*Catching Up* Welcome Home--June 25,2008

Our first time in the house after it became ours!

Our realtor, Sarah, left us this beautiful plant!

Tessa is testing out the floor.

Sarah also left us some fun by the fireplace! Ooo, la, la!

She didn't forget the kiddos either! They loved these fake teeth and other toys she had placed in their bedrooms!

Thanks Sarah! Such an exciting day!

Trenton's First Day of School! (and a LITTLE bullying incident)

Trenton had his first day of any kind of formal school ever today. We still haven't worked out a carpool, so the entire time driving and filling out the gazillion papers required, I was wondering what I was thinking when I decided to go through with this. But seeing his cute classroom and the way he jumped right in making friends and getting involved made me feel pretty sure that this is where he belongs right now.

Here he is listening while his teacher gives him a lesson on rolling up his mat. While he wasn't sad to say "goodbye" to me in the morning, I was glad to see that he had missed me a bit and gave me a big hug when I came to pick him up. His teacher said that he had a good first day. I had told her that he was ready to be challenged but not to be surprised if he complained about it (lately, anytime we ask him to do a chore, he declines, saying it will hurt his back). Sure enough she told me that he complained, "I don't want to move the yellow hexagon, that's too hard for me."--all the while showing he knew exactly what to do. Silly boy!

I am sorry to report, however, that Trenton was the victim in a bullying incident today, but not on the playground. Here is a picture of his attacker..

The culprit jabbed a finger up his nostril hard enough to give him a serious nose bleed. He has recovered well, but wants to warn others about the perpetrator. She may look innocent enough, but should be considered dangerous!

11 month Tessa--and a couple of announcements

Tessa is now officially 11 months old! Only one more month until her big milestone celebration. We tried pigtails for the first time today, and I am happy to report, they made it all the way through church, which is more than I can say for all of the clips, and barrettes, I keep trying to use to get that hair out of her eyes.

Of course, we had to include a smiley picture. She is developing her own sense of humor--playing games and even teasing us a little. She also tries to get in on the action when Daddy is wrestling with the kids. Speaking of Daddy, she really is becoming quite the Daddy’s girl. She seems to prefer to be with him, and he is the best at getting her calmed down to go to sleep.

But if we want to give you an accurate view of what Tessa is like now, I think these pictures may be more appropriate, she is BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! (I guess that means her mom is too!)




In other news...

• I am planning to start Trenton at the Montessori Preschool this week. He was on the waiting list and recently got in. So that is great, except that we don’t have anyone to carpool with, and I’m not sure I can make the drive to Downtown PHX twice a day. The school is free, and I know it will be so good for him. I am just hoping we can find someone to carpool with. If anyone knows anyone with a 3-4 year old in the Laveen area who doesn’t already have preschool arrangements, that might be interested in a FREE Montessori school, please let me know, asap. We were told that there was another slot available, but we don’t know how long that will last. Or how long I will last if I have to do all of the driving!
  
• Barry and I are helping to raise money for the Nielson Family, by participating in The Great Cookie Auction today (MONDAY). Please see my other blog (My Insanity), for all of the details! Who’s cookies do you think will raise more money? Barry’s Massive, Mouth-Watering Molasses Cookies, or my Hand-Painted Halloween Butter Cookies???
  

*Catching Up* Lake Powell--Big Kid Edition-June'08

OK. I am almost done with Lake Powell. I promise. Clearly I take too many pictures, but I also become attached to lots of them, so editing them down, doesn't always go so well.

The big kids had a great time at Lake Powell, too!

In this pic, we are getting ready to sail the houseboat away from the dock. This pic made the cut because it documents what Barry's chest looked like in his ultra-tight rashguard thing. Ooh la la!

Bobby and Amber rode the jet skis all the way to our campsite.

And here the silliness begins! This is the man of the hour. The whole foundation of this trip was the celebration of Bill's 60th birthday (Barry's dad). Most people don't get to see this side of the doctor/former bishop. I wonder if I could get any blackmail money out of him???

