For my sista'

Some Adventure

Miriam conquered some fears on the zipline and bungee tramp.

The boys hiked from Zion Ponderosa to Observation Point down into Zion Canyon ending at Weeping Rock. The girls and little boys drove through the canyon and then a few of us took the shuttle back through to Weeping Rock to meet them.

There was perfect hiking conditions....overcast with a cooling breeze, and the Weeping Rock was positively waling from all the rain.

On to Annie at Tuachan and then a midnight thrill ride back through Zion Park (have you been on that road?) where Sarah singlehandedly kept my parents truck on the road by squeezing her thighs together in terror.

Lisa and Craig...we can't thank you enough for yet another wonderful visit to your home.

Hey Cuz

Two straight weeks 24 hours a day with cousins.

Miriam heaven.....

especially all the time she got to spend with Madison. Adoration is the perfect word to describe Miriam's feelings for her older cousin.

Just In Case....

Just in case something goes wrong, I wanted to document how beautifully the garden is growing.

We have 4 more tomato plants and 6 giant sunflowers flourishing as well {thanks Diedre}! If things continue, we should have tomatoes to share with everyone come August!

The one thorn in my side is the miniature rose bush. I don't love roses enough to put up with it's constant care schedule {special concoctions dusk and dawn, never ending dead heading, the blasted thorns}....as Anne of Green Gables would say "Give me flowers I can live with".

It's a W. D. Miracle

Cute Wyler Dean was blessed last Saturday. Although it was forecast to be a pleasant day for a BBQ there was rain all day. It rained and rained right up until the blessing was completed and the BBQ began. For 2 hours there was sunshine while we ate, talked, laughed, and little girls gathered worms.

Then the rains began again, I think it was Heaven's way of telling us we had eaten more than enough.

I haven't seen a rainbow in forever it seems, but this double, extra vivid, beauty popped out right before we headed back home.

Father's Day 2007

Father's Day 2009

One of Darin's most favorite things to do with the kids is snuggle. He likes playing games and getting rowdy with the kids, but he LOVES when they are sleepy. While I go crazy thinking of everything going undone, he can hold and snuggle sick kiddos for as long as they would like. So, on the day where Darin gets to choose what we do, there is usually a bit of snuggling involved.

Today wasn't my best attempt at Father's Day, I will admit. I was busy filling in for Young Women's and today was my last opportunity to do my visiting teaching. We did make him a favorite meal, and gave him a soft warm robe. Someone in our ward donated ties for all the men so he got to pick out a new tie as well {see above photos}.

After letting Miriam take over the camera, we sent the kids upstairs to watch a movie while we took a snuggle nap. That robe really is soft and snuggly.
Then I had to run off and do more visiting teaching.

Happy Father's Day to our Grandpas too!!

Young Women activity this week.

Thanks Bakerella!

The Week

We experienced a little piece of Hawaii when our friend Lindsey turned 5.
Isn't that cake so cute, my friend Mirissa is so talented.

This week, playtime has been all about the yard sale. Miriam decided hospitals needed more money so Monday and Tuesday she hauled out old toys and artwork to be sold in order to help out those poor hospitals. Other kids in the neighborhood got involved and they made signs, included face painting, and even sold (ate) candy. Of course no one came, it was held in our back yard with no notice, but the kids seemed to have fun whether or not things sold.

Until things actually did get sold.
There were tears about the photo on the right (M's favorite fairy she painstakingly water colored to match a picture in her fairy book). Luckily, her friends, even though they bought it fair and square, gave it back.
I think the yard sale facination is offically over.

I was dreading youth conference. I cried to Darin on the phone driving over until, as my cousin Kristi would say "I put on my big girl panties".

It was exhausting.

But so amazing as well. When was the last time you: got flung out of a human rubber band, played hi li, sand volleyball, crab soccer, missionary tag, red rover, duck duck goose with water, caught water balloons with a tarp, slide down a water slide, AND participated in a ropes course in 3 days?? (and I sat out of some of the activities). We stayed up past midnight playing more sand volleyball, cards, or just talking. I didn't think I would make it through the ending testimony meeting, but we did and now I am sad it's all over.

