This Man I Love

Adam gets up before the sun most days so he can get into the office to take care of things before clients start calling and needing him out on job sites. He spends most of every day out in the hot sun jogging (he usually never just walks) around getting surveying done. Then we see him around 6:30pm each day for dinner and time spent until bedtime is time spent playing with his kids. Motorcycle rides, wrestling on the front lawn, playing catch, pushing them on the swings, playing board games or video games. It's his down time and he spends it on them.

I know that I've told him how much it means to me that he makes time for them each day, but words don't express how deeply I feel it. The tender, loving, playfulness he shows to each of our children is indispensable. He is so deeply loved by each of them. Being able to watch his relationship unfold with each of our precious children has made me love this man so much more because of his dedication and sacrifice for each of us.

Somethings Don't Change

Like true friendship! Got a chance to visit with my best friends from long ago (ok, not that long ago, but some days it feels like it)--Cathy (Sorry, that's what you'll always be to me) and Monica, plus all their kids and mine.
We met at Draper Park and had lunch and treats and visited. It's been nine years since we saw each other last and it didn't feel that way one bit! It was a wonderful afternoon, the weather was great and the kids behaved themselves.

We had fourteen kids between us. They played on the playground, in the sprinklers, and then in the red dirt of the baseball field. It was great to swap kid and husband stories as well as little updates on "kids" from high school. Let's not wait so long next time, huh?

Everybody in the Pool

We decided it was time to finally set up the new pool the kids gave Adam for Father's Day. While we were getting outfitted to swim, a package showed up from Grandma and Papa. Fourth of July tees for all the kids! Don't we look cute--Stephen was headed for naptime, if you couldn't tell.

I wasn't prepared to have Stephen in the big pool, so we still set up the little one from last year.
This is what it looks like from the patio. Big enough for all plus a few friends. The water was still ice cold from being freshly filled, but they were determined to swim.
They even talked Adam, with very little difficulty, into getting in with them when he came home from work. Not as deep as it looked from the picture on the box as you can tell by Ne-ne standing up behind Sharra. The kids, and sometimes us adults, have spent part of every afternoon since in the pool--excluding Sundays.

Mini Dee-dee

Stephen's crib is right next to the dresser. In the top drawer I have a bunch of miscellaneous stuff--socks, swimsuits, plastic pants, and a few infant items that haven't found their way into the storage room or DI bags. That's where he found this--a burp cloth made to match his regular-size dee-dee. Our neighbor, Kathy B. made them for him and I had completely forgotten about the burp cloth.

Stephen was thrilled to find it. When I went in to get him up from his nap, he was holding it up high in the air and saying dee-dee, see...dee-dee, see over and over! So, thanks Kathy, for the mini dee-dee--convenient to pack inside the diaper bag or purse as needed and can be carried around without dragging on the ground.

A side note to this post, we keep our computer in the kitchen and I love having it there. It's a central location that all can use it, while being able to be monitored at all times. I can listen to talks on lds.org while fixing meals or working on projects. The kids can tune into shows that aren't currently on the tv downstairs and it gives me a distraction while they're waiting for food to be served.

This is a very familiar scene in our hours together. This particular day they were watching music videos on Webkinz. Other times it's favorite cartoons from PBS and occasionally Nick Jr. Sunday afternoons the adults and bigger kids can be found clustered around the screen to catch the next episode of Dr. Who. We've watched conference and firesides here as well as visited with relatives far away via Skype. So grateful for modern technology!!

Gnomeo, Gnomeo..

Wherefore art thou, Gnomeo? Ha ha ha ha! This was such a spontaneous picture! I had my camera out to take a picture of the muddy mess he'd made of himself and while I was loading the battery, Stephen started putting the funnel on his head like a hat. This pose reminded us of the garden gnomes in the recent cartoon film Gnomeo and Juliet. So, this is Gnomeo as a baby!

Look! No Training Wheels!!

What an accomplishment for our little Pikachu!

