Back to School

Today I had to let another one of my kids go:( Last night I didn't get much sleep thinking about Boston going off to school. For some reason I am having a harder time with him than Aubrie. Luckily I am more familiar w/ how everything works at school or it would probably be even more difficult for me. We woke the kids up at 6:40...yikes that came early! Aubrie was all excited to wear an outfit I bought her a month ago. Boston acted like it was just another day. Ben and I both went to drop them off. Boston didn't cry or anything when it was time to leave him. I was hugging him VERY tight and didn't want to let go. I started to tear up while I was hugging him, but amazingly (those who know me understand) was able to control it. I didn't want to worry him so I kept praying that I could hold back my tears. Aubrie was excited to see her friends. Her best friend from Happy Valley, Alexis, is in her class. Ben was in there when they called roll and they didn't call her name. I guess they ended up putting her in Ms. Morris' class after all. Ben quickly went to the office and the principal said he would make sure she stayed in Ms. Johnson's. I'm glad he was there to help me take care of it b/c I wanted to be with Boston for his first day.

Things were a bit weird not having them home today. Things were definitely much quieter! I really missed the kids, especially Boston. Only b/c I'm not used to having him gone. I was so ready to go pick him up from school. When I picked him up all he had to say with a smirk was "I'm done w/ my first day of kindergarten"! I tried to ask him what he did but he didn't seem to remember anything except music time, where they sang "The Wheels on the Bus". At dinner Ben asked him what his favorite part of school was and he said "snack and lunch"! Ha!

Aubrie's day went well. She is a little nervous about being in Ms. Johnsons class b/c she is VERY strict. She is always so worried about making a mistake and having to change her stick. I'm hoping that Aubrie can relax about things a little and just learn to do her best.

Things were a little stressful this evening. Aubrie had homework, two hours of dance, piano to practice and then we had family home evening. She didn't even have time to get in her 30 minutes of reading. We are definitely going to have to figure something else out to make Monday's go much smoother. I remember talking to Mom's with kids in school when mine were all toddlers, and them saying how having them in school is harder. I didn't believe them b/c I couldn't imagine how it could be possible. I am understanding more and more why that is true. The only perk is not having to drag all 4 kids in the grocery store!:)

Back to Reality!

Well we are back to reality....otherwise known as home. It was a good trip and we were able to get a lot done. I forgot to mention that we forgot our camera, so we didn't get any pictures till Saturday, when we realized we could use our phone...DUH!! Well, we ended Friday night w/ some pizza and a movie ( Lilo and Stitch) in the pool house. Ben and I were so tired, we barely lasted. Sophia woke up early again, 6:00am, and didn't go back to sleep till 7:15. I was so tired and I just let her lay down next to me and play until she was tired again. She only slept for another 45 minutes. I quickly woke up Ben and told him it was his turn! After Sophia's first nap we headed off to the Ventura fair.
I love the Ventura fair b/c it's right on the coast. It's so much cooler and the air is nice and refreshing, unlike every other stinky fair I have ever been too:) The kids had a great time. We started off riding rides. The boys especially liked the dragon roller coaster; that small roller coaster that just goes in circles. They rode it twice. They also rode the











Speedway cars. Boston and Aubrie rode the "superman" ride, and Aubrie tried some adult rides b/c she finally passed the 48 inches "mark". Mom wasn't ready for that! She did the pirate ship with Ben,and then she did some spinning ride that also flew up in the air. I was so scared to have her on that. Especially since she did that one by herself. She just seemed too little to for it to be safe. I just imagined her falling out and me never forgiving myself. I guess I'm not ready for her to be big yet! After the rides we got some hot dogs and lemonade from the Hot Dog On a Stick booth. We got huge cups that we refilled later and Ben felt like he couldn't let it go to waste, so he was "floating" out of the fair! HA! After









