Gabriel's First...

BATH!

He was startled at first, but then settled down.

What must he be thinking with all these new experiences happening right and left?

Oh to be so small, so new.

The Scriptures Come Alive

A few weeks ago, Samuel was in charge of Family Home Evening. He surprised us all by coming into the family room dressed as Laban.

The kids loved the opportunity to role play...

...and had a blast dressing up!

This F.H.E. activity gave our family an opportunity to experience the scriptures in a whole new way.

I am so grateful for Family Home Evening, the Scriptures, and the opportunity we have to learn more about our Savior, Jesus Christ. Monday's can be chaotic, but our home never fails to fill with the spirit when we pause to come together as a family to learn the gospel.

Lovin' that Baby!

Life as Gabriel knows it is pretty much hugs and kisses!

Not a bad life!

Post-Twilight...Percy Jackson & The Olympians!

We're hooked and had to share!

After "Twilight" I was in desperate need of a new series. Oddly enough, the recommendation for this book series came from Stephanie Meyer's herself!

THE PREMISE
What if the gods of Olympus were alive in the 21^st Century?

What if they still fell in love with mortals and had children who might become great heroes — like Theseus, Jason and Hercules?

What if you were one of those children?

Such is the discovery that launches twelve-year-old Percy Jackson on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction – Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

These books are extremely well-written, fast-paced, and funny! They have won numerous book awards and rightly so! Sam and I love the action-packed story lines and also appreciate the opportunity to brush up on our Greek Mythology!

Check them out at the Roseville Public Libraries.

Happy Reading!

Pink Eye, The 4th of July, and Scarface

Our 4th of July was a little sad this year. In the morning I went to fetch Owen and noticed immediately that the poor boy had pink-eye. His sisters had it several weeks earlier so it was really no surprise that he got it too.

This put a nix on some holiday fun. Which of course let to an avalanche of tears from our girls. As a compromise, we agreed to visit the family for fireworks only, staying quarantined on our blanket for the night!

The kids did get to light some sparklers, and even Owen got in on the action. Unfortunately for him, he believed the sparkler was a super-size birthday candle and attempted to blow it out. Let's just say he's okay, but he does have a nice little scar on his chin to remind us of the occasion!

Happy 4th of July!

Corvettes, Dodge Vipers, & even a Lamborghini!

My sister recently stayed the night with us and we headed to the Fountains for some water fun. We had a horrible time finding a parking spot, but soon found out why:

An Auto Show!

When we passed the Lamborghini I could not help laughing at the grown men going ga-ga over it. One guy even asked someone to take his picture with it!

Are they really that big a deal?

The best part about walking around was hearing all the people whisper about how many children we had. They all thought my 12-year old sister was my daughter too!

Rats!
No water feature due to the disco dance lessons they were giving on the stage! The kids quickly got over their disappointment as we all became mesmerized by the music and dancing. It was really, really entertaining!

Some ladybug fun!

I thought our trip was pretty fun, but guess who slept through it all?

Here's to fun in the sun!

Movies, Take 2!

We did it!

Mom finally got her act together, and with the help of three very industrious young ladies who spurred me along, we made it on time to the movies!

We saw "Journey to the Center of Earth"-very entertaining-and even sat with some families from our ward!

Am I anxious to head back with 5 children in tow?
Eh!

But who knows!
It's hard to beat something that's free and brings enjoyment to the whole family!

Drool

No, this post isn't about Sam!

It's about my darling Isabella.

When she came home from her dental appointment she had the tell-tale signs of having work done:

1. Drool

2. The Lop-sided Grin

Love it!

Thank You!

Check out the fabulous gift made especially for me by Laurie! This was perfect for Independence Day, and we found a great spot for it on the fireplace mantel.

Thank you Laurie! This is beautiful and we look foward to it gracing our mantle for many years to come!

Front Yard Fun

Though we're currently in a triple digit heat wave, several weeks ago the weather was balmy with some surprising cool winds.

Gabriel enjoyed the weather from a cozy cocoon.

Iris & Gabriel

Down the street on the bike trail, Samuel engaged the kids in a rousing game of whiffle ball.

My little monster decided to opt out of the game...

and chose to play in the car instead!

Scattered though we may be, there's fun to be had all over the place!