Ginny decided about a week ago that she wanted the training wheels off her bike. She has been practising riding every day and she's got it down. With no help from me and very little from Adam she can ride straight, turn corners, and this picture is of her turning around in a circle on the driveway by herself!

O, How I Love An Iris!

They really are one of my favorite flowers and for many reasons. One, we had irises in almost every yard we ever lived in--so they're comforting. They are so easy to grow and care for. They multiply each year and come in such a wide range of colors. Finally, they are an amazingly beautiful flower that comes from such unremarkable leaves and stem.
I had to buy this one a few years ago, purely for it's name--Skywalker. I was too late in taking pictures this year to capture other other I bought at the same time--Dark Vader. Hee hee! Yes, I'm a geek!
This is one I got from my Grandma when she moved from her house in Draper. This one is my most dependable bloomer.
This one was supposed to be more blue, but the hues of purple this bloom turned out to be are so pretty that I wasn't disappointed.
This one came as an extra to a rainbow collection I bought a few years ago. Oddly enough this and a yellow one I missed photographing are the only ones left of that collection. This is only it's second year blooming and it is easily my favorite. This picture just cannot do justice to the brightness of the colors on this one. Gold-bronze fading to royal purple with bright orange "tongues" inside with almost an electric blue swirl on the falling petals. I don't know what it's given name is, but I think of it as my "summer sunset."

Father's Day Weekend

It's not summer until Father and Son's campout. Stephen was still not big enough to go this year, but Sam insisted he be in their going-away picture anyway. Watch out for next year!
Since the boys had to take our vehicle for Father and Son's, us girls didn't get to get away while they were gone. So, we took them all to Logan for Summerfest the following day. We only went to the children's art yard. It was $3 per kid for 2 hours and as many projects as they could complete. Since it was overcast, the air was only slightly too warm. With the canopy over the art yard, it was pleasant for all. The kids got to make slap bracelets, windsocks, fruit loop necklaces, Father's Day cards, pinwheels, foam visors, and giant bubbles. On our way out of Tabernacle Square, we stopped at a recycled art/music sculpture that passersby were able to "play".
And Happy Father's Day to Adam. My kids couldn't ask for a better, more devoted dad. They are his everything!

So alike!

My two boys are so similar. Sam and Stephen both line things up and organize them when playing. Sam used to line things up side-by-side, while Stephen goes for and to end, like a train. Here he's got the Cars cars set out across the kitchen floor. I was fascinated by the way he so carefully placed each one--if they weren't touching bumper to bumper he'd patiently adjust the whole line up. His cute, little chubby toes and dimpled elbows in the picture above just make me want to give him a squeeze.

Goin' for a Ride

One thing I truly relish each summer is watching my husband share one of his passions with his children. No matter what time Adams' gotten up to go to work in the morning, he's always willing and usually eager to pull out the little atv's we've got and take the kids on rides when he gets home at night. I have pictures of each of the kids parked happily in front of Adam awaiting a "ride". That's actually one of Stephen's newest words. He was anticipating this ride so much he wouldn't even look at the camera! He hears any type of motorcycle noise, no matter the time of day, and he runs to the door yelling, "Da, ride!"

Time Out for Me

Hey all! For those few who like to check in on my blog, you can obviously see that I'm playing catch up. I so love to scrapbook, but for now this will have to do. I feel the need to to get SOMETHING recorded. Time is just speeding by and these days I feel it more than usual. So, ...

Today I am going to be a bit self-indulgent to record my simple, but grateful feelings for my family. I feel so very blessed to be a part of all of their chaos. Not just the immediate nucleus here in my cottage, but all of you who have ties familial or friendly. I consider all of you family, for each of you have made me who and what I am today.

I recently got to spend an afternoon turning the clock back with two of my best friends growing up and all their crew. It was a wonderful afternoon of recollections, commiserations, and laughter to buoy our spirits for the coming events in each of our lives. But the one thing it did for me as well was to reflect on how I've gotten to this place in my life and the turning points that got me here.

