School's In!

 Our sweet little Maia is heading to 5th Grade!

Coop's excited for 3rd Grade.

The team.  They actually are starting a week before Ivy starts Kindergarten.

But she's up early and wishing she were going today too!

This kid LOVES school.

The neighborhood crew.  We always walk together the first day.  But we missed the Cushings this year.  They're being homeschooled at the The Cushing Academy of London for a few months.

Daddy always walks with us the first day.  Doesn't Maia's backpack look nice with camo?

Ethan is Coop's buddy and comes to pick him up every day for school.

These sisters are also BEST FRIENDS.

Every year I commit to taking the older kids' "first day" pictures too, but when the day arrives we're so busy and they leave the house so early that I forget.  But suffice it to say, McKenna and Tessa looked really cute too!



Seven Peaks

As an attempt to make sure our summer wasn't completely boring

(since mom was sick on the couch with mono for so long)

we took the kids - for the first time - to Seven Peaks. 

Mom mostly laid on the lounge chair and the kids frolicked in the sun and waves.

McKenna didn't make it with us, but Tessa, Maia, Cooper and Ivy all had fun in the sun.

Swimming Buddies

Dare-devil Maia, at high speed.

Taking a break from the activities.

At a rare moment of rest.



The ER - Again

Coop has a knack for being a boy . . . for getting hurt.

Richard had taken the girls for ice-cream, I was doing laundry, and Cooper had opted to have daddy bring home ice-cream for him, so he could keep playing outside with his friends.

I heard the screaming from across the street and by the time I got to the front door, he was there (with Hunter, Jaxson, and Carter M) with blood seeping through his hand that was pressed against his eye.

I was afriad to look (as usual) but demanded to know what had happened so I could be prepared for what was below the bloody hand.  Another BB?  A knife to the eye?  Would I see an empty eye socket?

Luckily, he had only collided with a metal stair rail in the Murdock's garage - and simply split the skin just below the brow.  We pressed a cloth to it and I scrambled to get my shoes on while his friends got him buckled in the car.  (I found out later they said a prayer for him)

As I was pulling out of the driveway, Richard pulled in, so FOR ONCE I didn't have to do the ER all on my own.

Cooper was a trooper.  He was a bit nervous when the doctor was describing the injection he would get, so I whispered a prayer in his ear and he calmed down.  In fact the whole time that the needle was IN his eye, he let out only one small moan.  I, on the other hand, had to put my head down.  He later told me that he had a testimony that prayers are answered.  Sweet, sweet boy.

 

Being so brave and calm through the whole ordeal.

The finished product - 7 stitches to the brow.

Getting them removed a week later

As good as new.

Fort Fun

Since daddy took the girls camping, Coop and I camped inside.

The fort - and several variations of it - surived in our living room for a week or so.

Obviously, I was recovering from mono.



Daddy and His Daughters

Obviously I wasn't there to take pictures.  The ward had a campout for dads and their daughters - and there is not a single picture of the DAD AND HIS DAUGHTERS.  Richard did send me a picture of all the pancakes he cooked (the High Priests were in charge).  Luckily, some nice soul took some snapshots of my girls having fun at the "camp."  They all remarked what a fun place (in Alpine) it was.

McKenna and Tessa (and Maiya) still like playing in the sand.

Ella, Ellie, Maddie, and Ivy.  They love the sand too.

And Maia, swinging away.

The Tinkling of Keys

I added up, just once, how much we will have spent by the time Ivy finishes piano lessons (at the end of her senior year).  Six children spread over 24 years. It's a hefty amount that could buy me lots of nice things.  But luckily I remember that "things" are not the most important.  Watching my children develop a talent, learn self-discipline, gain confidence, and achieve goals - to name only a few - are.  I will purposefully ignore the unpleasantries that also come along with piano practice.

Their recent recital:

Playing on a premier piano.  Wish it were in my home!

Posing for me before she starts.

A tad nervous . . . but ready!

PLEASE appreciate the dress shirt and tie.  A lot of weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth went into that!

I tried uploading a video of each of them playing, but that brought on more wailing and gnashing.  Just imagine Cooper tapping his foot (in the air, because it didn't reach the floor) to his lively music.  Charming.

Quips by a Cutie

I've always tried to write down the cute things my children have said. I haven't always been so good at it.  However, with Ivy I've managed to put in writing a small percentage of the great bounty of cuteness.

July 25, 2010  Since it's summer and I have little time to myself I tend to shower late at night when the kids are all in bed.  Richard showers early in the morning before work.  I guess my change in schedule has thrown Ivy off, as she was used to me showering when the kids left for school.  Today she came into my bathroom when I was putting on makeup and looked at me and said:  "You and dad need to shower more often.  You haven't taken one for a long time."

July 14, 2010  Said while snuggling with me in bed:  "I need to go outside and scratch my elbow on a tree."

July 7, 2010  Said while looking at the keyboard doing her online preschool work:  "Mom, do we have any e's on here?"

July 2, 2010  Said while picking burrs out of Ember's fur:  "If I were a cat, I'd skip the part about eating mice."

