Kiddo Update

I thought it would be good to update y'all on how the kids are doing. Spence had a rough transition into Junior High( I know I can't believe it either) for the first two weeks, but it doing great now. It has been super hot and his classroom air conditioning isn't quite keeping up. He has his summer hair cut which is a buzz cut of 2inches all around from the clippers. They spray him with mist in the afternoons on his head and we give him plenty to drink when he gets home. I'm hoping fall will bring a little more mild temps for him and that his comfort level will be at optimum! When Spencer is happy, I am happy. His behaviorist is still coming once a week and he is making some progress. My new job is to be a clothes Nazi and make sure he only gets two outfits a day plus the same PJ's every night. Wish me luck, we will get him enjoying wearing clothes and his changing habit nipped in the bud pretty soon I hope.:)

Celia is enjoying her new school and time alone with mom. She can't wait for the bus to come and we keep her pretty busy and learning even before school. If it were up to her, she would learn and read and exercise all day long. She has so much energy, I am really glad she'll be starting in home therapy next month too. She is like a sponge right now and is making awesome progress with her speech, social, and self help skills. She has been having a hard time sharing, but we knew that hehe, Everything is her nor( she says my nor, we are not sure what it means.) and is used to getting her way. She is so sweet though if you ask her nicely and wait, she will comply. Her service coordinator predicts she'll be in general education kindergarten! I think so too. She is growing in leaps and bounds and it is very encouraging and exciting!

Emmy is liking school and doing well. She is in band and practicing her flute nicely. It helps that she tapes her practice log above her headboard to remind herself and writes down how long each time, instead of trying to remember how long she practiced and on which days. She tried out for volleyball, but apparently they are really competitive and some girls are rather skilled with technique already. Emmy didn't make the team but they asked her to come and learn the game and practice and travel with all the girls and score keep at games. Sounds a lot like playing, but without the pressure hehe. She seems really happy about it and is learning a lot so its all good. She is having fun learning a lot in science. I'm excited to see her reaction when they start dissecting frogs hehe. She is reading the princess bride for class and her friends are all jealous because it is a cool book. Its a great movie too, we will have to watch it together after she is done reading the book.~

Joseph is liking third grade so far. He has a strict, but very animated and fun teacher, Mrs. Docherty. She was Emmy's drama teacher when she was in the play "We Haz Jazz" in fifth grade. She benches them i f the don't have their homework done, but guess what, Joseph is getting it done and learning a ton! Joseph gave a talk on Sunday about how temples and family history bless all generations of his family. He talked of his vacation visiting all the grandparents and great grandparents, and even the cemeteries and of all the wonderful family members who have been sealed and married for so long. The bishop was there and even commented and asked, who was it that was married for 70 years?? I said Brian's grandparents and he was duly impressed. We really have been blessed by strong long lasting marriages on both sides of our family. Joseph has been getting blue cards and is very exciting to get to go to Rah Rah's house to hang out just the two of them.:)

Revisiting the 1800's

It was a great opportunity for Brian and I to go The Evening with Richard Lyman Bushman. He has written among other things the book entitled; Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. Brian is a fan of history and especially church history and Joseph Smith. It was great to hear from this Author. He spoke of Joseph and Emma and their relationship. It was totally entertaining and thought provoking to me. After he spoke his wife, who also teaches at Claremont University school of religion, spoke to us about writing our stories, keeping an account of our lives and learning and growing and producing information for our families and those in the future. It was great and I was happy to have been journal keeping more lately and I feel it might have even been a plug for blogging.:) Then, after his wife spoke, he opened it up for questions and answers about our early church history. Hard questions were brought up and he answered wonderfully and with great poise concerning polygamy in the early church and various other hard topics. It was great to learn so much and to have someone that has studied so extensively the beginning of our culture and religion give insight of that era. Plus, there was yummy Mexican food, cake, and beautiful surroundings on a large ranch on a hill in Loomis.

