We did a lot of this during the summer

We did a lot of swimming this summer. It is so darn hot here that we have to cool off. The kids had fun together or with friends or if you were Eliza, all by yourself. She discovered swimming this year and can swim like a fish. She dives like a pro and does flips off the diving board (very scary).

Susanna and her cousin/friend Chloe.

Clara and Laine girl.

Welcome Back Abuelos

My parents just got back from their 18 month mission in Guatemala. They spent the majority of their time doing dental work on orphans and missionaries. They worked really hard and we were so glad to have them back with us. I always joke that I lived in Gilbert for 10 years and when I finally got to Mesa to be closer to my mom (I know 20 minutes), they moved to Guatemala. Should I be offended? We all went to the airport with signs and balloons and had a great welcoming party. We missed you and love you.

My mom met Amelia once when she was 3 months old but this was my dads first introduction.

Some of the cousins chillin...

The excited little girls. They couldn't stop moving.

Enjoying eachother back at Grandpa and Grandmas house.

Daddy/Daughter

A lot of stakes don't do this anymore but we are one of the lucky few. The day after Eliza's birthday she got to do one of her favorite things ever...go camping. Dad took 3 of the girls up. He borrowed Uncle Benjamin's tent which is huge. All the little girls loved playing in it. They had campfire fun (along with giant beetles that Eliza didn't love), had an egg toss, and glow bracelets, and nail painting and all sorts of fun stuff with dad and their friends. Mom took the boys to in and out and then vegged at home with Amelia. (they have friends and don't want to hang with me).

Clara and buddy Hannah Banana

Still smiling after the egg toss.

I don't know what creature that is but I can't believe my skittish Susanna that used to freak out about moths or flies or dogs will pick this stuff up now. I guess getting a dog was a good thing.

Fun in the tent.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

Eliza did it, she turned FOUR. It just makes me so sad when these kids keep getting bigger and older. She is so much fun to be around. I always brag about her and how HAPPY she always is. But, she really is always happy. I almost never have a sad Eliza. She is also getting a tiny big cheeky lately which is kind of fun to see her personality evolve. She always says the funniest things. One time a teacher from the dance studio who always says what's up girlfriend told her if she didn't listen she couldn't be her girlfriend. Eliza quickly said, will you be my boyfriend then? I love how her little brain thinks. I love that she loves everyone and really believes that everyone loves her. Sometimes at church she will turn around and kind of flirt with people behind her and then turn around and tell me, Mom, they like me. I just love being around her and enjoying her joy.

She wanted homemade cinnamon rolls for her birthday breakfast. We made them the night before and she wouldn't stop eating them. It was a good thing because she was so excited that morning, she didn't eat anything. She got a camera (like cousin Isaac's) from her Grandparents and some strawberry shortcake dolls from her brother's and sisters.

She picked chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and helped me make it. We didn't have a party but just kind of did some fun things during the day.

I had to teach all night but late Cedric and Aunt Jill came over and had some cake and ice cream with us. It made for a perfect little party.

It must have been a long day because we look old and tired but she is so happy, I decided I better put it in anyway. We love you little Eliza. Keep being You.

Bows anyone?

I made a million bows for Susanna and Clara and even some for Eliza. But, they always seem to lose one. So even though I think I literally have 150 bows, I don't have many matches. Amelia has started wearing the adorable two ponytails so we needed some matches. I whipped up about 30 bows and decided we should put some in her hair. She thinks she is beautiful.

First Day of School 2011

Eliza started her first day of school. She is going to Miss Janelle and Dr. Spilsbury's preschool. She loves it especially that she gets to go with her favorite person and cousin Joshua. She is going to marry him when she gets big in case you didn't know. When I tell her no, she says mom we are.


Susanna started 5th grade with her favorite teacher and same teacher as last year, Mrs. Pine. She is with two of her best friends again...Kennedie and Brynlee. She always loves school.

Clara started 2nd grade with Mrs. Lucas and is with tons of her friends. When she is happy, she is so much fun.

Betsy Belle getting ready to start the big first grade. She is Eliza's other favorite person and she is a little bugged that Betsy leaves her all day long to go to school. She doesn't understand where her friend has gone.

Some of the cute kids in Clara's class.

Here she is with Laine. They play so well together and I love that they are friends. I hope they can last the age difference. Sometimes when you aren't in the same grade it is hard. We love the Stokes girls.

I was able to get a couple pictures of this cool kid after school. He absolutely loves junior high, the whole social scene...even riding the bus. He is a good friend.

and look, he got braces right before school started, now he can fit in with all the other braced faced teenagers.

Justin is in 10th grade and of course we got no pictures of him. He has a brutal schedule this year. He starts school at 6:45 everyday except Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday when he starts swimming at 5:30. Then after a long day he goes back to the pool and swims until 5 at night and finishes it off with 3 hours of Saturday swim. It's going to be a tough year. Good luck, I hope it is a super year for everyone.

Serendipity

At the end of the week, Clint came up from scout camp with Nathan to pick us "girls" up. As much fun as Vegas was, it was so much more fun when he got there. I had an adult to talk to and hang out with and he could help me with all the little ones. The last night he took me to play the slot machines. I am secretly in love with them and never ever play (I promise). I got 10 dollars of free play for joining a players club and turned it into 55 dollars. Yes, I do know when to quit. I took my little winnings and we treated the kids to serendipity the next morning before we headed home. They have their famous hot chocolate and gynormous donuts. Susanna is a donut freak and her little body can put away an alarming amount of donuts. Makes me ill to think about it.

Eliza doesn't really like donuts but posed for a picture.

No, she didn't eat any of hers but had to take a picture. Her favorite thing to do with any bread product is squish it up and drop it, well fruit too. She is the worst eater and i can't find anything she likes. What little kid doesn't eat a cracker...her that's who.

Famous frozen hot chocolate. Very healthy breakfast, I must say.

In order to walk off a little bit of that junk, we took the kids to the Bellagio to walk through the little garden they construct each season. It was like a bird theme this time and had live birds in a little bird house. Amelia was fascinated. The kids favorite was the fountains that started in one place and then stopped mid air and finished on the other side, it was fun to watch but the mom was super emberassed as dad taught the kids to put their hands in the fountains splashing water everywhere. I really have 7 kids, not 6 sometimes, He is kind of a big kid when it comes to that stuff.) It was a fun quick trip for Nathan and Dad. Justin stayed home by himself and hung out a little with Uncle Benjamin.