Summer Memories

We have had a whirl-wind of a summer! Here are a few memories....

Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house
We had a great time talking with the kids about the importance of the temple and of how we are together as a family FOREVER. It was a wonderful experience, one that I hope created a memory that Sam and Lauren will always remember. Maybe not the details... but of how they felt when they were inside.

Isabella hanging with Aunt Heidi and Chino
We love Aunt Heidi! I am so glad she is so close and so much apart of the kids lives! What would we ever do without her?! I keep telling her that someday when she has kids, she will understand how much she helps me. I can't wait to repay her!

Crazy Aunt Heidi!
We loved watching fireworks with my dad and Heidi. Never a dull moment!

Playing in the fountain at the Gateway
We did this a few times this past summer, and the kids love it! The first time we went it wasn't really planned, so they were with their clothes. When we went again, we remembered the swim suits. So much fun! Great hot summer day activity!

Cousin Time
We have loved spending so much time with my brother's kids! Here is Kaylee, Cameron, Jenna and Lauren (L-R) at Discovery Gateway.

Sleep-Overs
Seriously, who but Heidi would take on 8 crazy kids for a sleep-over? They all loved it! Good thing her apartment is small...less space to clean-up. :) I think she was probably happy when her time was up and the kids went back to the parents. Where did they all sleep? Did everyone sleep? Good questions...glad I wasn't there. :)

Stranger Danger!

So you always teach your children 'stranger danger' but never really think they get it because they are always wondering off or.., you know..., talking to strangers. Today Samuel was up the street (too far by our rules) so I was started to call him back. But, as I was trying to call him, I could see off in the distance, at the end of the street, his bike laying on its side in the gutter. I could also hear him screaming at the top of his lungs. I couldn't make out what he was saying and thought for sure he had been hit by a car and was bleeding or something aweful like that. As he got closer, I could make out that he was saying "Stranger! Stranger! A stranger is after me!!!" He was beyond hysterical! Seriously over the edge upset. All he could get out was that a stranger was after him and was going to take him. In the meantime, our friendly neighbor, had picked up Samuel's bike and was walking toward us in an attempt to return it. Samuel was completely beside himself and completely hysterical. He was so worried that this man was going to take him and me. I sent him home so I could get the bike and explain to our neighbor what was happening. All the while, I could hear Sam screaming as he was running like a bandit to our house. When I got home less than a minute later, I could still hear him screaming in the house, but now, it was accompanied with Lauren's scream that a stranger was outside and was going to take him. Cesar was trying to feed Isabella and when I walked in, he asked what was going on and why was Samuel on the phone. What? On the phone? Well, take it away from him! He doesn't need to be on the phone. Sure enough, who was Samuel calling? 911! Yup, my little Sam dialed 911 because a stranger was up the street. Cesar had him hang up the phone, not realizing until after who it was. Then I had to explain to the dispatch lady when she called back that my 5 year old son had made a mistake and was afraid of a stranger and that I needed to do a bit more education with him. She asked me two or three times how old he was. I was trying SO hard not to laugh! All the while, Sam and Lauren are screaming like crazy! After Cesar reminded me not to laugh about this, we had a little heart to heart about the proper way to use 911 and that the man up the street was his friends dad and that he really wasn't a stranger. He wasn't following him, he lived there. Don't worry, I reassured him a hundred times that he did the right thing, but next time, ask mom or dad for help in calling 911. He said he didn't know the number for 911, so he just counted the numbers out for the 9, then the 1 and again for another 1. Can you believe this kid? I am still laughing. I know I shouldn't, but I am.

Questions to ponder

A great question...
Sam: Mom, who is the king and queen for the pool?
Mom: What do you mean, a king and a queen?
Sam: You know, a king and queen. They have life guards, so I was wondering who the king and queen were. They have the guards there.

Another great question...
Sam: Have you ever had a moon burn?
Mom: A moon burn?
Sam: Ya, a moon burn. You know, like a sun burn, but from the moon.
Mom: No, Sam, I have never had a moon burn.

Sunday's with Grandpa

The kid's favorite day of the week is Sunday! This is the day that my dad comes for dinner. If he goes anywhere else for Sunday dinner, the kids are mad. :) They don't like to share their Grandpa on Sunday's. Sometimes he stays for a while, and sometimes he needs to rush home for something, but we love that he comes! It is a special treat to have him for dinner each Sunday. I am sure that the kids will always remember their grandpa coming for dinner after church. They love to play with him and have him watch and laugh at their silly tricks. Sometime he is even their own personal jungle gym. The best thing about Grandpa is his laugh!
We love you Grandpa!

Little Miss Stubborn

Doesn't she look just like "Little Miss Stubborn"? She definitely fits the character in the book. Aside from being stubborn, Lauren is also very sweet and kind. She made up a song the other day about Jesus and our dog Bruno. Bruno died almost a year ago, and she talks about him often. Well, this sweet song talked about Jesus coming alive and Bruno being alive again and about how much she loves Jesus and that she knows that Jesus loves her too. It was sweet and brought tears to my eye's as well as some suppressed laughter. Right after she finished singing her song, she wanted to say a prayer to tell Jesus that she loves him too. Where does she come up with these thing? My sweet, sensitive Lauren.
I love her so!

Mr. Dress Up

Can I just tell you how awesome this boy is?!? He wanted a batman mask to go with his batman costume (jammies), so he made is own! He is so cute! So creative and smart! I just love this little man! He changes his clothes and dresses up at least 3 or 4 times a day.
So inventive and creative.

When the Ants Go Marching One by One...

A few weeks ago, while Cesar was extremely busy with work, I decided to take my little family on a hike up the canyon to cool off and to use up some energy. It had been a long week as a single parent, and I needed a bit of a break from the norm. So, we grabbed some subs, and headed up the canyon. At the last minute, I decided to do a hike I haven't done before, that came recommended from a good friend. (Word to the wise...don't do a hike with little kids...by yourself... that you have never done!) Anyhow, so off we went to hike up to Bell's Canyon Reservoir. IT WAS HARD! I seriously almost turned back! It took us over an hour! Rocky, steep terrain with a boy running ahead, totally oblivious and having a grand ol' time! A little girl, crying and complaining LOUDLY the entire way, and falling, stumbling and crying and complaining and crying and complaining and crying and complaining. A baby strapped to my back in my favorite Kelty (everyone needs one of these!). And last, but not least, me in my STUPID FLIP FLOPS!!!! I totally forgot my own footwear! Lauren asked repeatedly if we could turn back and go home, but me, the persevering mother, said, no, that the lake is so beautiful and will be totally worth the journey. I really almost did turn around. I was trying to catch up to Sam to tell him that we were going to start back down, and lo and behold a beautiful lake! It was so calm and still and perfect! We sat and eat our sandwiches and played a bit it the water. Then I was beyond ready to go home. It took us a good hour up and about a half hour home. I am so glad I didn't turn around! But this is what I learned...

1. Don't do any hikes by yourself that you aren't familiar with, especially with little kids.
2. Don't hike in flip flops!
3. Don't fall...it's a long way down! (I was really nervous, but I didn't fall. Sam did, but he was ok, even though he thought he was going to bleed to death.)
4. Come prepared (with extra formula, or a bottle at least!)
5. Hiking is funner singing "when the ants go marching" and making up the words that you can't remember....
6. Hiking really wears out the kids! (easy bed time)
7. Hiking is almost always worth the journey!

Good times, that Bell's Canyon. Maybe I will do it again when I forget how stupid I was and when I have Cesar with me. :) You don't need to remind me about hiking prepared. I know, I know, I know! But, I learned some valuable lessons.