Wal-mart and such . . .

After having run 2 hours of errands, the girls were a little antsy so I said, "Don't worry, only one more store after this. If you're good, I'll get you a Lunchable at Wal-mart." Emory gets her infamous thoughtful look and says in her best TV announcer's voice, "Save money, live better . . . Wal-mart." I had to pull over I was laughing/crying so hard!
We had just finished saying the prayer over dinner and everyone was taking the first bites of their food, when Tessa leans over to me and says, "So momma, how you doin'?" It was so adult and cute of her, she'd taken it upon herself to start up a little dinner conversation.
My mom bought a couple of Halloween books for the girls, and when she showed them to Tessa she said, "What the HECK!?!?"

My bad day started like this . . .

Tessa decided to fry me up for breakfast, not the boring old cold cereal we actually had planned.
She looks all too happy about it!

School

Emory has started her last year of pre-school! Wow, I really can't believe it has come to this. Next year, where ever we may be, she'll start Kindergarten and she couldn't be more excited. All I hear is "When I start Kindergarten . . ." She's a reading champ! Reading is her #1 preferred activity. I can't stop her. We've even started some chapter books, and I catch her with the books in a corner, reading ahead! She also started a musical theatre program, which is so up her alley. It's singing, dancing, and acting . . . what more could a girl ask for.
Tessa is growing up entirely too quickly. She wants to do everything that Em does. She was devastated when she didn't start school and when she realized she wasn't invited to the dance class. I've had to start saying, "When you turn 2 you can do things like Em." I've put off potty training for awhile now, only because diapers are so convenient. She's totally ready, and I'll hunker down and do it after her birthday in a couple weeks.
Cory is having the experience of a lifetime, using public transit to get around Cleveland, Ohio. We talk all day long and miss him terribly. Tessa likes to emphasize the fact that he's gone by saying, "I want daddy's help, not yours!"
I am so sad that the nights are getting closer to freezing, because then I won't be able to walk out to the garden, pick a tomato and make myself a BLT for lunch each day. Young Women's keeps me busy and we're looking forward to all the autumn time fun that's coming up these next few months.
Water Fountain at Gateway.Labor Day at Cascade Springs.

Engagement Revisited

This is our favorite engagement picture, taken almost 7 years ago.Here is the updated version from our photo session with this talented lady this summer.The ironic thing about it is that this nice guy from my ward framed our engagement picture as a wedding gift way back then, and said that he thought the picture was all that marriage was a about. Not always smiles and posed, but comforting, supportive and love present.
Here are some of the other favorites:I'm super excited because the photographer came and asked me if the girls would model for her next week! It's reassuring to find out the other people think my "little people" are as cute as I think they are.

Chopsticks

Piano has begun! I'm so glad that I decided to start teaching again. I find so much joy in the 30 minutes I spend these kids each week. I have 7 students, all of which live in my ward. They range from brand new Beginner to Late Elementary. I'm looking forward to some really fun group lessons and Recitals!
Last week, we had a Primary Talent show. A few of my students performed and did fantastic. The icing on the cake was Emory's rendition of "I Know You".
She had so many compliments and really sang it out. Tessa was sad she didn't get to sing, so at the end of the program, she ran up and busted out "A Dream is a Wish". Silly me, I didn't start recording till she was almost done, but she got quite a round of applause.
On a very big side note, our Cory is home! We've been gobbling up every last second with him. The only reason I'm posting this right now is because he and Tessa are taking a nap together, so sweet! We've been to Logan, taken walks to the park, gone to the gym, saw the Witches at Gardiner Village, and BBQ-ed steaks and roasted marshmallows. Oh what fun, and how the heck am I going to make it the next 5 weeks without him?!?

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Tessa: Mom, I go to Preschool like Emmy?
Me: Nope, sorry.
Tessa: Oh Man! No Fair!
(She's not even 2 yet!!!)

Emory: I can get in the pool 'cause there's a DULT in now.
Grandma: A what?
Emory: A dult.
(The pool rules include "No getting into the pool unless there's an Adult.")

Emory: I want to be Bu for Halloween.
Me: Who?
Emory: Bu! You know, the monkey on Aladdin!
Me: His name is Abu, he's not "a Bu".
Emory: This "a" stuff is confusing.

Tessa: Mommy I get your boogie?
(A least my kids are lookin' out for me!)PS Emory has decided what she's going to be for Halloween. Tessa is flip-flopping between Tinkerbell, Harry Potter, and Jasmine.

Cousin's Party

Emory has begged me all summer long to invite her 2nd cousin Hannah over to swim, so we decided to invited the whole Radford/Snyder/Smead clan over. We had tons of fun tie dying shirts, swimming, eating, and chatting while our kids ravaged that yard. Thanks for coming guys, we look forward to the next Cousin's Party!

Emory, Hannah, and Tessa (who keeps wondering "where baby D go?")Amanda (my cousin's wife), Austin, me, and Ade.Some childrens jumped in and a couple in the background. Hannah's so funny she always asks how I'm related to her. I told her I'm her 1st cousin once removed but she didn't buy it!The finished product: Take one. Emory was being obstinant and Tessa was . . . well a "butterfly".

Take two: My sweet obedient Tessa smiling and looking great, while Emory pouts off to the right. Whatever!

Girl's Camp

Who new that someone who was in Young Women's not to long ago could actually pull of a Girl's Camp?! That was something I thought hourly for the 7 months I prepared for it. I was so glad after we finally got up there, it was just relief to be doing what we'd talked about for months. I had lots of help from great leaders, an assistant, and our cook. I should have took pictures of everything I did, so I can remember it and use it another time in a different ward - but I was always running around and doing something! Here are the pictures I took though.

I did the t-shirt's which came with a little headscarf filled with goodies like pirate tattoos, a skull bracelet, a jolly roger lanyard, and eye patch that we decorated with rhinestones. I also did the crafts, which consisted of the Plundered Pirate Pendant, the Fancy High-Falutin' Frame, Hair Wrapping, and Treasure Toes. We also tied a Pirate baby blanket for our missing leader who had a baby the day we went up to camp!

We had some great Priesthood Chaperones, but these guys were by far our favorites! Rex, the one growling at the lamp, is the coolest cowboy you've ever met!We hiked around it Box Lake. We also swam in it both days. It was cold and kind of yucky, but the girls loved it and swam across it twice. Some of my favorite Laurels that grew up too fast!A couple of us did an awe inspiring Pirate Skit inspired by this. Our sweet YW President gave the best firesides each night, and we had a great testimony meeting on our last night. My dad even got to come up and chaperone that night. My mom made delicious cinnamon rolls for our last morning and helped drive girls home. It was a team effort and I'd even venture to say it was great! Not too much drama and the girls had fun. Job well done ladies!

Our Beehives: all 14 of them.Add 5 more girls and the leaders and that was all of us!