Been busy

We've been busy these last couple weeks ... can't say I've accomplished anything too big, 

but between 

rides to/from preschool and tumbling, 

getting ready for Andrew's 1st birthday, 

researching new health insurance, 

young women & visiting teaching (oh how I dread taking my kids every month!), 

Brandon's hectic work week, 

traffic school online (dumb camera ticket that got sent to me in the mail!),

a little bit of re-decorating,

watching all the good shows that are back on TV 

(hello Parenthood, Survivor, Mentalist, Sing Off, Project Runway, etc.), 

trips to the zoo and splash pad,

referee-ing play between Rach & Drew,

giving baths and making meals, 

I think I can say we've been pretty busy! 

12 months old

3 years old (in dance leotard)

Phoenix Zoo Entrance

Quick Trip to Utah

The kids and I spent the last week in August in Utah for no real reason other than we got some great deals on flights.  We love to spend time with our family in Utah (especially when there's a heat advisory for an entire week in Arizona).  

I've waited a couple weeks to write this, so we'll see how much I can remember (darn memory!).

The kids did great on the flight - Rachel went through an "airplanes are scary" stage for a little bit, but luckily she's over it and she was very brave.  There was a nice lady sitting next to us who kept motioning like she wanted to hold Andrew, so I let her and he played with her bracelets for awhile.  Suddenly she kissed him on the cheek, and I thought, "Hmmm, hopefully she didn't mean to actually do that.  I know his cheeks are kissable, but you shouldn't kiss a stranger's baby, right?"  Well then she kissed him a second time, so I quickly took him back to my lap.  I thought it was a pretty funny scene.  Luckily he fell right asleep in my arms (good boy!) and slept for the rest of the flight while Rachel watched Mary Poppins, so I was able to save him from the kissing lady.  

While in Utah we seem to be constantly on the go, but that's how we like it since we need to make the most of our time there.  We went to the aquarium and dinosaur museum with my parents, visited Great-Grandma Parker, swung in Pookie & Papa's tire swing, had dinner with Shalauna & Sheena at a park, had a waterslide playdate with the cousins, saw Chad's house he put an offer on, played with cousin Logan, went to Grandpy Val's birthday party, Rachel went on a special date with Grandma Nancy to the Bean Museum, made pizza & went to the park with Brandon's parents, we visited Nicole & Brock and their new baby boy, Henry, and took a walk up the canyon to Bridal Veil Falls, whew!  I'm sure I missed some things.  

Some of my favorite memories there are always the simple ones.  Like being there when Cade's homecoming date answered him to the dance.  I love to spend time with Cade when I go home - he's nearly 17 years old, and is such a good kid.  Did I mention that my kids adore him!?  He is so good with them - he would be my go-to babysitter if we lived closer.  

The kids also love my mom's dog, Zoe, who is very patient and kind with them.  If you know me well, you know I'm not a huge fan of dogs - a topic for another day.  But Andrew loves Zoe and even said his third official word (#1 was dada, #2 was mama) and of course and it's "dog" (sounds more like "duh"), and he kept saying it over and over the whole trip.  How many years do you think I'll be able to put off getting a dog?  I'm hoping at least another 5 years or so.

Nana & Papa

Brynn, Mason, Mack, Kennedy, Allie & Rachel

Grandma Nancy & Grandpy Val

Lily, Paisley & Henry Worthen - he was the sweetest little thing to hold (not quite so little since he was over 9 lbs, but that's how we like 'em!)  It was so fun to visit with Nicole and Brock and catch up a little bit.  We just love their family to pieces!

The Perk's welcome a little girl!

Kasey Perkinson (BFF & college roommate) recently welcomed a little girl to her family (she already had two darling boys, but bring on the pink)!  At the end of July, I joined forces with Amber Turley & Rachael Crittenden and put on a baby shower for her - so fun!

Their little girl, Polly, arrived on August 14th and she is just gorgeous!  We did a little photo session with her and I really like how they turned out.  Although I was definitely sweating during it since we had all of our other kids running around the house while we were trying to get all the shots.  :)  (Big shout out to my friend, Chrissy, who taught me some Photoshop editing tools for newborns!  Thank you!)

I'm so grateful to have so many amazing women in my life!

Left Picture:  The yummy spread at the Shower; Right Picture:  The Invitation made by yours truly

 

First Day of Preschool

Rachel actually couldn't go to her first "official" day of preschool because she woke up in the middle of the night with some weird mild form of croup.  I took her to the urgent care at 2a and by the time I got there, the AC in the car had already calmed it down a lot.  Luckily, since we do this often, they gave us the steroid she needed and the rest of the night and subsequent days went fine - no major coughing fits and it wasn't even coupled with a cold.  Like I said, it was mild and different than other times she's had it.

So two days later was her REAL first day of preschool and she was SO excited.  She woke up way too early - like 5:30a (when she went to bed at 8:30p the night before) and got all dressed and could hardly wait to go.  We carpool with a friend in the ward - she takes them to preschool and I pick up the girls.  Rachel already knows 4 kids in her class of 10 (all from the ward).  Her teacher's name is Miss Carole (last name is Billings), and she is going to be wonderful (she seems strict enough and nice enough all at the same time).  We originally started with a miniature princess backpack, but when she found out that she'd have to bend her papers to get them to fit, that just wasn't going to work.  So she upgraded to a full size backpack and I love that it takes up half her body height!  She loved preschool and was good about telling me all about it.

While she was gone, I was hoping to be super productive but I was just sort of wandering and waiting for it to be time to go pick her up.  I guess I was just nervous for her and couldn't focus on too much of anything.  Funny mom.

This was the least silly smile I got!

"Bye, big sister!" - in just a diaper and his U of Chicago shirt :)

Conversations with Rachel

August 4
We usually keep the house around 79-80 degrees in the summer (feels cool compared to the 110 degrees outside) and one day the house was around 78 and Rachel said, "Mom, I need to wear a jacket.  It's freezing in here."

August 4
While reading the book, "Owl Babies" Rachel was making up her own story and said that the owl's mommy went to Young Women's for three months.  Then their mommy came right back.

August 8
Rachel went to a Diamondbacks game with Daddy.  She was very concerned that they kept standing in the dirt and getting their shoes dirty.

September 1
While playing with her "guys" (misc. figurines), I overheard her playing and her "guys" were teaching each other how to say a prayer.  Very sweet.