Minivan and he took home the trophy!

Gavin's wife

Gavin is a man who likes to have a plan! He pretty much has his whole life mapped out. Elementary School, Middle School, High School, mission (to Mexico), college at BYU, 1 year sabbatical to live with Gramma West in Washington, get married, work as a toy maker, then a police man and finally an engineer. He even has his wife all picked out. Her name is Ariana. She is in our ward and is also in his social skills class at school. He says he loves her because of her beautiful dresses, her curly hair and her pretty voice. He has convinced her to go along with his plan and, according to her mom, she even has the wedding colors all picked out. Yesterday at lunch he says to Abe "Abe you need to pick a wife." Abe says "Ok, how about my friend Tyler?" Gavin says "No, it has to be a girl and she can't be in our family." Abe says "Ok, then Gramma." Gavin says "No, Gramma is in our family." Abe says "Ok, then Aunt Marci." Gavin says "Nope, she's still in our family." Abe says "Oh I give up." Gavin just walked away shaking his head.
Procrastinator!

da Zoo

Last Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL day in Chicago, so we decided to take a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo. It is a great little zoo downtown, right next to the lakefront. We had never been to this particular zoo before and, since I am a zoo aficionado, we were excited to give it a try. I gotta say, I think I have a new favorite zoo! It is such a beautiful setting and I love a smaller zoo where you can see it all within a couple of hours. One of our favorite animals were the beavers. I never knew they were so friendly, but these two really liked our family!
I think Ella might like the zoo as much as her Mommy!

It was a great day!