This summer has been particularly busy for me. I feel like I have been running since the end of May. No matter how hard I have been working or how much I have accomplished each day, I still wake up in the morning with more things to do than I could possibly do in one day.
We have had a lot of fun experiences as a family and have had a great summer so far. I definitely have had a lot to write about, but being as busy as I have been, I just haven't felt like I could take the time to sit and write. I like to write in my journal and the kids' journals to keep our family history up to date, but sometimes we are just too busy living to record it all. Writing for me is like Cold Stone ice cream--a rare and delicious treat.
With that in mind, I will warn you that things are settling down a bit and I feel more like I can take the time to write. Because I can, I will, and the account will be fairly long. Feel free to skim through the pictures and ignore my words. I often do that when I read your blogs. The actual writing is more for me anyway, and I don't expect any of you to have the time or interest to read every word.
Funny Andrew
This will not be the first or the last time that I capture Andrew's funny comments on the blog, but they should definitely be recorded somewhere. I know our children love to go back and read these stories about themselves, so I will not deprive them of that experience by neglecting to write them down.
A couple of weeks ago, one of our neighbors was sick with a cold. The children decided to make her get-well cards. They had a lovely time decorating cute cards. Andrew, in particular, enjoyed designing and delivering a get-well card to our little neighbor.
The next day, Andrew came up to me with an exaggerated frown. "I have a headache," he said. I said, "Oh, that's too bad. Maybe you should rest on the couch for a little while until you feel better." "No," he said, "I am going to write myself a get-well card." He did, and his headache felt so much better after that!
Andrew is incredibly independent--especially in spite the fact that he is often surrounded by his brothers and sisters in a busy house. He likes to play games on his own and put together puzzles on his own. He often plays independently and prefers it that way. He also loves to be outside. One afternoon, he desperately wanted to ride his bike in the driveway. Normally, I let him go outside if somebody else is with him. Nobody was playing outside when he asked to go out and play, so I told him that he would have to stay in for a little while. I explained, "I'm too busy right now to play outside and there aren't any other big kids out there to keep an eye on you." Undaunted, he pointed to his own eye. "Don't worry about that," he said. "I can keep an eye on myself." If only it were as simple as that . . . 
He tired quickly, though, and I was getting kind of impatient waiting for him. Emily was really cute to help him out. She helped Andrew "fly" a little faster on her roller blades.
We had a nice walk together--especially after we convinced Andrew that even Superman needs to rest sometimes.
Staining the Deck 
It was in serious need of attention, but with all of the house repairs and remodeling we were doing, the deck was a project that had to be put aside for a little while. 
Now, the deck is mostly done, but still not completely finished. We just need one more day with a really tall ladder that we'll have to borrow from somebody.
The kids are thrilled that we have finally gotten this project mostly completed. Back in May, Andrew got a new swimming pool for his birthday. We told the children that we would set the pool up as soon as the deck project was completed. Unfortunately, I didn't know it would be halfway through the summer.
We have had a lot of fun experiences as a family and have had a great summer so far. I definitely have had a lot to write about, but being as busy as I have been, I just haven't felt like I could take the time to sit and write. I like to write in my journal and the kids' journals to keep our family history up to date, but sometimes we are just too busy living to record it all. Writing for me is like Cold Stone ice cream--a rare and delicious treat.
With that in mind, I will warn you that things are settling down a bit and I feel more like I can take the time to write. Because I can, I will, and the account will be fairly long. Feel free to skim through the pictures and ignore my words. I often do that when I read your blogs. The actual writing is more for me anyway, and I don't expect any of you to have the time or interest to read every word.
Funny Andrew
This will not be the first or the last time that I capture Andrew's funny comments on the blog, but they should definitely be recorded somewhere. I know our children love to go back and read these stories about themselves, so I will not deprive them of that experience by neglecting to write them down.
A couple of weeks ago, one of our neighbors was sick with a cold. The children decided to make her get-well cards. They had a lovely time decorating cute cards. Andrew, in particular, enjoyed designing and delivering a get-well card to our little neighbor.
The next day, Andrew came up to me with an exaggerated frown. "I have a headache," he said. I said, "Oh, that's too bad. Maybe you should rest on the couch for a little while until you feel better." "No," he said, "I am going to write myself a get-well card." He did, and his headache felt so much better after that!
Andrew is incredibly independent--especially in spite the fact that he is often surrounded by his brothers and sisters in a busy house. He likes to play games on his own and put together puzzles on his own. He often plays independently and prefers it that way. He also loves to be outside. One afternoon, he desperately wanted to ride his bike in the driveway. Normally, I let him go outside if somebody else is with him. Nobody was playing outside when he asked to go out and play, so I told him that he would have to stay in for a little while. I explained, "I'm too busy right now to play outside and there aren't any other big kids out there to keep an eye on you." Undaunted, he pointed to his own eye. "Don't worry about that," he said. "I can keep an eye on myself." If only it were as simple as that . . .Sunny Sunday Strolls
One of my favorite Sunday activities is our family walks. I look forward to the warm weather each year and love being outside with our family.
We have a lot of nice trails through our neighborhood, including the one that borders our yard. Our walks usually begin there.
On one of these Sunday walks, Andrew insisted on wearing a "Superman" cape and "flying" down the trail with us.
