Random Summer photos

Random Photos are the best!


Here we have #2 being signed by her Cute Grandma

She loves to dance --------

Almost everyday #4 wants to know if its Monday so that she can go to dance class. It's so extra cute! She is taking tap and ballet. - She loves to show her new moves! Plus, all her little friends are in the same class- which is bonus joy for her!

Twin Day

Welcome to Twin Day - #1 and #2 were twinned up with their matching shirts, shorts and sticks -

FEEL the LOVE!

These pictures are just stuck in here because I love them and I didnt' go back to the actual entry - they should be included in.....

they were taken in June - while we were at home in Idaho - I suppose I love it because there I don't have to be the Mom all the time - there I get to be the daughter and relax into the old days.


This cute Auntie A - is so tender with all the nieces and nephews- they feel her love and give it right back! So- #5 and cousin D are enjoying the benefits of their birth.

COMPANY

In July we had company - the Sweetheart's sister and her children stayed with us for a couple of weeks - they were yearning for the 110 degree heat.
It was good renew relationships - This is the first time we've seen them since they moved to vermont 2 years ago.

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Our Crew and the Vermont cousins!

Sweetheart's Fam, Father and Sisters! Left to Right- Aunt D, (vermont) Aunt L, PapaTito, and Aunt M!

Cousins are the BEST!

These two - dancing up a storm - getting a little grove on!


I CAN SEE!



Our #two finally got some sight going on - and Wow - she's a doll.


BUBBLES ANYONE?

So bubble bath + jets = way too much fun!

#2 Turned EIGHT

What a special day to be 8 and be Baptised.......

On the 15th of August
surrounded by those who love her - including all of her grandparents, she made one of the most important decisions in her life. I've never seen someone so excited. She was bouncing with anticipation!

While Auntie S. took the picture - the rest of the party put on our best smiles.

I can't believe she is eight. After she was baptised, I met her in the dressing room and she was beaming with the most radiant smile. She looked at me with pure joy and exclaimed,
"I am baptized!"



What a lovely young lady - we are so thankful to be her parents.


It was a beautiful day- Pink cast and all.

On to SUMMER!

Summer Vacation






swim little ones

You know summer break in Arizona isn't the same as in other regions of the country. We have to fill our summer days escaping the sun! So we spent the hours with swimming lessons, karate class, summer movies and visits to the library. You can go out after dark for a little non-water outdoor activity but mostly people around here stay in doors, or just leave....and go North- anywhere North!

The kids all loved swimming lessons. I tried to schedule them at the earliest times available, because while the offspring were being aquatically educated - #5 and I were melting. We did bring ice water and a spray bottle to spritz ourselves but that half hour was a cooker! We saw fabulous progression from everybody - thanks teen swim instructors!

IN JUNE -


Little sister and her Eternal family.


this picture just didn't want to be big- I tried.

We (the sweetheart, #5 and I) did a quick trip Home - Idaho way, to attend a momentous event. My youngest sister, spouse and her darlings were sealed together for time and forever more! Oh - the joy! Plus, we were able to meet our new little nephew - who was born in May.


Then in July -

We made the crazy long trek to Idaho for our annual 4th of July Reunion. As usual it was so very much fun and a highlight of the summer. I just can't get enough of those Parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins kids etc. You might have noticed that I didn't mention sisters - well that could be because non of them showed. Pretty lame - but we did get some great quality one on one with the Parentals.



#2 Eating Chow with the Parentals


The Sweetheart hanging with Cute little Daddy



The Whole gang!
#5, #1, the Sweetheart, #2, #3 and #4 hanging in the common area at the Family Reunion.

If you look really close you can see #5, me and my darling Aunts. I sure do love these incredible ladies. If everyone could be so lucky ........

We were camped next to this wilderness hill that the kids kept wanting to hike and explore - So they got all suited up with their tennis shoes, sunglasses and water bottles and even found a courageous good sport to be their escort up the mountain side - and off they went. "Auntie" as she is referred to as by #4 - is seen here displaying their wondrous find. It ended up being the complete skin of a rattle snake - #1 and #3 were thrilled - we the parents - on the other hand thought it wise to halt the hiking excursions and find other less - dangerous activities to do......they were not pleased.

