Mom, can we have one of these?

Taneal and Camie LOVED milking the cow. As we were leaving the ranch, Camie asked me if we could get a cow. She explained that it could be in our backyard and would be quite convenient because if we ran out of milk, we could just milk the cow instead of running to the store.

I was very glad Danielle got to see where milk really comes from. A few months ago when I was still nursing Spencer, I decided to ask Danielle where milk comes from. She pointed at me. I told her milk came from a cow and she refused to believe me.

we also went on a hay ride. As we were boarding the trailer, we were handed cow pellets to feed to the cow. Little did we know that the cows would come right up to us and put the HUGE heads in the wagon and lick our legs and hands.

The Pumpkin Patch

Friday I pulled Taneal and Camie out of school and we headed to a nearby Ranch(probably considered a "dude" ranch) for a day of fun. After all the activities of the day, which you will see in posts to follow (I took lots of pictures), each child picked out their own pumpkin. The girls helped Spencer pick out his pumpkin, "the small size appropriate for a baby".

While you were sleeping . . .

My mom recently found my photo albums and brought them to me. I discovered these photos and just laughed.

My children laugh every time I tell this story. And I forgot I had pictures to prove it. So when I discovered these pictures I was delighted. So, the story goes . . . I loved to play tricks on my brothers. My friend Heather and I would get together. One night she spent the night at my house and when everyone was sleeping, we decided to put make-up on my brothers. Proof is in the pictures. I don't know if the pictures are from this particular story, but once when Heather and I put make-up on my brother, Eric, he awoke the next morning and hurried out the door to scouts. My older brother Rob, took him to scouts. Eric didn't bother to look into the mirror and Rob didn't bother to mention anything to Eric. Well, you can imagine what happened when Eric walked into scouts with all that make-up on.

Well, I enjoyed the pictures and hopefully you will get a kick out of seeing them, too. Pass the word on to those who know Michael, Eric, or Charles.

Danielle's 3-year-old pictures

No, the pictures aren't three years old, They were taken when she turned three. I am just a little late getting them posted. To be quite honest, I forgot I hadn't posted them. Anyways, she's a cutie and I love her. She loved getting her picture taken, if you can't tell from the photo's. She knows she's a cuties, but she doesn't like you to tell her. I have this saying that quite annoys her. I ask her "How'd you get so pretty?" She used to answer, "Because I look like my mom!" Well, she quit with the cute answer that I taught her and just gets mad. What is it with being like your mom anyways?

Taneal and Audrey play soccer

Taneal and Audrey signed up to play soccer at the YMCA. While Becky was signing them up, she decided to be the coach of the team. They have had a great time playing. Taneal has loved having her aunt as her coach and has decided that she like soccer so much better then baseball.

Danielle and Lindsay

Taneal and Camie get their hair cut!

I'm not sure if it was Evan's pressure over the years for Taneal to have shorter hair or if it was the Houston heat, but Taneal finally decided she wanted her hair cut. After her decision, I let her think about it for a few days to make sure it was really what she wanted, and she still wanted it done. So, Monday after school I cut about 6 - 7 inches off her hair. She looks so cute. Her hair has a little bit of natural curl. It is so cute. She was so excited with her new look and was sure nobody would even recognize her at school the next day!

As soon as Camie saw Taneal's hair she immediately told Taneal it looked terrible! I couldn't believe it! Within minutes Camie had changed her mind and wanted her hair cut. I told Camie the same thing that I had told Taneal-- that she needed to think about it for a few days to make sure it was what she really wanted done. Camie has wanted her hair long for so long and it was finally getting long. She was always talking about how she wanted her hair down to her waist. She said she didn't realize just how cute it would look. So, today after school she was persistent enough that I cut about 4 inches off her hair.

Do you really think I could cut Taneal and Camie's hair without Danielle wanting something done? Yep, I had to cut Danielle's hair. I only cut maybe an inch, but she was pleased.

Katie and Maddison come to visit

Dan and Tonia decided they needed some time to go on a vacation by themselves. So, I was the lucky aunt who got to take Maddie and Katie. The two girls showed up at my house on Sunday night and stayed through Friday morning. We had so much fun. Dan and Tonia have two wonderful children. Seth, their third child, stayed with Grandma.

We did several things, although our numbers were great. I had six children for almost a week under the age of seven. Katie is 5 and Maddie is 3. We went to the mall and rode the carousel, played in the play area and went to the pet store. One of the days we hit story time at the library, had a picnic lunch afterwards and played at the park that evening during Taneal's soccer practice. One evening the older girls took a bubble bath in the Jacuzzi tub. I didn't realize it could make that many bubbles! Another day we went to the zoo and rode the train afterwards. I think the train was the highlight of their visit. Katie commented how she loved how the wind blew through her hair while riding. We had a lot of fun. My favorite part was the look I got from everyone in the store when it was 7pm and I realized I was out of milk. i had to go to HEB with all 6 children. I had Spencer in the front of the cart, Maddie and Danielle in the back, Camie under the cart on that lower shelf, and Taneal and Katie walking beside me. The comments and looks just made me giggle. We had fun, made it though the week without any tears, well, at least not too many, and not injuries. I loved getting to know my two nieces better. They are wonderful girls and a lot of fun.

