SUMMER IS UPON US AGAIN

With the onset of summer comes the heat and the only relief we can get outdoors in the valley, water. So as usual, we swim, alot. We got a family pass to the pool this year and are well on our way to it paying for itself. I predict after today, when Jake and Caleb are out of school, we'll be there alot more. Levi is already tanned and I've already had a bad burn but so far noone else has although Caleb is complaining that his bald head is burned, I can't see it but I let him put sunscreen on before school anyway. I love the pool, we get out of the house and into the fresh air and the boys get good and tired and sleep very well. Levi and AJ might actually learn to swim this year and Jake and Caleb are of course on swim team again. Tonight is their second meet of the season. I volunteered to help be the finish recorder. Thank goodness Kaci and I are going to trade off helping with each others kids so we can each contribute. She is awesome! Anyway, another blisthering summer is underway and we'll do the best we can to enjoy it while we can. Hopefully get some good camping in up in the trees and cool too. I can't wait!

SO WORTH IT!

Remember all those tons of rock we shoveled? All that back breaking labor, the sore muscles, the complete exhaustion at the end of the day, the endless dirt, the tilling and raking and shoveling and seeding and watering? It was all worth it. I now have a beautiful soft green carpet of thick grass in the back yard for the boys to play on and in. It's so much prettier. I planted vines along the posts and in the back corners and sunflowers along the back wall that are still coming up but are doing quite well. The only thing that would make it any better are some trees. We are still toying with that idea, it depends on how long we end up staying here. I know at least that we have followed the prophets counsel to beautify our surroundings. It's so pretty and cooler back there too.

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE

My in-laws forwarded this to me and Ryan and I thought I'd share it with you. Such an awesome experience, I'm jealous.

http://crazycluffcrew.blogspot.com/2010/05/we-thank-thee-oh-god-for-prophet.html

WHAT A WEEKEND

What can I say, life with 4 boys is never dull. On Saturday night Caleb shaved a stripe straight down the middle of his head, "on accident". You'd think he would be old enough to know better but... it's no worse than the swirley he gave himself and 2 younger brothers after watching Alvin and The Chipmunks, the Squeakuel. So bright and early on Sunday morning before church I had to shave his head and since I didn't use my razor but the clippers, you can still see the stripe. I called him stripe all day Sunday but he got mad so I quit. Maybe this time it'll sink in since obviously it didn't the first time he did it. As if that wasn't enough... just a few hours later as we are sitting listening to the announcements in Sacrament meeting, Levi stuck his quarter he was holding to pay his tithe, into his mouth and swallowed it. Then he started choking. Since we were sitting in the VERY front row, right behind the priesthood, I had to run/walk past everyone to get out and help him with him squeaking and choking the whole way. Thankfully, it's not that big of a chapel. Once in the foyer I tipped him upside down and after what seemed like a long time but in reality was likely only another second or two, it popped out and rolled under the couch. Way too much excitement for a Sunday morning. Once we got back into the chapel, after he and I calmed down, I put the quarter in my purse and he started yelling at me because I wouldn't give it back to him. KIDS! I swear. It got better from there thankfully. AJ asked me about having a testimony and I'm super excited that we had a quick but awesome lesson about what a testimony is and how you get your own. I love it when that happens. Sunday night I realized that Jake still hadn't finished his solar system project so with some stern words and a bit of helping to color the background, it was finally finished and looks awesome! I'm so proud of him for doing 99% of it on his own including the planning and of course the research. So like I said, an eventful weekend. And now back to the routine. What a great life!

CATCHING UP

Wow, it has been a LONG time since I've blogged. I'm a slacker but in my defense I've been so busy. At the same time I can't think of anything exciting to blog about. But... since this is serving as my journal, I'll ramble a bit. Let's see, the ward boundary change... it hurt for a bit, mostly because I felt like half of my family moved away or something, but it didn't so after a day or so, I'm okay again. We have another awesome new bishop and again my faith is bouyed because I know the Lord hand picked a great man and counselors too I should add. The Gila Valley temple dedication was awesome, especially since it was my first and Jake's first too. I'm excited for the next two, Gilbert and North Phoenix that I'm certain Caleb will be able to go to also. We bought a 1/2 side of beef from the Browns, melts in my mouth it's so good! Partly because of this Ryan agreed that we need land so that we can start raising our own beef and pork and get a milk cow and some chickens, so we've been praying to be able to find someplace where we can be more self sufficient. Then out of the blue he got a call from a job he applied for some time ago in ID, we'll see what happens there. If that's where the Lord wants us, it'll all work out. We had pretty much settled on staying here and it's funny since I never pictured us staying here but the longer we're here, the more I love it. We've definitely put down some roots and it will hurt to pull them up, if we do. Jake and Caleb started swim team again for the summer which makes the weeks a bit crazy, practice 4 days a week now and meets on Thursday. Their first meet was today, and they did ok but weren't too happy with their placings. I guess that's plenty for now. Rambling like I said.

My New Life

She is so inspiring. I hope I never have to face this kind of a trial but if I do, I hope I have the clarity and faith and strength Stephanie has. If you by some miracle haven't heard of her, she lived here in AZ with her husband who was also taking flight lessons. I think it was for their anniversary, but anyhow, they went for a flight and crashed and have since moved to Utah to be closer to family for support as they continue life as normally as possible and heal.

AJ IS FOUR!

Happy Birthday to my AJ! He was so excited to go to church yesterday so they would sing to hin in Primary and today when I woke him up and Jake and Caleb wished him a happy birthday he said, "Mom is it tomorrow?" He got to go to McDonalds for lunch and got a card from My dad with $4 in it. He told his brothers he was rich! He said tonight that it was a pretty good birthday and I'm glad. He is growing up so fast. He is riding a 2 wheeler bike without training wheels, he loves to shoot the bb gun, rock out and make up songs that he sings at the top of his lungs into his vacuum cleaner attachments microphone and do pretty much anything else his big brothers do. He told me today that now he is as big as Jake. Not so much but at this rate, pretty soon. I love you AJ, Happy Birthday Rockstar.