I love my ward more and more the longer we stay here. This is exactly the type of neighborhood I hope we find when we move somewhere permanently. You can tell these kids come from good homes...they aren't spoiled and greedy. They know how to work, to have fun, how to participate in silliness without rolling their eyes (an important quality in my book). Most importantly, they are good to each other. There are occasional squabbles but for the most part, they look out for each other.

Bub was excited to see me when I picked up the kids but Miriam was more disapointed that she had to leave Grandma's house. That drive over to Youth Conference would have been ten times worse if I hadn't seen my kids happily settled at my parents house.

They day before I left I took the kiddos to Stake Lagoon Day.

Not happy.

Pleased but ready for more

It wasn't such a hit this year....Miriam says she is ready for the real rides, and Bub isn't all that impressed with merry-go-rounds. The train ride was a highlight, but the coupon for ice cream brought us to a shop right next to the Terror Ride which had Miriam covering her eyes in... well, terror. Being married to Darin has brought to my attention how germ infested everything is and that has taken a bit of foot lose and fancy freeness out of me. I think we need to go at night when I can't see the grime.

I could use a good day of roller coster riding....I wonder if I would love it as much as I did when I was younger.

I'm off to youth conference

Ropes course, dance, water games...you name it. I am feeling exhausted just typing about it.

THANK YOU Mom Dad Sarah Julia and Mark for watching the kiddos!

Lisa....this ones just for you

I'm Picky

When it comes to photos of myself I am very picky {right mom?}. I am rarely happy with pictures. Especially pictures taken in the last 3 years because....let's just get this out there...my weight issues.

But right now I am so happy!

Want to see why? Check these out.

Leah had to deal with ham it up-awkward smile Miriam, and Mr. Uncooperative {I am talking about Bub not Darin here}. It's a testament to Leah's photography skills that she got such great shots especially considering who she was working with.

Thanks Leah, we love them.

Happy Birthday Mom

Wish we could be with you today!

WE LOVE YOU!

For your viewing pleasure.....

Hi! I'm Bub and I like spinach!
It's easy to see where Bub gets his humor from.

I have been french knotting myself through an evening or two...it's addicting, which is okay because you can never have too many french knots.

I currently serve in the Young Women's organization in our church, and since, as a presidency, we feel it's important to celebrate motherhood and give service with our girls, we tie a quilt when a Young Women's leader has a new baby. It's been fun, and the girls have loved it.....until babypalooza began last winter. 3 out of the 4 presidency members were pregnant, and then some advisors too. Me, being the remaning pres member NOT pregnant thought that the girls were getting a bit burned out on the quilt tying...not to mention they weren't really learning any new skills after the 4th one.

So we tried something new

We embroidered onsies. Really simple embroidery {pictured above is a small sampling}.
It was uplifting to sit in a huge circle creating beautiful, yet functional gifts for another woman. Not to get all 'Red Tent' on everyone, but there is something empowering and lovely about the whole thing.

I love being a girl.

Memorial Day 2009

We made it.
We drove 2 & 1/2 hours to have lunch with family and visit relatives graves on Monday. Then we turned around and drove back. It was exhausting, but worth it.

Especially after attending my Uncle Rich's funeral the Saturday before. I was so grateful I had attended Heather's extended family parties when she had hosted them. It made we want to put the necessary effort into bringing my kids to all family parties when they offered {especially given my hesitance of hosting them myself}.

Family connections are so important. I feel that more than ever these days. We need each other.

Besides the important family connections, it is always fun to get together! How else could we get hilarious pictures of Wyler to be used in future high school year book dedications...and then again in his wedding video.

My "Uncle" Richard died last week. I call him "Uncle" with the quotations, because he is actually my first cousin once removed {I think} however, it always felt like he was my Uncle. I knew him more than most of my Uncles. He was sick for a long time, and I knew that, but everytime I saw him {at Heather's parties} he never acted sick....at all. So although I heard stories about hospitals, dialysis, needles, and high fevers it never really matched the person I remember in my head.

Things I remember about "Uncle Richard"
1. I remember his sketches in my book of remembrance...especially the snow white picture, I also remember seeing a black ballerina painting. I don't know where I saw the ballerina but I remember looking at it for a long time.




2. Cars, everyone talked about this red one, but I remember a VW bug.

3. He and Maureen brought the most hilarious white elephant gifts to Heather's party...I still use the turbo twist head towel wrap I ended up with one year.

