Eight is Great!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this girl!

 

Isabella,

thank you for being such a wonderful daughter!

 

Truly,

you are a light to this family...

and to the world!

 

We love you!

 

Mom

Elmers - Flu Shot = Flu!

Last year we made our way smartly to the flu clinic the moment the vaccines became available.  This year we became complacent, and when I called, they were already out!

Blast procrastination!

In a matter of DAYS the kids and I all came down with the flu!

 

Ava had the worst of it, with a stubborn fever of 104.5!

Bella was the last to get sick, and was positively delighted to finally be sequestered at home with Ava from school!

Next year, guess who'll be first in line for the flu shot?

Love that Styrofoam!

 

A new picture wrapped smartly  in Styrofoam quickly became the toy of the day!

Ball Wall, Cart Wheels, & even a Dogpile!

We had the privilege of watching our two nephews, Jacob and Luke, while their parents attended the temple. 

 What to do with so many kids? 

 

Hit the school!

 

Samuel with our gaggle of gear.  Apparently we can't function without loads of stuff!

 

 

 

Gotta love that ball wall!

 

 

And cartwheels until you're literally sick!  We ended with a massive dog pile on Samuel.  I would say with glee that we squeezed him like a tube of toothpaste, but I was next in the line-up and felt the strain of six hefty little buggers too!

The boys wailed when their parents came to take them home.

I guess we did our job well!

Roast-a-doro!

We celebrated the colder weather with a roast and invited our neighbors and some families from our ward.  It was so much fun, and even though my personal favorite was the chili topped with Frito's (who doesn't love Frito's?!?), I think the favorite by far was the s'mores with dark chocolate!   

Dora and Alan (not pictured)

 

Zachary

 

 

 

Olivia, Samuel, and Gabriel

 

Tammy and John

 

 Crystal and Brandon

 

The kids had a blast roaring around in the car.

 

Overcast Day = Perfect Park Fun

 

 

We met up with a good friend of mine, a fellow school mom, for a park play date and had just the best time.  Nothing beats an overcast day that's perfect for playing while you keep toasty with a warm sweater!

Field Trip: CSUS

The kids love that dad is back in school just like them.  One night I took the kids to see what it was all about.

 

They couldn't believe the size of the campus and loved seeing dad when his class let out for break.  Samuel even took them inside to see what his classroom looked like and where his desk was.

 

All was well until we left got a flat tire on the way home!  Luckily Samuel was able to reach us quickly and get us off the side of the road.  What an adventure!

An 'Ensign to the Nations' and to my sons...

What a sight!

Laundry Fairies

At the close of each day we gather someplace within the house for family scripture study, song, and prayer.  Sometimes there's a mound of laundry nearby, and it never fails that my laundry fairies are eager to help.

Sometimes the help is really that:

Help.

And other times, it's anything but!

Either way, I love it!  And I will surely miss these little hands when they are grown and gone!

Experience

It's been 2 months now that I've updated my blog and I'm missing it. So many memories are created every moment of every day. It is a blessing to look back and see what transpired...
both the good, the bad, and yes, even the sad.

"...all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
Doctrine & Covenants 122:7

Such is life!

And yes, it is very much, a blessed life.