First Day of School

I was skeptical about our first morning of the new school year getting two kids out the door, but it went okay. We decided that we are going to start waking the boys up so we can read scriptures with James before he leaves for school at 6:30. In years past I have read to the kids as they eat breakfast, but we feel it's important enough to have James involved to wake them up now. I can't say they were excited to get out of bed that early, but they were compliant, and each took a turn reading. I think it is a great thing to make a habit. Talmage also got his piano practicing done before breakfast! Bryant was ready and waiting, Talmage was rushing around until the last minute, but we were all out the door by 8:15. (We did have to come back once we got to the stop sign because Talmage forgot his lunch.)
It was a beautiful morning for a walk. Talmage was ready to go. Bryant was obviously a little more nervous. When Bryant was in line to walk into class, he held up his hand and whispered under his breath, "love kiss." I had completely forgotten about our daily "love kiss" last year. The notion comes from a book his teacher read to him the first day of kindergarten about a little creature who was nervous to go to school, but found comfort in a kiss his mother would place in the palm of his hand where he could retrieve it whenever he felt he needed it. It was super sweet from my sweetheart of a boy.

After that, Sariah and I had some much needed, long awaited, one on one time. We colored pictures in her princess coloring book, read stories from the Friend, chose a family home evening lesson (it was her turn for the lesson tonight), and made bread. She'll eat as much raw dough as I'll let her have. When she gets the attention she needs, she's a very pleasant little lady. She watch Sesame Street with her clipboard so she could practice the letter of the day.
By 4 o'clock we were anxious to hear how the boys' first day had gone, but no boys. We decided to take some freezer pops (since it was over 90 degrees) and meet them on their way home. Well, we kept walking and walking expecting to see them around every bend, but still no boys. By the time we got to the school, the grounds were completely empty and my heart was pumping---partly from anxiety concerning the whereabouts of my boys, and partly from speed walking up the hill on a very hot day pushing a double stroller. When I got to the school, the lights were out. I managed to catch the principal and explain the situation. She suggested I call the mother of the boy with whom they walk home. Her son was home and he said he walked home with my boys. I called our house and after it rang and rang, a sobbing Talmage answered the phone. They were as panicked as I was. All I can figure is they walked in the front door right after we walked out the back door and we just missed each other. I felt like we all needed some cooling off, figuratively and literally, so for the first time I asked the neighbors if we could come swimming. It felt good. What a day!

Last Summer Saturday

After an extremely pleasant early morning bike ride, I had the gumption to take the kids on a last-day-of-summer-vacation excursion. We planned to make a first time visit to the farmer's market stopping off at yard sales on the way. The farmer's market was crowded enough that the double stroller wasn't such an easy ride. We came home with some mediocre corn. Talmage spent $5 at a yard sale for a box of beanie babies. He had spent several, several minutes of indecision at the table with his $5 budget, and then a young woman came over and cut him a deal. Was he a happy camper! Bryant on the other hand, didn't spend a penny but came home with pockets full of "beautiful rocks." Sariah took her purse of pennies, but didn't find the perfect purchase. However, she will spend this winter in a pair of snow boots that are pink, (unlike all her previous hand-me-downs) a steal for $1. They are even velcro, I'm thrilled, and flash with her every step, she's thrilled.

Perhaps the most noteworthy event of the day was the awakening of the Lincoln from its 3 year hibernation. James, with the help of a new found friend, took out the radiator so it can be rebuilt this week. It would sure be fun to have it running for football season. I wish I had taken a picture.

Talmage finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets today.

Hyrum is laughing easily and more often. We are all enthralled with his giggle.

Oh, What Do You Do In The Summertime?

We are relishing these last few days of summer vacation.

Last Friday, James and I (and Hyrum) borrowed my grandparent's two seater bicycle for date night. We took it down to the Columbia River and road the bike trail along the river at sunset. It was so much fun! Hyrum even fell asleep in James's arms.


Saturday, one of my teamates from high school talked me in to playing in a three on three basketball tournament. I was a little worried since I've played one competitive pick up game since Talmage was born, but it was a lot of fun and turned out as well as I could have hoped for. My mom came and took care of Hyrum so I could play. Once a mom, always a mom. I was a little sore on Sunday but not as bad as I expected.

Monday, Talmage helped me get ready for a surprise dinner for my Dad. He just completed his master's degree and we're proud of him for all of his hard work. A lot of the family is around before everyone heads back to school, so it was fun to be together. I wanted to get a picture with everyone together, but Hyrum was hungry as soon as the last plate was served so this is at least what the table looked like. Talmage ironed the napkins, made the napkin rings, and spread the confetti.

Yesterday, we went up to the school playground just because we had a free afternoon. What did we find? A puddle.

When we came home, we enjoyed the fresh bounty of summer. Sariah helped. Fresh sweet corn -- thanks Severin and Haley. Fresh peaches -- thanks Bendixsons. Fresh salsa -- thanks Kami.

Today we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the backyard. Talmage helped Hyrum to enjoy it too.

We Love Summer! Hope you've had a great summer too.

Before and After

I've always loved Before and After pictures. I remember babysitting at my aunt's house and enjoying the before and after pictures in her Good Housekeeping magazine.

I had a few before and after experiences yesterday.

I had my first "couponing" experience at Albertson's yesterday. It took nearly two hours, I had four kids with me, and I never did find some of the things I was looking for. (Honestly, the kids were troupers.) Nevertheless, my final receipt totaled $71.80 and read, "TODAY'S TOTAL SAVINGS $98.10." So, the total bill of $169.90 turned into $34.80 after the rewards card, coupons, rebates, and responding to a phone survey. Worth it? If I can trim the preparation time and shopping time, yes. $169.90 to 34.80 is a beautiful makeover.

