There are Angels Amung Us - The Weed Pick'n Kind

An angel or angels came and picked the weeds in our front yard.  They weren't crazy out of control weeds but enough that it was on the list of "to do's".  Aaron was shocked to find out I didn't do it.  I was shocked to find out he didn't do it.  Who would do such a nice thing?  Did they take pity on the fact that he is never home and I tip over when I bend over?  Did they count how many times the garage door opens and closes as I run errands and scoot the kids around to soccer practices, scouts and piano? It is a humbling feeling to be served.  I don't know who it was but it makes me think even more of this or these angels that they would remain anonymous.  I cried.  I was so touched.  Thank you Weed Pick'n Angel.  You have set such a great example to us and it meant so much to our family that we have decided to be Weed Pick'n Angels too.  We are going to wake up early before school and go pick someones weeds in our neighborhood or in our ward.  The kids are excited to do this.  I am excited to do this.  So hopefully not everyone will let their weeds grow out all at the same time. I love good examples and now we will try and be good examples like the "Weed Pick'n Angel" has taught us.  Thank you!

Trey's Baptism Photos

 

I love, love, love this boy and I'm so proud of him.  He is my special, fun "spirited child" (click on link to read more).   Many people don't understand him, but I do.  It did not come instantly.  It took a lot of research, prayers and fasting and I'm still learning.  But I'm his mother and I will never give up on him.  I've had to remain disciplined to tune out all outside opinions, judgements and comments that come my way and his way and just focus on him.  He is my Trey.  He is so special to me.  Heavenly Father trusted me with him and knew that I could handle the task of being his mom and love him and raise him.  He has taught me more about myself and what kind of mother and person I want to be than any other book or person has.  He is a blessing in our family and brings so much fun, life and excitement to it.  Life would be boring with out our Trey.  He's an outside of the box thinker.  He's creative.  He's a money saver and a collector.  He has a strong desire to chose the right.  He can hang upside down on the couch during scripture study but then tell you everything that was just read or discussed.  He notices the very tiniest of details from ants marching in a line, the sound of the lake lapping on the shore, to new earrings that might be barely showing through my hair.  He enjoys those details in life and I love experiencing them with him. Yes, he will probably push the siren button in the fire truck on his Cub Scout field trip.  But what's a kid with heightened and easily overstimulated senses supposed to do when there is a bright, shiny button put infront of him.  (Bless those sweet Cub Scout leaders.)   His baptism was one of the happiest days of his life. He grinned from ear to ear the entire day.  I know Heavenly Father saved this strong spirit for the latter days and I am so lucky to have him as mine.

Back to School

It was a super short summer.  Starting school on August 8th is cruel and unusual punishment in my opinion.  Way too soon. Especially when the first week of school it is so blasted hot that there is a heat advisory and the kids can't even go out to recess.  Shouldn't we still be swimming and eating Popsicles?

 

Logan Aaron

Patterson Elementary

6th grade

Mrs. Dietshe

Opinion on going back to school:  He thinks summer went by too fast but Logan always rolls with the punches.  Ready to be the big man on campus.  And he literally is the big man on campus.  He achieved his goal of being the tallest or one of the tallest kids at Patterson. (5' 4").

Trey Peter  

3rd Grade 

Patterson Elementary 

Mr. Besselo

Opinion on going back to school:  Not wanting to go and nervous that none of his friends are in his class.  Was very brave with little complaining and a new Skylanders shirt always helps. Intrigued and curious to learn more about the "famous" (popular) teacher that he got this year at school and hopes that it will make up for not being with friends.  (In my opinion, it has by a long shot.)

The ever so important back pack choice for Trey.  My little secret for back packs is TJ Maxx.  Love, love, love them.  They are the same price if not cheaper than Target and Walmart but much better quality and they last 3 times as long.

Avery Elizabeth

1st Grade

Patterson Elementary

Ms. Wesolowski

Opinion on going back to school:  Sooo excited!  Learning is fun!  I love my teacher!  I want to look so cute for her!  Woke up at 5 a.m. and by the time 7 rolled around she was in a tizzy that she still had an hour and half wait. 

 

Avery would not be swayed with her back pack choice.  She fell in love with this back pack and that was it for her.  It was that back pack and nothing else.  She loves "Fancy Nancy" books and calls it her "Fancy Nancy" backpack.

 Aaron always takes the first day of school off from work and makes a ginormous breakfast.  I get butterflies in my stomach every year they go back.  New adventures.  New friends.  New growth and learning opportunities.  Oh yeah and maybe they'll learn some math and reading as well.

Battle of Wills With Something Other Than My Children

It's going to be fabulous when it is all done but right now the sanding of the crib is kicking my bootay.  I got a great quote for the paint job and I only have one more side of the crib to do and then it's off to be painted.  I'm so close to finishing but yet so far away.  A sweet friend asked if we needed a crib and told me she had one that she wanted to give us. If I wasn't so invested in this crib already with my time, muscle strength and ever swelling body I would have taken her up on it in a heart beat.  But it has come down to a battle of wills.  Me vs. the crib.  I don't like losing.  I will finish....I will.