lunch we looked at the animals and then left for the beach.
The beach was really windy so we only stayed for 45 minutes. It was enough time for for Ethan to bury numerous sticks, Boston to climb on the rocks, and Aubrie to swim in the ocean. I don't know how she could swim in such cold water, but she seemed to be enjoying herself. I guess I didn't' have a problem swimming in it either when I was here age.
After the beach we headed home and had a BBQ at the house. After the BBQ we all headed to Cold Stone for one last treat. Things got a little crazy when Ethan ran right into a pole by our table. He is always hurting himself. It's that big head of his! Anyway, that was are cue that it was time to leave! When we got back to Danny's we all went to bed.
We left Danny's around 10:00. Sophia did much better, only crying a few times for only a few minutes. It made the trip go by faster. We got home at 4:15. We made good time considering we made two stops. We really needed to get home so we could get things ready for school tomorrow. We had a good dinner, got the kids lunches ready, Ben gave them their father's blessings, and they picked out their clothes for tomorrow. I also wrote them notes and put them in their lunch boxes. Bostons was simple note, of course, b/c he can't read big words. I wrote Aubrie a card reminding her what a wonderful girl she is and to remember she was a daughter of God!
I still can't believe summer is over already. I also can't believe that my little boy is starting kindergarten. He is getting so grown up. I hate sending my little babies off to full day school. Aubrie's first day of school seemed like it went on forever. I hope that Boston likes it. I worry that it will be too long and that he will miss us. Aubrie was much more independent, and Boston is much more sensitive. I'm probably worrying for nothing. It does make me feel better knowing he is at Happy Valley. Kids seem so much more innocent there. I guess they have to face the real world sometime.....next year!

California!

Wednesday was a full day! First the kids had early morning piano and then I picked one of Aubrie's good friends, Alexis, for a play date. They played and had a great time swimming and doing pedicures. Ethan likes playing with her too! When I told Ethan he needed to come downstairs and leave them alone he started to cry saying " I love you", to Alexis. It was very cute! Around two, Alexis went home so she and Aubrie could get ready for orientation. We went to Aubrie's orientation around 3:30 and left around 4:00. It went from 3-4:30, but the stuff done during the other times were just a repeat from the day before. Ben left from there to go to the Diamondback's game w/ all of his brothers. It was a "brother's" day out. Earlier that morning they all went golfing. Ben had a great time and had his best round ever...he shot a 87! So he was in a good mood all day!:)
After orientation it was just me and the kiddos for the rest of the evening. Sometimes that's easier. I don't' have to think to much about dinner. They are usually happy with something basic, so that's what I did....pene noodles w/ Alfredo! Sophia went down for a late nap, around 4:00. So after dinner she was still asleep. The kids played and I laid on my bed and got a good 30 minute nap before I had to head off to the church to do the Visiting Teaching routes. I got home around 9:00 and probably should have packed but couldn't' get motivated.
Thursday morning Aubrie and Ethan slept till 9:45, making it hard for me to get packing. I spent my morning playing w/ Sophia and emailing. Finally around 11:00 I got packing and we left around Noon. The trip out wasn't too bad. Sophia doesn't like the car seat so there were crying spells ever hour or so, which were a little unnerving. Both her an Ethan did this thing where they didn't like their car seat. It's comforting to know it won't last forever. We arrived at Danny's around 7:30. We grabbed some Taco Bell for some quick dinner and rushed home to get Sophia changed and into bed. Once she got out of her car seat she just wanted to play. She ended going down around 9:00 and I went to bed soon after. I had an early morning wake up call, 6:00 am! Sophia went right back down, but when I looked over Aubrie was gone. I went outside and checked to see if she was outside, she loves playing w/ the chickens and the dog, but she was no where to be found. I found her in the room where the boys were sleeping, and she was trying to wake up Boston...ARGH! I quickly got her out and back in bed, but she wasn't tired. Finally around 7:00 I told her she could go and then I finally was able to sleep until 9:00..AHHHHH!
Today we took things casually, which was nice. This morning I played a little guitar hero, the 80's edition, the kids played in the backyard and Danny made french toast w/ his YUMMY buttermilk syrup. After Sophia's first nap the kids went swimming. We then put Sophia down for a second nap, planning on going to the beach afterward. While she was sleeping we played more video games, enjoyed the backyard, watched Mission Impossible 3 and Danny took Aubrie and I for a drive in his new BMW! Boy was that thing fast! I have never been in a faster car. It went from 0-100 so quick it felt like my heart was leaping out of my chest. When we got back to Danny's Aubrie had a little scare. She was feeding the chickens and when she left the coop the dog ran in between her legs and got a hold of one of the chickens. It was bleeding and Danny was upset. She was freaking out and I had to convince her Danny wasn't mad at her, but was mad at Jessie.
After all of that we were still waiting for Sophia to wake up...she was taking a power nap! Finally we woke her up around 3:00 and headed to the Harbor for my favorite fish tostada and our favorite ice cream stop. After stuffing our faces we headed to the beach. We didn't even swim. We just sat out there on the sand and enjoyed the ocean breeze while Aubrie and Boston climbed the rocks and Ethan dug holes in the sand and buried sticks. We stayed for about an hour before we headed back to Danny's. The car was really dirty and so we ran our car through a car wash. The kids liked being in the car while it went through. Usually we sit and wait in the building, but this one you sat in the car the whole time. On the way home all the kids fell asleep. I guess that's what a long day will do to you. Now they are playing in the backyard again...well Aubrie and Boston. Ethan is still asleep and Sophia is trying to get there. More tomorrow!

