It's all the Rage

Swimming Suits and Thigh High Toe Socks!!!!

Do these make me look fat?

Yaaa, look at me!!!!

Ever since Spoiled Rotten, she insists on posing for everything

Hannah

Annika and her scruched up nose again

All the girls bought these silly toe socks at the Arts Festival for a buck. Like all new things you want to wear them right away. After our hike the kids were so dirty that I told them to just put their swimming suits on. I went to check on them and found them sporting their toe socks.

Hike and Falls up Battle Creek

Braving the falls

The kids soaking wet, and frumpy me.

Isabel, always running.
Several times I had to tell you her to slow down.

Hannah and Jaren enjoying the breeze that comes from rapidly falling water.

Annika, no fear of the frigid water

Hannah and Annika

The kids before the hike, nice and warm and dry

Beckham and Annika sticking together

Annika striking a pose

Jaren the monkey

Hannah, Jaren, Isabel and Annika walking to the falls

The morning of the 4th Grandma Penny and I took the kids up Battle Creek Canyon for a hike. It is the first hike of the year and I was thrilled to be out in rugged Utah. Even though it was practically in my Mom's backyard. Many other families had the same exact idea that we had. Once we got up to the falls we had to weave our way through several different families. I should have known that my kids were going to want to romp around in the frigid water. Hello, their kids. I didn't think they'd want to stand under the falls and allow themselves to be pummeled by rapidly falling water!!! They did, and they had a great time doing it. Beckham felt comfortable just getting his feet wet. Much to my chagrin he was comfortable running down the mountain. I sounded like a Mama bear screaming after her cubs. After Beckham fell and rolled a few times down the trail, I insisted that the kids walk behind me so I could keep pace and therefore prevent anyone else from falling and rolling off the steep end.

Me and my Gaggle of children

You can't help but kiss those chubby cheeks!!!

Jaren pinning his award on my Mother's necklace

Hannah enjoying some of the water games.

Isabel blowing bubbles with the straws

Forget the straws, my fingers work just as well

See, you can't help but kiss her!!!

We didn't just celebrate the 4th of July on the 4th. We started on the 3rd and we were able to stretch it out for 3 days. This day we went to the Freedom Art Festival in Provo. Unfortunately I forgot to put in my memory card so there are no pictures of that fun event. It started off with lunch at Sensuous Sandwich. My children love this place. My friend Julie mentioned to me later on that day at Pack night that she saw me " with my gaggle of children". She yelled to me but of course I didn't hear her. I was in a hurry to keep myself on schedule. After lunch we headed back to Grandma Penny's work where we then proceeded to the crowded Art's Festival. That even never changes from year to year. My Favorite booth this year was on in which you could purchase earrings for just $2 bucks!!! Hello, they were cute too.
Grace was completely miserable. It was so hot and sticky. She was sweltering under the blanket when she was nursing and we ended up having to strip her down to just her shirt and diaper. Poor thing. The other children of course were miserable as well, and weren't afraid to share in their misery.
Later that evening at Pack Night Jaren received his Weblos award. My Mom got a hold of the camera and was a picture taking fool. She wanted to make sure that I got into some pictures. Thanks Mom.

Fnding Her Voice

This morning I laid in bed nursing Grace. When she was finished she turned over and started cooing to the air. I realized that the past few days Grace has been more vocal. Cooing to who ever will listen to her. As I sat and listened to her melodic voice a thought crept into my mind, "this baby will lose and find her voice several time throughout her life." She will lose it in the loudness of 6 children, and hopefully find it again in a quiet conversation with Mom or Dad. She will lose her voice in High School to friends filling it with wild and crazy voices. Then find it again when she makes a stand for something she believes in, something that her Dad and I taught her. I will lose her voice when she goes off to college and find it again only once in a while when she calls or visits. She most likely will lose it when she is married. Lost in the world of wifehood and motherhood. Hopefully finding her voice once again with the help of friends and the gospel. It wont be the same voice. It will be strong with experience, knowledge and love. Like all things lost and found again, she will cherish her new voice and work to keep it strong and changing.

Life. According to Twin #2

I introduced a wheel chore chart at the beginning of summer. It moves every Monday. Everyone gets a chance to do everything. This week it was Annika's turn to load the dishwasher. Of course there is always complaining at the beginning of a new week. Annika was quietly vocal about this task of hers. In her eyes it seems that the kids are the only ones doing anything around the house. All I do is watch them slave away and nurse Grace. While slouched over the sink she told me that her house would always be clean when she is a Mom.

Me: Oh really. Who is going to do all the cleaning?