Up North in the Summer

Every summer I take the kids up North to the cabin.  I always try to coordinate our trip with the Snowflake/Taylor Rodeo which I love and has become a tradition for us to go to.  Infact every year it seems more and more people come from Mesa.  A week or two up North revives me and is a much needed relief from the sweltering heat.  Sometimes it can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the valley plus you often times get a nice afternoon rain shower that comes through.  Sitting on the porch reading a good book or chatting is literally a breath of fresh air. 

 

Trey is my explorer. He enjoys his freedom so much when we go up to the cabin. He's always walking around searching for horny toads or finding a place for a fort or making plans for something.  The kids hardly fight at all when we are there.  I think it's because they have more freedom and space without their crazed mother breathing down their neck.This year Trey made quite the collection of baby horny toads that he loved and created a habitat for.

 Avery and Claire have become inseperable and best of friends.

Armed and dangerous.  Aaron told the kids he needed their help and handed each of the kids a "weapon" which was actually brooms, sticks, window squeeges and mops.  He told them to line up.  They were clueless.  I was clueless.  He then filled them in that when he lifted up the bucket and the mouse runs out to attack.  Oh my goodness what was I witnessing.  It was like girls camp '09 all over again.

Avery loves to mow the grass with her daddy on grandpa's "tractor".  Aaron comes up on the weekends when he can.  He is such a hard worker and whenever he is at the cabin he always mows the lawn for grandpa and usually fixes something for him as well.

 

There was lots and lots of Rummikub playing.  We even had a family tournament which showed everyones true colors. :)  At one point grandpa told the boys to go to bed because it was too late.  We know that the real reason was because they were beating him.  Logan, Trey and Blake have grown up and can not only just play but win at adult games now.  Logan called his Rummikub tactics "shock and awe".  He would hold onto all his tiles and then lay them down all at the same time and win each time.

 Lots of quad rides and go cart rides. Logan and Blake were good at being the drivers and giving the little kids rides on the quads when they wanted one.

 

The girls opened their own bake shop together and made brownies.  Looks like someone took a taste test.

Ahhhh the best part of the baking process, licking the bowl.  I think they did this for 30 minutes and got every last drop.

We had so much rain while we were up there and I have never seen the Rim so green as I have this year.  It was a good rain season for sure which they always need.  A lot of rain means a lot of wet clothes.  Forget the umbrellas they would just run and dance in the rain.

We took the kids to the Pioneer Days parade which is one of my favorites.  They kids stood up nearly the entire time for fear that they would miss out on the candy and treats that were being thrown out. We hit up the rodeo in the rain that night.

We had a great time as always and the minute we get home the kids ask when the next time we can go back will be.

Funny Kids

I wish I was better at recording the things that my kids say and do.  Their little brains and personalities crack me up.  2 stories that happened recently. 

I had just put Avery in the tub to take a bath after her soccer practice.  Aaron came home and asked if I would go give a sister in our ward a hug and some support that he thought she needed.  He became in charge of getting the kids ready for bed and in bed and I left not knowing any details but knowing that someones heart was hurting.  Since Aaron has been bishop I can probably count the times on one hand that he has actually put them to bed.  So I knew it was going to be a little rusty.  I returned home an hour later and Avery was in hysterics, balling.  When I finally got her to calm down enough to talk to me I found out that Dad did not wash her hair right.  He squirted the shampoo on top of her head instead of in his hand and then on the head like mom does.  The shampoo plopped on her head and she freaked out telling him he was doing it the wrong way.  Poor guy gets a chance to help out and gets lectured by a 6 year old on how he is ruining her hair and that he is not doing it how mom does it so he's doing it wrong.  I explained to her that daddy loves her enough to try and wash her hair even though he is a "rookie hair washer".  She thought calling daddy a "rookie hair washer" was hysterical and she was back to her happy self. She woke up the next day calling Aaron a "rookie hair washer".

I took the kids on a bike ride while Aaron was out of town with the Young Women in our ward.  I don't know how smart of an idea that is for a pregnant lady 30 weeks along.  We came down a little hill and Avery stopped dead center in the middle as I was coasting down.  It was either go over the handle bars or fall to the side.  I fell to the side in the street.  Plenty of cushion on this pregnant body and so the bruises were minimal.  As I lay in the street trying to pick myself up the kids were terrified that I was hurt.  A car drove by right as it happened but didn't stop.  Trey got super upset and told me that it was just like that story in the scriptures where everyone goes by and no one stops to help.  (The Good Samaritan).  In that moment he connected the dots in his brain and made the scriptures applicable to his life.  Such a grown up thing to do for a 8 year old.

After evaluations from their coach Logan was chosen to play the position of goalie this year on his soccer team.  His least favorite position.  We are talking very, very least favorite position.  He would rather have his finger nails pulled out or sing a solo in church than play goalie.  His coach saw something that Logan did not see in himself.  Logan has worked and trained and watched you tube videos of goalies and now he loves it.  He can't get enough of it.  He bought some goalie gloves for himself so he has a pair at home to practice with and he is saving up for a Petr Ceck jersey who he claims is the worlds best goalie and plays for Chelsea. Sometimes our weakness' become our strengths with a little work and change in attitude.  Who knew?

