Update

We enjoyed a beautiful Sunday today with rainy-like weather.  It is atypical obviously here for in July but a welcome change from any heat.  Yesterday Vincent, Lauren, Gentry & I went for a walk and it started raining.  It was fun to just meander home in the rain.  We came home, made hot cocoa & chocolate chip cookies and got ready to go to our Stake's Pioneer Day celebration.

Right now it is 9:50pm and I can still hear Hadley & Lauren giggling and talking while lying in Vincent's bed.  Gentry went to sleep hours ago & Vincent is trying to fall asleep in our bed because he will be having a sleepover with his cousins in Chino tomorrow night.  Those two girls have been laughing and being silly all evening but I love it.  I know that Lauren welcomes any chance she can be a part or included with the big kids.  And to have Hadley all to herself and the two of them enjoying themselves . . . I'm certainly not going to put an early stop to it!

This morning before church Hadley discovered that she was assigned to share a scripture and say the prayer in primary.  She became so anxious and fretted about it that by the end of sacrament meeting she was in tears and inconsolable.  I had a meeting and Chris was attempting to help her but had to leave for a moment to check on the other kids.  When we turned to go back to her we saw a sweet young woman, Sarah Jensen, the bishop's daughter, sitting with Hadley and attempting to help her or give her comfort.  I wrote Sarah a thank you note today for her Christ-like act in noticing someone in need and being confident in helping.  I write this so I won't forget to share/remind Hadley of an amazing example of the type of young woman she can try to emulate.

The kids are excited to hear of our plans for our first real family vacation next month.  Lake Mead with the cousins & Curtis and capped off with a trip to Utah to visit SLC and Provo among other places.  I am looking forward as well, hoping no one gets sick and that the plans can go smoothly.

Update

The Sawyers came to sacrament meeting with us and left right afterwards for mom's house.  We had an awesome three days with them starting on the 4th of July.  A lot of swimming, Ping-Pong, and a trip to San Diego as well.  It was so fun to have cousins come and stay here with us for three nights to escape the AZ sun for some cool weather.  After they left and we had to finish our church block - a few of us had a difficult time adjusting to the change 'back to normalcy.'

Vincent bore a beautiful testimony again today in sacrament meeting about how there was a kid at school who annoyed him and was always talking to him.  One Sunday he came home and read a scripture about being nice to our neighbors.  He read it over and over again and then he tried it at school the next day.  He said it worked and was happy for that.  What a sweet spirit he is!

Lauren has been in heaven having cousins all around to play with.  She and Gentry had a great time playing wit Colton when the King's were here as well this week. 

This next week starts our first one of 'real' summer as I call it because we have no obligations like swim lessons or anything.  Gentry finished swim lessons last week and it is absolutely amazing what a little fish she is swimming around in the pool now!  Hadley is missing Abby and wishing she could have stayed for longer.  I had a great time hosting a family with 'sleepwalkers' and we all got a very good laugh.

Update

Gentry gave her first scripture & prayer in junior Primary today.  It was very cute as I whispered the words to her and urged her to speak more into the microphone.  She enjoyed it and seems to come out of her shell little by little.  I mostly worry how she will do without her siblings, particularly Lauren there with her to encourage her or make her feel safe.  Gentry & Lauren seem to have a bit of a love/hate relationship.  I'm not quite sure Gentry realizes how much she relies on Lauren's outgoing personality or that she would do/try half the things she does if not for Lauren.  Tonight Gentry begged to play a game on the computer - which I set up for her but Lauren immediately comes and begins to play the game 'for' Gentry bc she can't really do it.  But Gentry is happy to have that help bc technically, she can't play it by herself.

Nine days left of the school year before three of my 4 children are in school.  The summer will come all too quickly I'm sure but I hope to have a jump on plans and for using every day well and growing my relationship with each child.  It will take more effort no doubt but well worth it.

Chris and I have be easing ourselves into talking to a business about renovating the kitchen.  It sounds all so exciting and yet so daunting.  As of now, we are going to continue our efforts in replacing the windows for the house and keep considering options for the kitchen. 

Baseball Life Lessons

A week or so ago Vincent relayed the following to me:

He told about how at school he was shushing some of the other students to be quiet for the teacher.  Then the teacher thanked the other kids for quieting down but did not thank him for doing the 'shushing.'  He related this experience to being like hitting a sacrifice bunt play in baseball so another guy could advance bases . . .

Deep baseball-related thoughts for a 1st grader.

Update

(took pictures - will try & update post when I figure out how to get them off phone camera)

Had a nice Mother's Day Sunday.  It helped that I cleaned the house on Saturday evening so as to have a more relaxing morning.  The kids & Chris were sweet but the morning still centered somewhat on getting ready for church.  Got a pitch-fork-thingy from Chris for turning compost in our new composter - not entirely romantic - but very practical which is the way we like things (most of the time :)

We enjoyed a nice dinner over at Bryce & Sharon's house.  Sylva and Curtis came.  A nice walk after dessert felt great except for the mini heat wave we are having.  Was 7pm and still hadn't cooled down quite enough.  The kids played happily - Dallin & the girls out back playing make believe Swiss Family Robinson and Vincent with Landon & Wyatt playing ball on driveway. 

Chris and Vincent had Father's and Sons campout this week.  Vincent loves nothing better than getting out and being a real 'boy' with the other boys in the ward.  Played a baseball game as a 'filler' for his old t-ball coach who was short players and caught three fly balls!

We girls went to downtown Orange on Saturday with Grandma & A.Molly to do some unsuccessful antiquing and toy shop, then lunch.  The heat drained most of our energy so we ended early, caught the last bit of Vincent's game and came home and tried to keep cool.

Hadley's Confirmation

A friend gave me notes from Hadley's baptism confirmation blessing:

Blessing to remember most of all how you felt today;
This day will be a foundation for further spiritual growth;
Understand the importance of the Holy Ghost;
Be able to discern good from evil;
Stay on the path leading to the temple;
Recognize that you have a warm, friendly spirit;
Continue to be a good example to brother & sisters;
Bless you confidence in your learning.

Update

One of my deepest regrets will always be the lack of good, quality, consistent, & meaningful family pictures.  I decided today right before church that at the very least I should be able to take a picture once a week.  Then, when I looked that the quality of the picture, I hesitated - 'is this really how I want to remember them?'  The pictures don't do the children justice and the lighting, the quality - everything about the picture is wrong.  But, it IS a picture nonetheless and someday I will hopefully not regret posting this one and waiting for the 'perfect' picture to come along. 

So for this week, this is the family update.  A bad picture.  A regretful mother.  And hopefully four little ones who will grow up and just be glad a picture was taken.  (Now if I could just figure out how to put pictures from my phone on here - they are better than my old digital camera.)

I'm sorry children.