Memorial Day Visit

Yesterday we headed to Riverside to see my sister in law who had just arrived from Utah for a visit, which meant we got to meet our newest nephew, 2 month old Miles. Oh my goodness, is he so cuddly and sweet! I even got to rock him while he took a little nap. A little baby asleep in your arms is the sweetest. Max and the kids also had fun playing in the spa and running around. It was a nice visit, getting to have the cousins together. I'm glad we'll get to see them again later in the week :) 

Must Be Summer

Swimming lessons have begun. 

End of 2nd Grade

First and last day of the 2015-2016 school year. Henry doesn't seem as drastically changed as Thea and Leo. Originally I was trying to just get a picture of Henry but when the other two saw him stand against the wall for a picture they lined up right next to him. Oh, now you all like taking pictures for me? 

We ended our year by going to a park play day for our charter school. They brought popsicles and cookies and the kids all played, and I even got some information from other homeschool moms about lessons, and groups etc. I'm not very good at making homeschool friends for the kids so I made a goal to at least make one today and I did! I remember being surprised about how nice the kids of all ages played together so well at the park day last year and that continues to be true. I love seeing the older kids helping and the younger kids following direction from them. Leo mostly hung out with me or Thea. A girl a little older than Thea took her under her wing and they played pretend puppies, while Henry shifted from one group of boys to another until he found a some siblings and their friends and played with them, then requested we all do another park day soon. A good end to the 'formal' homeschool year. 

A Golden Time

I was realizing today that we've hit a golden time in our family life. We're in our own home. Johann has a job close to the house that enables him to come home for lunch frequently. I'm able and want to stay home with the kids. When our kids aren't with us, they're with extended family, but mostly they're with us, and they still want it to be that way. They still want us to read to them, hold them, hug them, and tell us about their lives. There are also times they fight and drive us nuts. The house isn't as put together as I'd like it, and we can feel short on time, money, or sleep, but we worry about that stuff enough, and let it get in the way of realizing that all those times we talked about and dreamed of having our own little family within four walls, growing together-it's happening. For however long it can last, I am grateful.

Spring Break 16

Day 1: Ikea

Day 2: Sleep, Zootopia, catching up, Henry to piano and soccer, and mommy and Thea time.

Day 3:Donuts and the Natural History Museum

 sorry Johann, it was the best one of the kids. 

(Gone with the Wind dress they randomly have. I was so excited!)

Leo's first trip the NHM

 His second trip, just under two years later. 

 My favorite part, learning about the desert tortoise. Also learned squirrels are not native but were brought as pets, and possums were brought as food. mmm. 

Day 4: Pasadena's huge fancy park and the Huntington Library 

 Henry carrying around Johann's binoculars, not a purse. He's quirky, but not that quirky.

Remember this cute picture from a year or so ago? We thought we'd give it another try...

...

 ...

 ...

 Yeah, didn't happen.

Day 5: Checking out trails in Yucaipa, lunch at the park and the downtown Yucaipa antique shops.

 In this area we saw an owl and hawk fighting it out over territory. It was pretty intense, especially to see an owl during the day. The owl won. 

Weekend: Conference, and resting before heading back to day to day life.

It looks like Elder Oaks doesn't think Thea's Capt America costume and cowboy hat are a good match.

One afternoon I came out from changing Leo to find Henry and Thea taking the whole lunch making business into their own hands. I love they felt they needed aprons for using the microwave. 

Why didn't anyone tell me?

I have a hard time finding contemporary LDS artists that I really like. Why didn't anyone tell me about J. Kirk Richards?  I went to an RS activity last night and saw some small prints in the hostess' home, and had her tell me about them, and who did them. I'm so excited! The only problem is gathering a few thousand dollars so I can actually get one of his originals.


A few I really like

So for anyone holding out on other not quite as well known LDS artists, share!