Sick On Sunday

September 2013

Aubrey had a fever on Friday night and not feeling 100% on Saturday.  I made plans to get a sub for my nursery class and let the Primary president know.  I arranged for the other three kids to get a ride from my parents.  Aubrey called her Primary teacher and let her know she wouldn't be there.  (She knew Sister Winfrey would give her lots of love over the phone.) 

Sunday morning Aubrey woke up just fine: no fever, no cough.  We could have gone to church, but it seemed a little awkward and complicated after all of the arrangements had been made!  We sent the other kids on their way, and Aubrey took matters into her own hands.  She got dressed in this lovely "church?" outfit, and we had Primary.  It was adorable. 




When I came into the family room, both couches were set up with scriptures and hymn books. 
 

Here she is setting up the Primary room.  She got dressed in her ballet costume, a sweater and my church shoes.  Love this little girl.

She LOVES to lead, and we sang quite a few songs!

I guess women's shoes made her an official Primary leader?!  We moved from one room to the next for class and then sharing time.

When I opted out, Aubrey once again took matters into her own hands and gathered her babies and continued to sing and teach.  She is using the IPAD to play songs from The Children's Songbook. 


We were sad to miss church but we had a wonderful morning thanks to Aubrey's creativity.  



School Shopping with Grandpa

August 2013
Shopping with Grandpa

My dad has a tradition which we all love.  He will take the grand kids school supply shopping.  The kids love having time with Grandpa.  He lets them pick their own backpack, lunch box, binders,  tennis shoes etc....  (It would be much less fun with me because I would have an opinion too.  Too expensive, too bulky, you might want to consider _____________.)  Grandpa just lets them pick.  I, on the other hand, love that with all of the expenses of a new school year, we aren't out another $400 on school supplies. 

The boys always seem to come home with crazy expensive backpacks that will hold your IPod and laptop and probably keep your food refrigerated.  A backpack any college student would love, I'm sure.   They don't need any of those extra pockets and gadgets, but they apparently appreciate them.  The girls come home with whatever looks cute.  This year Aubrey zoned in on the light purple...from her shoes, to her lunch box to her backpack.  Bryn chose a cute plaid backpack, but then thought she might want to take it back and get an over the shoulder bag for Jr. High.  They love going with Grandpa to make all of these big decisions.  As they use their supplies all year, they remember the fun adventure as well.  At the end of their afternoon of shopping, Grandpa treated them to dinner at Chick Fil A.  Thanks Grandpa!!


The kids were out front on the swing anxiously awaiting Grandpa's arrival.
 

   

Bryn showing me her new stuff.

Neon Green is the thing this year.



Tan was excited for his new florescent green socks.

Oh ya!  Happy new school year!  A big thank you Gramp!

 

 

Summer Fun!

July-Aug 2013

Summer Fun!!

Our summer started out more slowly because the first three weeks were spent in Utah. Apparently lots of things are scheduled for the first three weeks in June because we missed Girls Camp, Cub Scout Day Camp, G.T. Camp and more.  Once home, we enjoyed getting more settled in our new home.  (We had only been there three weeks when summer started and we left for three weeks!)  We spent lots of time with King cousins and Bird cousins.  We didn't sell Popsicles this year to the construction workers.(see last year's Popsicle blog post here)  The kids entrepreneurial spirit did shine through with a couple of lemonade stands though.   I enjoyed Zumba at church each Tuesday and Thursday morning while the kids played with the preschool children there.  Bryn enjoyed drama and theory camp.  Tanner, Aubrey and Parker participated in a basketball camp.  All in all, it flew by too quickly.  I was not ready for school to start this year.

Aubrey learned to ride her bike without training wheels!!

 





Swimming with the Birds!

Benja, Charity and Danielle. 

Taco Villa Mondays.  Every Monday my dad goes to Taco Villa.  He has for years.  Now that he is retired and usually only in town on Sunday/Monday random family members join him each week.  All are welcome.  The kids LOVE to go.  We actually only went a couple of times this summer....but pretty fun.
 



