First Day of School. Pass the Tissues!

I know this looks like any normal summer day, but it was Sam and Michael's first day of pre-school last week.
They'll be going two days a week for three hours at a time in the afternoons. On the first day, I got them dressed and fed and was combing their hair when I got a little teary eyed. They've been home all day every day since they were born and, whether they realize it or not, this was a big step for them. A step away from Mom. A step away from home. A step into the world of people who don't believe the same things I do and who don't love them as much as I do. A step into a world where other kids may name-call or make fun or teach them bad words. I was nervous and anxious. . . then I dropped them off, went to lunch with a friend and said, "Wahoo!"

I went home and fed Anna in peace and quiet. She slept for an hour and I didn't know what to do with myself! I have a list of projects I need to do while they're gone, but so far I've rested. I like resting. I told my visiting teaching partner that we should make appointments while they're at school, but I may change my mind. I like resting! I like Anna taking a good nap and having a good, uninterrupted feeding in the middle of the day. I would like to tackle that list of projects too - update the Christmas card address list, order pictures of the boys as babies and put them in albums. I think I'll most likely use the time to clean the house, but at least it will be in peace and quiet! Today I heard a clock tick. I didn't know they still did that.

That being said, I was so excited to pick them up and hear their reports. They like it. Michael said it was long and that he can learn at home instead of at school, but this week he is having more fun. Today they read a story about tuna fish. Last week they made their names out of macaroni. They want a play date with the girl with long blond hair in their class. They're growing up.

And now, I'll leave you with a picture of the Princess to put a smile on your faces.

The Good Life

The Armor of God

Southern Belles
Luckiest Girl in the World
Getting Big
All Snuggled Up
Defending the Home
This IS My Smile, Mama Mia!
Daddy's Little Girl
Happy Birthday Mommy!
Sooo Cute!
Cooling Off
Bathing Beauty

Show and Tell

We took a road trip to Utah for Independence Day to show off Anna. The boys did pretty well on the drive except they never fell asleep so we started off a little on the cranky side but being smothered with love from a dozen relatives quickly took care of that!
The first stop was Granny and Pepaw's house. The boys didn't want to leave. They talked about them for months last time we visited and it looks as if they will again. Here's Anna Ruth with her great grandma Ruth!
The love is palpable.
The boys tanked up on about three cups of chocolate milk each!


We sure wish we lived closer.My managed to visit with my cousins for a couple of hours. We grew up together as they let me be another sister half of our childhood. They are both gorgeous, talented women who I love!
We took the boys down to Provo to see BYU campus. I wanted to take them to the bookstore and get some little football shirts or something but it was closed. It was Saturday the 3rd and they were preparing for the Stadium of Fire fireworks event that night. We did get to go into the building where Josh and I first met. I nursed Anna on a bench outside while Josh took the boys into the Eyring Science Center to see the dinosaur bones and models of the planets. They were in heaven. We walked down Maser hill to eat at Brick Oven but the wait was over an hour so we ordered a pizza, salad, and root beers to go and ate them picnic style on Maser Hill. Michael says he wants to go the "Blue School" and play football someday. He kept looking at the mountains and laid on his back staring at the blue sky. He said he never wants the sky to die because it is so beautiful. By the way, Sam wants to go to the "Red School," the University of Utah where Josh went. Maybe the boys will face off in football some day!

Josh said he fell in love again with another beautiful lady on campus this trip, Anna!
Next stop was Grandma Anna and Grandpa Gail. The boys played in that cardboard box for hours while Grandpa grilled up some hamburgers. We went to church with Grandma and she was tickled to death to introduce baby Georgianna to her friends.
That looks like a lot of kids!
We stayed with Becky and Brent who graciously let us stay in their basement while they had other company and got ready for their own vacation.

The batman costume was a highlight of their house. Sam wore it during the day and when he went to sleep . . . Michael wore it! He said he could get all of the bad guys in his dark bedroom when he was wearing the batman costume. Indeed, he slept very soundly that night! Maybe I should get him some Batman pj's! He snuck upstairs to show off the costume and have some cherries and a glass of milk. Who doesn't love staying with family!
We saw Aunt Brenda and Uncle Jim. The boys love her warm smile and the monster trucks she had for them kept them busy on the ride home!
We had some down time between visits and drove up to the bop of the point of the mountain. We saw Utah county to the south and Salt Lake county to the north. We also saw four-foot tall reflective posts on the fire hydrants. I guess the snow can get that deep up there. I would be afraid my house would just blow right off the top of the mountain, but it was a gorgeous view!
We called our friends from Virginia who have a new baby of their own and went to Cafe Rio for dinner so I could try out the famed pork salad. It was enormous and delicious! We miss them!On the way home we stopped at the base of the Sierra mountains so I could nurse Anna. It was raining a little and Josh took the boys out to look at the Truckee River. They had the adventure of their lives looking up the canyon and down at the river.

