Oh My Handsome!

This picture made me do a double take.

Bub has always been cute as a buttermilk biscuit, but in this picture I see a handsome little boy he has turned into.

I took the 2 older kids to a city park viewing of Tangled one evening during the summer.

This is something we hope to do again next summer. Although, we would bring a picnic, pillows, and playing cards to pass the time till the movie starts.

Sweet Times with Anna

We had a few chances to get Miriam and Anna together during the summer.

Once for a grown up girls luncheon, which lead to a darling french bakery.

For creme glacee, and macaroons.

So easy to pretend we were in France, really easy since M and I have never been there.

Then.....

to a Fairy Doll Tea Party at Gardner Village

This time with the boys, who didn't mind all the glitter and flowers because they got shiny airplanes.

And then.....

A sleepover, complete with another tea party at Anna's house.

How perfect to be 7 with a 7 year old cousin so close by.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Our last meeting of the summer book club and I forgot my camera.

It was a bummer because we had the quintessential summer party.

Penguin art, ice cube relay, lots of otter pops at a local park.

It was a fun book, the kids loved it (Miriam is reading it for a second time by herself), but it didn't really compare to the other Newbury honor books I have read. Not much emotion or deep thinking evoked. Just easy reading and very fun, which I guess is best for the varied ages of our group. We are all intrigued to see the movie because the trailers didn't look at like what we read. We'll have to see what Jim Carrey has to offer.

Soren is getting a hang of the whole picture taking stuff.

What a cheese-ball he is.

Back in the Saddle again!

Here is our 2nd grader

Sending her off was virtually painless.

It really helps that she is so darn excited to go.

There was a tug at my heart string when a friend mentioned that she remembered Miriam's backpack looking so huge on her. Now, starting her 3rd year of school, it fits perfectly.

There goes that heart tugging again.....

Back To School Eve

Luckily, Darin forced me to take a nap after church.

I have a cold, and cried too much at church (just released from Young Women's) so I was dead to the bone tired. I was so tired and ornery I was determined NOT to take a nap, but luckily I was forced.

The nap made it possible for the back to school dinner and events to go on.

Brain food menu:

Veggies (our first tomatoes!)

Panko crusted cauliflower

Fish sticks

and Paula Deans chess-man pudding only, as pictured above, I used alphabet cookies to spell out a hidden message. Can you find it??

We read a "Value Tale" about Louis Pasteur and believing in your-self.

Mid story Soren threw a horrendous fit.

I took him away while Darin gave the kids back to school blessings.

I think they went well because when I finally had Soren taken care of I came down to find them like this:

Happy, sweet and ready to start a new school year!

Miriam's Wonderful Week

Miriam got to stay with Aunt Sarah for the week which means she was spoiled rotten!

She also got to go to dance class with Aunt Julia, which means she is very lucky!!

and....she got to sleep on the trampoline at Grandma and Grandpa's house which means she can't wait to do it again!

The boys and I went to pick her up and attend International Days

(fondly referred to as Intertrashional Days, only because a lot of people tend to wear the smallest amount of clothing possible to the events).

Cousins in the Encore colors

Miriam is in a borrowed uniform, Julia is always making sure she feels apart of everything Encore. It's so sweet of her, one of M's greatest sadness is that she can't take dance from Julia.

Celebrating National Dance Day with Encore Studio plus Carbon High and Emery High Drill Teams.

The boys were sick of the entertainment BEFORE Encore entered the stage.

I don't blame them since it was 6 demonstrations of aerobics.

(Jab Cross Upper Upper okay okay we get it already)

The Parade

(outside of JC Penny where we could feel the air conditioning on the street!)

Soon after this picture, Soren face planted into the gutter and had a bruised forehead for the rest of the trip.

The Park

Grandma's House

It was flippin' awesome!

Sunscreen Hair Gel

The other thing Miriam missed was our neighborhood sprinkler party.

(Don't feel too bad for her, she was at carnival camp AND going to dance classes with Aunt Julia.)

Last year we were out almost every afternoon till dusk but this year it seems everyone has been too busy (I know we have been). I guess the kids are just growing up and getting more involved with other things. It was good to get together. I live by some wonderful, hilarious, insightful women. I will miss the era of getting through afternoons of entertaining babies and toddlers together.

Soren's hair seriously stayed that way the entire time.

He is just as wild as his hair, and completely attached to me at this time. He is either falling off something, tearing something apart, or in my arms, BUT that's another post entirely.

My favorite Bub idiosyncrasy at the moment is his raising eyebrows. He will tell you something like...."I can jump weally high like a ninja" or "did you know my shoes make me wun weally fast as a cheeta" and then move his eye brows up and down for emphasis.

They have my heart that is for sure.

Indian in The Cupboard

Miriam was gone for our Indian in the Cupboard book discussion, so the boys had to represent!

My Dad's childhood Tonto costume turned Bub into Chief Little Bear.

I tried to make Soren wear a loin cloth like a little Indian baby but he wouldn't have it so we settled on a white onesie and shorts.

Our host family built a Tee Pee for the occasion. Their backyard is a little boys wonderland anyway....so might as well add an amazing Tee Pee.

They went above and beyond, grillin' hot dogs and hamburgers. The kids ran around like wild cowboys and Indians while the mothers sat and talked.

gotta love the Woody Walrus

The girls were there too, I just missed the photo op.

The kids LOOOVED this book. Darin loved this book as a child. I enjoyed it, I was entertained by the book but not captivated. Although the idea is fascinating, I guess its not written in the style that grabs me. I did love reading the unfamiliar British phrases and names.

This is one of the cute crafts the kids put together.

Did I mention our hostess is 8 1/2 months pregnant in August?

It's nice to have such productive friends.

Day 4 Continued....

We ventured home after Darin returned from the Cable Mountain hike.

It's always hard to leave, but easier this time because we, along with Lisa and Emily, met Aunt Nonnie and Uncle James at

BRAD'S FOOD HUT

Darin and I splurged and ordered English Chips and Fried Mushrooms. When you are eating at a "Hut" you need to embrace the greasy goodness.

Thank you Aunt Nonnie for the quarter toys you bought for the kids. They boys are still playing with those huge bouncy balls!

We then had 4 hours of driving to get to my parents house for 24th of July fireworks!

We got to hang with Tater-Tot and Wy-Guy!

Uncle Jared supplied the entertainment.

He warmed us up with fountains but stunned us with a huge finale.

Colorful explosions one after another (18? 20?) that seemed directly above our heads.

I kept ducking thinking that the sparks were going to land in my hair.

Bub is skittish around fireworks and my screams of terror helped solidify his distrust.

Soren, however is thrilled by the noise and excitement.

Yea for Pioneers!!

We dropped Miriam off with my sister Sarah for an entire week and then drove the final 2 hours home.

Day 4 Cable Mountain

Darin went on this hike with Lisa and Craig & Craig's brother and sister-in-law while I stayed with the kiddos. Darin stayed with Soren while I went to Little Mermaid so I wanted him to be able to do something fun.

I don't know much about this hike since I didn't go, but this structure was how they lowered lumber down into Zion Canyon for the lodges.

I just hope the hikers kept a safe distance and did not lean or climb on the frame.

It's UNSAFE!