Boston's Orientation Day

Today went much better. Sophia was back on schedule, waking up around 8:30. She got a good morning nap, and that made all the difference. When she woke up from her nap she was laying on her side; almost rolled completely on her back. There is hope after all! HA! This morning the kids and I got the house cleaned up b/c the appraiser was coming at noon. So that left the rest of the day to relax until the evening chaos! We spent the day doing piano, reading, playing a little Wii, and the boys made forts and went on "treasure hunts". They like to pretend they are pirates looking for treasures. Ethan and Boston have their moments where they play really well together. Wish it were like that always. Guess they wouldn't be siblings if they didn't fight...right?!
After dinner, we headed off to Boston's school for orientation. He was really excited, but was bored after being there for about 20 minutes. He'll be in shock when he has to be there for 6 hours! Actually I was quite bored myself. That orientation stuff isn't much fun! I'm sure once he starts he will love it! Right now he is most excited about the fact that he gets to eat pizza in the cafeteria!
While we were there Aubrie got to meet her teacher. She originally got Ms. Johnson, who I was concerned about. She is really good, but really strict. I didn't think Aubrie would be good w/ the strict thing, so I called the school and they said she was actually in Ms. Morris's class. They haven't made the switch yet, so we are going to start her in Ms. Johnson's and if she doesn't like it, ask for the switch. Ben and I got a good feeling when we met her. Who knows, maybe b/c she was there and Ms. Morris wasn't! But we decided to give her a try.
When we got home we did the normal....went for a swim. Then our friend came over to show us this new home loan where we can pay our house off in 13 years w/ a cheaper payment! Yeah! By the time we were done it was past 11:00. Yikes, another late night!

FRIENDS and FHE

Today was one of those days! Sophia has been "off" the past two days. Usually she is very predictable. She cries when she is tired or hungry and besides that she is content to lay on her play mat. Today she was really fussy, so I really didn't get much done, or least it felt like it. This morning she woke up early; 7:30. So she went down around 9:00am. I wanted to get to a friends house for a quick visit, so I hurried the kids through their chores so we could get over there. I had to stop at Target really fast to pick up a little something for my friend and the kids did pretty well, except for begging me for everything by the check out counter. When we got to my friends house no one answered the door. I was a little disappointed, but something told me to wait awhile. So I decided to check the community pool to see if she was there. She wasn't and the kids saw a park and wanted to play. It was a little overcast, so I said yes...despite the fact the humidity is off the charts!! After 20 minutes at the park (which was really cool by the way) I went back to my friends and she was there....yeah!! She invited us in and we had an enjoyable visit, as always! I would have stayed longer if I could. I felt bad b/c my kids hadn't eaten lunch and kept asking for food, and then they were joining her kids in a game of jumping off one of the kids dressers onto a bed, then Sophia started crying (and I had no formula)....so I knew it was time to get going.
When I got home I had to catch the kids up on Piano while Sophia napped. When she woke up she was still fussy. I gave her some Tylenol and held her a lot! Ben took Aubrie to dance so she could get another good nap. She is now down for the night, and I hope she has a good night's rest. She needs it... sweet little thing!
Tonight we had our family night on "being the lucky ones", which means being the ones that serve and therefore being "the blessed ones!" It went along with our FHE theme this past month of serving each other. This past week we all drew names and were supposed to serve that person. The kids mainly made each others beds all week. Guess that is better than nothing, and I didn't have to hear anyone complaining that they didn't want to make their bed..HA! Tonight we had our normal smorgasbord of ice cream and treats. Ben bought ice cream w/out me knowing and vice versa, so this is what we ended up with. Funny huh?!


