Tough Love

It's 4:30 am and I'm not suffering from insomnia. The time has come for little Hyrum to learn to go to sleep on his own. Oh, how I dislike this process. It's been 40 minutes, and no sign of relief.

Most people say that Hyrum looks just like Bryant. I'm afraid, he sleeps like Bryant too. I'm determined to change that sooner than later. Bryant finally started to go to bed well and sleep through the night when he went to kindergarten. We're not going to do that again. Extra love and cuddles for Hyrum today.

Check!

I have wanted to check this one off the to-do list for a couple of years. I decided since we're expecting several visitors during the next few weeks during pumpkin sales, the time was now. I forgot to take a picture before we started, but this picture gives you the idea of our door "before," in a shade of purple I have never been fond of. At least not for our front door.

After a Saturday's morning work, ta-da:

So much better. Thank you, James. You can also see we made our first trip out for our first load of pumpkins. So fun! It's always exciting to start the harvest after months of watching them grow.

We also saw some beautiful girls yesterday. One was my good friend from high school, Elena, on her wedding day. I've never been to a Catholic service before and James and I were honored to be invited to her special occasion.

The second beautiful girl we saw was my sister. Sariah and I love to go see my sisters when they get dressed up for formal dances. Laryn, you are beautiful!

Happy Harvest

I hate to say good-bye to summer. My one consolation is next comes the season of harvest. I love harvest time! I love the crisp mornings, and cool evenings. I love that my flowers gain a second wind after the scorching heat. I love to see the fruits of 6 months of labor.

This will be the fourth year our family has raised pumpkins. I guess the first year, grandpa raised them, and we enjoyed his work. Since then, we have used grandpa's farm to help our children learn the value of work, the law of the harvest, and that you reap what you sow. It has been a wonderful experience. We grow several different varieties of pumpkins (technically squash) in all sorts of colors, shapes, and sizes.

We also grow gorgeous gourds! See for yourself.

Last year I started putting together decorative baskets, and I had so much fun! I finished my first one today and I am toying with the idea of trying to sell them this year. In the past, every penny the pumpkins have earned has belonged to the kids, a little to spend, a lot to save. I want this to remain their project, so I'm trying to figure out how best to combine our efforts.

What do you think? Would you buy it? How much?

Birthday Boy

Today James turns 32. It is amazing to me the man he has become in 32 short years. He is kind, thoughtful, talented, hard-working, funny, pensive, insightful, intelligent, service oriented, and diligent just to name a few qualities off the top of my head. I don't know how I got so blessed but I am forever grateful. I couldn't have picked a more wonderful husband or father, or companion.

Sariah has been as excited about this birthday as anyone. She has been talking balloons, banners, and birthday cakes for days now. Last night she hid his present in the dryer. In her words, "he never looks in there." (If she only knew how often he does the folding of the clothes after she goes to sleep at night.) Today, she helped me bake the cake, and take a birthday lunch to Dad at the seminary building. As he examined his wrapped present, James rhetorically asked, "What could it be?" Sariah exclaimed, "Shoes!" What's not to love about that little girl?

This evening, a friend invited us over for dinner. She cooks the most delicious Cafe Rio, our favorite Utah restaurant. It was perfect timing for a perfect birthday treat. We probably wouldn't have been able to go out on a school night, but this little "party" made it feel like we celebrated.

Yesterday, Talmage was elected a class representative to serve on the student council. About 1/2 hour before we were to leave for school, he announced he needed a speech. Somehow, we put something together. His closing line went like this: "Cock-a-doodle-dee, vote for me. Cock-a-doodle-doo, I'll serve you." He was pretty excited.

Last Saturday we spent the day out at Grandpa's farm. He is putting in his Field of Dreams north of the house. James was able to help him get the solid set in and running by the end of the day. It was good for everyone to be out in the open air and dirt. Even Hyrum had dirty toes.