I was really glad we could do something that Brian has so much interest in that I could enjoy too. I did ask a question though and it was hard to deliver for me once the whole crowd turned and looked my way! The people there seemed to be well read and full of culture and I choke when so many eyes are on me. I was glad I participated though and from what Brian said you couldn't tell I went pale and felt very nervous when I had the speaking floor for my question hehe. Fun stuff, I hope I remember all the wonder principles , doctrines, and great feelings I had that night.~

Treasure Hunt.

Joseph has been telling me how he needs new shoes. He has two great pairs that we bought him recently. We saw these heelys at a garage sale today, he thought they were pretty cool, They didn't look worn at all and they had the wheels and plug ins for the soles even with the cool tool. Joe used his own money and was pretty pleased. I'm happy he has found new shoes.:)

Emmy found a guitar case. She bought it herself along with the pink hair strand at Claires later in the day when we visited Sunrise Mall. The kids were so good. No strollers they all walked together and stayed with mom. Emmy enjoyed going in to Claires all by herself. I think she wants to be a rock star and pink hair and a guitar are the natural first steps!

Since I've been in the mood to decorate for fall, I was happy for find this cool runner at the neighbor's garage sale. One person's junk is another's treasure.~

Oh no.

My camera is broken.. I know what's a scrapbooker/wanna be photographer like myself going to do?! Who needs pictures every time? I have my cell, which helps and I think a plan for a different camera for me to use is in the works. Happily, Rah Rah came over and visited us last night, played with the kids and brought little treats for each of them. She has one she doesn't use that I may use! I know I'm in love with my family when going through the daily events of the day I glance at them and wish I had a picture of them right then to capture their personality, cuteness, and overexcited way of doing things. Joseph and Celia especially emphasize their excitement with all they do. Emmy are Spence are teasers and both so bright and aware. Brian cracks me up almost constantly, I really do need a video camera, but it wouldn't be the same. I fear I'm just going to have to remember most of our lives together and let those times increase exponentially my understanding, love, and compassion for them. I think our plan for the rest of the day is going to be going a little garage saleing, a ride, some cleaning of the girls room and date night for Brian and I. We're kinda excited to go to a dinner/authors book review. Richard Lyman Bushman's( whom we think is a shirt tail relative)book, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. I'll let ya know how it goes, probably no picture though. Life is exciting and wonderful, I don't want to be stuck behind a camera all the time, but maybe just enough to later on jog my memory of the Happy life I've lived.:)

Ready, Set, Cozy!

It was a nice cool morning today. I thought about wearing a jacket to church today, but convinced myself it was a little premature for cozy fall cover ups. The chapel and classrooms were freezing though from the AC they had pumping for what usually is a very hot time of year. School is in session, its almost September and I am getting excited for Autumn. My attempt to make soup today was thwarted by a salt spill however, I did make enchiladas with jalapenos, which yummy smell permeated the house. I have my candle all ready to burn in my room and I do admit I even started looking at Halloween costumes in a magazine. I think Celia Jean would make a darling Little red riding hood, which she already had the perfect red cotton jacket with a hood! The children will make crafts and have parties, and just enjoy the time as young kids. I love the warmth of comfort food, sweet smells, the excitement of preparing for and celebrating Thanksgiving, Harvest, Halloween, and Christmas. Its more time to make memories with the children and really return to being home together and feeling cozy! Some may say they'd take their vacations in the summer over a bowl of soup in the fall, but not I. Its going to be a wonderful season and I'm welcoming it with open arms.

Where'd they go?

The Kids were up and ready to go before 7am so I decided to find something we could do at that hour with all the kids. I thought watering the plants would be great. Here are so pictures of our early morning adventure~!

Celia was having an adventure on the side of the house with dialogue, then I asked her to stop and she froze in this pose for me to take a picture.:)

Celia Jean loves flowers and plants. It lights up her day!

Happily Lounging around~ It was great seeing Spencer smile.



Our Emmy is growing up so fast!

