Summer Recap

Here are a bunch of pictures of things we did and sweet moments that didn't get their own posts. We had a nice summer but it sure flew by!

Lucy started to draw people.  It's so neat to watch your own child go through the developmental stages you learn about in school.

We went to a BBQ where Sammy quite enjoyed the watermelon! Here he is practicing sticking out his tongue too - so cute! I kind of miss those curls although he looks a lot more kept now.

Where better to spend your summer than the park? We went to quite a few this summer. There is a splash pad there but it wasn't working :(  

At this one in Murray we all got to be spartans. Go Murray!

We mowed the lawn with our high-tech lawn mower - workout built in and guaranteed!

And cleaned up the sidewalk.  I don't know what it is about brooms but both of my kids love them.

Lucy dressed up Sammy.  Don't worry - it didn't stay on his head for long.

And Sammy helped Daddy fix things around the house.

While Spencer went to Youth Conference with the Young Men and Women, the kids and I went to Mt. Pleasant to visit my friend Hillary.  We played at parks and talked and talked.  We also took the kids to a museum in Fairview (happenin' town let me tell you :).  It was actually really cool and has a woolly mammoth skeleton (that picture didn't turn out :( ).  Here are 3 of her boys and Lucy with these funny stuffed old people.  Made me laugh! :)

The week before Pioneer Day, the floats are put in the South Town Expo Center where you can go see them and vote on them in air-conditioned bliss. This is the way to see the parade! We had a little picnic outside first and then went in.

Spencer tried to convince Lucy that this was her favorite float.

This was a really neat one too.  This kids loved this.  We will definitely be going again next year - in fact, our stake is doing a float next year! How cool is that!

I love this picture of the kids playing the piano after church one Sunday.  I love how they have started to play together more and more.

Here is Sammy doing one of his favorite things - playing in the sink.  We had to put towels all around him on the floor to soak up the water he spilled but man, did he love this!

Another fun park outing! This time at Liberty Park where the splash pad was definitely working!  This is one of the many reasons I love having a teacher as a husband! :)

At the end of August, we discovered Lowe's Build & Grow activities.  You sign up and then show up on a Saturday morning.  They give the kids a kit and then you help them build it. 

Lucy and I went together the first time and she built a school locker.  She was so proud of her project! Since then, we've taken Sammy and made a police car and firetruck.

Sammy 16 Months

Sammy is 16 months now, and has been for almost a month now ;).  It's been a busy month, so please excuse the lateness. So what is Sammy like at 16 months? Curious, Strong-willed, Happy.

He learned another 2 signs and now does "milk" for any drink, "food," "done," and "more."  Apparently signs work well for him with food - maybe because then he doesn't have to stop eating to do them?  He also has 3 words - "Mama," "No," and "Ball."  Ball sounds more like "Ba-" but he definitely means ball.

He has also learned to climb onto, and get into, even more places he shouldn't.  In the course of a week, he climbed into the bathroom sink, on top of the piano, onto the counter, pulled the garbage can that's up on a chair because of him, down on top of himself.  He pulled a kid chair over to the utensil drawer and found the largest knife we own (needless to say, that drawer is now childproofed), and went "treasure" hunting in the litter box.

Needless to say, there is rarely a dull moment with this child around!  Our house now looks a little different - the piano doesn't have a bench at it, the stools are not at the kitchen bar, the chairs are always tucked into the table, and the bathroom door stays shut!

We sure love this little man though.  He loves to snuggle and he says "mama" all the time.  He melts my heart.

Lucy 3 1/4 Years Old

Lucy is now 3 1/4 years old. 

She is at an age of extremes.  In the course of the past day, she has hit, kick, and been angry at me and also snuggled, kissed, and told me she loved me.  I thought this was they way she was supposed to be when she's a teenager? 

She can be the sweetest girl in the world - playing with her brother, holding your hand as you cross the street, and being a super big helper at home.  Or she can test and test and test you - doing exactly the opposite of what you've asked her to do.  At any rate, I love her despite the testing, and maybe because of it too.  She is helping me to become a more patient, loving parent and person, one tantrum (hers or mine!) at a time whether I want to become more patient and loving or not.  

It's so funny to hear the things she picks up.  Sometimes I wonder where she gets what she says and other times it's painfully obvious!  While playing with the cat the other day, she turned her head toward her and said, "look at me!" That'd be from me.  Another time she said, "stupid cat!" That'd be from Spencer.  Another time she turned to me and said, "Aurora Borealis." What a random word to come out of a 3 year old! That one'd be from Little Einsteins, her favorite show of the moment.  

Her other favorites include all the Toy Story movies, Dora, and Tangled.  We started doing Joy School the end of August and she loves it.  She is going to be so ready for school.  I taught it the past two weeks, and she really knows how to act and she loves to learn - you can just see it in her face.  She also started dance two weeks ago and is loving it.