June 2, 2010  Overheard by mom while the two little ones were in the kitchen.  Cooper was cooking eggs.  "Ivy, are you going to go on a mission?"  Reply:  "Uh . . . I don't know yet."

May 30, 2010  When all dressed for church in the outfit above:  "I'm pinkalicious!"

May 20, 2010  Out of the blue:  "Hey mommy, guess what my talents are?  Talking, art, jumping, playing, and dancing . . . and talking."

May 17, 2010  While I was trying to get the frightened bird to fly out of my house:  "Just call the bird-catcher mom."

May 12, 2010  After swallowing a small bone while eating pasta and salmon:  "It feels just like swallowing a little hummingbird."  (Has she swallowed one before?)

April 2, 2010  At Disneyland, with a big sigh: "This is the best day of my life."

March 22, 2010  While I clipped her nails:  "If you put just your pinky up, does that swear in China?  'Cause Cooper says it does, and he knows a lot about China."

March 19, 2010  Figured out she was trying to say telescope.  "Where's Maia's spinacope?"

February 21, 2010 While listening to Cooper play a piece he composed:  "Wow, you're going to be a pianoist if you keep making up songs like that."

January 23, 2010  Way past bedtime and wailing from her bed, where she was being made to stay:  "Please mother.  I beg you, I beg you!"

November 16, 2009  Sang day ALL day after watching Jungle Book:  "Look for the bare nesesames, the simple bare nesesames."

October 21, 2009  Clarifying statement to me after I gave her a long lecture on the dangers of protecting government officials:  "No, I want to do the kind of Secret Service where I make someone's bed and leave candy on their pillow and they don't know who did it."

October 6, 2009  While lamenting that her sick brother got to eat a popscicle on the couch (and she didn't, as she wasn't sick):  "All I get to do when I'm sick is sit on the couch and throw up!"

August 1, 2009  While weeding at a friend's house, upon my showing her a plant tag that read "Boston Ivy." She pumped her fist and exclaimed: "Yes!  I love Boston and I love myself!"

June 24, 2009  After receiving the "carry laundry from the bedrooms chore":  "Why do we always change [clothes]?  Leaves me to pick it all up."

June 4, 2009  As she was slowly waking up beside me in bed:  "When I open this eye it's all rolly and makes me go back to sleep."

Summer 2009  Said to Aunt Sandy in disgust as she was getting herself a popscicle from the freezer.  "I'm mine own servant."

March 19, 2009  "Can I have a bowl of smarshmellows?"

Wouldn't you give Miss Pinkalicious all the "smarshmellows" she wanted?

Colors

I've mellowed as a mother. 

Playdough used to send me into hyper fits of control.

Poor Austin.

The little bits of dried color that ended up in carpets and stuck to floors and countertops drove me over the edge.

Not anymore.  Those bits eventually disappear. . . and so does their childhood.

Soccer Camp

Ivy and Cooper eagerly awaited the Gurney Soccer Camp this year.  Our cute little neighbor girls (who happen to be awesome soccer players) run the camp and our kids love it!

The littlest campers - wondering what's up.

Ivy in action - the most action we'll ever see out of her.

She really loves camp because of the popscicles.  Not kidding.

Matt and Megan are enjoying them too!

Coop loves the treat too - but he works for it a little harder than his sister.



Because, really, what is life without running? And kicking? And all things boy?

Life is good.

Home Theater

I spent most of this month (and all summer really), very sick with mono.  But luckily I was entertained as I occupied the couch for weeks on end.

PRESENTING . . . The Princess and the Frog

Directed by the Evil Witch - Tessa May 

The Beautiful Princess, played by Miss Maia

The Dragon Slayer, aka the Prince, played by Cooper

And the cute Ribbit, played by Ivy Sarah



A Date with the Daines

 We met a lot of wonderful people when we lived in Boston - and made some very good friends. 

The Daines family is counted in that group - especially because four of our six children were the same ages as theirs.  It made for plenty of great play dates in Belmont.

The Daines came to Utah for family affairs, but squeezed in some time with us.  We met them for some s'mores and fun up Timpanogos Canyon.

Tessa, Kimber, and Lauren

Cooper and Paul - in the water of course.

Leilani with Ella

Emma and Maia and Emily

Cute Ella and Ivy

Hallway Campout

We have a night owl and she doesn't want to be a lonely owl in her bedroom.  So she regularly falls asleep in the hallway (because daddy gets tough and tells her no! she can't sleep in our bed) while mommy and daddy are watching a show or cleaning up the house.

And she regularly sets up "supplies" before she drifts off to slunber.



A Shot in the Arm

And the thigh.

My last little one to get Kindergarten shots.

It looks like the sucker cheered her right up.



Forever Friends

McKenna made some GREAT friends in Boston.

Then we moved back to Utah.

Many tears for McKenna.

THEN . . . the friends started moving . . . this way.

One to California, two to California, three to Utah.

Happy girl.

Aly, Kate, McKenna, and Heather



5K on Independence Day

I guess I should have faced them away from the sun.

But aren't they cute - and festive for the Freedom Day!