museum with friends

My friend has a membership to our local museum. She invited us to go play. It was great. I hadn't been since it had been rebuilt. It was different, yet exactly the same. Still super fun. grocery shopping

boat races...sort of

Cute doctors...at one point Carson and Trinity said all the babies had fevers and needed medicine. Here is Carson giving this baby medicine.

There was a super cool room with only one size of wood blocks. The picture below was what was standing in the room. Very intimidating. Luckily they had maps/pictures to help us build.

Trinity asked Ruth to build this butterfly. Impressive!

Carson and I made furniture. He built the table and I made the couch. Still cool!

This is the last day to focus on only Carson before he starts preschool. He is soo much fun!!

mastering stairs

party

Today Karlee had her 12th birthday party. For the last few years she has wanted a swim party, but the weather was never warm or dry enough until this year. Mid 90's and a clear blue sky. Perfect!

They swam, had food, played games and swam some more.

Karlee didn't want a birthday cake, just brownies and the chocolate fountain. It was a big hit.

Sara S., Paige, Regan, Karlee, Alexa, Alexis C., Emily J., Meagan W., and in the front row we have Katarina, Kalina F., and Becca L. Karlee's friends ranged from 5th to 8th grade. I think the age thing didn't bother anyone. They all had fun.

Every gift she received fit her perfect. Her friends really know her. In a few more days she's the big 12. Almost a teenager...look out!!

Did you know...

...that Walmart will fill up balloons with helium FREE if you buy the balloons there? Soo cool!!!

new missionary

Today my brother and his wife are dropping off their first born at the MTC, missionary training center, in Utah. I know his mom is having a hard time. I text her yesterday telling her to be strong. This was her response, "I've already had many microbursts of showers..."

Skylar is ready. He attended a year at BYU and received many scholarships in the music program. I'm sure he wishes he could take his trumpet with him, he'll figure out some way to play.

He is going to New Jersey, Morristown Mission, Spanish speaking. We have a Sister from our Ward on a mission there now. I read her blog/letters that her family maintains. She loves everything about the place. I think most missionaries love where they serve.

Good luck Skylar!! We love you and will be praying for you.

look what I bought

start of another great year

Bailee sophomore, Karlee 7th grade, Mason 3rd grade, and Carson preschool.
Next year they are all in school!!

sneak peek

friends

Over the weekend Kinzie asked if I had done something (I don't remember exactly what it was). I told her no and she was surprised and asked what I had done all week because I didn't watch Adam either. So I thought about that and realized that I had friends here all week.

Monday Phoebe was here in the morning. Benjamin and Amanda were here in the afternoon. Tuesday was Ortho and errands. Wednesday we had the Nichols. Thursday the Norlems. Monday we had Isabella and Nicole. Tuesday Micah, then Wednesday (today) we had Isabella, Nichole, and Micah here most of the day. Plus Adam all this week. We have all had fun. We are all tired and looking forward to tomorrow and the only extra is Adam. Friends are fun, but just family is kind of nice too. This morning at breakfast.

After breakfast we invited more friends over and ended up swimming in the rain. I just became the coolest mom ever!! No thunder or lightening so we swam until we couldn't see, the rain was coming down too hard.

eggs ~ food for thought

I went to a new market recently for groceries, Aldi. Neat concept, great prices. I'll go back.

The point I am trying to make is that I never thought eggs would cause me to think. I never thought a carton of eggs would have a Bible verse on the inside.

This is the Day

which the Lord

has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24

FHE

Tonight for family home evening we invited a family over so we could put on our play. It is titled, "Naaman learns to obey". It is based on 2 Kings 5: 1-15.

We worked on it for a couple of weeks and had so much fun. When it was all over tonight, Carson said he wanted to do it again. Naaman has leprosy. This girl tells us that there is a Prophet in Israel that will heal him.

King of Syria wrote a letter to King of Israel asking Naaman to be healed.

King of Israel is kind of blurry. (I was holding Adam while I was taking pictures.)

Elisha wants Naaman to come visit him. (Doesn't Elisha have a cool beard?) Naaman is told to go to the River Jordan and wash 7 times to be healed.

This is the 7th time in the river. It works!! Naaman now believes there is a God!!

The cast taking their bow. I don't think we will ever forget the story of Naaman and how he is healed.

count down is on

Counting today there are 8 days until school starts. We are ready! We have school supplies, school clothes, and recent hair cuts. The only thing left is a Father's Blessing that will be done the night before.

These past few weeks the kids have had a hard time being nice to each other. That's when I know it's time for school to start.

Although, Thursday night the kids had a blast swimming together. Then the girls stayed up and watched a movie together. Friday and Saturday have been very pleasant. I'm sure it won't last, but I'll enjoy it as long as I can.

btw ~ Today is the 16th straight day of triple digits. I think it's suppose to be 102 today. I'm soo glad we have a pool.

Les Misérables

Saturday afternoon Brian and I took the girls to see this production. It was put on by students, mostly Seniors. What an amazing job they did. Brian and I saw this in London many years ago and paid maybe three times more. I was just as impressed this time as the last. The only challenge was seeing these young, innocent faces in some rather adult scenes. I have been impressed with every production at this venue and Les Mis was no different.

friends

The best part of reunions are the friends. All of our kids had someone to hang with. It's hard living so far away to stay connected. But so far so good!!

Steel Reunion ~ Wednesdsay

Wednesday morning Grandpa set off the candy cannon on the beach.

This time when it went off it didn't go very far. Tanya is going to beat all the kids.

Even though some were a little charred, the kids didn't mind.

Today's events were kind of on your own. Although, everyone wanted to go whale watching so we went as a group. (No we didn't see any whales. It was still worth it.) Since we were so large it was just our family on the boat. Beth decided to stay on land. She doesn't like boats.

As we headed out we hit a few big waves. It was like a ride at an amusement park.

Blake, Carson sitting on Mckenna, Waynette, Alison, Karlee, Aarin holding Riley, and Mason on the floor. We were cold, we didn't mind sitting close.

Shortly after heading out I started feeling sick. I couldn't believe I was sick. I've been on many boats and have always been fine. Yes, even in the ocean. The only consolation is that I wasn't the first to vomit (yes...I was that sick). Noelle was first, she even lost it a couple of times. Now I will always take Dramamine before going out on a boat. It was awful.

Afterwards, Aarin's family went with us to see a working lighthouse.

The tiny bulb on the right is the one in use. It is a 120 watt bulb. The large one is the back up. Surprising.

These little birds are a type of a penguin that can fly. They are tiny and very cute. But they make a mess. They have turned this rock white.