Arizona

Here are two things that typifies Arizona. Number one being scorpions. And yes that scorpion was in my bathroom. This makes #2, in the house. I am guessing if I've seen 2 there are probably more. Yikes. Lets not think about that. The second thing, is one of the things I like best about Arizona. The monsoons. This sunset picture is from tonight, isn't it gorgeous? I was getting ready to put the kids in bed when I peaked outside. It was really windy and those beautiful pink clouds were calling our names. So we went outside to enjoy the cool weather(however brief it may be) and ride bikes. You can't see the lightning, but it was amazing, it lit up the whole sky. We've been having lightning every night for the past week, and I love it.

Two Weeks

Only a few more weeks until school starts... I can make it. It's been a great summer. Crazy busy, it feels like. I can't believe we've made it through almost the whole summer and I haven't heard "I am bored!" once. Amazing, I am not sure how we've managed that...I don't entertain them, other then playing UNO, which the kids are really good at, I actually have to try to win now, but they whoop me every time.
We finished another round of swimming lessons today. The kids did really well. Ethan went swimming laps with me last week, and I think that helped his form, and Hayden's instructor suggested working on breathing, then he'd be able to swim further. But overall the lessons were a success!
I am not sure what we will do the next couple of weeks. I'd really like to take them to the new Children's Museum that just opened for our last big event to celebrate the end of summer...Any one want to come?
I just can't wait to see the big yellow bus!
I hope you all are enjoying your summer, too!

Anybody out there?

Hey there! I've decided since no one actually reads these postings that I will continue on, but now its just going to be whatever is on my mind. (I just want to scare off the last few fans that I may actually have. Dad I know you are faithful, and Hayley I love ya, Jarrod are you still with me?).
Okay so here it goes. We have all been sick these last couple weeks. We just cant seem to get better, Hayden officially likes medicine now; maybe I've given it to him too many times. What?? I need my sleep. He actually begs for it, and will even fake a cough to get it. Hayden wakes up this morning with all kinds of ooze pouring out of his eyeballs, its awesome I love pink eye. So I immediately call his pediatrician, and throw all five of the kids in the car rush down to get him on antibiotics before any of the other kids get it. I try so hard to keep the kids away from other sick kids, but then they just get something else, so whats the point, why bother. In addition to the pink eye, Hayden also has an ear infection. Blah. Blah.
I just finished this really good book called Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult. Its about this boy who has been bullied his whole life, and one day he goes to school and kills like 10 students. It is absolutely depressing, trust me. But I learned a few things while reading it. #1 I am never having any more kids. #2 No one else should be able to have any kids. Its the only way to stop this perpetual cycle of hate, and violence and pain-just stop the human population from multiplying. Done, no more people to hate. #3 I like depressing stories, why is that? #4 Its made me want to just hug my kids more, and talk to them more. I know that eventually they won't want to talk to me, but right now while they still think the world of me, I just want to hold on to them and never let go of them.
Another book that I've recently read is called the Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold. That story is about how unordinary the ordinary suburbs are(sort of). She is really great, her stories are, I think, really well written, as in the best. Her books are also really sad, and kind of dark. Not for the faint of heart. I am not sure what I will read next, maybe I'll go back to a book I started a long time ago, Blink, by Malcom Gladwell, and finish it.

Trouble Maker

Hayden wins the prize folks. That kid has me wrapped around his finger....and he knows it. (I am doomed). All day today, right before the wrath of Mom was ready to be unleashed on him, he would look up at me (totally sincerely, and seriously) he would say "Mom you're pretty". The first time he said it, I didn't believe he'd said what I heard, where does he come up with this stuff, he didn't learn that from his Dad. So what do I do, I totally melt. I pick him up and give him hugs and kisses until I forget what the pain in the neck thing he did. Until he does it again, like two minutes later.
We just started our second session of swimming lessons. Hayden is in level II now, yea!! They meet in the deep end, what is he supposed to do tread water the whole time? Ya right. Yesterday he went to class just fine, he was so excited about the promotion, but today, not so much. The whole way there he tried to convince me that he was sick, he kept saying "I need a bowl, I am going to throw up". How did he know I am a sucker for that excuse, could you imagine how humiliating that would be. As it turned out, we didn't make it in time (the Dr. apt ran over) so he was off the hook today, but tomorrow, oh no, he will not be so lucky.

Too many pictures. Too much fun.

Here are the kids getting all cozy on Aunt Amberly's bed watching a movie. Aren't the kids so sweet with each other.

Uncle Aaron took the kids to Dave and Busters to play some games, while the ladies did some shopping!

On the way home from camping we stopped at H&M to do a little shopping. (It actually wasn't on the way, it was really way out of the way, but hey we have our priorities! Here is my Mom and Amberly trying on some stuff. Cute tops!

San Clemente Beach

My mom gave the kids these cool cages for pets or whatever? ( I wasn't that thrilled about it, but of course the kids loved them). They took them down to the beach and collected sand crabs, yuck.

Hayden playing in the sand, or looking for crabs, I am not really sure. Long gone are the days of when he was scared of the water. Yup, he ran right for the water, and only came out for brief moments. He actually liked being tossed around in the waves, giving his Mommy a heart attack.

This is Xander, he is hillarious. He was kind of a quiet kid most of the time, except for his occasional reminder to my Mom and I to focus, I think on getting ready for the beach? Someone accidentally bumped him, and so he falls to the ground like he's dead, he actually held this stone face for a few minutes. Not at all dramatic (like his Mommy)!

The boys: their nick names are Xilla, or Xander Man, or his super hero name is Xandor, (the x is pronounced like a z) I'm telling you this kid is hilarious, I forsee many trips to the principals office in the future. JK, he is a good boy, just a character. And Hayden's nick name is Monster Man. These two are best buds, and lots of trouble.

At the Beach

More Camping

Aaron (my sisters hubby), my sis Amberly, Me, big sis Taryn, my neice Becca

The Barbecuer, Grandpa Daryl. We had so much food, everyone made fabulous meals!

My super cute neice Maddie (who is undoubtedly an offical teenager) and her friend Amira

The kids had a blast riding their bikes....where are your helmets little boys??