Home Movies

 There is nothing quite like old home movies.

Pictures are great, but one dimensional....

Videos are such a great transporter to the past.

Lately, we have been on a kick, watching them every Sunday morning.

                                   

Ike never tires of watching....unlike his neighbor over there.

I think part of it is that he likes to see what went on before he came on the scene.

If I could go back in time I would do less running commentary and
reign in my laugh more.  
I kinda cringe when I hear myself laugh...it is a bit too hearty.

Also, I wouldn't video the whole 30 minute Kindergarten performance--

8 songs all start to sound the same.  

I have hours and hours of school and singing group performances.

 We push the fast forward button on those after about 30 seconds.  

Our favorite things to watch and re-watch are the every day things like my little ones telling a story, or putting on a circus show for us and when I was sneaky enough to capture the kids playing without seeing a video peeking around the corner.

Isaac's Baptism

Isaac was baptized today.  

It was a sweet experience to see this last child of mine

prepare, look forward to, and enjoy this day so much.

I was a bit of an emotional, splotchy-faced mess.

Per Isaac's request...individual photos with each.

Ross and Anita came in just at the right time and 

we were able to get a picture with them.  

 I am kicking myself that I didn't get more

 pictures of all the wonderful family and friends that came

to support him.  I managed to grab just a few pics at the luncheon afterward.

My neighbor, Geoff, came over and set-up the lunch so it would be all ready when we got home.

It actually brought more tears to my eyes.

This is the cake that many of you have heard all about for weeks....

thanks for humoring my enthusiastic child.

He went over to Melody's

 for an official "cake consult" and with a lot of thought 

and deliberation finally decided on....

1/2 chocolate peanut butter cup 

1/2 carrot cake with no nuts.

It lived up to all the hype.

This is the only picture I happened to take of my grandpa, Jack and my mom

having what appears to be a great time.

"Permitted" to Drive

This guy could hardly wait for August 16th.  

That is exactly 6 months until he turns 16 and in Arizona that means you can get a driver's permit. 

 In fact, you have to hold a permit for 6 months before you can receive your license. 

 Cole was determined to pass that test on that day.  

Right before he took the test he looked at me and said with worry in his eyes,

 "Mom, what if I don't pass?"  

I lovingly reassured him that he was on his own after this shot

 and I wasn't coming back to the crowded MVD with him again. 

That did the trick.

He passed with flying colors.

I love a new driver.  Look how he sits straight up, hands gripping the 9 and 3 o'clock position.

The way he signals and turns the corners so deliberately....puts a smile on my passenger-side face.

Oh and let's not forget that he wants to spend all sorts of time with me.

"Mom, do you want me to go with you to the grocery store? "

"Mom, I'll go with you to take the girls to tennis !"

Scramble

Last year, I bought myself an Ipad for Tom's birthday.  

He never uses it and so I guess I bought myself an Ipad.

Well my real point to this post is this game you can play on it...Scramble.

Scramble is basically Boggle but you don't have to write down your words

 and flip the little hourglass thingy

...beautiful stream-lined game.

With no television the first month of school--

An annual law, decreed by Tom, to get us all on track and focused for the new school year.

We play a lot of Scramble.  Who doesn't have time for a 2 minute game?

The reigning champ is Meg.  

She consistently works her word voodoo and beats us all.

Teachers

With the start of a new school year,
I am grateful for those that help teach my children in the classroom and outside of it. 

 I need reinforcements to fill in where I am lacking....

specifically the talent and know-how of baking. 

 My good friend, Melody, has taken Meg under her wing,

teaching her how to prep and bake all sorts of yummies 

for her catering business.
Meg has really taken to it.

Last weekend, she worked Friday and Saturday on this wedding cake.   

She came home sore and tired, but fired up about finishing such a task.

She is really interested in going to culinary school one day. 

Back to School

I love the anticipation, preparation, and excitement that goes with the first day of school.

Just not so excited about the after school crazy schedule thing.

This year was impossible to get a picture with all of them for school.

My girls had piano lessons at 7:00 a.m.

Ike left for the bus at 7:20 and Cole left while I was picking up the girls from piano....so I was happy to get at least a picture.  

I made Ike pose for his picture in front of the bus stop kids ...good thing you can still look cool giving your second grade sign.  I think he tried to run off without giving me a hug and then his conscience caught up with him and I got my hug....thanks Ike.

 8th grade with the same exact schedule as her cousin Cosi

Um, just stroll down memory lane for a moment as

I remember them like this....

And last but certainly not least.....

Ok, he was a good sport to pose for his mama.  I guess this is the last

time...he has grown up on me and run out of fingers.  

This is a big year....

with a heavy-duty schedule. 

Thanks to my friend Julie for the DQ dilly bars....perfect way to cool down after school.

Will someone please hose off this child....poor kid has to wear long pants to school  (dumb dress code....we live in the desert!)

 This is our word for the new school year.

   

 Each letter represents something to help us all "shine" through the school year.

I'm Bored

Words that are not allowed to reach my ears are

"I'm bored."

 There are always cupboards or closets that can be cleaned 

out and arranged if you are bored around this joint.

Isaac got the chance to organize the book cupboard today.....guess who was bored.

And luckily he got a little distracted along the way

In fact it took most of the day

 Meg wasn't even bored and jumped right in to help---

help read some books that is.

She got so carried away in reading....she didn't even need to use a hair dryer.

Win win for both of us.

I got the book cupboard organized and Isaac wasn't bored all day.

Sure is Great Turning 8

Isaac

Loves to Perform and make people laugh
Does a Rooster Call to signal he is ready for a tuck-in
Big Sweet Tooth
Snacker
Adores Cole
Loves to Learn
Very Obedient
Pleaser
Social
Loves to speak in accents
Good Sense of Humor
Wishes he had hair that doesn't stick up
Talker
Loves his Family
Never remembers to make his bed
Does push-ups like a pro
Creative
Constantly writing and drawing
Not a shy bone in his body
Anticipates and Loves Events
Enthusiastic about almost everything
Deep thinker
Can't wait to be a dad someday...talks about it a lot.

Bienvenidos a Peru

We just got back from an amazing experience visiting the 

Trujillo, Peru mission

 where our brother-in-law, Terry, 

is the mission president.  

A lot of family and friends have asked how our trip went and the only way to

come close to sharing our experience is through pictures... 

very difficult to describe in words.

 The days may be out of order, but I am just glad to get it documented.

I divided our trip into 9 posts

So here is the first....

 We took a one hour flight to L.A.

 Then got an 8 hour flight from L.A. to Lima

 We flew through the night and arrived in Lima, Peru in the morning...unfortunately, our flight to Trujillo was canceled,so we spent 5 hours in the food court,
eating Papa John's pizza and having McDonald's ice cream cones.

By the way, the ice cream cones are better in Peru.
I stayed entertained watching a dramatic conversation going on via the computer with the girl in the far right background of this photo.  Tears, laughter, a crazy laugh--back to tears, anger and then the crazy laugh.  I was completely mesmerized even though I couldn't understand a word she was saying.
  

It was so great to finally spot our destination after 24 hours of travel.

 Nothing like having a warm welcome waiting outside for us.

As soon as we saw the Turks and these missionaries...

it was all worth it!