Front Flips

While in Utah the boys both learned to do flips on the trampoline. When we got to the Harveys we were home alone for a couple of days, but I wanted the tramp up for the boys to have something to do so I put the entire thing up by myself. If you've ever put up a tramp then you can be amazed. It was extremely difficult and took me 2 days to complete the task. On the third day I woke up and was unable to move my arms.

But it was all worth it...

Houston

As we reached the edge of The Woodlands I told Taylor, "I have been waiting for this moment for over 2 years." Driving past all the familiar sites into Imperial Oaks made it feel like we had never left. We spent a fun evening with the Larsens. Then headed over to the Frosts.

The boys had such a blast sleeping in Adam and Michael's room, I think they were in heaven with the older boys talking to them and asking questions. Matthias kept running and round the room until like 9 pm. I asked him to please remember to stay in bed and he said, "But I keep getting distracted." Hannah slept horribly as always when not in her bed.

Nannette and I did the Imperial Oaks garage sale Saturday morning and then headed up to the Frosts' land. It was so beautiful and peaceful up there. We were really excited to get the chance to head up. Taylor dug a stump out with a back hoe, did some grouting. The boys learned how to drive 4-wheelers. James rode a few feet and decided he was done. After trying to keep Matthias to riding with Ellie I let him get on alone and he was off in a flash whizzing over hills and around corners. Then he and Ellie took turns driving each other around. After a couple hours James decided he could do it to and was driving around just as well.







While Joe and Taylor did the grouting, Nannette and I took the kids over to the island they own. The kids enjoyed riding on the lake and putting their hands/feet/oars in the water. They were catching leaves and sticks all the way back.

Then we drove down to the Hales' to hang out for the evening. It was so relaxing and fun to be with Mandy and Jimmy again...just feels like getting together with family. We just sat around and talked and played. The Griffins came over and the kids had a blast in the yard for hours while we all chatted. It was so fun being with such great friends again!

We're glad to be so close and hope to visit a lot. I love Texas.

Hannah's New Pinafore

A friend commented on Hannah's old pinafore at the park a couple weeks ago and I realized it was way too small. So I immediately created a new one.

The best part is when I put it on Hannah and told her we had to take pictures she promptly stood just like this next to the sofa.


And I told her to turn around...


And to crawl up the stairs so I could get a cute shot of the back...


And on and on. Pretty much I think I have taken her picture a little too often...

Cousin Sleepover

Since we were in Utah during August this summer we made it to the annual Cousin Sleepover. This is the first time Matthias and Hannah have been; James was 19 months last time we made it. So all the kids were thrilled with the idea of sleeping in my Aunt's backyard with NO tents!

And the sleepover did not disappoint. Tons of kids everywhere, sleeping bags thrown all over the yard, plus a parade before (which they got to be in!), lots of food/treats/candy, tons of goodies like glow bracelets/visors/stuffed animals, a carnival the next day over at the town hall. With a bounce house (that Matthias collapsed...). Rides on a four wheeler courtesy of my cousin Ryan.

I was worried about Hannah since we'd been in Utah for a week so far and she was completely into the "Let's scream 4 times a night at the top of our lungs for no reason". So imagining this and like 60 of my relatives laying on the grass in the backyard I was not very excited. But she slept perfectly through the night. I don't think she even moved at all let alone make any sound.

The kids were in heaven. We spent Friday evening and all day Saturday. We'll have to not wait 4 years before going again. If we can convince Taylor to deal with 2 bathrooms and 60 plus people...

Found On A Little Trail

The first couple of days after we moved here the rain was pouring down. One morning we went for a walk in the rain and found Foalt, (acronym for Found On A Little Trail, named by James).

We kept him for two days. Then I convinced the boys to let him go since we couldn't get him to eat anything. Shortly after letting him out in the yard we read a book James picked up at the library about turtles. We found out in the book that turtles can go for days without eating.

James: "See mom, he was just going for days without eating!"

"We're playing moving" --Matthias

This morning Matthias arranged a game of moving. I came out of my room to find he and Hannah had packed up all the dishes and food in her play kitchen and were starting in on Matt's toys.

After I put a limit to the amount of items they could pack, they loaded everything into a moving truck and had me drive them to South America.

Is this a normal game for 3 year olds to play or is this telling me something??

Precious Moments

Looking at the Castle Lego sets...

James: This looks cool, what's it?

Me: That's a jester. He would go to the castle and do funny things for the king and the other people. Like juggle and do tricks.

James: Oh. Because they didn't have movies back then.

(I just find this hilarious from my child who has spent exactly 2.5 hours in front of a screen since we arrived in Texas over 4 weeks ago.)

During Family Home Evening the other day Taylor taught about prophets. The whole time he was teaching the lesson, Hannah was sitting on his lap softly repeating over and over "follow pophet, follow pophet". It was the cutest thing ever.

Matthias and I have become little buddies since James started going to school and I just love this little guy who is right now sleeping quietly curled up by my feet.