My other BEFORE/AFTER experience is one I feel I face quite often. This is what I was up against at 9:30pm last night.


45 minutes later:
P.S. Bryant found another black widow outside this morning ---that's 3 in 24 hours.

New Signature

Sariah made a breakthrough today. She's been practicing her letters lately and has been doing very nice work. Today however, she started putting them together on her own and did a very fine job. James says she's ready for kindergarten.

James and I feel very blessed today. We have both had close encounters with black widow spiders. He nearly grabbed one in the shed at the seminary building. I nearly grabbed one blindly trying to turn on the propane to the fire pit. Freaky!

Taylor Family Reunion

We spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at Camp Zarahemla for the Taylor Family Reunion. We had a splendid time. We even got a chance to play board games by lantern light when the electricity went out.

Grandpa showed us how to blow GIANT bubbles.

Bryant joined in the big kid baseball game. I think his favorite part of the family reunion was his "home run."
We canoed with Grandpa Wells and Nicole Peterson.
The girls "played" chess.
Talmage played chess.
We stayed up late, slept late, and ate a lot of junk food.

The best part was the company. Like I said, we had a splendid time.

Moses Lake

One of our much anticipated and loved summer traditions--a day at the Moses Lake water park with the extended Taylor family. We love the water and the fried chicken! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Wells for treating us. And thanks Grandma Gibbons for the fried chicken!





Tomorrow we're off to Camp Zarahemla for the Taylor Family Reunion!

Sick Day

James took a sick day today to take care of me...and to have his ingrown toenail operated on. I am so grateful because I feel so rotten. I didn't think this was supposed to happen during the summer, but I got the sinus head cold raging.

This little face and the sweet little voice that comes from it has been my ray of sunshine today.


It's all I can do to keep from kissing those cheeks to keep my germs contained.

These are his precious little hands when he was more interested in the camera than smiling for me. Even with all the discomfort James has experienced today with his toe, SuperDad still took the kids to the Stake Picnic because they had been so looking forward to it. What a great man!

Cherries don't take sick days though, so I've had to take off a batch of fruit leather and put another on so I can use up the cherries before they spoil.

Cherries, cherries, and more cherries.

On the Fourth of July, James picked 15+ gallons of sweet cherries off my Dad's cherry tree. We reveled in the harvest and shared most of them with friends.

A few weeks later, we went with the Carroll family out to the Whitby cherry orchard in Basin City and picked about 20 more gallons.


Again, we ate and ate cherries, shared with friends, and I attempted to dry some. However, it was extremely time consuming to cut each cherry in half and pit it.

Last weekend, we got 240 lbs. of frozen, halved and pitted cherries from Uncle Ivan that were otherwise going to go to waste. Now---more cherries! I'm in the process of drying them and making fruit leather. Bryant would like to try cherry jam. It takes about 16 cups cherry puree to make a batch of fruit leather with the six trays that I have borrowed from Mom. As of now, it takes about 40 minutes to prepare a batch and 8 hours for it to dry. I think I've made it through nearly 20 lbs. of cherries.

As I've worked on cherries, I think I've come up with our Christmas present to our neighbors and home teaching and visiting teaching families. A gift basket containing cherry fruit leather, a small bag of trail mix containing dried cherries, cherry jam, and perhaps a small loaf of homemade bread. The tag may say something like, "One of the great blessings we've noticed this year is a bounteous sweet cherry harvest. Hope you have noticed many sweet blessings in your life this year..."

James left this morning for his summer inservice in Portland, headquarters for his new Oregon area. I miss his companionship. We spent the afternoon at Grandma Gibbon's pool. Sariah started to do underwater somersaults.

Talmage was practicing his multiplication tables this afternoon with Hyrum and had him laughing as hard as I've seen him laugh. I got a minute or two of it on video. Wish I would have used the digital camera and I could try my first video post.

My Princess

Today Sariah had a well child check. Dr. Dunlop said she is "thriving" and "a little taller and little more slender than average." I had to laugh to myself when the nurse asked if she can form complete sentences and use plurals. One of her favorite phrases lately is, "Let's talk" and she means it! After her doctor appointment, we went shopping for a new swimming suit. Her swimming suit mysteriously disappeared without a trace last week. I don't think we've ever been "shopping" together because she didn't know what a dressing room is. She tried on two suits and picked a modest, purple one. I hope "shopping" will always be so easy with her. When she got home, she put it on and wore it for the rest of the day including her nap and her turn conducting FHE.

Firsts

Today, Hyrum got in the pool for the FIRST time. We didn't plan on him "swimming," but it was so hot (around 102 degrees) that I couldn't let him just sit poolside and cook. His diaper was soon overloaded and so he ended up doing a little skinny dipping.


Sariah actually swam on her own for the FIRST time. She put on her Little Mermaid goggles and just started swimming back and forth to James from the steps of the pool. She was quite the little mermaid herself.


A FIRST for Bryant today was that he got out of the pool the FIRST time we asked him to. He has a strong affinity for water and that is a hard thing for him to do, but he did it.


Talmage completed his FIRST short story entry for the Library Summer Reading Program. He set his alarm for 6am so he could get an early start on it, and when I was leaving for the temple at about 6:15, he was writing away. (Unfortunately, he's had an unusual case of writer's block this week and the deadline was yesterday. ) We think he did a great job though.