Back to School

The girls are back to school. For the first time in over 6 years, I am home with just one kid. The girls were so excited and couldn't sleep. They had their outfits picked out before dinner the night before (Téa started 1 day before Avery). Eden is a little confused by all of the quiet and calls down the stairs for her sisters a few times a day. She is adjusting and making Rocco her new best friend.

I couldn't resist.

Lagoon - Take 2

I just had to take the girls to Lagoon one last time before school started. Ben had to work so I got a babysitter for Eden and talked Jake into driving 3 hours to meet us there (He's a saint). I threw the girls in the car and told them we were off for a long day of errands. They put up a pretty good fight, but they had no choice. We pulled up to the gates of the amusement park and they just started screaming.

Jake wasn't there yet. Tay broke her shoe on the first ride and was crying because she had to walk barefoot from store to store to find some flip flops to buy. I told her it would sure be nice if Uncle Jakey were there to carry her around. She was crying and agreeing. Just then Jake ran up behind them and grabbed Téa. It was perfect. We had such a fun "grown up" day on all of the big rides. Jake is my favorite. The girls are at the greatest age. I just want to freeze time.

Neighborhood Watch

This used to be Avery's station, but Eden has taken over and is doing a fine job.

Two Firsts

The Snowbird Hillclimb. Three hundred forty three riders, 10 miles, and 3,300 vertical feet straight up Little Cottonwood Canyon. No flatening out, no breaks, just up. It's brutal. Ridiculous really.

My brother-in-law David has been training since he was 13 and Ben has been training since Monday. I couldn't be more impressed with both of them.

Ben chose this to be his first bike race and made it with a smile on his face.

And David won! He took the whole race. I don't even know what to say to that. He's a rock star.

So proud and such great examples to me.

Video? What Video??

Téa is dramatic. Téa would like that to stay a secret within our family.
She can turn the drama on and off at will.
At the very threat of a tantrum being photographed, it will stop. Immediately.
Needless to say, I regularly pull my phone out to snap a photo. It's like a magical mute button.
So, at the pool Wednesday, I flipped it to video so you could all witness what I witness daily.
She thought I was just threatening a photo. Oh, but no.
If any of you breathe a word of this to Téa she will file for emancipation before I can pull the video off the web.
So please, don't get me in trouble.
Enjoy.

Lagoon 2009

Another fun Lagoon day with the Hillmans. We got there in the morning and shmoozed our way onto one more ride after the park was closed. (The girls weren't quite done, so I am surprising them and taking them again tomorrow with Jake.)

Loved it and love the Hillmans.

Tay and I got on the ride without knowing we would hang upside-down while being soaked. I could only hear her laughing. Whew.

Avery's first upside-down ride. She screamed the first 15 seconds until we made it through the loops then uncontrollably laughed the rest of the way while I screamed, "You did it!!"

Sweet Beth with Oliver and Calvin.

The Spider

Salon de Téa

Forty-five minutes of twisting strands of my hair around her little finger, and a large can of hair spray later, Téa asked to take a photo of the finished product. She asked that I "put this on the internet so that everyone in the world" will know that she can do this for your hair too.

She will be available for appointments in 10 years...

Sweet Jayne

Avery's had a bitter-sweet last few days. One of her best friends, Jayne, stayed with us for almost 2 days straight. She just lives around the corner but we kept her while her parents packed up their house. They are moving to (literally) the other side of the country (Not Cool, Holly!).

On the second night, Jayne's mom came and picked her up on their way out of town at midnight. Avery was already knocked out but Téa was there to say goodbye and cried herself to sleep because she was going to miss Avery's little friend.

We miss them already.

Night One

Night Two

Eden's Idea of Playing at the Pool

FHE

Once a month, for Family Home Evening, I have been teaching the girls about God's Children around the World.
I do a report about the country, their traditions and watch some YouTube videos about real life in that area. The girls eat it up.

We then go to an authentic restaurant (well, as authentic as you can get) serving that country's food.
Last time we learned about India and then went to an Indian restaurant for dinner. The second we walked in, the girls wanted to run out because they were not used to the "aroma." But because we had learned about the country, they wanted to stay and give it a try. Téa fell in love and always begs to go back. Avery, on the other hand, asked if we could get her a babysitter next time we went. She finally conceded and admitted she did indeed enjoy two things: the bread and the ketchup.

Yesterday Tay and I discussed what country to learn about today. She suggested Africa. Great idea, but I might have to cook a recipe from that region because there may not be any African restaurants nearby.

Her response: "Let's just go to a Mexican restaurant. It's close enough."

And that - right there - is the exact reason why I am doing this.

A Preview of Things to Come

She's still only 7.
I'm in for trouble.

These Shiny Little Numbers

They were marched in around the house for an hour. Removed for her nap.

Then were immediately demanded to be returned to her feet for her nap.

I know the feeling.

Talking to one of my favorite people tonight. This came on right when I got off the phone. Oh, so perfect to what we were talking about. I love that.

Now, this is how it works
You peer inside yourself
You take the things you like
And try to love the things you took
And then you take that love you made
And stick it into some
Someone else's heart
Pumping someone else's blood
And walking arm in arm
You hope it don't get harmed
But even if it does
You'll just do it all again

Regina Spector

Congrats to Amy and Jon

I am a new auntie again today! Amy had her 3rd little girl. Pictures to follow. There are now 12 -almost 13 - kids between us West girls. Crazy.

Téa's Fired

Hey Téa, did you get all of the pizza cleaned up downstairs?

Yes.

All of it?

Yes. I promise

Are. You. Sure? Because I just had to soak all of the pizza sauce off Eden's body from dinner and now that she is clean, I don't want to have to bathe her again. Please go check and make sure everything is picked up and out of reach.

Ok, I did. Everything is picked up. I swear.

Five minutes later, I find this...

Uh, that would be leftover peach kefir in the glass.

Idaho

The drive from the house to the reunion.

You cannot believe how beautiful it is up there this time of year. It doesn't seem real.

I don't know what my problem is. This summer I have all but stopped taking pictures. Four days in Idaho with 24 of us together and I took only 2 pictures. These other two were taken, thanks to David, with his phone. I am vowing to change.

Coming Soon.

Josie and Megan came and hung out with ME for a week!! I was so excited I did not take one photo. So as soon as I "borrow" some photos from them, I will share.

3 moms and 9 kids make for a loud house but so much fun.

Lavender Laden

Every July I make Lavender Bread from our bushes in the backyard. The list has grown yearly to include cakes, cookies, lemonade and this year's hit. . .Lavender Lemonade Slush. We just sat on the front porch and hacked away at the huge lemonade ice block until it was gone and we were sick.
Sick and happy.