4. He and Darin once battled it out for a Groundhog's Day DVD. Darin ended up with it {we had brought it}.

5. A welcoming smile, and warm funny conversation. He made me feel at ease.

The cousins

Some second cousins

On our way to the funeral we ran into some problems. Here we are waiting at Taco Time for Sarah to pick us up.

Yep, our car broke down. The alternator...The two times I have broken down on the freeway have both been the alternator.

As we walked from the off ramp to the Taco Time, carrying two car seats, two diaper bags, dressed in our Sunday best, 4 cars stopped to ask us if we needed help. Darin says the only thing that would have made us look more pathetic would have been if I were pregnant.

People are nice.
The car is fixed.

Forgot

I forgot to add this picture to my last post.
Things are getting serious with the kayak.

Good Times

{The flowers I got this year on Bub's birthday from Darin...sweetest tradition ever}

We had good times up north with G'ma and G'pa last weekend. Everyone got to do a little of what they wanted to.

The kids got to watch tons of tv, got attention from Grandparents, and did this:

Darin worked on his yak, meditated a bit and got to watch tv.
I finished a book I adored {The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks}, didn't cook dinner for 3 days {although I should help out more when we go} took naps, and hung fliers for a new gig I am working on....details on that coming soon.

And then there was the time we got to be with G'ma and G'pa, that is priceless.

Bub's Big Day

I could just squeeze this boy all day long. He is joy and laughter.

He can't really say "two" {it's more like ewe" but he can recognize it. He pointed from the 2 candle to the 2 on his shirt with excitement when we brought out the cake. He also shows 2 fingers....but in French {index finger and thumb}.

{the infamous FAT BOY cake}

Bub at 2 is silly and a total tease. He pulls funny faces, does silly walks, makes crazy sounds, and has the most lovable sly grin. He lives to make people laugh, and he is so easily amused himself.

{Bub's new tricycle}

I would say he is more analytical than adventurous, more thoughtful and cautious. But when he masters something {like jumping off the couch} boy oh boy is he happy!

{sending the new Chevron Cars down the driveway}

Bub's favorite book at the moment is a hide and seek ocean book...he really likes the nurse shark. He has a love/hate relationship with dinosaurs...he is totally intrigued but a bit apprehensive.
Current favorite food yogurt and sour cream {not together}
Favorite movie, Kid Guide videos {two kids travel around to zoos and aquariums around the country}.
Bub loves to play anything Miriam and her friends are playing but he can easily go off by himself and play.


This guy is a seriously good dancer. He bobs his head and shakes his hips like no ones business. We have yet to catch this on film as he is too modest.

Bub easily and happily went to nursery from the first day we took him {hope this doesn't jinx us}. His name is so easy to say the other kids yell "BUUUUB!" when he walks in the door. Since he doesn't do much talking he just smiles back.

He is starting to talk. He can say "down" "more" "MAMA!!" and "blue" {as in blue popsicle}. Are you seeing a pattern here? He uses words to get what he needs and leaves that chit chat to his big sister.

Bub gives THE BEST HUGS in the world. How lucky am I to get them mutliple times a day?

We love you little B!!

Thanks for celebrating with us Bub Senior and G'ma C!

Dinner at the Zoo

I wanted to squeeze one more zoo trip in before our pass expired, so I talked Darin into getting off work early and meeting us for dinner and an evening stroll.

We had Cafe Rio by the new carousel and then took our farewell ride for the year {we alternate between Children's Museum passes and Zoo passes}.
Not pictured is Darin riding the peccary...I let him ride while I held Bub since it was his birthday and all.

It was a wonderful evening. It's fun to do the zoo with Darin because he notices funny things the animals are doing and always points out the interesting facts from the info plaques...you just don't stop to read those when it's 2 kids to 1 adult. The BEST PART was that although the zoo was suppose to close at 6:30 pm, it stayed open for a kids art gallery in the monkey house and a jazz performance by some Jr. High jazz band. So we got to stay until 8:30 pm laughing together in the cool evening air.

It seems like yesterday Bub was blowing out his one birthday candle in the Peacock pavilian, but no, it's been a whole year. I can tell when I see pictures like these:

{2008}

{2009}
He is so grown up!
Darin still looks like he is 20 and acts like he is 11.