May 2017

We got a piano!

It was an adventure to get it though. An online auction had just the right piano for us (happily, it ended up being a former piano of our piano teacher, so we knew it was a good one!)

I got a little excited about 'winning' the auction, so I may have inadvertently outbid myself at the last moment. So I payed a few extra dollars, but it was totally worth it in the end.

We fixed up our guest room! It wasn't in time for Aunt Kelsey (Sorry!) but Grammy came and got to enjoy the splendor!

Grammy got to see Sock's 4th Grade play, "The Pied Piper"

 Socks played the mayor and had a small solo. It was so fun to watch!

We also got to celebrate Grammy's Birthday with her!

Our days were filled with the usual chaos.

Hair-dos.

Lego-ing. (The iron rod and the Tree of life!)

Dentist visits (like a pro!)

Orchestra concerts

And Haircuts!

Socks loves keeping his hair long. "I just don't like short hair because I like how it feels when I run my fingers through it long." But we reached maximum capacity

ENTER... the $10 haircuts.

Grapes dared the boys to go VERY short for summer. She offered them $10 each!

Of course they took her up on it. (I don't think she thought they would!)

One Sunday, late in May, the kids complained that they were bored. So I told them to make a cake, not thinking they would.

But they did!

And it was also May-May's birthday, so we decorated accordingly and sent her a photo.

Then we ate it.

September

I like to think of myself as wordy. An author in embryo.

And yet....

 when I sit down to write of our adventures and escapades, 

I come up with a pile of pictures and not much to say. 

These kids are growing!

My job is evolving and I'm actually manage to keep up a little.

Or so I like to tell myself.

Fourth grade and this one-- Socks has officially graduated to surly pre-teendom.

he's NOT what I call wordy, and sometimes

 getting him to talk to me is my biggest challenge of the day.

Pow-Pow (AKA Pencil) is suddenly comfortable in the 'big-kid' category.

 He's reading up a storm and developing quite a sense of humor. 

Cue the punny jokes!

Grapes is still wont to be photographed - a shame because she's turning out to be a pretty girl-

But she is continuing to develop her artsy and musical talents.  (note my sweet hair-do here!)

But here she is enjoying her straight hair.

And Feta the Little Girl (DON'T call her a baby!)

is keeping me busy. She turned 2 in September. 

She has since OWNED the title of terrible two, if in attitude only.

She loves babies (this is our friend's baby, S. She can't get enough of him. Holding and kissing and patting rather roughly with a sweet "good boy" in his ear)

She loves being outside. Especially with Pow Pow.

She has a mighty independent streak. 

"I hewp my-SEWF" is our new theme.

She speaks so well that usually I know exactly what she is thinking-

but on occasion, her idea of communication  isn't the same as mine. 

THAT is when the fireworks happen.

September was also our family trip to Phoenix to meet up with Grandma and Grandpa for a fun weekend and a BYU-U of A football game!

We visited the Lego Adventure and Sea World Aquarium areas.

We stayed at a hotel very near the football stadium and enjoyed time with Grandma and Grandpa.

As my kids age, I am convinced that we will never get enough time with extended family.

I was spoiled as a child to have SO many dear ones so close.

My monkeys especially loved the time we spent with the grandparents at our house before heading to the valley. We upheld a new tradition to make homemade root-beer with them.

Homemade root-beer is always fun, but especially so because it is done with Grandpa.

A fiesta of sorts

Happy Birthday, Socks!

We had a Lego Movie Birthday Party. He invited two of his good buddies, and his brother. 

("Thanks for inviting me!!" Pencil said. Someday he'll learn that brothers get a default invite, but this year he was honored and elated, so I let it slide)

Legos are awesome

Lego guys + carpet stairs = awesome fun