In lieu of a traditional birthday cake, we had a cookie cake featuring some of Barry's famous homemade cookies. Those molasses cookies were the perfect texture! They are making my mouth water as I type.

And what's a birthday without a little "Birthday Bingo?" Barry's mom had made this fun bingo game for the occasion, and what's more fun...we used skittles for the markers! We also showed the DVD slide show Barry and I had made for him back in April, and gave him a paper saying that the photobook I had been killing myself to make for him before this trip was on its way. Lame. I know. I did the best I could, but I just couldn't get it done in time to have it on the trip. The other disappointment is that some of the edges were cut off of the pages. We made a book of 60 memories about Dad. If I get a chance, maybe I will post some of the layouts I made for the book.

Barry took these lovely shots of his brother, Jared.

Here Barry is trying unsuccessfully to fly a kite.

So the big problem about Lake Powell is that it is HOT! Too hot to be out in the sun, so there was a lot of this going on (although it was hot inside the boat, too.)...

And quite a bit of this going on...

And even some of this going on (although I have no idea what this is)...

Also, an awful lot of eating going on. Did you know it is possible to gain 7 lbs. in about 4 days? I don't think I did until this trip.

Until next time, Lake Powell! (except for the family pictures I'm still going to post...soon...I hope!)

*Catching Up* Lake Powell--Baby Edition-June'08

Tessa had a great time at Lake Powell

And so did her cousin Jackson. Although, Jackson got into a lot less trouble, since he wasn't always trying to escape and eat whatever was on the ground.

Tessa liked getting aquainted with Jackson's toes....

And staying out of the sun with Aunt Kristin, who has become very serious about sun protection since becoming and aesthetician.

Tessa did a little modeling work while there, helping her dd and I scout out the best spot for our family pictures.




She loved playing with Jackson but couldn't understand why people kept holding her back when she was trying to get better acquainted.

Of course, you can't go to the lake with out participating in water sports.

Help, Mom! My life jacket is swallowing me alive!

Swimming in the lake with Mom, and sampling the lake water. Yummy!

*Catching Up* Lake Powell--Kira Edition-June'08

Kira had fun at Lake Powell, too. Can you see her crouched over in front of the Seadoo in this picture? She is doing her favorite thing to do at Lake Powell...dig in the dirt and collect little shells. One day when they were doing this a frog jumped out of a hole and about scared Trenton to death. It took a little talking, but I believe he know believes it was a friendly frog.

She also got to go for rides with her dad, although Kira is not a fan of big bumps, which can get in the way of most lake activities. Her least favorite thing to do was Trenton's favorite... going down the slide on the house boat. I am hoping to get that video from Mikelle...SO FUNNY!

She did brave a long boat ride to go on an expedition with "the big kids."

They went to Rainbow Bridge...

And hiked Hole in the Rock! And I think Kira made it all that way on her own!
Back at the houseboat, she enjoyed playing with the babies,

And getting her hair done (Thanks Aunt Krisin!)

When she was ready for some non-bumpy fun, her aunts took her around the cove on this...

...until he was demolished. Fun Times!

*Catching Up* Lake Powell--Trenton Edition-June'08

I have been stuck at Lake Powell for some time now (that is blogiphorically speaking, since I am not actually on a boat in Lake at the moment). Do you think it has something to do with the fact that I took about a gagillion pictures while there? I am getting through them slowly, put I cannot include them all in one post, so I thought I would break them up by subject. Since Trenton just had his birthday on Friday (posts to come), and since he arguably had the best time of anyone there, I decided to start with him.

Here he is modeling the latest in children's PFDs...

with a houseboat accessory...





Helping Grandpa drive the houseboat.

Trenton's favorite thing about Lake Powell...the SLIDE on the back of the boat.

Waving to his adoring fans after a spectacular entrance into the lake.

Practicing for this...

I love this picture! He really is a sweet boy, despite all of his crazy boy energy!


Riding the wave runner with Amber.

And I just don't have words to describe this hairdo, courtesy of his Aunt Amber and most-likely styled with sunscreen.



Navigating back to shore after a week of new adventures.