The boys had a lemonade stand in July and made $80.  Parker and Tanner were ready to set up shop the very next day.  I had to direct their attention to other activities! Ha, ha.  The girls had one a month later and made $40. (I guess the boys were cuter?!)  I love that they learn to run a little business.  They pay for the supplies.  They pay tithing and put some in savings.  They get to set up, clean up, talk to customers and have fun together. 



I also love that they can set up on the corner, and I can see them from our kitchen windows.



Tan loved demolishing this door so it could fit in the dumpster out back.

This may not look like fun but the boys love it because they earn some spending money.  Isn't Tanner adorable.  So strong and capable!  He and Parker are huge helps with the yard.



Back to school physicals.  Bryn sporting her lovely gown. 

 

Ouch!

August 2013

Ouch!

About a week before school started, Parker, Tanner and Aaron M. were playing outside.  They got the lovely idea to jump off the roof of the playhouse.  The playhouse roof is the same height as our house roof.  Not their brightest decision, but apparently that is just what crazy boys sometimes do. 

When Tanner jumped, his knee hit his face.  I had the unfortunate experience to look out the laundry room window just as he was flying through the air.  Luckily he got off with a badly bruised cheek bone. 


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Hopefully all of the attention he received from his battle wound will be outweighed by the pain....

We were actually planning on selling this lovely structure which came with the house because the kids don't use it much.  The backyard is not really large, and we (me and the kids--Bri's not so sure) want to get a trampoline.  The next week we listed it on Craig's list for $150 and it is gone.  So long little tree house.  You were fun while we had you.

One Sunday at church the Primary president had to come get me because Tanner's scab got torn off and there was blood everywhere.  A kid in his class purposefully pushed Tanner into a chair and then closed the chair on his head.  It was not a pretty sight!  Tanner is. tough though.  (and again...lots of attention that day at church, ha!)

Aspen Grove Family Pictures

Family Pictures

The last day of Aspen Grove we snapped these pictures.  I think especially because we are living in West Texas in the middle of a drought,  we really appreciated the beautiful nature and cool mountain environment.

Lakehouse Trip

July 25, 2013

Lake Brownwood

 

We haven't been to the lake in a summer or two because of the ongoing drought.  However, there was enough rain in the Brownwood area to warrant a trip.  The boat can even rest in the dock this summer because the water level is actually high enough, which is convenient.

Lucky for us (but not for them), Angelique and group went a few weeks before us.  They walked into a trashed lake house.  Apparently some teenage kids had a party or two in the unoccupied house.  This happened a couple of years ago as well.  Grrrrr.   Ang and group spent several hours cleaning up the place:  broken glass,  trash, filthy bedding etc....  It was lucky for us because the place was  cleaner than ever before when we walked in: no bugs, not dirt in the corners, no weird lake house smell.  (Thanks Angelique, Joseph and friends!)

Tanner driving the boat.  Everyone got a turn and thought it was pretty awesome.

The kids did lots of tubing and water skiing.  Aubrey was even able to ski on a practice board.  Bryn, Park and Tan were able to water ski for the first time.



Brian and kids were on the boat until the last bit of sun went down each evening. (I spent about three or four ours on the boat and called it good.  Usually Aubrey came inside with me.  We got the food ready, read books together and separately, and enjoyed  relaxing.)




They wanted smiley face tans!




Parker skiing.  We have lots of pictures of all the kids doing this.  Since they aren't the most clear shots, I'll just post this one.

Poor Parker

July 2013

Parker needed four permanent teeth pulled to have room in his mouth.  We waited until after a trip to the Lake house and then took him in.  He was very nervous but did great. 

 

This is when he was still on the nitrous oxide. (laughing gas)

 

He looked different for several hours because his entire mouth was numb.  He would smile but he pretty much looked just like this....kind of funny.

They let him take the teeth home, and we were all amazed with how HUGE they were.  He was happy that one of Aubrey's friends insisted the tooth fairy visit.  I was kind of thinking the tooth fairy might be broke after the $600+ procedure...but hey, she apparently was not because she came that very night.