It's Always Fun When Grandma Comes

Grandma Morales came to visit us!  We haven't seen her since Christmastime, so it was a real treat to have her visit us for a few days.  I think I must really love Iowa now- there are so many places we wanted to show her while she was here!  Unfortunately, several of the days while she was here we had weather like this-

and so we got to stay inside all day long.  

But thankfully Grandma and the kids were perfectly content to be at home and enjoy each other's company.  And I always love having an adult to talk to during the day (and slip out of the house unnoticed for a few hours!).  There was lots of crafting, Legos, performing music, yoga, storytelling and snuggling.  

One afternoon we took everyone to see the newest Disney movie Inside Out.  That was a real and rare treat for our family- the last movie we all saw in the theater was Frozen two years ago.  Everyone loved the popcorn and the candy and the big screen- probably Jason most of all, since he spends up to 12 hours a day in the sweltering hot fields right now.  After the movie we had some Zombie burgers and headed out to the car only to find it was pouring buckets of rain down, yet again.  Leah and I had no choice but to run out through the huge puddles and downpour to get the car for Grandma and the littles.  It was a very memorable run, and it came at exactly the right time because I had just scolded Leah for ignoring my repeated requests to stop doing whatever it was that was putting Noah in harm's way.  Nothing a little torrential downpour can't mend, and we arrived at the car holding hands, soaked and laughing. 

On Sunday afternoon we took Grandma to Ledges State Park.  It started out comically- with so many bugs chasing after us that we ran up a trail, snapped a picture or two in front of the Des Moines river and ran back to the car.  

After we located some bugspray we tried another trail and then wandered down a stream where we discovered this huge fallen log and swing.  Skipping rocks, climbing the log (even Grandma!) and throwing fistfuls of mud were the absolute highlights of the trip.

Leah found an "L" stick to go right along with Adam's "A" tree.  She thoughtfully left it behind, "so someone else with an "L" name can find it and be happy."  

This log terrified everyone but the monkey, who spent a good ten minutes up there peering over the edge and making poses like this- 

Eventually we all made it up there!

I love when Grandma Morales comes to visit for very selfish reasons- she helps me out.  On her last day here she took the kids to the pool while I stayed home with a napping Noah.  One night she took over so Jason and I could have a date- take out in a park was quiet and just what we needed- this is a very hard time of year for his work.  I was able to go to the dentist without scrambling for a babysitter, and she made the tastiest chocolate orange cake I've ever tried.  The three of us adults stayed up way too late every night catching up on family stories and hearing all about her trip to Europe.  We all loved the visit!  We're so glad Grandma came to spend some time with us this summer!

Noah-isms

Our little flufferkins has so much to say these days.  He is getting really good at expressing himself, and there isn't much he can't get us to understand.  In fact, he just looked at this picture of himself and said, "I little!  I little!"  Such a smart boy.  He's pretending to talk on the phone up there, and his conversations always go like this- "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah."

He also loves to say-

Hey!!!!

Miiinnnee!!!  Das miiinnnneee!!

I have turn!  I have turn!

Shooshan (this means shoes on!)

Outside

Alphabet

My pick!

Dog

Duck

I play Yay-Gos (Legos).

Swim Soup

Bagum (this means water.  He says it all the time and Leah was the first to figure out what it meant.)

Swing

Rocket!  (His favorite toy)

Niiiindago (Ninjago- Adam's latest Lego obsession)

A book!

Emmmnems (M&Ms)

Money

Airplane

Hedocopter (helicopter)

Bye-bye poop!  (When we're flushing the toilet- potty training here we come?)

He can say everyone's name- Yay-ya is Leah, Adat or Ahhhhmmm is Adam, Dadda, Mama, and Emma is usually pronounced as Hey!!!

Leah especially loves to teach Noah new words.  She has taught him lots of his body parts, the favorite one being belly button!

He likes to wave and say Hi! to everyone he sees, especially at the grocery store, but absolutely not  ever at church.  He just knows all of those people are trying to take him away from me.

I used to joke that I liked Noah the most because he had the least to say... Well, those days are officially over.  He is just as adorable and opinionated as his sisters and brothers, and I love it!

Swim Soups and Crazy Lizards

The best decision we made this summer was to buy pool passes.  I originally thought I wouldn't be able to take care of all four kids by myself, but Leah and Adam have turned into fish since last year, and Emma and Noah are confident but not crazy, so I manage just fine with all of them.  We try to go both of the pools in Ankeny each week- they are both so fun!  