Burp Cloths

I made some burp cloths out of cloth diapers and scraps of fabric that I had on hand.

They are a little bit addicting to make.

With as many tummy problems as my babies have I'm going to need a lot more.



Outside

We spent a lot of time outside at Grandma's and Poppa's. A rare luxury that can't be done in Arizona during the summer.  The only downfall is that there are actually bugs that can survive the summer in Utah.  In Arizona they are all sizzled up to a crisp.  The mosquitos loved our sweet out of town blood and ate us up alive.

 

I could just eat that little dimple up on Trey.  I don't have too many pictures of his "real" smile so this picture is a treasure to me.

The jungle gym and "the cottage in the Glenn" was also a big hit.

Irrigation even came while we were there.  Wooohooo!  Avery was outside for hours letting the current of the water send leaves through the pipes that would water the other fields.

We loved our Utah trip and it is always such a beautiful fun place to visit.  Grandma and Poppa spoil us with love and it's so good to see Aaron's brothers and sister.  We took the kids around BYU and went to the bookstore.  Showed them where my apartment was and where dad stalked me.  Ate at Brick Oven pizza with cold frothy mugs of root beer which was such a fun treat for them.  Saw a million and 1 missionaries there that must have been reporting to the mtc.  Went to Cabelas.  And spent time helping Grandpa with the cows, the fields and move a fence.  The kids have literally asked every day to go back.  To say we enjoy our time there is an understatement. 

Temple Square

One of the things we wanted to do while in Utah was visit Temple square with the kids.  They loved it.  We spent 1/2 a day there and could have spent an entire day.  The way they have everything set up now makes it so easy and nice to tour around.

21 Weeks pregnant.

A typical shot of the kids.  One of these is not like the others....one of these always waits patiently for her brothers to look and smile.  I must have heard at least 6 other moms through out the day saying to their kids.  "We'll be done as soon as you look at the camera." "This can take as long as you want it to."  Glad to know I have company.

They kids all had on "aha" moment when we went into the old tabernacle and they recognized the organ pipes from the front picture on the hymn books. "Hey it's the same!"

Logan took this picture and it turned out to be one of my favorites.

Nearly everywhere we went Avery was lagging in the back.  She was quite taken with the beautiful gardens and kept sniffing the flowers at every new flower she came to.

We went across the street to City Creek.  What a cool place that is.  We could have spent more time there but Poppa had a date with Chuck-a-rama that we were scheduled to be at.  Yes, our annual Chuck-a-rama visit.  One time a year is PLENTY.  Oh, the things you do for family.



Back at the Camp

This was our humble abode for the week.  It was nice and big and comfy.  I did come to realize that sleeping in a sleeping bag takes skill and has an adjustment period.  When you turn over the sleeping bag follows with you.  Not a fan at first but either got used to it or too exhausted to fight it anymore.

There were so many fun organized activities for everyone to participate in.  Avery sang "Walk Tall your a Daughter of God" for the talent show.  I sing it to her nearly every night. I love, love that song and hope she always knows from an early age how much her Father in Heaven loves her and will always be there for her.  She has the whole song memorized and it chokes me up every time to hear her little voice say "Walk tall you're a daughter, a child of God.  Be strong, please remember who you are.  Try to understand your part of His great plan.  He's closer than you know, reach up He'll take your hand."  She needed some moral support so I got to be the lucky one to put my arm around her as she so sweetly sang.

Poppa played his Ukulele and together with Grandma they sang some songs from their mission in Nauvoo.

Along with the talent show night there was also Family Feud Night.

Jewelry making for the girls.

A dutch oven cook off competition that was delicious.

James won for his peach cobbler.  The kids obviously didn't vote for anything that had vegetables in it, should have warned the adults they would miss out on votes.

Darrin and Maureen the reunion planners did such a good job organizing everything.  There was also a contest to see who knew their family members the best and who knew the most birthdays.  The Stephens' family is large and in charge so I was hopeless at that game.

There was plenty of time to just relax and talk.

 

There was a competition for the biggest fish caught and the most fish caught.

Logan was lucky enough to win both.  There was also an award for the smallest fish caught which became a fun and fierce competition.

 We played this game (I forget the name) over and over and over.  Everyone from the little kids to Grandma and Grandpa got addicted to playing and competeing.  It was just as much fun to watch as it was to play.  I definitely need to invest in one of these for our family.  The point system is what makes it competitive and tricky.  Logan, Trey and Aaron made it to the winners bracket.  I unfortunately stayed in the losers bracket.  Dang those double jointed elbows.

 

Did I mention the food.  I think we ate better camping than we do at home.  I felt like I needed to be rolled out of there when we were done.

Our campsite was a designated horse camp site.  Darrin and Maureen brought up all their horses.  Trey loved to go feed them every morning.

There was lots of cute babies to snuggle and their moms were rock stars in my book for bringing them camping.

Here's a picture of about 1/2 of us.  Some families had already left.

 We had so much fun and everything was planned out and organized so well.  Grandma has already started planning the next one and hopefully we'll be able to make it.