After indulging ourselves on dessert we went swimming and watched that show "Just for Laughs". It's one of those practical joke shows. We love it!

Humprie's hike!

Friday was a little crazy. I had to run to the dance store first thing to get Aubrie some Jazz shoes. The Studio had called the night before and invited her to try out for performance group on Saturday. The day before I had this feeling I should buy her some Jazz shoes, but thought "why would she need those", and didn't do it. Guess I need to be better at listening to those promptings. Anyway, I had to go early b/c Ben's parents were picking up the kids to take them to lunch and to see Underdog. While the kids were out my brother Joe called me up and invited me to lunch. Ben was home for the day and so Ben came along too. We met him at Chili's. It was really nice of him to call and think of me. While we were having lunch we decided we would go hike Humphries trail on Saturday. Later that evening Ben and I met the Hodges for dinner at Abuelo's and after Ben and I went to see the Bourne Ultimatum. It was really good, but I was so tired my eyes started hurting. I'm getting old!

Saturday I had to wake up at 6:30 to be ready to leave by 7:00. I was so tired driving up there. I had a huge Dr. Pepper to keep me going, but all it did was make me have to stop and take a bathroom break a few times! HA! We got to the Snow Bowl around 10:30 and started the hike. I started off hiking pretty fast. After about 15 minutes I was breathing pretty heavy and started getting nervous knowing I had another 3 hours and 45 minutes left! I was honestly panicking thinking "I can't do this, but I have to b/c my brother is really looking forward to this!" After 30 minutes we took a short break, and then I really started to get into a groove. We took a 5 minute break every 30 minutes and the hike ended up going pretty fast! The hardest part was the last 200 ft that led up to the "saddle" of the trail, which is about 40 minutes from the peak. When he got there clouds started to roll in . It was actually a pretty cool sight to see the clouds surround us. We then started to hear thunder and see some lightening far off. The saddle of the hike is where the trees end and we are in the open. We realized we couldn't finish the hike up to the top and then quickly started hiking down to some trees. I told Joe we should wait it out and see if we still could go to the top.

While we were waiting I checked my phone and noticed I had coverage. I called Ben and he said all was well and that Sophia went down at 11:00 and that she was still sleeping. It was 1:30 at the time and Aubrie's tryouts were at 1:00. I asked Ben "who took Aubrie to her tryouts if Sophia was sleeping". He then yelled "oh no!! I got to go!" So I was sitting around waiting for the call. They still let her try out after all, but she missed out on some things. She will do performance group next year I guess!;)

About 15 minutes of waiting, the weather started to clear. We got our packs on and started the hike back up and noticed some huge clouds forming west of the mountain. After feeling some raindrops, we resigned ourselves to the fact that we would have to hike back down. I was a little disappointed to have come that far and not make it to the peak, but it was still quite the accomplishment. ( It is the tallest mountain in Arizona!) It was also a real eye opener of how out of shape I am!!! The hike back down was enjoyable, but oddly enough seemed longer to me than the hike up. At the end of the hike we were lucky enough to see some deer, so I tried to make lemons out of lemonade by telling myself we would had seen those deer if we went to the very top:)

On the way home we stopped for some dinner and had the slowest service ever, so we didn't leave flagstaff until 6:00. Then on the freeway we saw someone broken down. He needed some oil, so we drove to Sedona, 15 minutes there and back, to get the guy some oil. When we got back he wasn't there anymore. It was a big disappointment, but tried to remember that we did what we were supposed to do. We ended getting home at 8:45! Talk about a long day.

When I got home I had a little surprise....a new cat!! The kids took Dad to Petsmart while I was gone and suckered him into a new cat. So now we have a black kitten added to our little family. I wasn't exactly thrilled about it, but she is cute and now the boys have a cat to call their own! Boston picked her out and called her Puma.