Life was good before, but it is so much richer and fuller now. I wouldn't want to go back, but neither do I ever want to forget those special days and people who helped (and are still helping me) me get to this wonderful place. And as I move on, know that I will continue to carry you all gratefully forward with me.

Time together is precious

After the girl's lunch, we headed back to help the guys watch all the kids. (Mandi and Ken were out at les Miserables). We got to take them to a couple of parks near Omi and Poppi's house that they love. This was documentation of the team effort put into the sand castle factory.

Kiesen used the pop bottle we found on the playground to get water from the drinking fountain. He'd carry it over to Ashlyn at the mixing station, where she churned the sand Sam brought to her bowl. When the sand bowl was full, Sharra would carry handfuls to Aviendha, Ginny and Lauren at their different locations for castle construction.

Aww... how we wish all our cousins lived closer! It's SO fun to play with you all.

This little seat spins round and round with just a bit of a push. Aviendha always wants to ride, but then almost immediately finds it "too scary". Omi is awaiting the "I've had enough" signal. :)

Poppi, Lauren, and Sharra help to bounce Ashlyn, Kiesen, and Sam on the rocket spankers. Yeah, I know..what can I say, the kids dubbed it that since the seats look like little rockets and when you really get it bouncing, your hieny (sp?) gets a bit of a paddle.

Happy Mother's Day--late

I took Mom and Grandma out as a Mother's Day gift, and invited the other girls (Mandi and Aunt Gail) who were able to join us. We ate delicious food at Archibald's at the Gardner Mill, then browsed the shops for a bit after. It was great to spend some uninterrupted time with them all, though Lindsay and Laura were very much missed!

Plus, I've decided it's time to start an actual effort in consuming less and excercising more after seeing this picture. Sheesh!

A VERY Happy Labor Day!

Yup...snow....on Labor Day.....as in May 30th......only four days to go until the kids' summer vacation begins!! A bit of a surprise I'll admit.

The snow was very wet and very heavy as my beautiful tulips demonstrate.

But...the cold didn't dampen our day of NO SCHOOL one little bit! Sharra, Ginny, and Aviendha held a dance party in the kitchen. Tropical flowers and sunglasses were mandatory attire.

Ginny attempted a hands-free spin with Ne-ne; they crashed to the floor in a dizzy, giggly tangle right after this shot. They're almost the same height and weight, so this was quite a feat for my little Pika.

What sweethearts I've got!

And speaking of sweet--we made some chocolatey goodness for FHE, with a little help from my little men. This shot commemorates more than just a cute and messy mug. Stephen was having a blast, as you can see, helping to lick the bowl. But when I had to put the dessert into the oven, and wash the bowls and spoons, he was very upset over not having any more. So Sam, in his sweet and caring way, got his bubbles from the closet and tried to entertain his little brother. It worked. One thoughtful big brother + a multitude of bubbles= one happy baby!

My Big 1st-Grader!

"Wash your hands, give the soap a spin; wash your hands, who knows where they've been! Wash your hands, scrub off all that dirt. Wash your hands don't dry them on your shirt!"

"Ooo-oo, hi there hygiene--that's my ru-le. Ooo-oo, hi there hygiene-clean is co-ol!"

"Brush your teeth, do it twice a day; brush your teeth, no more tooth decay. Brush your teeth. Dentist recommends, brush your teeth your gums are your best friend."

"Wash your hands, give the soap a spin; wash your hands, who knows where they've been! Wash your hands, scrub off all that dirt. Wash your hands don't dry them on your shirt!"

"Ooo-oo, hi there hygiene--that's my ru-le. Ooo-oo, hi there hygiene-clean is co-ol! Yeeaaahh!"
That was Sammy's part to sing in his class play: "Hansel and Gretel Eat Right!" He was Racoon #2 and we all had his part memorized (Aviendha sang right along from her seat in the audience!). He performed spectacularly! We were a bit nervous for him for the actual performance. He refused to ham it up or do any kind of actions with us watching at home. The night of the show he did awesome though, even remembering the "yeeaaahh!" at the end.

