FHE: Otter Pops & Bug Killers

This post-title is pretty self-explanatory.

We enjoyed icy otter-pops...

and then killed bugs!

Gross, right?

But very rewarding...

Especially when you consider what they did to our plants!

Note:  At first it was traumatic for kids who've been taught that caterpillars turn into butterflies.  After all, who would dare kill a butterfly?

Answer:  We would!

Christmas in August?

Isabella made this awesome snowman from play dough!

Are you ready for the holidays, or what?

Garage Sailin'

On this particular Saturday a bunch of crazy girls from the ward gathered at the crack of dawn to head in to Rocklin for their annual community garage sale!  

We all scored tons of deals and I even came away with a 20" bike for Isabella for only $4.00!

Thanks for the great time girls!

I Call Do-over!

Well the first day of school came and went in a blur. As I waited for them to come home later that day, I felt a twinge of guilt for how things transpired. A hearty back-to-school breakfast? No, try a hastily poured bowl of cereal! Love notes in their lunch boxes? They were lucky to get a sandwich! The traditional first-day photos in the front yard with their new school duds? How about a quick kiss and a "Don't be late!".

Absolutely horrible, right?

So in my determination to make things right, I call an official:

Do-over!

There were eggs...

toast...

and yes, even chocolate milk!

We had our front-yard photo shoot-when did they get so big?-and they carried lunches with not only love notes, but love bites in each of their sandwiches!

I am so grateful for wonderful kids who love their mama despite her shortcomings. What a blessing they are to me.

Hittin' the Books

When it's time for the kids to go back to school, it's bittersweet for me.

On the one hand, I absolutely adore being with my children. Yes, they squabble and occasionally drive me just the tiniest bit insane...but they're MY squabblers and I love them to pieces! When summer comes my heart is full and happy to be surrounded by ALL of my children every moment of the day.

On the other hand, as summer comes to a close I do feel as though with each passing day our home shrinks-just a little-but enough to make everyone yearn for a little
...space.

And so, with this new year, this new ADVENTURE, we set off for the first day of school.

Our brood!

Ava preparing to settle in for the long haul.

Her teaching waving good-bye (that's the "get-out" signal for us lingering parents!).

Isabella getting ready to take the plunge!

Finding her seat.

I love you girls!

Beginning the Work...The Great Work

On Saturday August 22nd, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we commenced the work for my Grandpa Lopez and other ancestors in the Sacramento Temple.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and one that Samuel and I greatly anticipated. I am so grateful to have the blessing of my Grandma and Grandpa in doing the work for our family members.

To be able to do this work at all, is a great blessing in and of itself.

Samuel and I outside the temple.
I'm loving the Marilyn Monroe breeze!

Joe & Jessica

Gary, Houston, & Elizabeth

A family picture with Gary and Clista.

Sisters: Clista & Patti

Uncle Ron & Aunt Patti

We are so grateful for all the family in attendance. Your love and support mean the world to us. I can picture my Grandpa, choked up with emotion, appalled to have "such a fuss" made over him, but pleased nonetheless.

Afterwards we dined at Tahoe Joe's-they have the absolute best clam chowder this far inland!-and just...
savored the special day.

Zoo-newbies

It's been forever since our family went to the zoo, and now that we've gone we've been reminded how fun it really is.

We loved the reptile house!

My bugs!

The koi fish.

The finale:

Monkeys!

Books & Burgers

Samuel needed to purchase his books for an upcoming class, so we made it a family affair and hit the Sac State campus.

So much has changed since I graduated in 2002.

Back then we only had one baby, Isabella!

She's so big now!

We ended our visit with a stop at Suzie Burger. We'd never been before and totally dug the crisp retro atmosphere.

A cheese-steak sandwich all the way, burgers, and fries...yum!

Gabriel sucking down his lunch of choice: Formula!

Helping Hands

Don't you love it when your kids choose to help one another rather than tattle (Isabella), cry-whine (Ava), shriek (do you have to ask? Iris), bite (Owen), or...well, Gabriel doesn't do anything yet to terrorize his siblings but I'm sure he's cooking something up!

Ava helping Owen with the pancake batter.

Iris helping Gabriel.

Service is a beautiful thing to behold.

It really does bring sweet (and blessedly quiet) peace.