Nick Shines

Boo. My photos randomly uploaded in reverse chronological order.  Blast.

Any who, Nick went to Homecoming Saturday night with the cutest girl in our ward, Megan. Her red shoes didn't come in time, but I thought they were so darling.  I bought the red flowers and suggested her red shoes to match his red swoosh.

Nick's bestie, Witten.  I love Nick's grin in this -- you can almost hear his laugh right through the photo.

It was Austin's turn to help the pre-dress process.😍

Earlier that day, we spent eight hours at a qualifying meet melting in Phoenix.  Both Nick and Maddie beat their personal records, but Nick was disqualified. BOO!  When we rewatch the race, we can't see anything wrong at all. 

After a few very sad tears, Austin helped him learn from his mistake and just move on.

He's so high above the water.  Impressive.

The starting block.

New carpet means a house full of misplaced furniture.  It's been a long month of painting and trim, but we're happy with the results.

Thursday was our dental day.  Our dentist is kind of a big deal.

She had her first cavity, so she was very sad.  (Her apple outfit complete with red shoes and apple earrings made me so happy.)

I sent this quote to my peeps.  

Just a few things to note:

Austin: Flying debris on the road blasted into his car, but Molly's prayer of safety was literally answered. 

Nick: Locked his keys in his car, but I rescued him.

Eddie: He helped Molly with her dictation, but read her "Mary Poopins" instead of "Poppins."  I was confused for one millisecond when I corrected her work.  I did leave the "Poopins."

Maisie called, "I'm tired."  Ryan rebuttaled, "I'm not!"

Elder Babcock while chatting with the big girls, "I definitely want to hang out with you.  You'll help me keep my covenants -- it's gonna be so lit." 

"I've moved."  (That's a bit painful for me, because I have to memorize another address.)  

"Two weeks, then two transfers and I come home."

"What's my fortune, Mo-Mo?"  He chose the numbers, 70-26-66-30.  He was unprepared that she actually pushed her fortune teller back and forth that many times.  

"We getting ribs Sundaaaaay!"

"Oh my goodness, I miss protein."

Meg was MIA this week.  It turns out that she was super anemic, so she was sleeping 16 hours each day. My poor baby, with 2-14 oz. babies inside of her.  An iron supplement quickly solved that. 

"Chippy the squirrel lives in my ceiling, but he's always working."  Elder Babcock commented, "Respect the grind."

Maisie: "All my clothes marinade in pumpkin spice waffle."

FAMILY TIME

Austin has been wanting to camp with the family for six months.  He stopped everything in his life to make it happen.  The result?  A very happy family.

Just one hour by car dumps us out of the desert and drops us into the high steppe forest.  Which means that there are trees, trails and lower temps that ensure lots of fire building, dirt-bike riding and loving.

Molly found the perfect spot for a workshop, whereupon she gathered all sorts of forest treasures and created potions and play.

Eddie was all about building mini fires.  He spent most of his time hanging and swinging in his hammock.

Maddie sped over all the trails -- this girls is not afraid of speed (proof: She qualified provisionally for state with the 200m realy team as a freshy).  She read her book and just listened to Austin teach Nick about saving money for retirement.

Nick played in the fire with Ryan.  He carried all the heavy gear ad set up and took down the tents with Ryan as his shadow.  Nick's high-pitched cackle rang into the trees deep into the dark hours.  Ryan rides his bike methodically and predictably, which is shocking, because that's not how he does most things.  

So much love around a fire.  We were all asleep by 9pm.

Molly's Rides

Breakfast wasn't too early, because we had no time frame.  After our CFM, we played outside.

Austin taught Molly how to ride the dirt bike.  Her squeals and yelps were heard all over the forest.

The boys played frisbee, and Molly and I took a walk.

Camping was for sure the highlight of the week, but here are a few other events not to be missed:

I time lapsed our 30 minutes PE lift.  Watch the last four seconds over and over to see how the children creatively used their heavy weights to trap each other. PE 

Nick grew a full head taller than me this year!  He barely weighs more.

Maddie and I found ourselves in Walmart (post ministering) during the 8pm hour, and we liked it.

Molly wanted a yogurt, but she couldn't reach; she asked Eddie to help her.  

We studied the Parthenon this week.  After recording five facts, they build a structural replica.

Just as I as pining about visiting Greece to really view the Acripolis, we noticed that a replica is in Nashville, TN.  It was Wednesday, so when Andy called we asked him if he'd been there.  He told us, "I was just at the Parthenon yesterday with a Greenie."  We then begged for pictures; he obliged.

When it rains, Molly dances.

Instead of doing their "work," they puzzled.

Nick and Maddie's swim meet was cancelled due to weather.  We are sooo hoping we get to see them race.

Of course the grandparents were there, and of course I spent all afternoon making a delicious picnic dinner, only to come home and eat it, again.

The report from the relocators is:

Meg: She called Thursday night while I was deep cleaning Maddie's basement space.  She listened to my every word and sympothized with the good and bad.  She pulled up pictures of Baby A and reported to Andy, "This is my baby's face!  Isn't she so cute?'  I loved hearing her express their excitement to be parents and "meet these two babies that we've been dreaming about for so long."  She's 25 weeks, "only 11 more to go."

