*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.

Saying "Hello"

"Hello"

So I am officially behind on posting about summer AND fall. I'm still stuck at Lake Powell (editing and selecting from the hundreds of pictures there), and now I am behind on posting about several big current events, like a camping trip last weekend, and a fun trip to Prescott this weekend. On top of that, I hosted Gourmet Group at my house last Sat. and am preparing for Trenton's b-day party this Sat. (All the details from the GG luncheon and b-day party will be posted on My Insanity blog soon). So needless to say, I won't be getting caught up this week. The calendar eases up a bit after this weekend, so we'll see what I can get done then.

In the meantime, we are well. We ate dinner outside for the first time, this "fall" and it was almost pleasant. It gives me hope that fall really will come and that I won't have to live in a state of constant sweatiness! On that pleasant note...I'll be back as soon as I can.

Tessa @ ten months

Ten new tricks @ ten months:

1. Walking (she's starting to get good)
2. Peek-a-boo
3. "Talking" lots--mostly gibberish, but unlike the time she said "polka" I think she understands what she means when she says "mum", "dad", and even "Tessa."
4. Hand clapping
5. Seeing how loud she can make mom yell when she bites instead of nursing.
6. Spitting food everywhere at most every feeding...not because she doesn't like it, but because it is fun to see how far it will go.
7. Deceiving her parents...i.e. crawling in the other direction until she is out of Mom's reach and then turning and making a bee-line for the stairs.
8. Climbing--stairs, in and out of bathtub, into the dishwasher...you name it.
9. Shaking her head "no" vigorously. Sometimes contradicting what Mom is saying, or other times answering questions in primary (i.e. "would you feel good if you stole something?" Tessa head shakes "no" vigorously. Primary president declares Tessa to be a genius.)
10. Showing off--doing as many of the above at the same time as she can, to captivate strangers and make new friends.

Sometime in the last month or two, my sweet baby has developed her own will and is displaying a determined spirit to achieve her goals. It is fun to see this personality bloom, but heaven help us...it looks as though she is going to have a lot in common with her big brother and sister...extroverted, determined, stubborn, curious, highly social, verbal (my house will never be quiet), etc. But still so squeezable when she will slow down for a snuggle!

What kind of a mother am I?

My mother-in-law is here for a couple of days helping with the kids and the settling in. Yesterday morning after breakfast she said to Trenton, "why don't we go get our clothes on and brush our teeth?" Trenton, sounding truly confused replied, "why, is it Sunday?"

Our Other Blogs

We interrupt this barrage of posts about summer fun to bring you a public service announcement...
Meet the newest blogger! After some relentless begging, I have agreed to let Kira start her own blog (under close supervision). She likes to write poetry and make artwork and she told me she wanted it "published." So I figure this is the best way to do that. I am actually kind of excited about it though. If I can scan in her best artwork, writing, homework, etc. and post it on her blog, then I can slurp it to blurb and make a book of her stuff (and get rid of all of the clutter in my home!!! Yea!).

This is the header I designed for her. It uses all of her own artwork (except for the purple paper with the funky tree--mine, and the fonts). She came up with the name on her own, too. I guess at school they do a time capsule at the beginning of the year. They put in samples of their work, so at the end of the year, they can pull it out and see how far they have come. In that context, I think this is a perfect name for her blog.

She's excited and has posted her first poem. We'll see if this is a passing phase or not, but if you get the chance to leave her a little love, over there, I'm sure she would be thrilled!

In other news, I have done a redesign of my blog called my insanity. The main reason for the redo was that I wanted to use my own designs and things on it, so I didn't have to worry about crediting anyone...especially if I am ever able to make any money off of the blog, or do anything that could be deemed "commercial." I don't want to step on any copywritten toes! I'm not sure if I am in love with it yet, so I am open to feedback. If you don't know about that blog, that is where I dump all of my creative ideas and projects, so I can free up my brain for daily life. I have lots of parties and things coming up in the next little bit, so it should be a happening site.

...We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.

*Catching Up* What happens when you are the only boy at babysitting group...--June '08

*Catching Up*--Summer Swimming Lessons--'08

Michael Phelps has nothing on Trenton (except maybe a few trifling gold medals).

We took swimming lessons pretty seriously this year, in preparation for Lake Powell. We started the season with semi-private lessons with my friend, Erin at AquaBabes. Kira and Trenton both really progressed a lot there. Then we took a session of lessons at the city pool. They didn't learn as much there, but at least they got to keep practicing before Powell, and Tessa and I got to get in the water, too.
Here's Trenton.
Swimming on his own.
Mermaid Kira.
There is a reason they tell you to wear your hair in a pony tail!

Here he comes!

The big accomplishment for Kira, this year, is that she no longer has any issues with swimming with her face in the water! Go Kira!
Learning to dive.
Making a splash!