On one of these Sunday walks, Andrew insisted on wearing a "Superman" cape and "flying" down the trail with us.
He tired quickly, though, and I was getting kind of impatient waiting for him. Emily was really cute to help him out. She helped Andrew "fly" a little faster on her roller blades.
We had a nice walk together--especially after we convinced Andrew that even Superman needs to rest sometimes.
Staining the Deck
I am not exaggerating when I say we have been staining the deck since Memorial Day.
This is what it looked like when we moved here:
It was in serious need of attention, but with all of the house repairs and remodeling we were doing, the deck was a project that had to be put aside for a little while.This winter, we were finally able to get the part inside the screened in porch re-decked (if that is a word). You can kind of see in the picture that it is just plywood. This plywood was under some nasty moldy carpet that we pulled up soon after we arrived.
Once the deck inside the screened-in portion was repaired, we could stain the full deck. What a project!!
We had quite a bit of rain through June and it seemed like every weekend when we were able to find time to work on the deck, we had rain.
When the weather finally cleared up, we went to work. However, cleaning and staining a deck our size is more than a one-day project. I worked on it during the week when I could and Rick and I worked hard together on Saturdays while the kids were glued to the TV watching more shows than we normally allow.
Now, the deck is mostly done, but still not completely finished. We just need one more day with a really tall ladder that we'll have to borrow from somebody.
The kids are thrilled that we have finally gotten this project mostly completed. Back in May, Andrew got a new swimming pool for his birthday. We told the children that we would set the pool up as soon as the deck project was completed. Unfortunately, I didn't know it would be halfway through the summer.I finally helped the kids get the pool out on Friday. In the past two days, I think they have spent more time in the pool than they have spent out of it.
Cousins 
Here is Ricky, "measuring up." I don't know why he is wearing a sweatshirt with his hood up. It was above 80 degrees outside.
This is Andrew at the well outside Carthage jail. He thought that the forecast of rain meant that he should wear his rubber rain boots which he was constantly taking off all day because they were uncomfortable. I don't know how many times I (or somebody else) put his boots back on him. Eventually, he was just running around around in his socks.
Makayla and Rachel, Jenni and Ricky, are so cute together. It's moments like these when I wish we lived closer to family--especially for our kids.
On the drive down and back from Nauvoo, we had the older children in our car so they could watch, "The Lightning Thief." I was thoroughly entertained by their conversations in the back seat--especially on the way home when they got sleepy and silly and started telling jokes.
Cousins
One of my favorite things is visiting with family. We were able to go visit my family in June, and just last week some of Rick's family came here.
The kids LOVE seeing their cousins, and the fact that they don't have family nearby here in Iowa is one of the major drawbacks about living here.
While Missy's family was here, we were able to go to Carthage and Nauvoo. I meant to take more pictures of their visit, but I guess I was too busy having fun to remember my camera.
Carthage and Nauvoo were nice, though. We were threatened with rain all day and we really lucked out until it came time for the Nauvoo Pageant that evening. It rained during the whole performance, but the actors and actresses were amazing and didn't even seem phased by the onslaught of wet weather.
Here is Ricky, "measuring up." I don't know why he is wearing a sweatshirt with his hood up. It was above 80 degrees outside.
This is Andrew at the well outside Carthage jail. He thought that the forecast of rain meant that he should wear his rubber rain boots which he was constantly taking off all day because they were uncomfortable. I don't know how many times I (or somebody else) put his boots back on him. Eventually, he was just running around around in his socks.
Makayla and Rachel, Jenni and Ricky, are so cute together. It's moments like these when I wish we lived closer to family--especially for our kids.
On the drive down and back from Nauvoo, we had the older children in our car so they could watch, "The Lightning Thief." I was thoroughly entertained by their conversations in the back seat--especially on the way home when they got sleepy and silly and started telling jokes.
POOOOTAAATOOOOES!
We tried to catch a few pictures in front of the Nauvoo temple just as it started to rain. They didn't turn out great.
Well, that was my lengthy update. I didn't say much about Reyes, who has been staying with us since the end of May. He has been a joy to have in our house. I had a couple of pictures of him, but I think he has been hanging around Rick too much because he asked if I would delete them because he "looked fat." I hope our boys have watched Reyes' example. He is the kind of quality young man that I want them to be. He is kind and patient and rarely says anything negative. He is respectful and helpful. He has a strong desire to be a righteous priesthood holder and to grow up to be a good husband and father someday. Thank you, Reyes, for tolerating our noisy, chaotic family and for allowing us the opportunity to help you out in some small way.
We tried to catch a few pictures in front of the Nauvoo temple just as it started to rain. They didn't turn out great.
Well, that was my lengthy update. I didn't say much about Reyes, who has been staying with us since the end of May. He has been a joy to have in our house. I had a couple of pictures of him, but I think he has been hanging around Rick too much because he asked if I would delete them because he "looked fat." I hope our boys have watched Reyes' example. He is the kind of quality young man that I want them to be. He is kind and patient and rarely says anything negative. He is respectful and helpful. He has a strong desire to be a righteous priesthood holder and to grow up to be a good husband and father someday. Thank you, Reyes, for tolerating our noisy, chaotic family and for allowing us the opportunity to help you out in some small way.
Comments