A Glimpse of Things to Come...

Our Grandma and Grandpa Franson are coming to visit for Halloween. Grandma has been hard at work making amazing costumes for all of us! Here is a preview of things to come! Thanks Grandma Franson!

...Getting Things Done...

I was recently released from teaching Gospel Doctrine in our ward (have been doing it since the beginning of the year) and am now in the Primary presidency. Sunday preparation has changed from intensive scripture study to making "cutesy" things in preparation for the primary program! This is my latest strategy for getting things done without having it take a toll on my kids.

Togetherness at its best!

(Hopefully no one will notice the little flecks on play-doh and drool on the invitations!)

Me and my Girl

Yesterday Elizabeth turned 6 months old! Just can't say how much this girl of ours means to me!

What's a mom to do?!

Joshua has been very resistant to sleep these past few weeks. When Greg and I head up for bed at night we find him sleeping at the top of the stairs with his pillow, blanket, and bear...or in his doorway. But one night recently we didn't find him in either of those places or in his bed. There was brief moment of panic for me until I looked down and saw two little legs poking out from the drawer under his bed. Yes...he was asleep! And even said many grumpy words about being disturbed as we (again) tucked him under the covers. This boy definitely has a mind of his own!

Into Fall...

I have been totally slowed down in "blogging" by feeling the need to catch up! But, fall is just too fun of a time to miss the "now"! So...here goes...These pictures capture a typical after school moment these days. After we walk home from the bus stop in the afternoon with Nathan we often stay outside for a little bit. I sit on the porch steps and go through Nathan's backpack--while I hear his "report" of the day, and we all "decompress" a little bit before going in to fix dinner!

Often we are most happy around here these days when we're all together, but each one busy doing their own thing.

Elizabeth--5 1/2 Months

Brothers...

Just starting to sift through all of our summer pictures. I just couldn't help but do something with this one this morning. The picture was taken in Cache Valley on a walk around the neighborhood with my mom.

One of the things I so wanted for my boys this summer was to get to experience just regular life "in the country" at home...this kind of captures that for me. Don't you love Nathan's boots?!

And I Was a Skeptic...

I've seen these "Bumbos" everywhere and wondered who would actually spend the money for one...until I was given one to try today! I've been trying to figure out how to do the next few months with a currently 4 month old, over 18 pound baby that can't yet sit up. I'm carrying her a lot, and have been debating a new baby carrier to try to help...but at least for today...this has become a total lifesaver! (If I can just keep Nathan from sitting in it or using it as a helmet we'll be golden!)

Jumping Back In...

Our little bathing beauty

Me and My Girl

Nathan--refusing to get out of the water long enough for a picture

Lookin' Good

Ready for some serious fun!

As our summer winds down...I'm anxious to get back to "documenting". But, the sheer quantity of pictures from our "summer memory-making" is pretty overwhelming. So, in order to get back going without getting too bogged down...here are some pictures taken just this last week.

We have a pool in the neighborhood of the condo we're now renting. We've had just totally loved having it...this last month especially. Nathan has become a real swimmer, Joshua has discovered it's at least as fun to make conversation with the people sitting on the chairs as to swim, and Elizabeth has amazed me by thoroughly enjoying the whole experience herself! We're looking forward to school starting, but this is definitely a part of summer we are really going to miss!

Fathers and Sons

This weekend was the highly anticipated Fathers and Sons camp out for our stake. Friday afternoon, when it became apparent that severe thunderstorms were heading out way, the camp out was cancelled. This left two boys and a whole lot of camping gear waiting for some excitement. That night Greg was also helping to move a family in the ward...a "quick move" that ended up lasting four hours...into the late evening.

You know you've got a good dad when at 9:30 p.m. Friday evening, the furniture gets cleared out and the tent goes up in the living room. You know you have an even better dad when you hear stories in the morning of boys up at all hours...scared of the thunder, spending part of the night trying out their own bed upstairs again, running out of flashlight batteries, wetting through their diaper onto the sleeping bag, etc. We had underestimated how "real" the camping experience could be...even in our front room! Thank goodness the memories have already grown fonder after three hour naps for all on Saturday afternoon.

I'm so grateful for a husband that (among so many other things) is willing to make memories for our children...at all costs! =)

Love you Greg! Happy Father's Day!