Summer has brought with it, lunch at the park, suntans, flipflops, bike riding, bubbles (wich are very sticky when your child dumps them on you!) otter pops, naps-glorious-naps!, book reading, and lots of time together.
It has also brought bickering, but we are trying to nip that in the bud! (They can be best friends one minute and the next they make each other crazy!)
Today Jacob and Abby are woodcutting with Dad. Then we will take them to see The Lightning Theif. (which they have been listening to on audio cd, so they are very excited to see the movie.)
Rachel, David, and I will go to the DR. Rachel has an ear infection and had a really rough night. She is such a sweetheart and it is so hard to see her hurt.
The grass is growing and the flowers are blooming.
Time to spiffy up the yard and Welcome Summer.

Sun Devils

My Brother Matthew Graduated from ASU this week.
GO MATT!
We are so proud of him and glad we could share his special day with him.
Tragically I forgot the camera.
So I will tell you what you would have seen.
An Entire Row of the stands filled with Matthew supporters.
Lots of little kids and their parents wrestling to keep them quiet after the novelty of the event had worn off. (It took 2 full hours.)
Snacks, magnet dolls, books, coloring pages, water bottles, sippy cups, cars, and everything imaginable being pulled out of the bag in order to keep some sanity for the kids.
Rachel sleeping on Winslow's lap.
And a sharp looking Matthew walking across stage to get his well earned degree.

Then we had lunch at In and Out Burger. YUM!!
My parents loving took our older kids back to Uncle Mike's house and Winslow and I took the midgets to go power shopping.

The next day we went to the park in Payson so Tami and her family could join us. The kids had tons of fun playing together.

David was estatic about the airplanes. He totally freaks out and yells "ai-pane" over and over again. So Hilarious!

The ride home was not as nice as our quiet ride to the valley.
I was saved by the Quiet game, but not until after Abby was squirted with a water bottle because she would not stop being crazy, then we pulled the car over, then finally we put Abby in the front of the car and started the game. I might have pulled my hair out otherwise!!! Sensory overload!

We had a great weekend and we are so glad to have spent time with family.

Bff's and Chocolate

I love it when Abby comes home. She always has a hug for me.
Today she came home so sad.
What's wrong Abby?
M.'s mom changed her birthday party to Friday and I won't be here!
And of course that's when the tears started to flow. So I sat her on my lap and held her.
She's my best friend mom. We're B.F.F.'s.
Is it wrong that I laughed! I did it in a way that was quiet and seemed like I was crying too. I hugged her tight. And I gave her chocolate. Cause that's what girls do when we are sad.
Oh! I love that girl.

Monday Night

Last night we had dinner very late.
Winslow and Jacob worked on his science project.
That, of course, was due today.

But I totally ignored my kitchen and took time to bathe my baby. Which he absolutely loves.
And then I lotioned him up.
I love the smell of lotion on a baby.
And they are so soft.

Then I wrestled him into a diaper and jammies.
Because even though he loves to have his jammies on, he must fight me out of principle.

Then we had family home evening. And there was at least some reverence.

Winslow adjusted everyone. Because of course we are "all jacked up."

I read to Rachel in her room and David came and sat on my lap.

David and I made the trip to his room for more stories.
And there we read "No, David!" at least 8 times. Because David wanted to read it "again."
It pulled at my heart strings and I couldn't resist.
We sang songs and he begged for more reading.
I tickled him and blew on his neck. And snuggled him in my lap and enjoyed knowing I could clean my kitchen tomorow. Right now, I was loving my baby.

We finished the science project somewhere around 10:30pm.
I do love working on projects with Jacob.
Wish I wasn't such a procrastinator though!

Winslow wants me to mention that we shoveled DUNG earlier in the evening in order to get compost for our garden boxes.
Nothing says "HOT" like swinging a pick axe to break up manure.
Love you Superman.

31

Today I turned 31.

First of all thankyou to my mother and father. You are amazing parents. Thankyou for all you have taught me, and for your continued counsel and guidance.

The morning started off with David crawling into bed much earlier than I was ready to get up. He slid on in with his blanket in tow and we snuggled until the clock reached a more earthly hour. Then good morning kisses from my Superman. (and All I could think was "I have garlic breath from dinner last night!" Good thing he likes me anyway.)

Got up to my clean house that the family cleaned for me last night as a birthday gift to me.

I went on a walk with my girlfriends and their kids. And on the way i was whistled at. I was a little concerned he might be a stalker, but also deep inside I was probably glad to know I'm still HOT!

Painted my toes a pretty pink. then...

Lunch with Winslow and the little guys. David and Rachel fell asleep as we drove around town.

Of course this meant niether one of them would take a nap this afternoon.

Came home and found dozens of messages via phone, cell, and facebook wishing me happy birthday.

Julia brought me a meal. AWESOME.

My sweet Abby made me a message board. I think I will laminate it. She is so creative.
Made Yummy Mexican food. Including Cafe Rio Sweet Pulled Pork and their Yummy Dressing.
Siobhan brought me roses.
Super Man brought me Calla Lillies.
Now I have flowers in every room.
We had dinner with the Hamblins, as it was Bishop's birthday too.
We had lots of good food and Fabulous company.
Mindy made the most amazing Lemon Pie.
She had no idea that's my favorite for my birthday.
We came home and I totally crashed.
It was a fun day.
Loved it

Stake Conference Adventures

This weekend was stake conference. I love stake conference (the part I get to listen to anyway!) Winslow and I attended the adult session saturday night. I was very impressed by the messages given.

Dare to Do Right. Do you remember this song. Sing along. Dare to be true. You have a work that no other can do. ...Dare, dare, dare to be true!

Remember the story of David and Goliath. David a small shepherd boy had enough courage and faith to face a giant and slay him, when no one else would. And yet, later on in life he let a small moment of lust destroy his life. He forgot to be TRUE. He forgot to Dare to Do RIGHT. It is in the small things that we do day to day that make us who we are. If we fail to do the small things right, we will certainly fail in the big things.

Personal and Family prayers, morning and night. Scripture study. Family Home Evening. These are the things that will fortify our homes.

Are we teaching our children? Do they know to what source to look for a remission of their sins?

A counselor in our stake presidency talked of Amelia Earhart. On her historic voyage she made the mistake of lightening her load by leaving behind her Morse code transmitter. She thought surely she would have no problem sending and receiving radio transmissions. But sure enough there were problems and although the radio towers could hear her, She could not hear them.
He also talked of how ducks migrate. Usually the male duck leaves approximately a month prior to the female to prepare a nest. She then flies over a thousand miles and finds the exact spot of her mate, using the sun and night sky to guide her.
What are we using as a guide? Are we using the light of Christ in our lives to guide us? Do we do the simple things which will bring us safely home, or are we leaving important tools behind, neglecting them?  (Please note I was wrestling with a rowdy almost 2 year old so if I missed some exact details I am simply relating the impressions I felt!)

So many good insights. I am grateful for inspired leadership. I am grateful for the gospel to lead me home.

So one of our adventures of stake conference was how LONG we were there. In order to limit the stress of trying to wrestle our children, we timed our arrival at stake conference to about 5 minutes prior to start time...or so we thought. We got there an hour early!!! So Winslow played with the younger kids in the nursery room and Jacob and I saved seats. We got the first row of chairs in the cultural hall. It's so hard to have quiet when your in the chairs. We made it 3/4 of the way thru before we were totally in the hall.

The other adventure has been the SNOW!!!! 3 inches in MAY!!! Kinda crazy. Although I will take the snow over the 60mph winds we had this week. SO ready for some warm weather.