SUMMER FINALLY BEGINS

I have been going absolutely stir crazy with the kids in the house, not even a bike ride has been possible. The weather has been horrid. Although the mountains and hills are especially green, my house is especially torn to pieces--just because a few kids can't get outside.

So today, it finally happened. We got out to the pool and I was so, so happy. So were they. But then coming in and getting cleaned up gets them all wound up. For some reason they think that they have to go back outside and check to see if the pool is still there, because what if someone or something magical takes it away from them, or what if there are bugs in the water or; well there are a lot of what ifs when it comes to these kids.

But alas, the weather isn't looking so good right now. Hard to believe isn't it? We had a micro burst wind storm show up, the clouds are moving back in and it looks like rain. Yes RAIN, believe it or not, it has rained like it was March and April, not June 30th or the beginning of July!!!

So enjoy the pictures, they may be the last swimming pictures for awhile, who knows when we can get back out to the pool!

TAGGED (sort of)

Take a picture of yourself RIGHT NOW! and then post it. NO PRIMPING of any kind, just take it right now to let us know what you look like--whether you are reading this now or or first thing in the morning. Then tag 3 more people.

I was working on the computer and really had only changed my skirt after church this afternoon. This is what I wore today. I was totally comfy! Hair done! But man I look tired. I can really see it in my eyes!

I tag anyone who reads this blog!

MANTI PAGEANT

Keith has Sundays through Wednesdays off and this year we decided we were going to take the kids to see the Manti Pageant. My thought was to take the two big kids. Keith thought we should take them all. Guess who won out on this one? Mom came along too.
We also decided, rather than attempt the four hours trying to get out of town and then another 2 hours home, that we would rent a motel room. the scene from our motel room was a terrific view of the Temple The pictures with the Bright White Temple with the flags) .
While the kids unwound and we ate some dinner, Andrew decided to roll over for the first time and I got it on video. He was trying so, so hard, but he just couldn't get passed his right arm--and then it happened.
Keith went to the end of the bed and was egging him on and yep, there he went. Right over.
Austin was really excited about the volcano erupting and the Nephites and the Lamanites fighting in battle--especially on the temple grounds. Ashlynne was thrilled that one of the Nephite girls let her try out her head cover and so we got a picture of this. She was in heaven. Deep down she is a actress waiting to be discovered.
The weather was perfect. The skies were clear, so clear I saw a satellite move across the sky that was so small you really could mistake it for a star and I saw two shooting stars. It was a bit chilly once the sun went down, but we had jackets and blankets to wrap up the kiddoes. But there was no RAIN!!! Imagine that. There has been no rain for three days. (Keith actually went out and watered tonight--what was he thinking; that it was getting a little dry out there!!)
After the pageant all we had to do was walk across the street and we were in bed for the night (the first picture shows just how exhausted these children were. We had Ashlynne in the stroller pushing her back to the motel and she was so tired she fell forward and almost fell out of the stroller onto the lawn).
After a terrible night's sleep with Andrew up every two hours, we headed home this morning--it was the beginning of our "stay-cations." We are keeping everything in Utah, with the exception of a little side-trip in August to Yellowstone with Keith's sister and brother-in-law. But we are staying put this year. (My mother just reminded me that she, Genette, and I have to go to Las Vegas at the end of August for a 50 Year Wedding Anniversary Party. Oh joy--I hate Vegas with a passion!!!)

WHEN DID WE MOVE TO SEATTLE?

I love Seattle. Since the first time I went 20 years ago, when my niece, KoriAnn was three and wanted to know when we were going to "See Attle."
No, We're not moving. We don't have to. The Pacific Northwest came to us.



Yes, Salt Lake City is now as green and as lush as Western Washington state. We are now beginning to get more and more of their state symbol, a.k.a. slugs. Janessa, my great-niece was complete entralled with this one hanging out by the tire of my car. There are many roaming around our neighborhood as well as colonies and colonies of toadstools.
The Seattle weather report today said it was the 24th straight day of Sunshine--WHAT??? They always have rain. Oh wait the rain is here! Our sunshine went Northwest!

If it doesn't end soon, I am going to have to resort to going to the sporting goods store and buy waders, and quite possibly a boat, because there are salmon and sharks and other sea life species growing in my back yard.

LOOK WHO CAME FOR AN OVERNIGHT VISIT

The Sisson's had an overnighter planned so they asked if we would take Sophie overnight. Mom was absolutely thrilled and get this, she didn't even cry when Sophie left.

When she got here, she just came in and jumped all over everything as though she hadn't been gone for three months. She just made herself right at home.

Ashlynne was the most excited. She played and played and played with Sophie until I thought Sophie would just drop dead. And Ashlynne would giggle and giggle. The best thing was that the dog was still here when the kids left and they didn't have to go through the separation anxiety all over again.

It was a fun time had by all.

WE GOT TO GO IN DA TEMPO

We have been talking for two weeks to the kids about taking them to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. They have been absolutely jumping out of their skin at the prospect of going in the temple. Today finally came and they were thrilled. Well Austin and Ashlynne were. Andrew just was happy to be held through the entire tour. He was perfect with the exception of a minor screaming fot that he took in one of the sealing rooms.
Austin was mesmerized athe the "magic Piano" and kept wanting to go over to the piano and see "who wasn't" playing it.
After the tour there is the little reception room where you get water and cookies. Might I add that the cookies were "Heavenly". The Oatmeal especially. It wasn't very busy because it was mid-afternoon (which I would definitely recommend and is a perfect time to take children--no crowds!)The volunteers kept giving the children cookies.
Austin and Ashlynne are standing at a painting of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, pointing to it and kept saying "We got to go in dere, did't we Nana?"
The rain was absolutely intense. The temple grounds were saturated and flooded. The volunteers were offering their umbrellas to everyone. When we left and got back into the car, Keith and I were saturated from trying to buckle in the kids (we really need to invest in something larger than what we have in order to get us all in fast and comfy, til they cab be buckled in. Keith was riding in the "trunk" of the RAV4. When we pulled out onto 4000 West, it was a river of water. There is a picture of Austin standing under one of the tent awnings letting the water drip on his head because he thought it was cool. Yeah--it was cool--nice and cool. Wet and drippy. Fog up the windows kind of cool.
After the "Tempo" we took them to Wendy's for a Frosty--we should have taken them for Hot Chocolate or Soup. WE WERE SOOOOO WET!!! Then we took them home to Mommy and Daddy.
It was a good experience for them and hopefully it will spark something in them sometime and maybe something in their parents.

JOY, JOY, JOY, MOST OF THE TIME

These kids are the absolute joy of my life. they make me laugh. they make me cry. They cause me to loose sleep. But mostly they are fun to be around.





















































































And I love this little guy most when he sleeps more than three hours a night between feedings and changings.