Today we visited Rah Rah and Papa's home to check on and water a few plants while they are away. The kids were so happy and enjoyed the yard, its too bad I think they expected to see you know who?! Celia asks where'd they go. Luckily we had been to the cabin and to visit the Davis great grandparents so they knew where they went and was satisfied.~

Hot August Days~

This is fashion hairstyling by mom necessitated by lack of air conditioning..:)

Bobby Pins are a lifesaver. Its the only way I can actually get all my hair up without it falling out after two minutes.~

We always stop off for a Pepsi for Bri, today we all enjoyed Drinks with a lot of Ice! Emmy put wild cherry in her sprite and was the envy of the rest of the car!

Lady Bugs

Oh to be a kid again. It is so beautiful to see the look of amazement over nature and all its wonderful creatures. Today I went outside to check the garden and noticed some ladybugs were feasting on my zucchini/squash. I was slightly annoyed, but changed my perception of the situation when I saw the delight of Celia and Joseph playing with the lady bugs. They liked Celia's pink silky pajamas and landed on her back! I love how happy these two were and remembered how I love the sweetness of my darling babes.

Wii Play~

Turning down the blinds for better game viewing.~

Emmy has her fist ready showing Celia to punch! We were laughing and so excited when she got a point!

I love how Celia is so happy and fun around the house. This morning after Spencer left on the bus she was wanting to go to preschool right then! Emmy is good to help distract her and she set up the Wii for Celia to play boxing. It was so entertaining to see her try and hit and she jumped around and danced. We all love Celia Bear. She has such a high pitched voice and is such a mom so loving and caring to her dolls, and calls everyone their names plus bear. She even saw a picture of Christ and called him Jesus Bear. We're so glad she is in our family and being around her is one fun moment after another!

And many more...

Brian and I celebrated our Fifteenth Wedding anniversary last Wednesday. I clearly remember the day we got married and all the busy schedule and fun we had. But even more then that, its been a great time hanging out, working hard, striving to be better with Bri since we've been married. Since we had just gone to San franscisco and had our ocean getaway fun and we had just got back from visiting our second favorite place, the cabin, it seemed only fitting to go out around here to celebrate. We headed to Lucilles Resturant in Rocklin, it was yummy and exactly what I was looking for, they had a great deal on a dinner for two including dessert! We went and saw GI Joe, I love action films and its so relaxing to go and see a movie for us. The best part of the night though was getting diamond stud earrings! I tease Brian about how much I like jewerly, but it was a fantastic pleasant suprise when we picked them out and took them home. Luckily, they have screws on the back! A family heirloom I can pass on to my daughters. Even after that the thing I treasure most is our temple marriage and being sealed to our family forever. Hooray for the gospel.:)

Waterfall Hikes

We hiked up to two falls this year. The first one was off the Alamosa river route. I don't think its very well known. I didn't have a big pocket so Emmy carried my camera and when we got there she didn't have it lol. Its extremely green there and rains everyday, so we didn't get pictures after we found my camera on the ground where she needed to crawl under a tree to move on hehe. The next day we headed up to Zapata Falls near the great sand dunes. Its on Mount Blanca which is 14K in elevation. We weren't near the top, but its a great sight and a fun hike.:) Celia hopped on Brian's shoulders for most of it. I wonder what ever happened to the backpack we used to use to hike Emmy and Spence all around??

All the kiddos. Its great to do things as a family.:)

Taking a rest, its nice they have benches at the top!

Bri & I took turns going to the falls so the other kids could play in the stream and enjoy the water.

Celia & Emmy being friendly~

Bottom of Zapata Falls

This is the cavern on the way into the waterfall, there was so much rock, it really is beautiful and the water was so loud in there.:)

Me before the climb in further

I've always loved waterfalls. Tommorow is Brian and my 15th Wedding anniversary and we went to the cabin for part of our honeymoon. We went hiking all over looking for waterfalls back then and even this year's family trip to the cabin included, you guessed it, waterfall hikes!