He was so excited for the dress rehearsal at school that he wore his costume all day, as you can see in the above picture. This was at the end of school Accelerated Reader party. Each grade can participate if they reach a goal of a set number of AR points. Both he and Sharra made it this year!

This is the crew celebrating the end of the show with Creamies and "cheese!"

These were Sam's two awesome team teachers (by the way, that's "racoon #1 in the orange shirt next to Sam). They were SO patient and accepting of my ravenously curious guy! He learned so much both academically and socially this year! He may be a headed into great big 2nd grade, but he's still my little man. Love you Sammo!!

Woo-woo! All Aboard!!

To you and me it's just a tractor, but to this little guy it's a "woo-woo." That's what Stephen calls trains and pretty much everything else with wheels. You can see in these pictures that he is telling us all about them. I love how his cute, little lips make a perfectly round "o"!
This was at the kids' school carnival and Stephen was SO excited to get onto the "woo-woo", but during the ride was another story. Whew! A little too scary for him. He came back to us in tears.

This was the "woo-woo" mantra while we waited in line to get onto the barrel train. He followed the train constantly on each of the trips before his. At church his nursery teachers laughed when he went in the first week. Everything was a "woo-woo". He only wanted to play with train-like trucks and read the train book (which I did more than 10 times). They laughed that he was "the one making train noises during the sacrament" . Yup, that's my junior conductor!

Sharra's party

We held her b'day party a bit later due to all the end of school craziness. We had a tropical island theme and luckily the weather was on the same page. It was HOT!! We played half the games inside and half outside, then came in for presents and cooled off with slushies and cupcakes. These cupcakes were the inspiration for the theme of the party!

They all have them!

Double cowlicks right at the back of the crown of their head. It makes the boys' hair stick up Dennis-the-Menace-style when it's short, which is most of the time. My girls all had mohawk-cupie-doll hair until it grew out as well.

I thought I'd try to capture it with Stephen's for posterity's sake. His hair in front was pretty tame as it was starting to get longer, but you can still see the "sticky-up" part at the back (Elmo dropped by to check it out, too!).

See the two swirls? Hee, hee, hee! I think it's SO cute! It does create some problems for the girls and some of the styles they would like to try, but...whateryagonnado?

Sharra's Nine!

My first little baby is now nine! I know I say this all the time, but where does the time go?!?! I do love the fact that she is still a young nine-year-old. She's still into fairies, mermaids, and most things make-believe. Gotta hold onto it while we can as all too soon that will be "baby stuff" around here. This picture may be a side view, but you can see how excited she is about this Disney fairy movie.
We got to create her cake together, all of us girls. It's covered in My Little Pony mermaids and their party supplies. Pink, of course. I sure love my big-little girl who is big enough to babysit younger siblings for a bit when mom's gotta run to the school or stuff around the neighborhood, but little enough to crawl into my lap during creepy parts of movies. I love that she's big enough to choose modest clothes all of her own accord, but little enough to want them frilly and sparkly, with an animated character blazoned across the front. I love that she's big enough to clean up her room, fold and put away her own laundry, and help prepare dinner. I love that she's little enough to tape hand drawn pictures around her room, play any variation of "Mom and Dad" with her siblings, and still want toys in the tub.

I know that the moment will come that she transforms into a young lady, but for now, you're still my little girl--I love you my little Sha-Sha!!

Sam's Photoshoot

I almost forgot! The day I took them back to the farm, I let Sam take the camera while we were on the train ride. These are the pictures he took as we rode around. This is the train tunnel.

This is his view of the train engine. Woo-woo!

Check out those beautiful pallets!

People on the road waving to the train passengers. No, we didn't know them.

The wall of the tunnel as we chugged through it.

My personal favorite, which is why I included it even though it is blurry--the porta-potty!

The side of an outbuilding.

The back of our engineer as he walks past the sheriff who was roping off the entrance.

Stroller parking--I was brave and didn't bring one for the first time ever on an extended trip. We did just fine! Less to pack--one of the things I am liking about not having more babies coming along.