September

Happy Birthday Hannah! Yes folks she's 7! We got her a real big girl bike so she can ride without training wheels. She also lost on of her two front teeth! She is sweet and helpful and becoming quite a talented, intelligent young lady. We are so glad we have you Hannah!

It was still HOT here so we spent time up in the mountains to cool off. We hiked, rode the ATV, ate s'mores, took naps and got rained on. It was a wonderful time and our load was lightened with BJ's mom here. She got the kids busy looking for acorns and it turned out to be quite a fun little treasure hunt!

Sometimes it is the daily routines that bring us the most joy and the most challenges. Recently, I have been trying to focus more on the good things that occur rather than the chaotic, often overwhelming ones. In that spirit I put together a montage of a few of those moments that we were actually lucky enough to capture this month. I hope you enjoy and that you are able to enjoy the little gifts of joy you are given everyday.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

AUGUST

Grandma came and to welcome her in with a bang, the girls did her hair. Let's just say Grandma is a pillar of patience and good humor!


As a surprise to me, BJ took me took Lake Havasu for our 9th anniversary. Apparently he had been scheming with his mom for weeks. It was so nice just to be us for a couple days (thanks Grandma). We had fun drenching each other with jet skis and other water craft trickery, eating late, and sleeping in. It was WONDERFUL!

"Wax on, wax off!"


Was on...now off! BJ got thrown after trying to stand on his jet ski while moving. I was laughing so hard I almost fell off my ski! But the best part was that I throttled him with a large wave of water after he reached his ski and knocked him off again! I know, I totally rock!

What a blast! Thanks babe! I am so lucky to be married to my best friend.
Here's to the next 9...

Addie turns THREE! She was adamant that she get to blow out the candle AND make a wish! After she blew out the candle, I asked her what she wished for and she said, "That I'm three!" How about that, she got her wish!

The first day of school! On the 17th, I handed over two of my kids to the school system and they both loved it!

My adorable second grader

Sweet Kindergartner

Hannah was a bit anxious but after school said, "I LOVE second grade! It is so FUN!" Janessa was so excited to go and didn't even notice I had left or hear my heartstrings tearing...a full day of kindergarten...these people are insane! But even though she came home tired, she loved it too and asked, "Can I go back tomorrow?"

Just in case you're wondering how Addie and Brynlee felt about it, these two pictures pretty much sum it up:

JULY

July was such a fun month; It didn't last long enough. After Nana and Papa left, my dear friend Jennie from Colorado and her three daughters were here for 5 weeks! She's one of the few insane people who actually come here in the summer! Even natives flee the heat! But we were glad they came...what could be better than 7 girls 7 and under?

Before the Fourth of July festivities in town BJ made a box fort for our 7 girls. It was a hit!

We played at the park and ate a picnic dinner and waited for the firework show. Addie would only attempt the slides with "Miss Jennie's" help.

Maddie and Janessa Hannah and Morgan

Brynlee slept through the fireworks!

BJ and Janessa watching the fireworks. BJ doesn't know how to pose for pictures. Maybe the best way is public humiliation!

All the girls have birthdays in the summer and since we wouldn't be together, we decided to have a mass party at the Rainforest Cafe. It was so much fun and we enjoyed our time together. And Addie showed off her newest trick: Drinking out of two cups at once!

The rest of July was spent in the water! There's no other place to be in July. My girls can all swim on their own now. Even Brynlee holds her breath and kicks when under water. Pretty amazing since all but Hannah started off the summer wearing life jackets and a fear of the "deep end." Addie has improved the most and now fearless in the water, swims its width with no problem. Here's my favorite water fun pics:

Thanks for the fun everyone! You helped us have a great summer!

It's been TWO months!

For family and friends out there that actually pay attention to this blog, I apologize for the lapse. You'd think with four girls, I'd find more time to do this! So here is my best attempt at catching up:
June
Happy Birthday Janessa! We were on vacation in Utah for two weeks, but we celebrated at her favorite restaurant so she was happy! Yay! She's five!

We vacationed half of June. Our vacation started in Sedona...beautiful and comparable to Moab. We camped, and fished and of course roasted marshmallows!

Next it was off to some cousins in Utah where the girls tortured their 12 kittens and 6 cats and played outside all day long! The most exciting thing however, was Hannah learned how to ride a bike without training wheels! I think she was overdue because BJ held her up for one run and she was off just as if she'd been doing it all along.


Then it was off to SLC where I played with friends and saw my Grandma, Aunt, cute cousin, and sister-in-law and her adorable kids.




We headed back down to our cousins to end our trip with more camping. It rained almost the entire time, but we had a mean game of keep away in a meadow filled with cow pie mines, Settlers tournaments, naps, kids coloring, lots of delicious food, fireside marshmallow roasts, beautiful stars, plenty of mud for the ATV, and best of all, GREAT company! We love you Travis and Jen! Can we come crash the party again soon???


We headed back home, back to reality, but not for too long, because Nana and Papa came to visit! We took them to Sedona where we rode on a natural water slide; Addie loved it the most! Papa was her buffer...


And we swam and played. Papa helped Hannah take out her second tooth with the old floss and door trick. She got the floss on her tooth, but refused to let him slam the door. Not to worry, however, she decided she didn't want floss hanging from her mouth forever and she and BJ wiggled it out.



And this, well, how could I not put this on?


Coming soon....The month of July!