Surprise! Happy Birthday Lindsey!

We went to do Relief Society Visits, and our president was adamant that we be back by 3pm because we needed to spend time with our families.  She was bringing me home and was coming in to pick up her stuff that was leftover from the BYU party the night before.  Walking into the garage, I wondered why there was a trash bag on the window of the door.  Surprise!!!! 

Yes - very good surprise!  It was a fun afternoon, and I felt very spoiled indeed!  Thanks to all who came or tried to come or would have come if you were invited.  :) 

And, if you notice the confetti on the floor, it has taken MONTHS to clean up... :)

JRCLS Football Party

Andy is the current JRCLS President at the University of Akron.  This is our 3rd BBQ with all the Cleveland area members.  We eat, watch the opening BYU football game, chat, and sweat - it was the HOTTEST day of the summer!!! 

In my opinion, last year was more fun and relaxing because the weather was more typical Ohio...so more people stayed longer, the game seemed more exciting , etc.  We still had a great time and Andy was glad to have our garage cleaned out, the shed up, and the yard looking pretty! 

First Day of School

It's that time of year again!  I think the kids were more ready to go back to school than I was to let them!  We had such a busy summer of traveling and visiting that we never got into a good summer-playing routine.  Alas, cute kids must go learn much!

Emily - preschool.  She returns to beloved Miss Brenda and Miss Stacie

Annie - First grade already!

Ben - a big Third grader who thinks pictures on the first day of school aren't so cool...

Our morning walk to the bus stop.  For the first month, Annie and Emily would hold hands most days walking to the bus...so sweet!  Mitchell loves all these walks; I'm sure he'll love them even more when I let him start walking too!  He was keeping us very entertained with his screaming singing!  We've had neighbors across the street that the kids would occasionally play with and we'd sometimes talk to the mom.  However, bus-stop waiting has blossomed our friendship!  Love our neighbors!!!  She has been a huge encourager with my running, the kids love her little girls, and the husbands get along too!  Thank goodness for the Mays!

Mitchell and Emily have alone time since Emily attends preschool in the afternoon this year.

Oh, yes, she is pretty COOL!  Look at that swagger!  These are her sweet bus drivers that we just love.  They are so very patient when we are late and always have a smile.

Our Favorite Summer Activity

Oh, there is this marvelous little area of berry patches, where you pick (and taste) warm completely vine-ripened berries!  Last year we did blueberries, but this year we missed those and SCORED on the blackberries!  They were huge, juicy and just beautiful! 

It was amazing to me to see the difference in the kids that one more year makes.  They did a much better job picking (mostly) ripe berries, not complaining about the heat, and just enjoying the picking.  However, I think they have a little bit too much of their mother in them... "Just a few more!" 

We introduced Cambri and Megan to the joys of berry-picking!  Sadie and Mitchell were locked in strollers clearly enjoying the fruits of our labors!  They didn't lack for big kids willing to feed their little mouths! 

Uncle Roy and Almost-Tia Christina

We got a call saying Roy had some time off and he and his recently-asked fiance were coming to visit!

We had a great time playing around the house, swinging, doing hair, and just chilling.

Saturday Ben was in heaven...we went fishing!  He was having great luck with Roy's bait and caught over 10 fish!  Annie also caught some fish and was thrilled!  Andy and Roy didn't fair quite as well...  We took snacks and just hung out at the little pond by our local park.  It was an absolutely gorgeous August day in Ohio!  Then we headed to Chili's for dinner before doing a fire for desserts.

Cute, tired, dirty kiddos...

This little girl is such a ham!  We love her to pieces!

We taught Roy and almost-tia Christina (we have another Aunt Christina, so the fact that this Christina speaks Spanish is a huge plus for the kids to identify names!) the blessed joy of doing dough-boys!

But first, during dinner....Christina asked Annie and Emily if they would be flower girls for their wedding.  The joy on Emily's face!!!!  (Annie's too, but Emily has been asking and asking and asking and asking if I knew anyone who was getting married and could she PLEASE be a Flower Girl????  This has been an almost year-long pleading...) 

Then, Roy asked Ben if he would be a ring-bearer.  Ben's face got all scrunched up.  "I can't."  We asked why not.  "I can't find my tie anywhere!  I've looked and looked, but it's lost."  It was such a sweet sincere comment.  After we assured him that he would not be wearing the tie he had lost, he was also happy to be included.

This little guy..has for 4 months now had a complete obsession with the trash...no, he's not in the wedding, just in case you were wondering!

Christina had the joy of reading to 3 sweet and wiggly children.  Ben and Annie and Emily love Uncle Roy for many reasons, but probably most of all...he shares his DS...and his phone!