The Dolphin Party

{Sophie's birthday picture that Ashlin drew}

Sophie could swim all day long!

It was a very simple party monday night at Brimhall pool. But there was pizza, presents, her cake, cousins... and best of all grandpa! She was so excited for the party and all day long kept asking me how long until her birthday was.

The Day

Then we last minute invited some little friends over so Sophie could have a little party and something fun on the day of her birthday*. Cooper, Lily and Sophie decorated the above sign that we taped on the door. Emma and Amber were AWESOME at running the party games!

*Funny story. This wasn't actually the day of her birthday, but I thought it was. ha ha. All week I was telling Sophie her birthday was tuesday... and we were counting down the days to it. Then 2 days before Lily was looking at the calendar and said, "Mom- Sophie's birthday is this wednesday, not tuesday". Darn it. But we had already planned a party. And Bruce's sister Kari and their family were coming in town wednesday... so we just kept up the hype that it was tuesday. ha ha.

*Sophie says the funniest things. Last month we were in sacrament meeting. I looked over at Sophie and she was starting to take the barrette out of her nicely done hair. Then she saw me, froze, and stopped pulling it out... then got this nervous face like maybe she wasn't suppose to be doing that. She pointed to the bishopric up on the stand and said quietly, "will they get mad if I take this out?" 

Friends

For Vanessa's 18th birthday.... 

the 4 of us went out to lunch. 

I love these 2. 

We've been friends since our girls were in 4th grade.

And now Vanessa is headed off to BYU-IDAHO. 

And I am so happy for her. But not for Rachelle. 

Because she will miss her lovely daughter.

And kids growing up just stinks.

 Lucky for me I still have kids like Sophie at home...

One night I couldn't find my keys anywhere... so my sister Chrissy had to pick Emma and Logan up and drive them home for me. I didn't drive anywhere for like 24 hours. Then we finally interrogated Sophie and she led us to my keys that she had stolen and hid in her stuff.

The 4th

We got some trade credit from Bruce's Veterinarian services... so we all got dressed in RED, WHITE and BLUE and took my whole family to "Rockin R Ranch" for their 4th of July cowboy dinner show and fireworks. (and my Aunt Bev, and the Poulsens)

Even though they have the cutest little western town setting, it was HOT out. And the western show was not that "Rockin". A little too dated... but it was something to do. At least Aunt Chrissy brought some cool pom-pom head band that Sophie loved....

{She also loves stealing my phone and taking pictures of herself}

And LOOK, Dallin loved the pom-poms too.

Before we left home I looked in my jewelry (which I rarely wear) because I vaguely remembered something patriotic. And I found these cutest flag earrings. I knew immediately that something that fun had to have been bought for me by my mom. So I wore them, and thought of her in heaven. Its been 16 months since I've seen her. She would've loved me wearing dangly flashy earrings.

I wore my hair half back so you could see them, but turns out I still have too much hair. 

It wasn't the funnest night ever... but doesn't this picture make it look like it was? ha ha.

Dallin

SCOUT CAMP

Although Dallin has always been a part of a very small scout troop, luckily for him the guys are his best friends. He has always loved scouts. Dallin lives for being outside, exploring, catching creatures, and getting dirty. He really would be happy to be dropped off to live outside on a mountain. ha ha. I have always been very thankful for the Scout program for him. 

At this summer's camp these boys did a lot of super cool out doors stuff... but they stayed at a cabin. 

No roughing it in tents like they've always done in the past!  

His leader emailed some pictures taken. 

They went fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking.... some other stuff I can't remember, Snowflake temple to do baptisms, car racing... and watched movies every night at the cabin.

I am very thankful for how much this boy has matured recently. I didn't think I would live through his 12-13 year old years. Wow those were some awkward times. But what a joy he has been lately. He's gotten nicer, less obnoxious, so funny, and more socially normal. 

(what a relief, ha ha)

The sunday after he got back, I was surprised to see him on the couch on his phone with his ear phones in. I went up to him to remind him that it was sunday. (Sunday is our break from the world, not tv, no music, unless its spiritually related) Wasn't I happy when he showed me that he was listening to a conference talk preparing his home teaching lesson. I love that boy!

117

The kids had been begging to see "Monsters University". I told them a few different times we would go, then we weren't able to. So I finally told them we would FOR SURE go the next afternoon. So friday they got ready and we were literally going to leave in like 30 minutes. Then my sister Carrie called. They were moving, and we were all going to go help that night. But they had a schedule change and had the moving truck during the day not the night. Soooo, we switched gears.... and instead of going to the movie... we went and helped them move for a few hours.... on the hottest day thus far of the summer. ha ha. 117 degrees baby! But it actually wasn't bad. And it was awesome.... because.... it wasn't US moving! {moving stinks} I actually debated not breaking my promise to my kids again... but decided it was more important to help. We weren't even that helpful since Bruce and Dallin were gone, but hey, we gave it our best!

Then FINALLY, on saturday after both boys were back from scout camp.... we went to the mall for the long promised movie! 

And when we go to the mall... guess who we often get to visit....

ASHLIN! And look what a surprise, Cassidy happened to be there at the same time. And look how long Sophie's hair is in the above picture. Wow. 

Whenever we go in to Kea Lani's we get to see the fun new advertisements that Ashlin draws for them. She's their resident artist. She writes out their menu on the board, and does their outside and inside little drawings:

*Because we changed the movie day, that meant there was no time Ashlin could go with us. I felt bad telling her. And then we all went as a family while she was working. But she was a good sport. No surprise.

Middles Night Out

My neighbor and I took our kids to Skateland the week our husbands and oldest sons were gone at scout camp. Only like 15 other people in all of Chandler had the same plan, the place was almost empty. The kids were done skating after like 10 minutes, and just wanted tokens to play video games. We bought tokens, but in effort to keep them skating... I kept all of the tokens and gave my kids 2 tokens at a time. I told them they had to come find me on the skate rink, and skate around once to earn each additional 2 tokens. ha ha. Alisa and I skated and chatted for 90 minutes straight while the kids came and went. 

Then we went to Joe's BBQ. 

The Rootbeer floats were HUGE and yum.

So rare to go out with JUST my Logan and Lily.

Thank you to Emily for watching Sophie that night, so I could enjoy a night out with my middles! All of the above would have been hard with that crazy 3 year old girl along. What a treat! 

Side Note: Some times I think my life would have been so easy if I would have stopped at 4 kids, or 5 kids and I didn't still have a young-screaming-fit throwing-stubborn-bed wetting toddler. Because she can be exhausting. But those are passing thoughts, because more often I think how thankful I am to still have a little one around. But it's hard work too. Today I had to take her out of sacrament meeting and hold her on my lap screaming for like 20 minutes in the foyer. It was embarrassing. But she's sweet too and makes us laugh.... all.... the.... time.  Last night Emma's friend was over and they were laughing laughing at everything Sophie said. Today Sophie massaged one of my feet with lotion while Emma did the other one. (I put a you tube video on for them on how to give a good foot massage, ha ha) Sophie told me she loved me most, then said,"we hate dad, right?" ha ha. {She usually prefers Bruce.} Tonight Dallin and Emma were begging Sophie to let them read her books. Just this week alone Logan and Ashlin separately begged me to have one more baby. ha ha.