Today we had church in our new church building. It was nice to finally get in there, but it was a little weird getting used to a smaller building. Our old building was the Stake Center so it was much bigger. The testimonies were wonderful and the kids did well with our new rule of no toys or food during sacrament. Someone mentioned that they did that and their kids were more reverent. We will see how long this lasts. When we got home Ben and i took a good nap...we both needed it from our long day yesterday. After my nap I soaked my aching muscles in the hot tub. Sophia joined me in her new floatie!!

A new pet?!!

So its been a few days! Yesterday we hit the opening of Marshall's. It was a little crazy, especially w/ all four kids. While I was in there I found a huge picture to go in my Mom''s room. So I was pushing Sophia, herding three kids, and trying to carry the picture all at the same time. I got A LOT of looks. Some were smiley ones, and others where you know they are thinking "why did she come here with all these kids", and then the look that says "are all of those yours?" After Marshalls, Aubrie pleaded w/ me to take her to the Petsmart that just opened (Ben is so not liking all these new stores by us, HA!). I figured Petsmart was pretty harmless, right?! Just gerbals, snakes, birds, etc.... Well, I didnt' know they adopted cats and then sold them. That was all Aubrie could talk about. She offered the idea of getting rid of our beloved cat Simba, who we have had for 11 years. That night he was sleeping on the ground with his paws in the air and Aubrie asked, with a hint of excitement and hope, "Mom is Simba dead?" She really wants one of those kittens!

When we got home we just hung out. I guess the shopping tired out Ethan, b/c when shortly after we got home I found him conked out on his bed. He slept for FOUR hours. He is definatley my biggest sleepy head! Here are some recent pictures of my other sleepy head "Sophia". We proped her up on the couch pillows and she was watching a little TV!

Full House

Today I watched my friend's girls. We picked them up around 10:00 this morning and came back home for some swimming. Aubrie had fun playing with the oldest, Eliza. She is Five. They had fun jumping off the waterfall w/ noodles and playing follow the leader around the pool and spa. Boston had fun w/ the Libby. She will be four in August. He kept entertaining her with singing and dancing. When Libby first got here she was really quite and reserved. When Boston started dancing and being goofy she really started to laugh and have fun. After about an hour and 1/2 of swimming, we went inside for some lunch. After Lunch, Ethan and Libby played together and Boston did his own thing. Aubrie and Eliza resorted to her room for dolls, and other girly things. We ended the day w/ a little more swimming. Eliza got really home sick for her Mom. She just wanted to talk to her, but there was no way to call. I had to hold her and tell her stories of when I missed my Mom to get her mind off of it. After about 30 minutes she was feeling much better. I got a glimpse of what my kids were probably feeling when Ben and I had gone on our long vacations. Doesn't mean I won't go again, just means I'll probably call more!

After I dropped the girls off I ran Aubrie to dance. I talked to the studio owner a little about what to do about Aubrie. Her teacher said she was good enough for a performance group, but I have been struggling w/ that option. It's a huge commitment...4 hours a week, plus all the competitions and extra performances. She said I could try just having her take a few hour long classes, and if she was doing well w/ that they could put her in a performance group later in the year. I think that's the route I'm going to take. She will already have piano and gymnastics and still going to the charter school. I don't want her to be too overloaded. By the way, I took these pictures at her most recent recital. Glad I did, b/c her studio pictures were awful! Anyway, I just love the little girl poofy costumes. This will probably be the last year for that.

63 years!

Yesterday we celebrated my Mom's 63rd birthday. Wow, I'm getting old! I wanted to surprise her with a dinner, so I quickly said Happy Birthday at church, and that was all the mention I made of it. I could tell she was feeling a little sad b/c the boys hadn't called her all day. That made the upcoming surprise even better. I made little cheddar meat loafs (one of her new favorites), mashed potatoes, salad, biscuits, and a summer fruit salad. Once the twins arrived and ate, everyone went swimming. The twins had a fun time with the kids, and my Mom really enjoyed having everyone together. After swimming we all sang Happy Birthday, and had a butter pecan (her favorite) ice cream cake, that I had secretly made the night before. My Mom asked for shelves for her bedroom, so I put them on her bed when she wasn't looking. I like doing surprises!!

