Can It Be?

After a lengthy summer of strongly disliking any body of water that wasn't contained in a bathtub, Lex finally had a swimming pool experience that she seemed to enjoy...no clinging, no screaming, and no pointing to the side of the pool to indicate that she wanted to get out. We're not sure what flipped the switch, but we think it may have had something to do with the 4 weeks of swimming lessons that she attended in 115 degree heat in which she watched her sisters swim but wasn't allowed to get in the water. Could it be that all we needed to do was forbid swimming in order to make it more appealing??

I didn't realize that reverse psychology worked so well at such a young age...

Now that I know the secret, I think I'll start insisting that Lexa scream at church, spill boxes of cereal all over the floor, and nap for only 30 minutes. That should do the trick.

(Here is Lex in one of her notorious, "let's get the 

heck out of the water and go over there" poses.)

Hot Day at the Zoo

Did you know that it's easy as pie to find a great parking space at the zoo over Labor day weekend? I didn't either. But I bet you can guess why: it's hot as Hades in Phoenix over Labor Day weekend, and no one in their right mind comes to the zoo during such dire times. (No one except us, of course.) We decided to brave the weather, and, of course, the kids had a blast. (Or so I'm told, anyway. Cyndie, Fantasia, and I cut out of there after about an hour so we could go to the mall while the Daddies stayed with the younger kids. We love our families, but we're not crazy, you know.)

Love Love Love this cousin shot. 

Thank you, Annoying Zoo Photographer for 

getting all the kids to stand together for this picture.

Did I mention is was Exceedingly Hot that day?

Sweaty Lexy can tell you all about it.

This poor Utah kid had no idea how to process desert heat.

This one either...at least the pink cheeks are so cute!

Hot days are Old Hat for this desert rat...

...And Daddy handles the heat with 

the help of lots and lots of soda.

A + J

Best cousins forever.

Ahoy there, Mateys! Thar blows the blindin' sun!

I heard that this Kimodo dragon was super-patient 

while Craig took this picture.

Looks like Lincoln takes his posing very seriously.

The kiddos loved the new Orangutan exhibit.

What's a trip to the zoo without shelling out ridiculous 

amounts of money on overpriced concessions?

LaVerl and Lincoln, two peas in a desert-loathing pod.

Lex and Linc, resting their feet after a long day.

Queen Audrina and her royal subjects.

Time to get in the car and blast 

the a/c on these hot, tired faces!

Cousin Depot

My sister, Cyndie, and her fabulous family came to visit for a quick trip over Labor Day weekend. As always, we had a great time together, eating yummy food, playing fun games and talking until all hours of the night. There were also lots of Daddy outings, which left Cyndie and I free to hang out, shop, and nap where appropriate. (Thanks, Craig and LaVerl!) The first order of business was the monthly Home Depot trip, this time with cousins in tow.

Audrina hard at work on her fancy pencil box

Only Savanna can make wielding a hammer look so cute...

Z-bug working hard alongside a bored-looking J-bug

These cutie pies should be featured in a 

Home Depot kids calendar, no?

Stressful Moment

Nothing makes you want to scream "Why am I being punished??" like discovering that your four-year-old has upended an entire basket of clean, folded laundry in order to reach a band-aid (that she shouldn't be getting) so she can cover a scratch (that she doesn't really have).

I wonder if actual steam came out of my ears...

Sage Advice

Some of you, like me, have spent years searching for the solution to one of life's nagging little problems: how to keep your house clean. Well, I'm happy to report that after six years and three children, I have finally come up with the answer. It involves two parts.

Step 1: Clean as you normally would.

Step 2: Leave the house with your children and never come back.

The house should stay clean indefinitely. (You're welcome.)

Miss Particular

Lex is the first of my kids who has had an opinion (at this age, anyway) about breakfast. Almost every morning when I am picking out a box of cereal for her, I hear a repeated "mm-mmm" until I guess right and pull out the kind she wants. As soon as I hear her enthusiastic "yeah!" I know we're in business. It's become a funny little morning tradition.

Then there's the less-funny afternoon tradition of Lexa picking out her own box of cereal and dumping it all over the floor, thanks to those infernal plastic chairs that I finally returned to the playroom.

There is no winning in Motherhood, is there?

Before I Forget...

July was an exciting month for us...we had a Monsoon storm that broke our tree, lots (and lots) of swim lessons, multiple opportunities to sleep in (if you call sleeping 'til 8 because you made your kids get their own breakfast "sleeping in''... which I do) and our semi-annual trip to visit my sister in Utah. As usual, we had a great time enjoying blissful summer weather, swimming, lounging, and, of course, basking in the inherent revelry that ensues when 4 adults, 5 kids, 2 babies, and 1 dog spend a week together under one roof. Here are some of the highlights.

After 7 long hours of driving, Lex finally got us 

to Cedar City without a hitch.

Thanks for driving, Babykins.

First stop: the annual Pioneer Day picnic. 

Ooh, baby, nothing says "Happy Pioneer Day"

 like cheap barbecue beef sandwiches on a Stake Center lawn.

(Her future's so bright, she's gotta wear shades.)

Mommy in training, perhaps?

Check out this fresh hat I made (well, decorated) 

more than half a lifetime ago at Girl's Camp; 

my mom still uses it for decor. 

(I don't know what's saddest in that sentence: 

"half a lifetime ago" or "uses it for decor." 

I think it's the second one.)

At 9 months apart, these girls are crazy for each other.

Messing around at Grandma's new house. 

(Which is, incidentally, my sister's old house.)

Silly Drina Bean

Say what you will, but Lexa insists that the 

sun'll come out tomorrow. And I believe her. 

(In fact, I'd bet my bottom dollar.)

My brother-in-law, LaVerl, is notorious for falling asleep 

when we're all hanging out together. Little did I know, 

he is capable of holding on to his soda while doing so.

Naptime was a bust one day when Lexa discovered this 

bucket full of stickers on her cousin's desk...

I like to call this one: How I Know I Married the Right Man

(a.k.a Craig changing a poopy diaper 

on the ground at the Pioneer Day Parade)

LaVerl and the kiddos

Vanna saw like a fish and had so much fun 

at the Cedar City Aquatic Center

Good times indeed

Selling churros to hungry swimmers at the C.C.A.C.: pure genius

Little Surfer Boy Lincoln. 

I have yet to get over this handsome little man.

Fun at the park

I hope this isn't any indication of a future stint 

in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition...

This one was just impossible to pass up.

Whew! One week of solid fun means 

tuckering out on the way home is inevitable.

Peeved

Dear Person Who Left Their Shopping Cart Behind My Car,

I was wondering if you could tell me why you thought that I, with my own cartful of items and handful of kids, would want to be responsible for returning the shopping cart that you selected, that you pushed around the store, and that you brought out to the parking lot? Was it the minivan that screamed "unencumbered individual seeks extra shopping cart to put away--please leave yours here?" Or do you leave your little shopping cart treat for encumbered and unencumbered individuals alike?

Next time, please do a favor to the unsuspecting person parked next to you and opt to walk the 50 feet over to put the thing back yourself.

Sincerely,

Mom Who Cleans Up After Enough People Already