Super Why

Everyday Eddie and I watch "Super Why," and everyday we draw him.  

Bambi

A deer hit my car tonight.  I didn't hit it he ran into me, just to be clear.  He broke my headlight and left his fur in the glass.  I hope Heavenly Father helps Bambi heal (before the coyotes do -- Austin made me put this parenthetical phrase).

Happy Halloween

I hate halloween.  I mean, really.  Who thinks that pulling a two-year old and holding a 7 month old in the dark past bedtime begging for candy while wondering if sick-o's have napped the five older children because how could they keep with a buddy for two hours, sounds like a tradition that keeps on giving? I don't.  I never dress up, so costume is my ability to fake the whole holiday.
 Dinner at 4:30, because that's reasonable.

 Pictures post-event.  Because how could I snap pictures when I was yelling and screaming trying to get costumes on seven children.  SEVEN! (Nick's mustache is upside down.  Sums it up.)  No need to pretend I'm clever.  I do that every other day of the year.

 The worst part is that I like the candy.  Now I have to pretend to have self control and not eat it all while they're at school.

Little Boys

This is part two of my morning.  These two little boys.  At 7:15 am it is just us in our big, empty house.  First we snuggle in my bed and feed Ryan.  Then it is bathtime.  Colored tablets and shiny bubbles keep us happy for as long as we want.  After lotion, clean clothes and hair grooming, we read scritpures and say prayer together.  Here we having completed just those things.  We are happy.

Wouldn't change a thing. (Except Ed's part, what a crooked job!)

Phoenix Temple

We toured the Phoenix Temple open house.  The building is beautiful, and we felt the spirit testify of eternal families.  (It appears as though Austin is in pain and that my arms are ten thousands pounds.  Each of us carried a little boy during the entire tour, our arms were about to fall off.)

Internacional Travels

We spent the the five days on the warm, sandy beaches of Mexico.  Everything about the trip -- food, shopping, weather, water temperature, and company -- was muy perfecto. (Except, Meg got stung by a sting ray.  That was bad, very bad.)  Next year is already on the books.

 Grandpa spent hours watching the waves.  How could he not?

Nick and Ryan did the same.

 Exactly 10 minutes after we arrived the girls found their suits and headed the 100 feet to the ocean.

Closely followed by the others.

 This little boy was in heaven.

 Dresses from the mercado.

Maddie and I waded.

Dr. and I managed to snorkel juntos.

Baby loved the warm water and ate sand.

Totally relaxed.

 Our new silver purchases. The walking vendors were glad to find us.

 Grandma is so tan!  I know where my brownies get it.

Little boys and I huddled under the canopy.

 The view of the gang and the beach house.

 Sunset.

Another vedor offered rides on the wave runner; we gladly accepted.

More wave watching.

 Name bracelets Grandma purchased.  Kids love them.

We spent 60+ hours on the beach.  Couldn't trade that for anything.

 Final hours this morning, soaking it all in.

Meg's injury one day later.

Eternal Families

My grandma died last Monday.  She gave me the gift of song.  She gave me the gift of a father.  She gave me the gift of laughter.  She gave me the gift of testimony.  Each of these gifts I can use throughout my life and take with me to heaven.  She is eternal, and so am I.

(I didn't take any pictures at the cemetery, but I took several at the luncheon.  Family is indeed grand.)

184th Semi Annual General Conference

Conference weekend comes and goes quickly.  This year I gave each child a jar with their snacks in it.  I also bought a sprirograph, both distractions worked beautifully.  I was able to listen with my heart and make goals to change my character.  The spirit witnessed to me that the four tools of daily family prayer, daily family scripture study, weekly FHE and regular temple attendance (Austin went Friday) are right on track to keeping my family safe from the crazy things of the world.  Some weeks its all I accomplish, but at least I ALWAYS do the most important things.