Siesta, Anyone?

I seriously considered joining Curves because I saw a coupon for a free membership sign up. I figured a monthly fee, plus a set time to go would be motivating. Good thing I thought to ask their hours. They're open from the wee hours of the morning 'til late at night. The only catch is they close for a few hours after lunch, the very time all my kids are at school and I could go. I began having blissful flashbacks of my study abroad days in Espana. Big lunches, nice long naps...

Oh well, at least I can feel good for trying :)

Smiles are over-rated

I recently read on a professional photographer's Web site that smiles are over-rated. I would have to agree, but it's something that can be easily forgotten. Often, as parents we work SO hard to get a good smile, when really if we can capture innocence, concentration, or a sense of wonder, that often makes for a much better picture. So, out of my several hundred, here's a couple that captured the real moment!

Playin' with Grammy

Brazilian Festival

We lucked out with a sweet, free parking spot in the shade, got to taste some yummy Brazilian cuisine, do a little dancing to the beat, and hear some "pork-a-jeez" as Macy calls it.

Just Because

My college room-mates used to tease me because every time they'd make a cake, I'd ask, "Who's Birthday is it?" They'd always say, "Does it have to be someone's B-day to make a cake?"

I've had many experiences lately that have made me appreciate Myles more and more. So, even though it's not his B-day or our anniversary, I want to tell him how much I love him, just because.

It hit me pretty hard the other day while standing on my grandma's porch with Macy singing Happy B-day to her that my grandpa was happy we were doing that for her because he's not here anymore to get to do it himself.

So, maybe it's because our youngest just graduated from her car seat into a booster, or because I've been seeing signs like, "Big Divorce, Big Garage Sale Ahead" and "Happily Single, finally!" that I'm more aware of the speed of our days and the fragility of some relationships, wanting to embrace mine a little tighter.

Although our house is still a work in progress, it's definitely a home. And, on that day that the washing machine was having problems and the vacuum cleaner wouldn't work, I could say, "It's OK because we have each other and we're not broken!"

When I see college students texting and flirting, hoping for a good match, I wonder if they know the meaning of love. That it's coming home to a husband up to his elbows in a triple batch of zucchini bread because his mother has taught him to bake and not to waste, and he loves her, and he loves his wife who was too tired and too busy to do anything with the zucchini that day, or even that week. It's having your preschooler light up like it's Christmas morning because this same amazing man took her on a special Daddy Daughter date to celebrate that she's done sucking her thumb. I want to let them know that true love is having a sleepless night (again) and waking up to school lunches already made, giving you a little extra time to get your girls' hair ready for picture day.

So, go ahead and make a cake today...just because.

Macy: I guess I really are a preschooler now

because I don't suck my thumb anymore!

Here's Macy on her first day of school with her "Happy Book." Cute barrette compliments of Aunt Emily and cute outfit compliments of Gram. She could not wait to start and said goodbye to her good 'ol parents before we could even walk her into her classroom! She gave her teacher a huge hug and went off to build a rest home with the blocks "for the old people." Every morning, her first question is, "Do I get to go to preschool today?" We feel blessed that she gets to have such a wonderful experience.

No Labor for us, just fun!

We found a new trail to hike. We saw some fun, big houses.
Carly: Whoa, is that a hotel?
Me: No, that's someone's house. (There were about 7 levels with a full court b-ball court, in ground swimming pool, deck, mansion, etc.)
Carly: They're SO rich. They even have TWO dogs! (I guess if that's all it takes, maybe we'll be rich someday)! That would be so fun to play hide and go seek in, but it would be so retiring.

We had a fun family bike ride (the girls rode with Myles and I running behind) to a Latin Festival where Myles bought a stomp rocket, a big hit. It's pretty much PVC pipe attached to a 2 liter bottle that you fill with air and then stomp on to set the rocket flying.

The first pic. cracks me up because our camera was zoomed in as far as it could be and you can still hardly see Robyn and Carly, but they still really wanted us to take it.

Dancer with a new Do

Pointing and flexing, ready and waiting, waiting to go.

First day back to dance...

...with a new hair cut from Dad. She told him she wanted it up to her eyebrows, so this was "in the middle." I'm amazed at how much thicker it makes her hair look. She was so excited for her first class after the summer that we had to set a timer, so she'd stop asking every minute if it was time to go yet. She loves to dance. She really loves her teacher.

Larry the Cucumber...

or a zucchini wearing a cowboy hat! The girls have had fun helping make zucchini bread.

Tumbler

Carly (and Robyn and Macy) had fun trying out tumbling this summer!

I did gymnastics as a kid and loved it. There hasn't been a time since that I've been as strong and flexible!

Garden Girl

Macy: I don't like tomatoes.
Me: Really?!
Macy: I LOVE them! ha, ha, ha.

The top pic. was taken this summer and the bottom three were from last summer. It's amazing how much she's changed and grown up in on year! Although, her love for tomatoes has definitely stayed the same.

I remember when Macy was a baby and she'd crawl around the garden, plucking tomatoes off the vine for herself, eating them like apples, even the green ones.

Ahh, so many fun summer memories!

The day at the beach with my kids and nieces and nephews reminded me of when I used to go to Wilmington with my brothers, cousins, aunts, and uncles. All you need is some sand and water and kids are content for a long, long time!

