Swimming Lessons

August was the month of Swimming Lessons (if you can call them that, its more like expensive water play). Our kids like most kids love the water, any water. Hose water, rain water, gutter water, fountain water, bath water, you name it if it has to do with water they are in heaven. So naturally August was their favorite month of the year. Fin had a class of her own this year, and Tuck and I were part of a mommy and me swim class. 65 dollars later (and still completely oblivious to the the fact that they would undoubtedly sink to the bottom of the pool like a sack of pennies if they fell in) they are more in love then ever with the deep blue. I have my hands full with these two water babies.

Take a peek

(taken by ali)

Our best friends came up to visit us for a week.
Check out some of our adventures here.

I'll be posting some pictures soon!

Infinite Power of Hope

Watching this gets me excited for what we will hear in a couple of weeks.

First day of School

We have been quite excited at our home about Finley's 1st day of preschool. We are doing a co-op with 4 other families in our church. She gets along really well with all of the other kids in the group and has been asking for weeks when she gets to bring her school supplies to her preschool.

Well today was the day. She got dressed all by herself and walked downstairs to her preschool. She goes to preschool 2 days a week for 2 hours a day. We had the first week of school at our house. We learned the letters S (I am Special) and A (Apple Pie) and the numbers 3 and 13. The kids were darling and we had so much fun playing with sand and making & eating an apple pie.
I love Septembers.

Tucker LOVES preschool too!

Red Rock and The 4th of July

Dry, Dusty, Summer Desert. The kids and I spent the 4th in St. George with my family. How did people live in this heat 100 years ago? We lived our week in the pool and the kids and I just barely survived. Actually the kids did great, they are like lizards they loved sunning themselves on the warm concrete.

Keeping Cool

The Celebration

The 4th was spent with family barbecuing and lighting off our collection of fountain fireworks. We loved being able to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Orvin (the kids great-grandparents). When the sun went down we drove to the top of Foremaster Ridge (which overlooks the whole valley) and watched the fireworks.

the stats

The kids had doctors appointments this week
and we got some new numbers.

Tucker 20 months
lbs: 26.2 (44%)
inches: 36 (98%)
Head Circumference: 50 cm (91%)

He has become a picky eater, can say about 45 words, understands it's not ok to be mean, takes 3 hour naps, loves the water, his blankie, sippy, and ball.


Finley 3 years
lbs: 35 (79%)
inches: 39 (81%)

She is very social and extremely excited for school. She is sensitive to others feelings, and is quick to cheer someone up if they are sad. She is a GREAT eater and will at least try every new food I give her. She loves books, her "blankly", rice milk, friends, and anything that is the color pink

the fact of the matter

Did anyone read that last post? I must have been having a really great day, 'cause today I'm singing a different tune. I still adore my children, that has not changed. The fact of the matter is, the last couple of days I have been run ragged by their mess making and incessant fighting.

I am shocked with how much they fight.

Being the oldest of 7 I grew up surrounded by an absurd amount of fighting and chaos. But they are so young!!!!

This little guy, as sweet as he looks, packs one mean punch and he doesn't stop there. He is a notorious hair puller, arm pincher, face scratching, mouth biting son of a gun. I really do not know what to do with him. He has spent a total of 17 minutes in time out today (a min. per each offense).

Enlighten me with new discipline methods because mine have fallen on deaf ears.

Summer Lake

Man do I love my kids! They are growing up so quickly. Tucker is talking up a storm, and Fin is growing out of her clothes faster than I can buy them. They keep my life busier than I could have imagined. I love that they are exactly what I never expected.

skimming

I was skimming through passages of scripture this morning, (I don't know if skimming through scripture is something praiseworthy to admit), and came across these verses. Reminders (small or great) of His love are the most brilliant parts of my days.

"verily, verily, i say unto you, ye are little children,
and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father
hath in his own hands prepared for you;
and ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer,
for i will lead you along. the kingdom is yours and the blessings
there-of are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.
and he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious;
and the things of this earth shall be added unto him,
even an hundred fold, yea, more."
doctrine & covenants 78:17-19

Finally

After 2 months, 1 week and 3 days I have my camera back from the shop. I'm a little worried though, my lens sounds like it's grinding sand. Is that normal?!!!! Here are some photos I took this morning of a darling little family I know.

Sunday Suppers

I love this blog. It combines all of my favorite things, food and design, color, attention to detail, and GREAT photography.

I can't wait to try out some of their recipes.

I stumbled across these today and they made me happy. Wish I could have been there-maybe playing the tambourine or even the accordion.

The Frosty Darling and other such things that make me happy.

I love Salt Lake City.
I love walking into a store that is brimming with creative energy.
I love handmade one of a kind treasures, and unique quirky finds like at the Frosty Darling.




I love having my haircut by my sister-in-law Melinda at her and my brothers salon The High Life. She works magic go in you'll see.


I love being inspired while listing to great music (bon iver LOVE them!) at a twilight concert.


I love eating ridiculously delicious food EVERYDAY, some of my favorites: A Scandinavian breakfast from Finns: Norwegian waffles with lingonberries and sour cream


Raspberry Milkshake from Iceberg, Concrete from Neilsons Frozen Custard, A Gigantic plate of Nachos from the Porcupine Grill, Cheeseburger and Fries with fry sauce from Apollo Burger, any dish from the Red Iguana Yummo!


A big bowl of Sundance oatmeal (not from SLC but Sundance of course Secret Recipe: you will love this... 1 C oatmeal 1 C heavy cream 1 C water, 1/4 C brown sugar, 2 T dried friut, 1T toasted nuts bring liquid to a boil, add oatmeal & sugar & fruit simmer 10 min. top with extra fruit and nuts) . I could go on and on and on. So I think I will...

While I was in St. George, I was also introduced to chocolate chip cookies from Grandma Toblers, and frozen yogurt from Spoon Me. I crave the acai berry yogurt topped with fresh raspberry, mango, and kiwi, every afternoon.


I love the Salt Lake Art Festival and watching my kids hang out with their cousins.


I LOVE being around my family. I miss them like CRAZY.

Park City

Grandmas house for dinner

Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house

outside the Mayan restaurant