Andy: "These are the pants President Galland gave me.  He gets sponsored by a whole bunch of cool companies, so he has extra stuff."

"I'm known as the 'clean elder'."

He was a team leader at a service project packaging oats.  "My team packed the most."

"I ate 30 plates of sushi with 4 pieces on each plate.  My stomach was hard to the touch, because it was filled with rice."

"I'm pretty confident that I can grow a pretty good mustache now."

Maisie retorted, "Oh, all the boys here have mustaches.  They are carbon copy Provo boys."

She also reported: 
"I'm so glad I have Makena."

"I need to write a social contract, because I spent at least an hour washing everyone's dishes each day."

Andy solved her issed, "Just put them on their beds.  Take their dirty dishes and put them in their own space.  If I was there, I would walk in and say, 'Who are the filthy wretches that live here?  I would never marry anyone who lived like this!'"

Maisie told him, "That would probably work, because my roommates have seen a picture of you, and they told me that they would happily by my sister-in-law."

Maisie also said, "OK, summer camp is over.  I've met just great people, but I can't wait to never see them again."  It hit her that this is her new life, and she's not coming home to reboot.

She also went "hammocking" and needed Makena to rescue her.  She tried out swing dance club and was thrown around like a baby.  She called a co-worker "Chris" all morning, but his name was "Matt."  Tanner and Aly took her to lunch at Qualtrix, and she was so happy to eat their delicious meal.  She also makes her English professor cackle out loud and loves being a really smart ditz.

As September Settles In

Our 83* weather was waaaaay tooooooo cold for a swim party, so I suggested a few friends meet with a picnic lunch and play games to celebrate Labor Day.  It was a success!  Nick was the best catcher.  Maddie was the best runner.  Eddie was the best flag puller.  Ryan was the best quarterback rusher.  Molly was the most patient.  Austin was the best quarterback.  We spent time together, outside and with friends.  Bonus: We didn't have to spend the morning cleaning our yard to make it happen.

This week was Maisie's birthday.  I no longer have a computer that fits the external storage device cord, so I found some old pictures and took pictures of pictures of her birth.  Labor day in 2005 was literally spent in labor.  I finally went to the hospital at 8pm dilated to an 8.  She was born just after midnight, and the nurses bugged us all night long.  The next day we were together as a big family of 5.  6lbs. and 3 oz. made her quite a chunky baby.

We called to sing to her in her dorm.  She spent the morning training for her janitorial job.  She drove to Highland to pick up her birthday packages and her roommates made her dinner (but left her the dishes).

Maisie radiates as a girl of 18 making big dreams happen.  She organizes all sorts of game nights and poker clubs.  She teared up a little bit when she couldn't come home just to be with her family.  We miss her.  

These little scholars waited until after lunch to do their math.  Eddie loves calling out the answers -- Molly hates it, because she likes her math work.

I found myself taking a picture of Entenmanns while grocery shopping (I mostly just follow Austin around as he fills the cart and checks prices), because Grandma Guymon always fed us danishes and boxed goods from her little outlet store in Calabasses.  I texted the picture to my sibbies, and they have the fondness for Grandma's goodies.

My "love" wall is coming along nicely.  It's behind the door in my toilet room, so no one sees it.  I think it's rather sweet.

Saturday Maddie and Nick were at a swim meet in Phoenix with 114* temps.  We stayed home to float the river (William spent the weekend with us).  

Eddie trying out the rope swing.

Molly taking her turn.

The primary talent show was also Saturday.  Molly and Eddie were uber prepared; Ryan chose a really hard song, so we took out two pages just moments before.  They were very brave.  I also volunteered to help the activity day boys.  Enjoy.

Molly's "Caissons"

Ryan's "Peaches"

Eddie's "Super Mario Bros."

Activity Day Boys

Sunday Nick fell asleep on the thirty minute drive home from Camp Verde -- he's always so tired.

Sunday night these three made a fort.  The best type of play always starts with a bit of chaos.

 

Wednesdays -- "P Days"-- are my favorite time of the week.  All three biggest children get on the same facetime call, and I get to watch their interaction.

It's always clear when Meg joins, because her unmistakable giggle is her greeting.  Her peace and joy are contagious.  Andy commented to Meg, "What the?  You have two humans inside of you?  You're a fatty."

Maisie usually announces something about herself -- "Andy!  I'm legal! It was my birthday this week!"  He responded, "Happy birthday!  I totally forgot.  18!  You're old."

Those two adoring and neighboring sisters then ask him all the best questions.  Here is his report:

"It was zone conference week.  I trained 150 elders in one meeting."  Meg then asked, "How do you know how to do that?"  He answered, "I prepare and am guided by the spirit.  Then, I can do my training without notes."

Meg then asked, "What are you doing right now?"  He was busy moving around his room, crossing in and out of the camera's view, "I'm packing to go to another zone conference."

I suppose the strangest thing about Elder Babcock is that his transformation is striking, even though we talk to him and see him every week.  The questions Meg asks about his "adulting so well" are the bahavioral answers to my pleadings.  He's a grown man who loves to learn, loves to serve, loves his family, and loves his God and Savior.  He is proactive and not reactive, and he has the end in mind.  He's a boss.