Pull the Other One

We have had a great time having Evan and Anna stay with us. I have to say...and please don't tell Troy this...but it really hasn't been a big deal having two more children in the house.

I think i'm a little more tired...but the children themselves have been great. They have been really good and haven't even asked me once where mom and dad are. (Sorry Andrea.)



Evan is a little character. He cracks me up. Today...as he was getting dressed I had him put clean underwear on...a daily MUST for a little boy.

Evan was unable to get his undies on by himself and asked me to help him.

"I can't put my underwear on."

"Evan, yes you can."

"No...you help me."

"Evan, I know you can put your own underwear on. Come on dude."

"My mommy and my daddy put my underwear on for me every day."

Um...yeah.

I have a feeling he is trying to put one over on me...but for the life of me I can't figure out what it is.

Peeping Tom

My friend Lara wrote this post about the crazed wild life in her window.

Well...not to be outdone...we have crazed wildlife of our own.



This little guy has taken up residence around our house.

He started out just sitting in the window in the family room...watching as we hung out in front of the tv...or took meals in the kitchen.

But lately...he has started to look for me in the other rooms of the house...and often sits in the window of the bathroom...just watching.

I guess I wasn't paying enough attention to him because he has taken to pecking on the window until I notice him.

Seriously...am I the only one who thinks this is creepy?

Partner in Crime

Oh the trouble this child finds. It doesn't matter where you put the markers. It doesn't matter how high up they are...or how far back they are buried. She finds them.





And this week...she has a partner in crime.



Are you shaking in your boots? I am.

lol! My only aspirations for the next few days are to return Anna and Evan in as close to the condition as they came in.

Ride On

Just had to post about my belated birthday present...well..actually I got the present on time...it just didn't happen until yesterday.

Melanie and Andrea gave me a ticket to King's Dominion and the three of us and our hubby's all went yesterday...with no kids!



Do we seem too happy?

I actually think it's been more than 10 years since I went to an amusement park without kids. And it was a blast!! (Although I am getting OLD, cause I am feeling the effects today of having overdone it yesterday!) oy.

We went on every ride...and even all the ones in the water park.

Highlights?

Oh. Just everything.

We have a running joke that Andrea and Troy always seem to get paired up whenever we go out...so here's Rob keeping an eye on them.



The girls all wussed out on the Drop Zone...so it was me and the guys.



Troy was his usual camera shy self...and would only allow me to take 10 photos of him the entire day. But...I do love this one...cause I can really see Joe in there.



And...at the end of the day, Melanie conquered her fear of heights and rode the drop zone. I particularly enjoyed listening to Travis give Melanie a hard time as we rode to the top.



Seriously...we laughed all day long...best birthday...EVER.

Thanks guys.

Friends in Real Life

It has been so busy I totally forgot to post about lunch last week.

A bunch of girls from the online scrapbook store where I have my little scrapbook shop, ScrapMatters, all got together (in real life) last week for lunch.



I never would have thought it possible that I could become such good friends with people that I had never met in person...but it happened...these women really are my friends...and it was so nice to be able to put a face with a name.

And what do you get when you have a bunch of scrapbookers get together for lunch?

A whole bunch of women with cameras! lol!



Super fun ladies! Let's do it again soon!!

Bringing Sexy Back

Can you think of anything sexier?



Nope...not me either.

That's No Mouse

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted.

I have good intentions...but when Troy goes out of the country...everything kind of gets pushed to side. But...he's back now...so hopefully things can go back to normal.

Oh wait...they just called him as the Elder's Quorum President. Normal is no more. (big sigh).

Well...in honor of Troy's new position...I just wanted to share a little game we played at dinner.

We went around the table and we all took turns doing our best imitations of each other.

We started with Dad...and asked them to imitate something Dad does or says.

We got:

"Pull my finger."

"Did you hear a mouse?" (Which dad likes to say when he...well...you know what happens when you pull his finger.)

"And this is the song I played for my first grade recital."

I have to say...the kids nailed it.

ch-ch-changes

Mikayla has been begging me all summer to get her hair cut. She has such beautiful hair...but she would rather have it short.

I have to understand, right? Cause that's how I like my hair too...but I was resisting.

Finally...I broke down and cut her hair.



She is a brave girl to let me get anywhere near her with scissors, but she looks great.

Now I don't know what I was waiting for. LOL!

That's How He Rolls

It has been a great long weekend for us. Troy actually took several days off work and just hung out with us as home. It was so nice.

So, yesterday after scout camp, we took the kids to the pool for one last hurrah with Dad before he headed back to work today.

So the kids and I splashed around, worked on our tans, and generally had a good time.

What was Dad doing, you ask?



um. yeah.

(In case you can't tell...that's his blackberry he's checking as he followed Katie around the pool.)

Be Prepared

ohmygosh. i'm tired.

Joe had scout camp today...and I went to help...and I'm pooped.

Who knew keeping up with a bunch of 8-11 year old boys could be so much work?

But...it was also a lot of fun.

The theme this year is space camp and it was so fun and so well organized...props to the Stake Primary Presidency and the wards who helped out.

Joe got a lot done today, including:

swimming:


making it through the "laser" maze:


learning about aerodynamics:


solar cooking (which I thought was VERY cool):


the obstacle course:


and Joe's favorite: the zip line.


It was a great day!

Let Freedom Ring

It has been such a great weekend. I love the 4th of July and all that it means to celebrate this land we live in and the wonderful freedom we enjoy.

At church today...we sang the Star Spangled Banner and it was wonderful to hear this song in this context and think of it as a song of praise...of worship...and of gratitude.

On Saturday we had a little BBQ and the kids thoroughly enjoyed a wet and wild day.






As well as a loud and colorful one.







And I just wanted to say thanks for all the birthday wishes. I could not have asked for a better birthday, or more thoughtful family and friends. It was a wonderful day.

She's Back

Well...does she look any different? Older? Wiser?



Mikayla came home full of stories of all the fun she had at girl's camp. I am so happy for her. She said it was the best time...she really enjoyed all the activities and is currently regaling us with all the songs she learned at camp. (Fun for us.)

Really...I'm glad that she had such a good time. Better yet, she also had many spiritual experiences that really helped her get a grasp on her own personal testimony and I am most grateful for that.

I think she is really at an age where she is figuring out what is most important, and I know that while her Dad and I still have a lot of influence on her, she is being influenced by other people and in other ways, and I am just so glad that she has set herself on a good path.

If camp helps her walk that path with a little more confidence, then I can't ask for more than that.

Warning: Patheic Mom Alert

Well...I knew the day would come...but I wasn't prepared for it to come so soon.

My firstborn has gone away to her first sleep away camp (Girl's Camp) and I am so unprepared for how much I miss her.

Oh my gosh. Why didn't someone tell me it would be this hard to watch her grow up and get big?

ack.

Seriously. I know she is having a great time. And I know she is in good hands. And I KNOW she doesn't miss me at all.

But, none of that stuff makes me feel any better. And frankly, I can't believe I even feel this way.

Sheesh. I miss my baby.