Too Sentimental

I'll admit, I'm a little on the sentimental side. However, my kids went overboard on sentimentality tonight. If you were driving down our street at about 7:15 this evening you would have seen an 8-year-old and a 6-year-old running with outstretched arms, wailing, "NO, NO, NO!" What we're they in pursuit of? Our used refrigerator just sold off of craigslist. You would have also seen a very embarrassed and stern mother following shortly behind. It was ridiculous.

At the library today, I was reminded by the good women of the Kennewick Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution that today is the anniversary of Constitution of the United States of America. As I read some of the words of the founding fathers today, I was awestruck again by their sense of freedom, liberty, and righteousness. We would all be better people by studying their lives and following their examples.

Thomas Jefferson said, "On every question of construction, [let us] carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed."

God Bless America.

Fish, Radiator, and a New Baby

Everyone in the family had something to be excited about today.

Since James killed Dorothy (our goldfish) while he was dry-walling two years ago, our fish tank has been in the garage. Now that the boys have a dresser there is a place for a fish tank again. Talmage chose an albino-looking, cave-dwelling fish whose eyes have been grown over by scales. He told me the name, but I've forgotten. Bryant chose a jet-black bubble-eyed fish. Sariah chose two tiny zebra fish. Tonight is their first night in their new home. The kids are thrilled with their little pets.

James got word today that the Lincoln's radiator has been rebuilt. Another project but one with very fun results. James loves projects.

I waited all day long for the delivery of our new baby. She arrived at 7:04 pm. Her name is Yamaha.


I'm so excited! We have been saving and looking for a piano for many years, and when a friend told me about this one on Saturday, I had a feeling this was it. I actually had high school graduation gift money, and wedding gift money, that I had saved for this. I'm so happy it got here in good condition and look forward to a lifetime together. Now I'm trying to choose a color to paint our piano room.

All Dressed Up

Sariah had me help her put her princess dress on, the rest was a surprise.
I spent most of the day digging myself out of dishes, clutter, and laundry that has accumulated over the last couple days as I've set housework aside to compile "The Amazing Race" for a youth activity. I literally spent hours trying to pull it all together. I came to a realization. I know why it is in the church that the women get left with a lot of the planning and details of the functions that take place. Here it is: If the men did their jobs like the women do their jobs on the days when activities are coming together, the men would get fired. Nobody is going to fire a woman from being a homemaker. Thus, we just let the home wreck as we set our duties aside to focus on the activity at hand, and try and make up for lost ground when the activity is over. Anyway, the dishes are done tonight for the first time in a couple days.

We continue to enjoy our walks to school on these most pleasant mornings.
Sariah, Hyrum, and I eat our lunch outside every day to get the most out of these lovely, last days of summer.

Labor Day

For the last 5 summers we've invited our neighbors over for a neighborhood BBQ. It has been an amazing experience to see our neighborhood grow in friendship from this simple act. Tonight was the night this year. We came together as "old friends" without any awkwardness or discomfort. We enjoyed it, and I think everyone else did as well.

James and the kids spent most of the day digging a hole in preparation for pouring a concrete pad on which to build a shed. I made over a chair I got at a yard sale last week to add to our "outdoor living space" which we have been working on, and enjoying, over the summer. (I'm bummed I forgot to take a "before" picture.)It was a cooler day, but very pleasant. We were glad to spend most of it outside.

Sariah has learned to pump in the swing. Yeah!

First Tooth

It seems like a very long time since I've slept three consecutive hours. Hyrum is getting his first tooth. He's not really cranky or uncomfortable, so I'm really hoping the tooth is the reason for the lack of sleep and not just bad habits.

Sariah got a package in the mail today from Grandma Hales. She was so excited. I haven't figured out how to rotate the video 90 degrees clockwise, so if you would please rotate your head 90 degrees counterclockwise.



When James informed me I needed to rotate the camera, Sariah had the giggles.

In the background you can hear Grandpa Hales's bedtime monkey stories.

Bryant had his first piano lesson today. He did very well.