School starts!

Today was the first day of school. Taneal started second grade and Camie started kindergarten. Taneal was very apprehensive and positive she was going to cry as soon as I left her. Camie was so excited. She claimed she was "scrappy" (her new term learned from her cousin Tyler, a combination of scared and happy). I don't think Camie was at all scared. She was so excited she walked straight to her room and only kissed me goodbye because I called her back. She even wanted to ride the bus. Taneal ended up doing great without any tears this morning, although we had them a lot last week. I guess the difference is first born vs. middle child? They will love school. The teachers are great, the school seems great, and I think this year will be a great success.

Spencer LOVES Danielle

As Danielle crashed on the floor asleep in the middle of the living room, Spencer decided she was fair game. He sat on her, lied down on her, and kissed on her and she slept through the whole of it. After I got pictures, I rescued her to the couch so she could get some real, uninterrupted sleep.

Rachel gets married

Rachel married Jeremy on Friday, August 17th in the Salt Lake City Temple. Evan flew in with Troy and Becky and I stayed home with the children. I have not yet met Jeremy, but have only heard wonderful things about him. Rachel married into a wonderful family and will have absolutely beautiful children. I heard Jeremy's sisters are absolutely gorgeous, so Rachel will fit right in! Congratulation to the new couple!

This is a picture of Rachel and all her sisters: Trina, Reyna, Rachel, Jeremy, and Nancy

Back-to-school tea party

Audrey invited Taneal, Camie, and Danielle to a back-to-school tea party and requested they wear "fun dress-ups". Of course they HAD to wear make-up and have their hair done. I had a lot of fun getting them ready. They are such beautiful girls. It was strange to see them in make-up and with their hair done up. They looked too grown-up! I'm glad Taneal is still years away from make-up.

Audrey lives close!

Taneal, Camie and Danielle are so excited to have Audrey living so near. I think we live closer to family here in Texas then we ever did when we lived by a bunch of family in Utah. our subdivisions are next to each other. As a bird flies, we are probably about a mile from Troy and Becky. However, I live at the back of my subdivision and so do Troy and Becky, so the drive is about 10 minutes. We have been able to get together with Audrey several time a week since we moved here.

















The pictures here are of a tea party that Taneal and Camie planned when we were still in Katy to have with Audrey right after we moved.

Danielle turns three

Danielle's birthday was July 29th and she was very set on having her birthday in our new house. So, to acheive this, we delayed having her birthday until the following Sunday. We moved into our house on Saturday, August 4th and celebrated her special day on Sunday. Becky prepared Danielle's favorite meal, spaghetti and meatballs. We ate dinner at Becky's house because we were still in boxes. I managed to find my cake pans and decorating supplies so I could decorate Danielle the birthday cake she had been talking about. Fortunately she was please with the cake. It was my first time baking in my new gas oven.

Danielle really was excited to turn three. She even learned how to say "three" correctly. She understood that once she was three she had to eat the crust on her sandwiches. She could no longer even have a sippy cup once in a while. She was a BIG GIRL and that was serious. I loved how serious she was. The day after her celebrated birthday, she ate the crust on her sandwich all on her own and has not asked for a sippy cup since!

The move!

I must have really talked up our new house because the kids loved helping me label boxes and getting thier things packed up. Spencer was even in the spirit of decorating the boxes. I was glad to see their excitement because the move was accross town and we would be leaving our friends behind.

I was amazed at how many boxes it took to pack my house. I didn't feel like we had a lot of things, but I was suprised. I didn't start packing until about a week before the move, and I was busy. I had basically everything packed up as the moving truck arrived. Towards the end Spencer starting having a hard time, he knew something was going on.

I made some great friends in Katy. Tuesday before the move, Sam, one of my yound women, showed up at my house. I had just got home form swimming and Evan kept calling telling me to get ready because the home teachers were coming over. He got home and I was still in my swimsuit. He practically made me get into the shower. A few minutes later Sam showed up and said she was here to "steal" me. I made sure it was alright if I missed the Home Teachers and he smiled and said to go ahead. Later on I realized the Home Teachers weren't coming, Evan was just in on the plan. Sam drove me to Chipolte's where nine women and friends from the ward were there waiting for a suprise going away dinner. I have made such wonderful friends and it was so sad to say good-bye. I will miss them all.

Several of my friends helped with the move. Kelley Ann brought dinner over, and it was SOOOO good. The day of the move Debbie watched ALL my children and Sarah cooked dinner for us and volunteered her husband to go help move boxes. Troy, Evan's brother, came and helped, ALOT! He stayed until we were done packing, which was late, and then drove with us to our new house, let us stay the night at their house, and spent the entire next day unloading and hanging blinds. His two boys spent the whole day moving boxes also. Becky, Troy's wife, watched all four children the entire day while I drove back over to Katy and cleaned the house. She had dinner for us that night. Their whole family was such a great help.
















You can tell the move really wore Danielle out. She fell asleep on the couch!