Fruitcocktail of photos from September....

Ryker

My little guy started 2nd grade! The funny thing about second grade is the boy/girl chasing games begin (at least that's when it happened for me) He told me that he plays "chasing ninja's" it's a game he and his friend made up where the girls chase the boys and they are ninja's Ha ha! I love how they put a manly spin on it. There's nothing more manly than a ninja right? Gotta love elementary.

 He has been enjoying the great outdoors this September. His Papa Tod took him up camping just the two of them. He got to shoot his gun, sleep on the ground, see bald eagles, and catch fish. They even caught a rainbow one. I didn't get any pictures of them, but here he is on a trip up to Huntsville park that we made over Labor day weekend. He's my climbing mountain man!

 Ryker is an amazing brother. Violet dread's it every time he leaves. They are turning into quite the pair. The other night he read her to sleep it was the sweetest sound ever.

 Rykes with Jonah monster.

 Munchkins up in Huntsville.

 Ryker has a growing, impressive collection of rocks, coral, snake skins, dead scorpions, seashells, and other sorts of random nic-nacks arranged all over his dresser. I love his little collection, it makes me smile. He's all boy.

Violet

This lady is my little peach picker. Our tree didn't grow as many peaches this year but they were fat and delicious. Violet loves picking fruit off of the trees in our backyard.

 She found a baby lady bug on one of the peaches.

She called it her buddy and then set it free.

 We took the kids up to Huntsville area to visit the monastery. We bought jam made by the monks which was delish, and then we waited to watch them sing. We thought the kids would think it was neat to hear these men who never say a word sing. So we took them in the little echoey chapel and as soon as the monks began to sing. Ryker shouts "I gotta go pee!" Jonah loved the way his voice echoed on the walls so he wasn't quiet, and Violet was calling the monk's zombies. Needless to say we left. Moral of the story don't take toddlers to a place where reverence is required. It just doesn't happen. :)

(outside of the monastery)

 Violet started preschool! She loves preschool and being able to see all of her cute neighborhood friends. She got a new hello kitty backpack and shirt for the occasion.

 We had a field trip to ride the front runner to Farmington. Look at all of these cute kids!

 Violet loved the train, she was so excited.

 We arrived at our destination in farmington. The park in front of the new theatre out there is awesome. We spent a couple hours out there eating lunch and playing with friends.

 I love how they decided to hold hands. Such a cute group of kids!

Hallie, Hannah, Violet, Rose, and Owen.

 Jonah

Look at this stud, that dimple is killer. He found these glasses in the girl's section at walmart and could not part with them. His obsession with accesories hasn't ceased. I love it!

 He loves to try to be a big kid and copies moves that his older brother does a lot. He's picked up on some of Ryker's amazing dance moves.

 He has endless energy. Climbing is a favorite of his as well as his newest favorite toy: The whoopee cushion. That whoopee cushion makes him chuckle these deep belly laughs that are hysterical! He hands me the whoopee every day so he can get his fix!

 Gary

He came home Yay! We love having him back. Lots of family time has been spent together. It's been good. He's a great Dad, here he is making pancakes for the kids.

 He picked up a new hobby which he has been loving, fly fishing. He has been taking Ryker every weekend. Violet didn't love the fishing trip he took her on so she stays with me so they can have guy time. I love that they get to do this together.

 Me

Well I got super duper sick with the stomach flu this month and Gary had to take care of me. I started volunteering in Ryker's class , and I taught Violet's class ( since we do Joyschool.) I got to have a Girl's night out at gabor brothers with some great old friends, and I started running. I only made it a half mile before I had to stop, then I walked 1 mile and ran another half mile. This will be a work in progress :0)

Also this bird flew right into my storm door and sat on my porch for a long time. Violet watched it as I went to grab a box and rubber gloves because I thought it was injured. As I went to pick it up, it flew between Violet's legs and into the tree in our front yard. I get excited about things like this Ha ha :0)

Cute birdie.

Happy September! Here's to cooler temperatures and learning minds!

Love them.

This Summer has been bitter sweet. Gary has been gone a majority of it, which would be the bitter part. The sweet part has been all the amazing family and friends that have rallied around us, to help me & the kids get through the summer without falling into a sad spiral. I have relied a lot on my heavenly father. There were days when I felt so all alone and just plain out of energy. So I would say a prayer and things would work out, people would show up to keep me company, or to help me out. It was just that simple. My prayers were answered and I am ever so grateful.

Meanwhile, my kids have been growing, learning, and playing in the sun. Their sweet smiling faces, and busy little bodies keepin me goin from sun up until sun down!

Jonah (18 mos.)

Oh how this boy has grown over the summer. He has been jibber jabbering a lot. Some of my newest favorites: Ky-ker (Ryker), Bip-ee (Ripley), Vi-vi, and flip flop. It's the cutest thing ever. He still has a major obsession with shoes of any kind and size. This can be troublesome while visiting the public pool. He has tried on many stranger's flip flops this summer. My favorite is seeing him wear his sisters princess heels with some monster trucks in his chubby little hands. He learned a new trick, to climb out of his crib all on his own and come into my bed to poke my eyes, tug my hair, and giggle until I wake up. This has happened in the middle of the night on occasion. It's the sweetest thing in the world when he folds his arms for a prayer, smiles his mischievous smile, and gives me his great bug bear hugs. Love him!

Here he is at our visit to the zoo & the davis county fair:

Baby cow

He tried to climb the donkey.