Last night Sophia stayed up for a long time, which means over 2 hours, and just laid there and entertained herself. I kept telling Ben, "Isn't she a great baby?" Well today Sophia had to prove me wrong. She had been a little fussy, and her first two naps only lasted about 40 minutes. She still hasn't rolled over, but I see her trying sometimes. Perhaps that is why she isn't sleeping well. All my babies have done that. I'm sure all will be well by tonight. Anyway, she is growing fast...and I realized I should probably post some recent pictures of her.

The kids decided they wanted to have another go at the lemonade stand. ( I remembered to take a picture this time.) It was really dark and cloudy and I thought for sure it was going to rain on them, but they got lucky. They got some good business. The people in our neighborhood are so friendly. There were a few repeat customers. I said that we would be replacing the Starbucks in the afternoon:) As they were wrapping up their lemonade stand Aubrie decided she was going to take the neighbors scooter down the hill ( our hill is very steep). Within minutes of realizing I hadn't seen her in awhile, one of our neighbors pulled up in front of our house with Aubrie and the scooter in his car. Apparently he was backing out as Aubrie was flying down the hill. Aubrie, thinking he was going to hit her, tried to turn away and bit the dust big time. She had some road rash on her shoulder, (she insisted we take a picture) and we thought she may had broken her wrist. We put some ice on it praying for the best.

We decided to run out and get some dinner w/ all the drama that went on. On the way home the kids asked if we could drive by our new church building. There were a lot of cars in the parking lot, and so we went in to check it out. The bishopric and other leaders were in there moving things and setting up. Aubrie went around telling everyone about her accident, whether they wanted to hear it or not! LOL They had a little family home evening in the chapel. It was cool to be in the new building and do that. After that we went over to a friends house and while we were there Aubrie got a blessing. She said her hand is now feeling a little better. Hope she is feeling much better tomorrow. Of course we are wrapping up the night with a swim....it's 9:30!

Two Kids in Tow

Today we started off with a little swim. Luckily we did that early b/c it was rainy and overcast the rest of the day. While we were swimming we were noticing how dead our plants were looking. Ben went to turn the water up and realized that someone had turned off our water. ARGHH!! I called our neighbors to tell them about it and the same thing happened to them too! I don't understand why someone would think that was funny....it's just SAD!!
Anyway, after swimming my Mom took Ethan and Aubrie out for the day. They had a fun day cleaning up at the dollar store, eating and playing at the mall, and stopping at Dairy Queen for the finale! They always get spoiled when my Mom takes them out.

While they were out, Ben and I took Boston and Sophia out to Olive Garden and made a quick stop at Sams. It was weird just having the two. I thought "this is how it feels to be the average person in this world...two kids that are five years apart". It was nice at first, but then was almost a little boring. Funny how they can drive us crazy, but when we are away from them we start to miss them like crazy!

This evening I spent getting things ready for tomorrow....it's my Moms birthday! I'm having my brother's over for dinner to celebrate. I had to make an ice cream cake and a few things for dinner. Then Ben and I watched Bourne Supremacy to get us ready for the opening of Bourne Ultimatum, that starts next Friday....YEAH!!!

Get Your Lemonade

Yesterday I had to go through Sophia's clothes and pull the ones that are too small. I remember when she didn't fit in her smallest of clothes. Now I look at them and think, "How were these ever too big for her? Even though she is small for a 3 1/2 month old, she has grown so much in my eyes.

Yesterday I went to visit some friends , who have recently moved. It was fun seeing their new houses and what they had done w/ them. I love seeing how people decorate their houses and what things they choose to put in them, ie flooring, paint, etc. Isn't it great that there are so many different possibilities in house floor plans and decorating them?! How boring it would be if every one's house was the same. It even amazes me how different my house looks compared to those who have the same floor plan as I do.

Around 5:00 pm last night, the kids decided they wanted to do a lemonade stand. We started to put up a fight since it was so late, but then I realized it was probably the best time, with it being a little cooler and people coming home from work and all. After about 20 minutes, the neighbor kids showed up with their real lemonade stand and they sold lemonade for another 30 minutes. After they were done they ended up with 5 dollars. They were pretty excited. I can't believe I forgot to take a picture!

