keeping cool in the 98 degree heat

While the girls enjoyed a day getting mud treatments.....

Simeon spent most of the time trying to wipe the few specks of sand off of him,

and throwing rocks into the water.

The kids have been begging me to go play in the river. So we finally did and they had a blast. The water looks disgusting, but felt oh so good. In fact I could only stand having my feet in the water for a few minutes at a time....it was FREEZING!

big bugs

I thought big bugs only grew in Texas! We found this "B2 bomber" in our house one morning. It is next to Brooklyn's hand so you can see how big it is. Big bugs, high temps...what next? We might as well be in Texas....except for the fact that we don't like Texas.

hot dogs and s'mores

It was the perfect summer evening to roast hot dogs for dinner. The weather was great and Matt was actually home to do it with us! Simeon wasn't patient enough, so he had cold dogs. Only a 2 year old would love it.

Glory is eating the marshmallow leftovers on the roasting stick. Yumm!

Needless to say, everyone had baths afterwards! Sticky everywhere!

Genesis had some ashes on her marshmallow! She had a difficult time spitting it out. It was stuck on her tongue.

happy b-day glory!

Glory's birthday was on Sunday, so on Saturday she went to breakfast with her dad (our birthday tradition). Matt decided he was going to start something new and talk to them about their goals for the coming year at breakfast. He said it didn't go as well as he envisioned. She said she just wanted to think about her birthday on her birthday. So he had to drag a goal out of her. She finally said she wanted to eat at Shari's again and Matt suggested learn how to read. She reluctantly agreed. She then enjoyed her birthday breakfast tradition of "happy cakes". After breakfast she invited her friend Sydney over to celebrate with us. We went to a park and had a picnic, then came home and had cake and chocolate ice cream, opened presents, and they went swimming in the pool. That night we invited people over for an outdoor movie. Our friends have a projector and so we have started a summer tradition! I think she had a lot of fun and I can't believe she is 6!! Where did the time go? Happy birthday Glory!

heaven

Do you ever just look and look and look at your kids and wonder how you got to be so lucky? I love to watch them interact and learn and grow. I love to see pictures of them. They are truly amazing and they teach me so much. I am the luckiest mom ever! Nobody could ask for better kids! I love them with my whole being!

haircut

before

after

It was time. Her hair was in a constant state of rattiness, especially since summer started and she was swimming every day. She loved the haircut and for the first few days, she always had a comb in her hand brushing her hair. :0) This picture isn't the greatest, but for some reason every time I took a picture to show her haircut, she would get bug eyes. :0) So we stopped taking the pictures and just settled on a less bug-eyed one.

genesis wanted to post a video

Hi,Genesis here,I really wanted to post a video{okay,this is going to take a long time to type, because..........okay,fine I'll admit it,I'm not a very good typer}.Simeon is so,so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, cute in the video{he laughs alot too}. Hope you enjoy it.

stuck

Simeon got stuck. I am not sure what he was trying to get, but he climbed onto the counter and into the cabinet and couldn't get out. I, being the wonderful mother I am, had to grab the camera to take a picture before helping him out. I even told sweet Glory not to help him until I found the camera and took a picture. :0)

yeah!!!

We paid off our debt today!! We now only have the house to worry about. Whew! What a weight lifted to have that gone! You know, the prophets really know what they are talking about. :0) Life seems hopeful again. Yeah us!!

end result

They each got a wall and painted it the way they wanted. They had so much fun! I'm glad they have a place to call their own.

"Oliver", painting, swimming

Sim took the pool noodle and walked around the pool saying, "I'm swimming! I'm swimming!"

"CHEESE!" and posing for the camera. He finally decided to go in the pool and had so much fun.

painting the playhouse

The girls were in their school play "Oliver". Genesis was "Charlotte" (the undertaker's daughter), Brooklyn was a milk maid, and Glory was an orphan. They did such a good job and they had so much fun!