Learning Time

Eddie and I spent time mostly everyday working on learning letters, sight words and recognizing the names of family members.  For some reason he can never remember Andy's name.  

 Then these boys and I make bake something mostly every afternoon for an after school snack or an accouterment to lunches. Eddie works on writing his letters.

Ryan sits beside us and eats batter and protein balls.

 Last week we left on a four hour date to the theater and Food City.  We spent two hours in the theater, then he spent two hours on the phone.  This evening I'm planning a bit of "Hot Yoga" at a local studio.  He respectfully declined my invitation, and so I'll be going alone.  Funny, I'm sure it won't feel anymore solo than last week.

We Never Stop

Nick lost his third tooth this week.  The male tooth fairy generously gave him a big bill for his payment.

Family scriptures on the balcony.

Early yesterday morning Austin and I hiked Thunder Mountain in Sedona then went to breakfast in town.

 We spent the afternoon in the pool and eating hamburgers.  Austin pulled out the snorkeling gear and we breathed under water for hours (baby Ryan asleep).

Par le vous Francais?

We're 90% finished with Meg's basement room.  I painted and built the bookshelves, and Austin added the baseboards and crown moldings.  We would still like to add a landscape picture of the Phoenix temple for above her bed and perhaps another lamp for the desk or the dresser.
 Before: With purple paint and two huge doors leading to the outdoors.

After: With gray paint, two built-in bookshelves to cover the doors, and  the Eiffel Tower.

Verde River

I took the kids to the "crick" yesterday, and they had tons of fun.  It's a good thing because it was kind of painful.
  Dual tasking yesterday morning.

 These three floated around the bend and didn't come back for two hours.  I was worried most of the time, so I didn't enjoy the great outdoors like I normally do.

 Maisie and her BFF cooling off.

Early in the evening this little boy came to me in the kitchen dressed in a build a bear shirt -- someone helped him.

Sun glasses.  Love these two little peanuts.

School Begins

Here comes another school year -- one in which I have a high schooler, a middle schooler, three elementarians (I might have made up that word) and two preschoolers.  Almost every moment is filled helping my darlings grow and succeed.  There are a few moments, though, that I can take four seconds on photo booth and pinch myself into an alien.

9th grader

 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th grader plus one Ed

 These two Babcock boys are happy around me.

This one might even have a bit of curly hair; I'm not holding my breath, just breathing deeply while it lasts.

Mostly I mourn the first few weeks of school that my bigs are far from me physically.  They are learning all sorts of new things and becoming positive members of society, which makes our separation a teensy bit easier.

15th Anniversary

Austin and I have been married 15 years!  Because our anniversary was on Wednesday,  he left at 6:15 am, came home to take me to dinner, and then went back to church until 9 pm.  Although I only saw him for 45 minutes (that's generous) the entire day, every moment he was away he was fulfilling his responsibilities to his family and God.  He's my perfect match indeed.

 It's never too early to wrestle his baby boy.

All alone at 9 pm.  Here are are the 15 balloons to celebrate our solo anniversary.

Summer in Utah

10 days in Utah means 10 days of summer fun, and 240 hours of total joy.

AF canyon dinner.

 Alpine splash pad with sisters.

 The group.

 "Inside Out."  Oh, I had to pay for Ryan and then we spent the entire movie in the hall.

 We shopped for 8 hours.  Straight.

 Eddie fell and needed 4 stitches.

 Cousins.

 Three sisters 9 years apart.  Three cousins 6 weeks apart.

 5/6 sisters and mother.

  Playing with Grandpa.

 Because sushi is delicious.

 I removed his 4 stitches.

 We left all the children, drove to Idaho Falls early Monday morning, spent the day with Grandma as it was her birthday, and then drove home again.  The 16 hour day felt like 16 minutes.

 Another day at the splash pad.

 Dearest and I slipped out to spend time in the temple.

 Twins!  Who knew?

 Cousin Ronnie's birthday.

 AZ sky.  Home again.

I still need to add some pictures.

Biggest Boy

My biggest boy is 12!  Andy spent the week at his first scout camp, which meant that he was in the woods for his birthday.  The rest of us (minus bishop who was at an evening meeting)celebrated him by getting ice cream cones.  Sunday came and we celebrated with a bundt and 12 candles.

Andy is a quiet presence as he sits many an hour in a cushy chair reading.  He often misses out on the working opportunities because he blends in so well.  But when asked, he always fulfills every request without a grimace.  I especially like that I can ask him to do all those things that Austin is rarely home to do anymore.  Most important achievement today was Andy receiving the Aaronic priesthood and receiving his temple recommend.  Big things for this big boy of mine.