After our 4 days days in the hills - we headed to Boise. I had to get my Idaho fix plus, I wanted to see at least one of my sisters - so my eldest ventured down to bond with us for a few days.

We had so much fun taking out the ol' boat to Lucky Peak-. Most likely the unspoken nick-name of this vessel is"Ol' Reliable" - in the most sarcastic form possible. But on this occasion, to every ones pleasure and surprise - it started right up and we had a delightful afternoon. Every grandchild had the chance to captain the boat and I even tried water skiing after years of not.... I did get up but man "It ain't like it used to be". The kids still thought it was cool - and that's all that matters - right?Now this little photo of #5 and Little Mother on the dock - had a mind of it's own so just tilt and squint - it's worth the effort.

I do have some other really cute photos of this day and Boise - so stay tuned again....because it's so worth waiting for.......

Yes, we're back!

Sorry about the long "missing in action-ness" of this blog. We only have a few visitors but to those few - da da da daw - "We are back!"

I should go back and cover the last six months but . . . .I'm just going to cover summer - which is a good place to start since my kids are going back to school next week = Eeek!

(Ok, so I started this blog entry in August and now it's almost November - terrible!)

So - here we go -

I should tell you that I have the coolest family ever! In January the Sweet Heart and I celebrated 10 years of marriage bliss! Yipeee! For the occasion two of my darling sisters forced us on a week-end get away, while they tended our offspring. They are simply amazing! The Week-end get away was a great reminder of - oh yeah this is why we fell in love!


Here are all the kids and their way cool Aunts after performing our welcome home rap.

Shortly after that fun time, my eldest sister and her spouse showed up on my stairs for a four day visit! Hurrah! Out of all the places to go on their gettaway - they chose to spend it with us!

What an honor! Although I have to tell you that my speechless stare was not quite the reaction big sister was anticipating and wanting. - Sorry - I don't do ultra-shocked in a jumping screaming way -I do ultra-shocked-in a silent stare - what in the world -way. Next surprise I'll do better.

Next, we'll jump to Spring Break Except for the two previous years, tradition has been to go down to Mexico with the Sweethearts family. It is one of the few places where us, as parents, can actually relax on a vacation. The in-laws are dedicated Rocky Point attendees and arranged for beach front spots at our traditional RV park. Along the lovely beach front we set up our econo sized tent, surrounded on three sides by large, fancy professional RVers. We had a marvelous time -besides the fact that all our family, excluding Sweetheart were burned to a crispy red. The beach has such a gradual slope, without strong waves, and being that there were fewer tourists then usual - we were able to bask in the sun and peacefully enjoy the days. We also were able to take a Big boat night ride around the bay, rented a ski doo (for an hour) and borrowed Papa V's Rhino to go all around the sand dunes. And, don't forget all the yummy food and good company.

Auntie D and Papa Tito on a sunset cruise we all went on together.

It is so very fun to cruise the dunes - thanks Papa Tito for letting us use your toy!

It's hard to tell but we're all cooked. #4 there in red could hardly see out of her eyes the next day.
Yes, even the adults enjoyed the ski-du. #5 was the only was who didn't get a turn.

We have come to know that this beach is the best kid entertainment/parent relaxer ever! The beach is huge and has such a gradual slope, with mellow waves.

The girls got the traditional Rocky Point Braids - cute and you don't have to do hair for several days - nice!
After dinner family shot.

Another reason why we love the beach.

Then we enjoyed a lovely summer! I am speaking of the experiences not of the local weather (but I do have to say that this summer, minus the past three weeks , has been the mildest in years.

Summer Begins

Just before school got out -memorial day week-end when we took off to California for an the extended week-end. We had a very nice visit with a great missionary companion of the Spouses, and his family. We also enjoyed a few hours at ----Beach. It was fun. We did have a challenge though trying to find family size parking.

I have to mention that the hotel we stayed at was so cozy - with a bed for everyone, plus a kitchen - and at a SUPER price. You know when you make reservations, one of the questions is not "Do you have 2 adults and five children?"