His very first pony ride.

Violet (3 and a half)

Has developed an infectious laugh. Once she gets going she can't stop, and it makes me start giggling also. She loves to sing fairly loudly around the house and in the car. She is still very in love with animals, ecspecially horses and dogs. She has asked me a few times if we can keep a horse in our backyard. She surprises me all of the time with her funny personality. Like the other night when I had had a long day and was trying to get my 3 kids to bed. I was being pretty grumpy. I think I was in the middle of scolding her and Ryker about something when she says in her quietest sweetest voice "You're the best Mom in the whole world." She melted the grump right out of me in one sentence. What a sweetheart. Love her.

 Ice cream at the zoo and the swimming polar bear.

 She will never pass up a pony ride.

 The petting zoo with cousins.

 Of course the ponies were her favorite!

 Ryker (7)

My grown up guy. Loves being a big kid and wrestling with his cousin Van. His latest favorites: Swimming,  tae kwon do, and piano lessons. He has been so helpful. I am in awe of how much he is growing and learning all of the time. He is such a funny and creative little guy. I am amazed at his versatility and how he can play with kids of all ages. He also is never afraid to try new things and just be himself, whether that be singing, dancing, cracking jokes, or making faces. He fills my day with humor. Love him. 

 Ryker with the polar bear.

The photo below was taken also by Ryker.

 Love these kids faces! Ryker with his cousin Ava.

 At the fair Aunt Gloria entered him in a pie eating contest, along with Van and Ava.

It was so funny watching him bury his face in this pie.

He did pretty good but he still got beat,

by a girl.

 His cute little pie face!

 He loves the critters ecspecially anything scaly, dangerous, or just plain icky!

Here he is holding a scorpion.

 Tarantula:

 and petting this sick, giant snake. Can you tell I am not a fan? He gets a kick out of that.

 I like the furry, friendly critters like this llama much better.

 Me

I have just been gettin through this summer, trying to enjoy these cute kids, and make the most of their younger years. I CANNOT wait until Gary gets back so we can spend the end of the summer together. Maybe i'll be able to kick this bad eating habit I have picked up while he has been gone. Blast those sweets and their ability to make you feel good, even if just but momentarily.

Adios!

My little slice of heaven.

Sand castles, tube wars, dance parties, guitar strumming, eating, fishing, laughing, talking, swimmming, hiking, singing, surfing, boating, digging, playing, marveling.

These are many words that describe my most favorite place: Lake Powell.

How fortunate I am to have such an amazing family that took me and my kids on this adventure, where we could lose track of time and play in the sun. Such beauty reminds me how great god is.

Ryker's adventures:

What a big boy he is becoming. He was so fearless on our trip, trying  everything from rock climbing, surfing, to jumping off of the top of the house boat. He swam nonstop, caught lizards, got a sunburn, played with cousins, caught his very first fish with his Uncle Dallen. He slept under the stars, and made everyone chuckle with his awesome dance moves. What an amazing, energetic, and courageous son I have.

 first fish ( a carp)

 Braden teaching him how to surf.

 best buds Diesel and Ryker, this duo never stopped playing!

 Ryker's lizard friend that loved his belly.

 The owie is from a sand castle building accident! Never thought you could get beat up from building a sand castle? Think again. Apparently when you use actual heavy duty digging shovels this is what can happen:

 Violet's adventures:

I discovered what a little flirt this girl is. She was calling all the guys on this trip her boyfriend. Man, oh mighty am I gonna be in trouble with this boy crazy chica! What a funny, happy little girl she was at Lake Powell. She LIVED in the water and loved having sleepovers with Grandma Jen on top of the house boat.

 She was such a little Momma to her baby cousin Juniper. She could have held her all day.

 She wasn't so happy I interrupted her playing for a picture.

 Gotta love that look she has on her face!

 Little fish.

 She had fun playing with cousins and her brother.

Dash, Diesel, Finnley, and Ryker.

 I was so happy I got these shots of her just being herself.

She truly marches to the beat of her own drum. What a special, happy light she is in my life.

 Vi's feet in the sand.

 Jonah's adventure:

This mischevious bugger decided it would be a good time to unleash his terrible two's on me during our vacation. I was chasing & wrestling this one alot.

He gave his Mom a good steady sweat and it wasn't the Arizona sun either.

Jonah loved the sun, sand, and most ecspecially the water. Mostly he liked being chased by me.

Gotta love that dimple though, cute little bug.

 His little foot in the sand.

 He looks so sweet in this picture.

 And then here it comes, the tantrum.

 Sometimes you just gotta throw a tantrum in the sand right? Ha ha!

 I love his cute little face!

His favorite thing to do was to say, " one, two, dee!",

and  run into the water as fast as those little baby legs could carry him.

 His favorite word on this trip was "MINE".

Every toy, popsicle, piece of food, etc. was his. Hee hee!

I love my  feisty little guy. There is nothing better than a hug from this little hulk baby.

 I was amazed at the number of kids that we had that nobody got hurt! We had 2 newborns, 2 18 month old  babies, 3 toddlers, 2 boys, and 3 teenagers. Miracles do happen.

 I had some amazing moments here at lake Powell some of my favorites were hiking up to the scenic views with my brother and sisters,

 digging my feet in the sand,

 eating amazing food, having the tube war of a lifetime and laughing my head off while doing it, and last but never least our annual dance party :)