The smaller pool is perfect to enjoy in the late afternoons by myself with the kids, and the bigger pool is perfect for after-dinner family fun.  Whenever Noah hears the words "swim suit" he repeats it over and over until we're at the pool.  

Swim soup! Swim soup! Swim soup!  

 The bigger pool has more to do- a flow rider that simulates surfing, diving boards, several slides, a bigger kids area and a lazy river (or, as Emma calls it, the crazy lizard!).  

This pool requires passing a length-of-the-pool swim test to go down the slides, and last week Adam decided he was ready to pass the test.  And he did!  Jason watched him and said he was as proud as he's ever been for Adam's determination and success.  Adam was quite proud of himself, as well. 

The pool leaves us plenty cooled off, happy, and worn out.  And because we have passes, it doesn't matter if we're there for hours or minutes.  We just go as often as we can.  

Because the very best part about the pool is that it demands attention.  There are no computers, TVs, or phones, no housework or books or Legos or neighbors knocking.  When we're at the pool, we're just together, laughing and snuggling and swimming and being together in the summer.  I get to hold my babies close when we're in the deep end and zip down the slide together (Emma giggles "Don't forget to lift me up Mama!" the whole way down every time) and I listen to them chatter and experience new things (Adam is tall enough to go down the slides by himself this year and just today Leah got the green light to do the lilly pads) and I get to be totally present.  Sometimes we meet friends there, sometimes we are alone, but no matter how we do it, we're together.  And that makes the pool my favorite part of summer.

Adam is Six

Adam had a birthday!  It was a highly anticipated day for everyone- birthdays mean fun and we had a LOT of fun on Adam's birthday.  The day before his birthday just he and I went to the stores to find all of the supplies we needed for his Lego Ninjago themed birthday party.  It was so fun to be alone together, but by the end of the party prep I was just about ready to declare that we only have birthday parties every other year around here, but my sister kindly reminded me that the years for celebrating birthdays with a themed party are limited, so we pressed on and had a blast!  

The kids wanted to decorate the cupcakes and they did a great job.  Gone are my days of trying to make Pinterest-worthy birthday cakes... mostly.  These were simple and a huge hit!  Two years ago a sweet friend of ours had a Ninjago-themed birthday party and Adam decided he wanted a party just like that one.  Easy enough for me!  All I had to do was try to make it as awesome as our friends did the first time around.  Each birthday guest got their own personalized ninja headband, ninja star (which we had a great time making together as a family... if you consider motivational threats like "find that missing star or you're making two more!" interspersed with clips from America's Funniest Home videos a great time like I do) and glow-in-the-dark ninja sword.  

We had the party at the same park as our friends, and it would have been the perfect day if it hadn't been for the sweltering heat.  100 degrees, full humidity and not so much as a whisper of a breeze.  The kids were pretty lethargic from the heat, but they all still had fun as we ate pizza, chopped styrofoam blocks, decorated and threw ninja stars, played ninja tag, opened presents and searched for their goody bags.  I hired one of my sweet Beehives Jessica to be my master party helper because Jason wasn't there, and my same kind friend that helped me out with Adam's party last year stayed and took a bunch of adorable pictures for me.

And Adam had a great time, which is all I really wanted.  He is an interesting sight to observe in the spotlight.  He doesn't really demand attention, he is kind to everyone, and he likes to ponder over the situations he is in before he reacts.  There was just enough of a breeze when I was lighting his candles to keep them from staying lit, but he still deliberated over his birthday wish for a full six seconds before pretending to blow out the candles.  And his wish came true!  A stack of Legos!

 His friends and family were all very kind to him for his birthday, and I didn't see or hear much from him for several days after his birthday as he was working his way through his new Lego sets.

He carefully read each word in each of his birthday cards, too.

He picked "a place that has meatballs" for his birthday dinner, so we headed over Fazolis, which was quite disappointing compared to other experiences we've had there.  But it was still a fun and rare treat to eat dinner out as a family.  Then we headed home for a birthday ice cream cake and a few more presents.  Adam originally requested a trip to the High Trestle Bridge at night (when it's lit up) on his birthday, but the heat was seriously so oppressive that we all were perfectly happy to stay in the house for the night.  There were plenty of Legos to keep us all busy.

Adam loved not having to do any chores on his birthday, getting the first pick of story, show, prayer, song, game, and more.  He was still quite kind to his sisters, even though by the end of the day they were ready for it to be someone elses birthday (theirs).  This picture right here is going to be one of my lifelong favorites- Adam and Emma are my cat and dog, but I'm sure they still love each other deep, deep, deep down. 

