Matthias Chatter & James Speak

Taylor talking to Matthias after he left the fridge open again as he usually does multiple times daily...

Taylor: You have to shut the fridge. What do you think keeps the food good?
Matthias: Umm, prayers?



The boys climbed onto the roof of the storage shed in our yard.

James: We used all our braveness to get up here.
Me: So is your braveness all gone now? How will you get down?
James: No, it's still inside of us.
Matthias: I have 100 braveness.

My House This Afternoon

Hannah was in her crib in her bedroom so I don't have a picture of her. Aren't they cute? 2 mile bike ride.

Nuture Shock

I'm reading an incredible book called Nurture Shock. This afternoon I was starting a chapter entitled, "Why Siblings Fight". I told the boys I was going to read a book and the part I was on was about why they fight, so maybe the could just tell me and I wouldn't have to read it.

Matthais' prompt answer, "we fight cuz we want the toys James and me have." (meaning we want each other's toys.

Findings from the book...80% of sibling fights, according to the siblings themselves, are over material possessions.

Smart kids I have.

Seriously though, it's a really good book with great insights. One of the better parenting books I've read, although it's not necessarily meant as such but more just as a cool findings book. Has info on self-control, teen rebelliousness, 'gifted' children, acquiring verbal skills, sleep, etc.

Pirate Cove Splash Park

We got a good deal on tickets here and had a great time! The sun actually came out for the last hour and a half so we didn't freeze the whole time. The kids had so much fun. We spent a lot of time playing in the beach area, but there was also a lazy river, water slides, and a big shallow pool with play equipment. Lazy river with just me and three kids was slightly intimidating trying to keep the boys together with me and Hannah. Plus Matthias was barely holding on, but it was lots of fun. All the kids loved the water slide in the kids area. Taylor came for the last little while after he got of work so I had some more hands.

Can You Fit in 800 Square Feet?

We went to Austin for the house hunting trip end of June and didn't get a house. So we came up with the fun new plan of Taylor living with our amazing friends Matt & Sandra in Austin while the kids and I live in Taylor's parents' basement until we can get in a house. Approximately the first week of October. While this sound super fine and delightful to be separated from Taylor for 7 weeks and only seeing him for 3 days over Labor Day we have still been thinking of other possible options.

Our latest scheme was to apply for student housing. Haha. It's 3 bedrooms in 800 square feet. And obviously it's an apartment. Can you go back to apartment living after 4 plus years in a house? It appears to not even have a dishwasher. It's such an insane idea that it's actually worth thinking about. I'm reminded of the time Bec and I though it would be hilarious to take a 7 am class our sophomore year. It's so completely ridiculous that it actually seems fun, right? I think I missed class at least once a week...

So we'll see if we even get in. We'll see if we end up finding a house any way. We'll see if we just buy a RV and live in that. Paul Farmer grew up in a bus and he's one of the most amazing people I've ever heard of. This could actually be really good for our kids...

Saturday I washed my hair in the morning...it was SO cold!! We walked around Horse Thief Lake (where we were staying) and packed up camp. Then we drove to a Ghost Town that looked hokey so we then went to a Woodcarving Museum that was too expensive so we ended up at another lake. The kids had a great time swimming and collecting "lakeweed". Then we had some yummy lunch and ice cream. After that we headed over to Jewell Cave.












The boys were really excited about going to the cave the whole time. They kept asking about it all day Friday and were thrilled we were finally going. We got there and all the times were sold out until 6 pm and we still had a 6 hour drive home. So we jumped in the car and raced to Wind Cave about 30 minutes away and got the last 5 tickets to the 4:40 tour. James was so enthralled by the whole thing and was able to lead the tour for the last part. I was terrified the whole time of losing Matthias down some random hole or passage way. The guide offered to let him lead as well and I said NO. Was a lot different than Mt Timp so I enjoyed it too.

Then we drove home and the kids all slept for the last half. I left Hannah's clothes and shoes at a rest stop and was really sad to lose the blue tennis shoes all three of the kids have worn. Other than that it was a great trip and we had so much fun!!

South Dakota

Every year when I was a child we would go on vacation over my birthday because it's a holiday in Utah. I hated it. However, somehow I always convince Taylor to take a road trip over my birthday. After this year he told me no more.

We went up to South Dakota and camped for two nights. The boys were in heaven. Taylor found a pretty little spot by a lake. South Dakota is super pretty, the Black Hills were amazing! And there are the coolest rocks for climbing everywhere. Right by our camp site the boys found some great rocks. And Hannah kept saying, "want climb" and trying to follow them up. The boys also rode their bikes a ton.





Friday we woke up and went to Mt. Rushmore, saw a bunch of Model T Fords, hiked up to the Cathedral Spires, swam in Sylvan Lake(?), went to a chuckwagon dinner. While on the hike Matthias chucked a rock at my head. I was trying so hard not to cry and got a huge goose egg. Taylor was livid and Matthias had to sit on a log for a really long time.
















Swimming in the lake was the best part. The kids had a great time and Taylor swam out to a little island. He made friends with some 12 year old boys that dubbed him Aqua Man and tried to get him to swim around with them. I started to swim out to the island and then realized if I didn't turn around and go back I was likely to drown. The water was so cold I was already having trouble breathing when I started out. Then half way when I couldn't touch bottom any more I started to hyperventilate...same problem I have with snorkeling I think. So swam back as fast as I could since I couldn't really breathe at all any more.