We Love Waldo!

For our long drive from Michigan to Utah, I packed several boxes full off fun things to do with the kids.  Ironically the biggest hit that was used for an amazing number of hours on the drive (especially by Joshua) was a "Where's Waldo?" book I'd gotten at the library.  Finding and re-finding Waldo and his friends has a "magic" I hadn't expected for us!  I got thinking again about it this week and picked up a couple new books from the library. 

These are a couple cute pictures from a "play date" we had here this morning. 

A friend told me about some fun photo editing options on "The Pioneer Woman"...that I tried out a bit on these photos.  Kind of fun.  You can find the "actions" here. 

Back to Summer

We had a wonderful three week trip out west in July.  I've been hoping to get events posted from the trip...but as with all of the biggest moments in our life...they never hit the blog because I'm too overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start documenting.  So, while I sort through the "important stuff" a while longer.  I'll start posting the day to day of our last few weeks of summer here at home again.

Sprinklers

Coming up on summer I sometimes worry about what I should be doing to enrich my kid's lives.  In all my thoughts and plans I have to admit that when my kids look back on childhood summer days...it's afternoons like this I hope they remember most.

Elizabeth watching her crazy brothers.

Ring-around-the-rosies.

Thoroughly wet and thoroughly happy.

Of course, the sprinkler gets turned on and Elizabeth is the first to head directly for it.  She crawled as fast as she could through the grass and planted herself right next to the sprinkler.  (She's walking now about 50% of the time...but when she's determined and wants speed she crawls.) 

Beautiful Girl!

Family Home Evening -- Wise Man and the Foolish Man

Best Part:  It actually worked!  I think Greg and I both silently prayed that house firmly to that rock!  After the build-up of singing and discussion of meaning...there was too much faith riding on that house for it not to stick!  (FYI:  A colandar was used to ease the flow of poured water.)

Fire Fighter Birthday Party

Nathan and Joshua got invited to a fun birthday party!  A trip to the fire station. 

Nathan and Joshua with their friend, Talen.

The best part was getting a chance to hold the fire hose!

There is something about this picture of Joshua I just love!

First Day of Summer

The hours following Nathan's half-day last day of school were a fun kick-off to summer. 

Nathan dashed home from the bus stop and climbed the tree he's had his eye on for days...and has tried previously to climb with no success.  With the added momentum of kindergarten finished, he scaled it with ease...and got totally stuck!  (What you see is the smile.  What you don't see is the pleading going on behind the pasted smile to "HELP GET ME DOWN"!)

Later we went for our long-awaited first swim of the season in the pool near our home. 

Then, in the evening while Greg was gone we went to "Concert in the Park" with one of our favorite people, Cindy. 

In all of this you must know that Elizabeth is curious and fearless.  Wanting into the water and getting impatient if she's just being held.  She'd periodically lean herself over and dip her face in water and come back up and gasp and try again.  At the concert in the park she was all over...eating rocks, making friends, and then most endearing of all crawling back over to snuggle up by Cindy on the blanket.  What a great day!

Last Day of School

We made it!  My big boy is done with Kindergarten! 

One of times of day I've really enjoyed is walking down to the bus stop with Joshua and Elizabeth...and "killing time" while we wait.  (This includes eating rocks, climbing rocks, throwing rocks, and playing "I Spy" ad nauseum.)  Here they are just "hanging out".

Walking home.

Entering the "Fray"

Last night Elizabeth went from "sideline watcher" to "Jedi princess"!  A good brother handed off his weapon, and without hesitation she took up where he left off!  What are we in for now?!  This girl needs a doll!

Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend we had the chance to go back and visit our "hometown" in Indiana where we lived for our first few years after graduate school.  We hadn't been back since we moved two years ago! 

One of the great Young Men that Greg worked with when we lived there, Michael, graduated from high school.  He's been so great to keep in touch...we just had to go down a "represent" for the occasion!

We "enjoyed" a five hour drive and a night in a hotel in town.  We ate at Fazoli's...an "Italian place" they don't have in Michigan.

Hotel Highlights:

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  Watching the last of the semi-finals lacrosse games after kids were “asleep”.
• 
  
  Joshua…after carefully helping Elizabeth push the button to get into the elevator and us carefully holding her hands to walk inside announced, “We sure love our baby!” It’s so true!
• 
  
  Nathan…thinks “hotels are the best place in the whole world” and eventually got over the fact that: No, room service is not a possibility. (Where does he learn this stuff?!)
• 
  
  Elizabeth…had her definite preferences of swimming with Daddy (she’d cry with me) because Daddy makes it so much more exciting in the water. (This girl has no fear.)

Seeing "Family" again:

The best part, really, was seeing all the dear people in our old ward again.  Brought back such great memories and made us realize again how much the years we spent there are such a big part of who we've become as a family.

Amanda and Elizabeth

Adrian, James, Michael and the Fam

We're so proud of Michael!  He is the perfect combination of "cool" and "good"!  I don't know of a young man who has worked harder or more carefully made righteous choices.  He's got such a great heart! 

We love you Mike!  We're so glad to consider you and your family part of ours!