It was a wonderful day.  I love birthdays because they give me a chance to focus on one child specifically.  Adam is such a good boy.  He is thoughtful- he often tells me he tries to talk to another child because no one else is talking to them- and he is kind.  He is never in a bad mood.  He has grumpy moments, but they never last, and his sunshine and smiles always shine through.  He is inquisitive and always needs to know why things are the way they are.  He remembers everything I say, even if it doesn't work in his favor.  He says sweet and heartfelt prayers, and always remembers to thank Heavenly Father for the Bible and the Book of Mormon and the church and the temple.  He always asks that there will never ever ever be a tornado or a fire and that he can overcome his fears.  He tells funny jokes and has the sweetest twinkle in his eye when he smiles.  

Sometimes he drives us crazy with how deliberate he is- he is a sloooow eater just like his mama, he tells loooong stories just like his daddy, he likes to play with each and every Lego as he puts it away, and he needs lots of reminders to stay on task when he's doing something boring (don't we all?)  But he is always quick to help me with the laundry and the trash, his two favorite chores.  He is careful and neat with his writing, just as he always has been.  Thank you notes for his friends took an entire day and more than a few tears (I was holding his next unopened Lego set hostage as incentive to get them done!).

He isn't afraid to try hard things.  I love that.  He thinks about things deeply and wants to understand why things are the way they are.  He is confident and happy and he is not going to let anyone bring him down.  He knows what is right and what is wrong and tries hard to make good choices.  He is learning to play the piano, reads like a pro, and loves math and numbers.  He's going to take kindergarten on by storm.  I'm going to miss him so much that I really can't think about it yet.  He is such a happy, good boy.

And a silly boy.  He still loves to hide and jump out and shout "Boo!" to anyone that is coming into a room.  He lets out a super high-pitched squeal when he's excited or scared that splits my ears.  But he also has a sensitive side that shows occasionally.  He doesn't like it when his little sister picks on him to the point of tears, and he is my one child that will chase after me when I'm leaving to get one more hug and kiss.  He surprises me with his tears when he is missing Daddy or when we took grandma back to the airport.  He is tender and has lots of love in his heart.

Happy sixth birthday, Mr. Man!  We love you even more now than we did on the day you were born!

You are a patient big brother, a funny little brother, and a wonderful son.  You bring so much happiness into our family.  

Fun with Young Women

For the last year I have been serving with the young women in our ward.  It's my first time working with the youth since I was one, and it has been a great experience.  

These girls are amazing.  

They have been patient with me and anything ball-related.  But some skills are just not there... 

We've had weekly activities and Sunday lessons to grow and bond over.  

I've been inspired by the girls and the leaders.  There have been a lot of changes over the year, but change is good!  It provides us with new opportunities for friendships and growth.  

I especially loved my time at Girls Camp- I was only planning on attending for one night but ended up being able to go for the full four days of camp.

I slept in this cabin for three nights!  Voluntarily!

There was plenty of dirt and laughs and very little showers and sleep.  And I really loved it. It was a totally unplanned, but much enjoyed, mini-vacation in the middle of my summer. 

The weather was beautiful.  We even did a little "hiking" through a forest.  That part made me miss the mountains just a bit.

And that many days with such fun girls can turn you a little silly.

But it was an incredibly spiritual experience as well.  I heard things I needed to hear and felt my testimony and relationship with God grow as I had a deliberate chance to learn more about His plan for me.

Look at all of those beautiful daughters of God!

I'm so grateful to know that I am one of them. 

July Celebrations

Patriotic celebrations last for two weeks here in Iowa.  We started this year out with an Independence Day ward breakfast and BBQ with a few of our favorite neighbors.  Thanks to Grandma Cathy for the adorable red-white-and-blue clothes for the kids!

Later in the week Jason took the kids to the Ankeny Summerfest Parade.

 And the next evening we opened up our garage and yard to host our second annual block party!

It was boiling hot, but we have such an awesome neighborhood that lots of people still came and ate and visited and played.  Some of our neighbors have become our favorite Iowa friends, others we are still getting to know, but everyone is incredibly kind and we constantly count ourselves blessed for the opportunity to live in such a great neighborhood.

We gathered 48 handprints form the kids that were at the block party.  We probably missed close to 15 kids from the neighborhood. 

The Class of 2028- all of the kindergarteners that will be starting with Adam in the fall.  

 The class of 2025- Leah's!

A few of the amazing women that live on our street-  

And a few of the men.   

The heat finally broke an hour or so before the fireworks began, and everyone settled in to watch the show from our front yard.  One of my favorite summer moments was listening to the kids "ooh" and "ahh" over the fireworks while waving their glowsticks and chattering with each other.  Life is good.