Wagon Ride

Mom brought Emery's wagon over a few days ago. It's been at their house for a while now. We loaded up the kiddies so we could do some work at our neighborhood entrance i.e. pull weeds, weed eat, etc. They enjoyed the ride. Normally, I don't think Emery would stay in the wagon as much as she did but I think she liked having Riggs behind her. Once again, I LOVE THE BUMBO.

Notice the picture of Emery picking up the weeds. I was impressed by her willingness to help out. We normally pull the weeds, make a pile then throw them away at the end. I had made a fairly big pile and Emery came over, picked them all up and threw them away. She did this for me several times. Atta girl. It's always nice to not have to ask. After about half an hour, it started to storm so I loaded them up and headed back home. Our neighbor offered to drive us but I thought we would make it home before the downpour. I had to take the blanket and cover them up (because the helmet is not suppose to get wet). I told Emery to keep Riggs entertained. She sang most of the way. He never made a peep.


Rob had to fix his weed eater after cleaning the entrance. Emery, once again, played in the rain with all of her bike gear on. She's a hoot.

Pioneer Day

Distance: 1,297 miles from Nauvoo.
"Arrival in the Salt Lake Valley had a special meaning to each emigrant. For many it signified the end of their arduous journey. They had endured to the end of the Mormon Trail, and their participation in that memorable trek gave metaphor and meaning to life itself. Even for those who were not Latter-day Saints, the first glimpse of this broad, open valley after such hardship provided a deeply emotional moment." www.lds.org

On Saturday we held our annual "Pioneer Day" celebrations at church. My favorite part has always been the small "trek" from the old church site to where the church is now. I remember doing that as a young girl, way back when. Hopefully, this tradition will continue for a while.

More info about the pioneers here. Just click on the fourth link, right hand side of the page. It's an amazing journey.

Tagged by TaMara

Three Fears....
1. children falling away from the church
2. snakes/bugs/spiders
3. things breaking when it comes to weight i.e. porch swings, cheap tv stand
breaking and having the tv land on my kids, church pew (when there are a lot of
people seated on one), the list goes on.
I know, it's crazy but #1 is the only one that really matters.
(Rob says my #4 fear would be - driving into a lake (by accident) and figuring
out how to get the kids out of the car. He's right. I've gone over this
scenario with him before, most every time we drive by a certain lake.)

Three Goals....
1. better mother & wife (this is going to take a while)
2. take a photography class
3. teach my children MORE - more manners, more humility, more kindness, more
educationally, more spiritually (lol - I know what you're thinking..)

Three Obsessions....
1. cleanliness/organization
2. candy/ice cream/anything SWEET
3. toenail polish - no chipping

Three Random Facts About Me
1. I live by a list. Everything I need, have to do or need to be reminded of is
written on a "sticky note". (Rob just informed me that come January, drug reps will no longer be allowed to give away complimentary pens & pads. WHAT?! He said we will have to purchase them from a store like normal people. WHAT?!)
2. I miss the people and places where we have lived - Provo, Savannah, Greensboro.
I try to keep up with a lot of them through blogging & now, Face Book.
3. I clip coupons and use them.
lol - all three of these answers courtesy of Rob.

Three People I Tag....
1. Tracy
2. Molly
3. Stephanie

adjusting

We are now making our weekly trips to the helmet specialists to have it adjusted. These are pictures of us waiting on the adjustment and one of our therapist adjusting it. We drive over an hour for a 15 minute appointment. Literally, 15 minutes. This office is good - short wait, short visit, then you're outta there. My perspective - in the end, if it works, it's well worth the time and gas, right?! Someone please say yes. I'm just kidding. I know it's worth it. Any and every parent would agree.
Have a great week!!

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back." William D. Tammeus

Youth Conference

Rob and I were able to attend Youth Conference this year, all thanks to my Mom (& Dad) who watched the little ones while we were gone. We really had a great time. I must admit, the only real thing we were excited about was the white water rafting but as a whole, the conference was really good. We took a GREAT group of kids with us. Certainly no complaints when it comes to them. I think they too had a good time.
We were able to raft, attend seminars, play ultimate frisbee, and dance, dance, dance. The kids kept us laughing the entire time. I am so happy we were able to attend this conference with them.

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." Winston Churchill

Rob's Shin-Digg

Shin-Digg, haven't heard that in a while now have ya (is that even how you spell it??). Just so you know, it was Rob's wording not mine. The south must be gettin' to him.

Monday night we had some families over for FHE and a small celebration for Rob's birthday. THANKS to everyone who came - I really appreciated it and I know Rob certainly did.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROB!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!


"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many." Author Unknown

Birthday Dinner

Let the Birthday festivities begin!! Mom and dad treated us to dinner this past weekend for Rob's upcoming birthday. THANK YOU - It was delish! Happy (early) Birthday Rob!!


"Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time." Jean Paul Richter

Family Home Evening

This past Monday we picked an article out of The Friend magazine for Family Home Evening. Emery is now at the age of anticipating FHE. She runs to get her magazine and picks out the article she would like to do. She decided on the pioneer handcart article. If you look closely, she colored the lady in purple. Her coloring skills have improved immensely in the past few months. I had a picture of Riggs during FHE - curled up in his crib. He was a little tired that night.
Have a great week!!

"What is Family Home Evening?
Family home evening is a special time set aside each week that brings family members together and strengthens their love for each other, helps them draw closer to Heavenly Father, and encourages them to live righteously." www.lds.org

our cuties

Every now and again, I will take a picture of our little ones that I actually like. This happens to be one. Emery is usually cheesin' it up and Riggs is not looking at the camera but this time, they look genuinely happy. I think I will order a print or two.

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." Walt Streightiff

Helmet

Woohoo - the anticipation is over. I was so ready to get this helmet, get his head fixed and be done. And to tell you the truth, it's been really good so far. Riggs acts as if it's not even there, except at night when he tends to scratch and pull at the stickers right before he falls asleep. This is a picture of him with his therapist. She just put his new accessory on.


I have already painted it twice. The first time was the wrong type of paint, it scratched off too easily. I made another trip to Michael's and talked to a lady about what I wanted and she seemed to know what she was talking about. The second coat of paint has worked a lot better. Now instead of brushing his hair in the morning, I touch-up the helmet. Sad, I know but it just looks better if I do. I wonder how long I will continue to do it?!



Jason is suppose to be sending a few stckers in the mail. When it's all said and done, he will probably look like a giant bumper on a car with all the stickers, but that's fine by me. I think it adds to his personality.

Emery now knows the definition of caution. Not because we told her to "use caution", but because she wanted to know what the yellow sticker said.

"If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want." Elbert Hubbard

Dancin' in the Rain

We have had rain almost every evening this week. And almost every evening this week, Emery ends up in it, just like this picture. She starts off by going to "look at the rain" on the front porch. Layer by layer the clothes come off and next thing you know, she is in her birthday suit. Good thing our neighbors are far away. Can you say "white trash"?! Glad Rob didn't jump in and join the fun.

"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby." Langston Hughes

BUZZ CUT

BEFORE















So we (as in myself, Rob and Jacob) had contemplated buzzing our little man's head the past few weeks. We talked about it twice, I think, then left the idea alone. Well, Rob and I went for a run Saturday evening (hence the nice wardrobe and sweat) and when we got back it was time to give Mark a haircut. Rob thought now was a good time to buzz Riggs too. Sure, why not. I cut his little spike to put in his baby book then buzzed the rest. Mark stood by with the camera and confirmed that "I was not a bad mom". lol. Thank you Mark. I had to ask him for my own sake. In all honesty, I think he is still just as cute. It will make no difference as of tomorrow when he will be sportin' a nice shiny helmet. :)




AFTER











"Hair is vitally personal to children. They weep vigorously when it is cut for the first time; no matter how it grows, bushy, straight or curly, they feel they are being shorn of a part of their personality." Charles Chaplin, My Autobiography, 1964

Crafty

Ginger and the boys came over a few days ago for a little craft time, or something like that. I had bought several small wooden shapes for the kids to paint and turn into magnets. It was a last minute project, just something different. Next time, I think whatever we do, I'll buy more for each kid. I agree with Ginger, I think girls are somewhat more detailed oriented. Emery painted, painted and then painted some more. She, just like the boys only had one shape to paint but it took her a while. Whereas the boys painted their shape and they were done. No need to mess around. lol.
Have a great week!!

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." Pablo Picasso

INDEPENDENCE DAY

I like the title of this post. I think the 4th is a great holiday. I also think it means more the older you get, well, at least for me.




















Rob and I invited Mark and Amy out on the 4th for dinner, dessert and fireworks. It started to pour buckets while we were eating dessert under the little umbrella. We stayed there until it passed then headed over to see the fireworks. We were very impressed with the show at Sandhill. We were sad Emery missed them but we also knew she would be covering her ears and complaining of the noise (for the most part). We plan to take the kiddies to see them next year.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Sidenote: Emery just saw the picture of Rob and I with the fireworks in the background. While pointing at the picture she said, "Ooooh, that's so cute mommy. I like your shoulder." She cracks me up sometimes.

"It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you." Dick Cheney

on the move

Never fails. Emery always gets down from our bed using the same technique - big jump, bounce off her bottom and flop on the floor...flawlessly. Riggs takes in the action, on a daily (more like hourly) basis.

"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide." Napoleon Bonaparte