We also had to spend a day with our dear Aunt Ina and Uncle Blaine. We shared Ina's 85-ish birthday pie and had a wonderful time just visiting with these people we love.

Stay tuned for the actual summer time posting - I am hoping it will be arriving sooner than later.

Picture Test!

This might look familiar to some but we refer it is as
"Super Friends and the Indian Princess."
Halloween usually goes as follows - we attend the school fall festival and then the church Trunk or Treat where the kids score on candy candy candy - then Halloween night we figure we've had plenty of treats and dressing up so off we head (with several other families) to the dollar movie. It's a fun two year tradition and we avoid some of the too spooky halloween stuff

So - anyway - my own food for thought

I suppose that I should have waited until the husband was home to attempt more photos...I really use to be able to do this solo - so certainly I will just have to blame it on the technology and not on my incapability. There really are so many darling photos and when they are presented you will surely swoon with glee at viewing them. And - it will be a lengthy time of enjoyment since it is now January and I need to sum-up October thru current day. Now just a random thought. When you write the word is it thru or through? I always assumed that thru was just the lazy mans way - but that's me. Well, I just did spell check and all the thru s were highlighted. So there we have it! Anyway....life goes on and as of late it has been somewhat educational. Sometimes there is "stuff" going on in the world/government that is necessary to know to avoid naivety but at the same time not knowing is so much better on the nerves. I have a new respect for certain key figures but as for other individuals/groups I feel quite deceived. I have concluded that I will need to simply obey the Prophet's counsel to have peace and direction - and to be only somewhat informed by outside sources - and that will do well enough for me.

As for the wee ones of the family - they are busily going about their days. School to some of them is merely an necessary evil - so we are working on the joy of learning. It has become apparent that if you just hang out and chat with your kids -let them share and be actively involved in the conversation - they - me - we are so much more happy. It doesn't matter the age - #1 wants to discuss the intricacies of lego building, while #2 shares her latest song she's written, then #3 just needs the one on one about anything, then #4 wants to talk in the bathroom to her "flusher" buddy - so she's not alone. And finally, #5 just soaks it all in and wants to show you all that she's learned. Oh, and then we can't leave out the Daddy sweetheart who needs his attention as well. After the kids are in bed, while we watch our few DVR regulars - he needs to share about his day the thoughts he's had....and I can do the same. And I suppose that is how the world goes round more smoothly - when everyone feels like their voice is heard and that what is said is important. It is crazy that sometimes we come to the realization of things after significant amounts of time have gone by - and whether we have been doing them already or we are just beginning ....it is good to see the value and continue the behavior. This is my own food for thought.

What the world!

This must be one of the most neglected blogs around. Truly - I do intend to create a lovely entry of our days and adventures. After Halloween it seems time speeds right up and now before I can breath two breath(e)s (is that how you spell that?) - it is 3 weeks before Christmas. I intendto post some photos as soon as I am reunited with my camera and inquire of the husband why my last photo display only portrayed number sequences.
I am still on a high after venturing to my homeland to spend some days with my family there. They are a joy! My best pleasure is to be together with my little family and my big family! I have to cherish every moment because the opportunity as of late, has only been about twice a year. But, I am thankful for those two occasions. Everyone must have a trial in life and I suppose if missing my family is the most difficult one I am given - then I suppose I can endure. Being away from my mother, father and my sisters is sad enough and if you add in the economic and moral decay of our nation - anyone listening from above, please no more - my trial meter is full. Actually, we have been very blessed and I am full of gratitude for the many gifts we've received. We are healthy, we have a solid roof over our heads, we have income, we have friends, we have the gospel and we have a lot of love.
I guess one reason for not getting to the blog or other fun sideline activities - is the current seriousness of life. The depth of thought, the analysis of the state of the world, the preparation needed to meet the needs of the family - All out weigh - other trivial activities. Not that blogging is trivial - it can be a source of glee
and momentarily distract one from reality. So - these ramblings are just thoughts as I end this Sabbath night. Work hard, pray often, contemplate, find joy in living and find opportunities to give happiness to others, remember from whence the blessing come and thank Him for those gifts. All is well, all is well.