Last night Ben and I went out on our normal date night, while my Mom stayed w/ the kids. We grabbed some dinner at Carvers, then some ice cream at Maggie Moo's and then went to see Harry Potter with our huge $1.oo souvenir cup of soda. I don't know why I'm not losing my baby weight, HA! When we got home the kids were crashed out on the couch. They fell asleep watching a movie. Guess my Mom wore them out!

say "cheese"

Today the kids had a make-up swim lesson. It's more like play time for them now...since they have been swimming all summer. It still is pretty humid outside. I feel like we are in North Carolina. The temperature is cooler, but what's the point when your sweating to death!! The humidity isn't getting to the kids as much. In fact they spent some time out in their play house today. I don't know how they can stand the heat. I'm read for another trip to cooler weather!:) ( Do you like how they pose for the camera? That is all their doing, no lie!)



Boston figured out how to use the camera today. He was going around making people pose for the camera, including our cleaning lady Soco. Funny how we have been using this camera forever, and it wasn't till now that he took interest in it. Here are a few pictures he took. Future professional?? You decide. LOL

"Got My Vans On"

Yesterday the boys got to help Dad build picnic tables, for the Ramada, at the new church building. They had a good time helping the men get bolts and screws, and holding things while they were assembling. When the boys got back, Aubrie and I went to visit one of my friends who just had a baby Monday. I just love holding newborns. I had to make myself leave!:) I can't believe that Sophia is out of that stage already. Aubrie was so excited to hold the baby, almost a little possessive. She LOVES babies. She will make a good babysitter, and a GREAT mom someday.
Today I ventured the grocery store w/ all four kids. I haven't done that in about a month or so. It went really well. Aubrie pushed Ethan in the cart, and I had Sophia in the Baby Bjorn. Boston stayed close and was very funny saying "Yes Sir!" whenever I asked him to do something. I guess he wanted to go look at the toys really bad! Of course one stop was enough for all of us. It was really muggy today and the heat was getting to us. It has been raining on and off the past couple of days. It's been a nice change. The kids have been able to take advantage of the overcast days and play in the yard more.
I took Boston to the Mall tonight to get him a lunchbox for Kindergarten. He thought I was getting him a new back pack too. He walked right in and went straight for the Pirates of the Caribbean backpack. When I told him we were just getting a lunch box, he looked so sad but sweetly said "alright Mom". Of course I thought about how good he reacted and how this was going to be his first year in school. So I let him get the matching back pack. We then got him some new school shoes. He got some "sneaker" Vans. When we were buying them he was singing "I got my Vans on but the look like sneakers". The girl ringing us up thought it was funny. After our trip to the mall, we met up with my Mom and Aubrie to see the movie "Hairspray". I had never seen the original, so it was new to all of us. Boston drank one of the huge Harkin's cups of soda all by himself. He had to make three bathroom trips!! He was running so fast so he wouldn't miss anything. The kids really enjoyed the movie. After it was over they were dancing all the way to the car.

secret servers

Last night we started our "Family" night with one of our favorite dinners, "Little Cheddar Meat Loafs" Our lesson was on helping your family (mainly your brother and sisters). The kids have had a hard time w/ fighting so I thought this should help turn things around. The end of the lesson I passed out paper bags that had little slips of paper that say "You have been secretly served". Each bag had a different color of slips, and no one is to know your color. For the next week we are to secretly serve one another and try to guess who they are. Next family night we will reveal our colors. Aubrie has really been into it. We were each given 8 slips, and she has already used up 5. I might have to make her some more. Here are some examples of what has been done so far. Boston was excited this morning to find that someone had made his bed, and Aubrie was delighted to see that someone had secretly organized her shirt drawer!

During the lesson it started to rain. After the lightening stopped we got our swim suits and swam in the rain. It was nice, especially when we were sitting in the hot tub. After swimming we had our traditional FHE treat...ICE CREAM!:) We then watched a movie till about 10:30....we are going to have a hard time getting them to bed early when school starts!