Protest

I love to cook. I love to bake. For the most part you will find a homemade meal on our dinner table every night. For the past who knows how long EVERY time I bring the kids in for dinner they ask what we are having, I tell them and I instantly get a "I don't like that!" or "I don't want that!" That doesn't go over well with me...they eat it anyway (and always like it). So tonight in anticipation of their protest I didn't make dinner. Nothing. The result. Cereal, which I did not pour or help with. Some day they will appreciate a good home cooked meal. It might take a few more bowls of cereal.

These DON'T belong here

Towels don't belong in a full bath tub

Water balloons don't belong in the washing machine

First Day of School

Clothes were laid out last night, they all unknowingly picked out the same "first day of school uniforms". Wake up song was sung, only to Isaac, the others were too excited and woke up extra early. Breakfast was served...they chose cereal...easy enough. Hair combed, teeth brushed, back packs lined up, all ready for the first day of school. Hayden was especially excited. He has been waiting for this day for a year now. He woke up and said, "It's my SPECIAL day, I finally get to go to school!" I hope he's still that excited tomorrow.

Hayden the big Pre-K boy. I got choked up dropping him off, but NO tears were shed.

Caite's ready for Kindergarten. It was an extra special morning for her...With the help of Dr. Dad she pulled out her very first loose tooth. She didn't want to loose it at school..."that would be terrible."
Isaac pretending he's not so excited for school. Inside (deep down inside) I know he loves it.

Ready to go!!

It's quiet around here now...Nice.

Reminiscing

The other day I put a new bar of soap in the shower. As I lathered up, I was instantly taken back to our big white house in Grenada. (We lived in the top half)

When Isaac was almost 2 and looked like this.
and Aaron spent WAY too much time here

with these guys: Scott, Brandon, Kelly

While Aaron spent his days in class and nights studying, we spent our days playing with these people, going on field trips, playing at the beach or pools, and touring the island. Mostly trying to figure out how to live in a 3rd world country.

Occasionally, Aaron could take a day off and we would spend the day together hiking

to pretty waterfalls like this one.

When Caite was born Susie and Maddie came to visit. I needed help on the plane with 2 little kids flying international by myself. Susie was a saint and volunteered.

Caite looked like this

I have fond memories of the kids at different hotel pools.

We had a huge veranda on the front of our house. We ate almost ever meal out there. Isaac's favorite thing to eat out there were mangoes.

Our few years on the "islands" were crazy, hot, hard, and wonderful all at the same time. I wouldn't trade our experience there for anything. We made incredible friends who made living there easier and enjoyable. Some day I would like to go back (as a tourist) and show our kids where our medical adventure all started. It's sad to think that Isaac doesn't remember much of it.

It's amazing what a scent can do to you. I asked Aaron the next morning while he was in the shower if he was in Grenada. "Yeah, how did you know?".

Nothing to Pacify

This cute little face has had her world turned upside down. We took away the pacifier! I know very mean, but has to been done at some point. I was holding on to it for our Utah trip and said after that it was time to get rid of it. When we got home we were down to one solo binky so I said when that one gets lost, we're done. Saturday night was the night. We looked for the beloved binky before she went to bed and couldn't find it. I put her in bed and she asked for her "beebee". All gone, we can't find it. It did not go over well. It ended up taking Isaac and I (Aaron was working of course) 2.5 hours to get her to fall asleep. We also found out she can climb out of her bed, so that did not help the situation. We finally shut the door and let her cry herself to sleep, this is what we found when the crying stopped.It is now Tuesday. I'm loosing my mind. We can't get her to go to bed early anymore. It's been 10:30 the past 3 nights. She has been up since 6am, it's now almost 3. She hasn't had a nap yet and is the orneriest little girl around (aside from me). She usually goes down for a nap at 11:30 and sleeps until now. I've put her in her bed probably 50 times, just for her to crawl out and scream at the shut door. I let her cry for an hour the last time....it's not working! She's not falling asleep! Maybe if I go to my room and shut the door it will all go away and everyone will be happy again. I have a headache.

Explosion

My flower beds exploded this summer!

I love it!

Latest Creation

My friend was looking for a cute baby gift for her friend who just had their 3rd girl. She couldn't find anything unique that she had in mind. So she asked me if I would make her something. Here's what she got. I think it turned out cute and most importantly the recipient LOVED it.

Small Town Fun

The girls and I went to Utah over 24th of July weekend. My parents finished there mission and came home earlier that week. It made for a great time to get my family together. It has been years since we have all been under the same roof at the same time. It felt so good to be with Mom and Dad again! They had a wonderful mission and have life long memories. They shared stories as week looked through the scrapbooks.

We had a great time participating in "small town" fun. Fairview, Utah is know for their 24th of July celebration. It starts early in the morning with fire trucks going up and down the streets with their sirens on waking everyone up for a breakfast at the park. Then there is the parade...a family tradition we have been doing since I can remember. Mom and Dad brought home Philippine t-shirts for all their little grandkids to wear at the parade. Most of my cousins came and spent the day. It was so fun to see everyone and catch up with them. We hung out that afternoon, had a bbq, and enjoyed being together.

As tradition has it in Fairview, we all went to the Demolition Derby that night. Something I looked forward to as a kid...not much has changed. Due to the fact that we live so far away from my parents, my family hasn't been for years. This was Caite's first time going...she thought it was great (Isaac was really upset that he missed it). The night ended with fireworks. Halle even like them.

Mom and Dad had their Homecoming that Sunday July 26th. Once again we were surrounded by people we love and haven't seen for years. Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends...it was wonderful. I loved seeing the Perry's, Jacob's, and Benson's from our Denver ward. I spent my high school years referring to them as my other parents. I really do love them as family. It's too bad we don't live closer.

We had a wonderful time. I love my family. It was so GOOD to be together again.

Blanchard Springs

While the girls and I played in Utah, the boys went adventuring. They drove up to northern Arkansas to explore the caves. When I asked how it was they said, "it was so cool". They had fun playing in the cave, the waterfall, and the river. It was good for Aaron to be able to take time off and spend it with the boys. The had a great time doing "Guy stuff" they even snuck in a movie, which is impossible with Halle around. So although they didn't go to Utah this time, they enjoyed the week with Dad and they didn't feel bad about it.