Annika: My kids. Because they are going to be really good kids.

Me: That's right. Because you are a great kid.

I remember as a kid thinking those same thoughts. "I always do all the work" and "no one else helps". Little did I recognize my Mom in the background picking up all the things I never managed to quite get done. How do I know this? Because I am a Mom and I'm pretty sure we all do this same thing to one degree or another.

Spoiled Rotten

Primrose Retreat
The newly opened Spa in Spanish Fork

Haylee and Hannah.
BFF

Hannah has been begging me to do her hair like this.

Hannah's golden locks

Haylee actually got the updo and it looks gorgeous

I thought her hair was beautiful like this and should have stopped

Finally starting to warm up on the runway

I love this photo of Hannah in action

Hannah told me this was her favorite outfit

Swing that skirt

Our two spoiled rotten princesses

I loved this outfit on Haylee!!

Work it, Work it.
The girls loved posing for the camera.
Who wouldn't?

Haylee, the birthday girl!!!

For Haylee Huhtala's birthday she invited Hannah to go to the spa with her. For weeks, it was spa this and spa that. What is it again that I'm getting done at the spa? Then we had drama with softball games interfering and I felt terrible that we couldn't do it on the original day. We finally made it to the Spa on Monday. Amy being the most amazing friend ever invited me to come along as well. While the girls were getting their "pedis" and "manis", we were getting our toes buffed and polished. Amy also took us out to dinner. If there was one person that likes to spoil her kids and friends, that would be Amy. I don't feel worthy enough to have her as a friend and I am always so overwhelmed with her kindness and generosity.
Haylee and Hannah also got "Updos" , smoothies and cupcakes. After their hair was finsihed, which took forever. They both have a ton of hair. They got to dress up and walk up and down the runway. It was a Blast. The girls were a little timid and shy at first. Then they caught the catwalk fever!!! Head a bobbin, hips waggin, and hands posin. It was a great time!!!
And props to our wonderful husbands who stayed behind with the other kids.

Question Posed

This evening after all the kids were tucked in bed Isabel quietly crept back into my room. Normally I would shoo her back to bed. After all, a Mom needs some time to herself to wind down from a busy day being a referee. I stopped myself and calmly asked her what it was she needed. She asked me this question, " Mom, what is your favorite thing about being a Mom? " I sat for a moment and thought "oh gosh, where do I begin." That is such a broad question that involves so many things. Isabel answered the question for me, " I think you love to cook." I agreed with her, yes I love to cook meals for my children. The questions didn't stop there:

Isabel: What was your favorite thing to do as a Kid?

me: I loved going outside in the grass and looking up into the sky

Isabel: What was your favorite thing to do when you were Beckham's age?

me: I don't remember much when I was Beckham's age.

Isabel: I bet you liked to play with Barbies.

me: Yes, your probably right. I do remember liking to play with Barbies.

Isabel: When I'm a Mom I think my favorite thing to do will be to shop.

me: For grocheries or for clothes?

Isabel: Grocheries

Isabel: Ummm, I think my favorite thing to do when I am 10 is to have late overs.

The questioning stops. Or I thought it did. She came in one more time, " Mom, can we do something together tomorrow?" My sweet Isabel. I needed that reminder that inside her Hurricane of a personality there is the eye of the storm. Calm, clear, and awe inspiring.

Her questions got me thinking. What were some of my favorite things as a child? Watching my parents grow a garden. My Dad mowing the lawn and having to rake up all that grass. But also getting to jump in the huge pile afterwards. And regretting doing so. My body always itched from the freshly cut grass. I loved the smell of the fresh cut grass. That will always be one of my most favorite smells. Another of my favorite things to do was to ride my bike around Bro. Batty's house. Going to work at BYU concessions with my Mom. Smelling the hot dogs being cooked and always the pickles and onions that went along with them. Riding in a cardboard box down the steep grassy hill just outside the entrance. These are just a few of my favorite things, as a child.

Of course her question also got me thinking about what it is that I love about being a mother. What do I love about being a mother? The quiet that proceeds a long, busy, noisy summer day? Yes. But that almost makes it sound like I don't enjoy motherhood. I love it when my children work alongside me anywhere in the house. I love teaching them simple task that will get them through life. I love doing my girls' hair, even though this is one thing that they loath. I love holding my wiggly, jiggly, bouncy baby Grace. I love her smile when she sees me walk into the room. Grace looks past all my weaknesses and imperfections and sees me as the Savior would. I love hearing my children tell me that they missed me while they were gone. I love joking around and making my children smile because I am making a fool out of myself. These are a few of my favorite things, as a mother.