Everywhere we went the boys didn't want to leave. They have never felt so much love! I enjoyed watching them feel at home in strangers' homes because they were loved members of the family and they could feel that they belonged. I want them to hold onto that. They are part of something much bigger than our little family. They are loved by so many and we are so grateful for that!

Now, here's the latest excitement around here: Happy Talk!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Close Ups

I've been determined to get us out of the house and having fun in the sun so we went out last Monday to Fairytale town and the boys had their first sno cones. We've been to our friend's pool a lot but Michael has an ear infection and I am feeling like something's coming, something with a fever and joint pain. I have decided that maybe I'll stop getting sick once I learn not to get so mad about it. I think I actually get to spend more time with the boys when we're out of the house. They have fun and don't even realize I'm feeding the baby, then when she's asleep they can still be loud and run around, two no-no's in the house.

I put Anna in this cute dress and had a photo shoot. She is getting so big and is so happy! She's always smiling and gets excited when the boys come up to talk to her. She's going to be so lucky to have these sweet big brothers!



And for fun, here's Sam loading a book into his backpack. It's Bill O'Rielly. He pulled it off the shelf himself. I guess FOX has a future audience.

Here's Michael and Dad in the "library." The boys love taking books off of the shelf and are learning the letter sounds. This is Michael's favorite letter book. It shows the history of how our letters got their current shapes.

Off to take a load off my feet!

This Is My Idea of Fun!

Anyone familiar with the cartoon movie "The Swan Princess?" Sam is in love with it. We've watched every day for a week. Prince Derick sports a bow and arrow and defeats the evil Rothbart to free Princess Odette from the spell keeping her a swan by day, human by night. Basically "Swan Lake" for kids. There's this great song at the beginning which illustrates the developing relationship of the young prince and princess as their arranged marriage approaches. They go back and forth between "this is my idea of fun" and "this isn't my idea of fun." It's been stuck in my head all week so that's what this post is about.
THIS is my idea of fun. Breath of heaven. Pure, angelic, joyful, warm, easy to put to sleep fun!

Three freshly bathed kids and an involved husband at bedtime.
First time on the kiddie rides. (They were actually too scared to really go up in it!)

Michael braved the flying fish alone.
Together on the kiddie train. Note Sam's D.I. bike helmet he wears every where! People ask me if there's a "special" reason he's wearing it. Well, it's his armor, of course! Every knight needs a helmet!
Climbing over the fence at the San Francisco zoo. Good thing it was the penguins instead of the lions!
Anna's first trip to the ocean at San Francisco's Ocean Beach.
Picnic at the overlook at Muir Beach. I took one look and told Josh I am sold on California. That is really saying something but it's true. If you want to see me, come visit. I am staying.
My first time seeing ocean cliffs in person. Breathtaking!
I want to go back tomorrow and feel the breeze!
I asked Sam what he thought was on the freighter heading into San Francisco Bay. Pirates.
First trip to see giant Redwoods.

The boys made Josh tell them all about how the Ewok scenes of Return *of the Jedi were filmed in the Redwood forest. Someone passed us with our two strollers and said not quietly enough that we had a lot of children. I guess three in strollers is a lot. It feels like a lot.Michael. He got my glasses out of the van but the expression on his face is hilarious. Post your guesses as to what is he thinking?

Now for "This Isn't My Idea of Fun." I was thinking of the following post titles tonight before I decided to go positive on all of the great ways Josh has been getting me out of the house since I can finally walk further than 20 feet without having a contraction!

• Defining "Easily" in "Charity is not easily provoked."

Well, the rest escape me now! That's the blessing for counting my blessings. I had a whole list ready to go before I began, but now I'm just thinking about eating my turkey club sandwich on an ocean cliff and it is impossible to remember the reasons I was so worked up thirty minutes ago. I think it had something to do with mastitis, bladder infections, allergies, twin fevers and colds, and twin sleep deprivation and attitudes, but you'll have to use your imagination.