I'm not sure if we ate enough Oreos, pie, homemade Smart Cookies, cobbler, ice-cream cones, German cake with broiled frosting... In general, there was always a worry of a lack of food at these reunions. Ha, ha. I think Costco was very grateful for our gatherings!

It was so nice to just hang out, play games, and enjoy each other with Tom and Sue, and everyone at the reunions.

Robyn had fun learning to play Nertz and celebrating her B-day and Granddad's with everyone.

We had fun playing hockey, the killer frog game, and ultimate frisbee, having sing-alongs with the guitar, going hiking, and just being together!

The comedy night with the siblings and mom and dad was fun, too.

Even though the kids have been back in school for a few weeks now, I'm still in denial that summer is really over. But, as I look up at the mountains and can start seeing the oranges and yellows trickling down, I'm trying to embrace the joys fall will bring.

Watson Family Reunion

Tom and Sue's Visit

Knighton Family Reunion

The Power of Prayer

Last Saturday, when I was driving home from the library with the girls, a car turned right in front of us to enter an apartment parking lot. I had to slam on the brakes. Books went flying. I was amazed. Amazed that the driver didn't seem to see us at all, amazed that we were fine.

I was even more amazed when Myles told us that while he was at work that afternoon, out of the blue, he felt like he should pray for us, and so he did.

The next day at church, Carly shared our experience in her talk with the Primary children. We'd talked all month about the miracles Jesus performed while he was on the earth and concluded with the theme, "When I have faith, I recognize miracles in my family today." We really are blessed with miracles almost every day, whether we always recognize them or not.

Do you have any you'd like to share?

Four Stars

I loved reading the Ramona Quimby books as a kid with my mom and have loved reading them with my girls. I wanted to take Robyn to see the movie for her B-day, but wasn't sure how good it was going to be. We loved it! It was touching and funny. I thought they did a good job of combining things from the different books. And, it made it extra fun that we could enjoy it with Aunt Sue while she was visiting! This was one that my girls just couldn't stop talking about.

We were also excited to discover a theater that has $3 movies and $1-2 popcorn!

Presents

I don't know who was more excited, the givers or the receiver. The girls just LOVE picking out and wrapping B-day surprises!

"Happy Birthday to a girl who's as beautiful and rare as an August snowflake."

A coloring book to remember our summer dollar movie.

Y on a Mountain Top

We were standing on top of the world the morning of Robyn's B-day! It was fun that her Activity Days' leaders planned this one.

Personal Assistant

Robyn only does her own hair now (I'm not allowed to touch or suggest), and she thinks it's fun to do Macy's, too. I wasn't lucky enough to have sisters growing up, and was grateful for my cousin, Lucy, who did my hair for me whne we were together. She could do cool French braids and even fishtails. Myles, our girls' personal hairdresser, who has 5 sisters, has cut their hair since these pics. were taken.

For Mother's Day, the girls made a job chart, and still use it (with Myles' love and support). Nothing like a gift that keeps on giving! Robyn was so proud of her pile from sweeping that she wanted me to take a pic. so she could show Myles who was at work.

This was one of those Magical Mother Moments when I came up the stairs to find the girls happily scrubbing the floor together!

The Hottest from July and Aug.

Macy: I wish we had automatic everything, like automatic sunscreen that didn't get you in the eye and automatic house builders. You know, everything that is hard to do yourself.

Carly: Drink all the water you can hold, then you have to go pee. (Her version of Desert Pete).

Macy: I love you more than... (road) construction!

Macy: Do you know what your name is?
Myles: What?
Macy: Angel.

Macy's questions of the month: What's your favorite letter? What's your favorite number? What's your favorite name?

Macy (singing): The pioneers were so strong. When they got to Utah, they thought, 'This this world is plain.' So, they built a temple and they got married and then got some babies!

(The girls were fighting and sent to bed without stories) Robyn: Mom, could you pah-lease think of a less severe punishment?!

Macy: I love you, Mom. There's a smile in my eye.

Macy: I love you more than a plum tree...that's a big tree!

Macy: I like to look for rainbows. It makes my heart beat faster.

Macy (praying over our blueberry pancakes): Thank you, Heavenly Father, for sending us to this earth...so we could eat good food!

Macy: When I grow up, I want to be a poodle!

Macy: When I wakened, I had my whole God in my heart.

Macy (unscrewing the childproof vitamin lid): Wow, I'm talented. Aren't I very talented?

Macy to me: You're the luckiest person in the world! Do you know why? You have a peach tree AND a plum tree!

(We'd found a different Goldilocks book at the library) Macy: I like this virgin!

Macy (after taking out her pigtails, having poofy hair and looking in the mirror): A fat, fat hairdo on a skinny, skinny woman!

Macy: Mom, I love you more than anyone else in the world, more than you could fit in a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.

Macy: My baby (doll) is real sick. She had a sore throat and now she has die-ah-ree-yah. She needs to be on a special die-out and only eat things like rice and bananas.

Carly: Nanny said she didn't have TV when she was a little girl. She listened to the radio. Yeah, General Conference on the radio.
Me: Those radios were really big just like computers used to be really big, as big as a whole room.
Carly: Cool! You could jump on the buttons like C-A-R-L-Y?

Macy (while playing with light sabers with her cousins): Look, Mom! We're mannequins! (I think she meant Anakin).

Macy (singing): You're my mom and you're my dad. Lu lu lu la lu. I love you!