8 Months

Our little Sara is now 8 months old.  She captivates my heart and the hearts of all our family.  I love her crooked smile and scrunched up eyes.  We don't see her pout so often anymore as she is usually found smiling.  Some highlights of this sweet girl include:

 

*She babbles ALL THE TIME!  She is really loud too.  I often have to leave Relief Society because she is so loud.  Whenever she hears music she "sings" along.

 

*When I am sitting on the floor she will come over and pull herself to a standing position.

 

*She says "mama" now!  It melts my heart when she says this because she is my first child to ever say mama as her first word. 

 

*I often find her in the kitchen trying to eat Scout's food.

 

*Her favorite toys are Scout's toys.

 

*She waves at people with little "clam hands." 

 

*She likes to give high 5's.

 

How very blessed I am to be Sara's mom.  My love for her grows even faster than she does.

 

 

Fishing with the Family

Yesterday morning we headed out with the kids to a State Park close by to go fishing.  Joel had taken the boys here a couple weeks ago and thought it would be fun family activity.  The kids were so excited that they were all up and helping each other get ready by 6:30 in the morning.  It is a beautiful park with so much to do.  The hangar for the Goodyear blimp was across the lake and we were able to watch the blimp practice taking off and landing while we were there.  There is a fun playground and lots of grassy areas to play in.  We didn't come home with any fish but we came home with memories of a morning spent together.

Happy Birthday Spring!

Spring is now in double digits and she couldn't be more excited about it!  With it being an "even" birthday she had her friend party in addition to our family party this year.  She decided to have her 3 best friends over for pizza, then we went swimming for a couple hours, and home for ice cream sundaes.  The girls giggled, played, giggled, swam, giggled, talked, and giggled some more.  I love her friends.  I love that she has great girls for friends.  I love that they all discovered, somewhat timidly at first, that they all like to watch the cartoons, "Sophia the First" and "Littlest Pet Shop."  It was so cute when they all giggled as they discovered this connection!  I love that Spring has found other girls that enjoy the simple pleasures in life and are good girls that aren't concerned with growing up too quickly.

On her birthday we had her choice of dinner...Mexican food!  We made all the fixings for tacos, burritos, and tostadas (Spring's favorite)!  She chose to have pumpkin cake roll for dessert.  I realized as I was putting the candles in that I only had 9 candles.  So, I improvised and used a match for the 10th candle.  Her expression was priceless as Joel lit the match and it flamed up really high.  Classic!  Joel made her stilts for her birthday as she has been wanting these for months.  Grandma & Grandpa Powell sent her a $2 bill to remind her that a $2 bill is unique just as her desire to have high standards is unique.  She framed the bill and hung it on her wall.  They also got her a watch that she has loved because it has a stopwatch on it!  After dinner we all went swimming for the evening and she was super excited that it was family night so there were free sodas all evening long.

I am so blessed to have Spring as my daughter.  She helps to soften me.  She helps remind me of how much help I need in the daily things of life as I watch her step in and just take care of things when she senses my load is heavy.  I think of all our children she "gets me" the most.  She is quiet about the help she gives to me and does it just to lighten my load and without desire for recognition.  She shows her love to me in her simple actions throughout the day. 

In honor of her 10th birthday - 10 Highlights in her life right now:

1.   Spring is an avid reader.  She finishes at least 1 book a day, if not more.

2.   She "gets" setting goals and striving to attain them.  She is always thinking of what she wants to accomplish and setting goals.  Then she diligently tracks her progress so she can see completion of her goals.

3.   She curls her nose in this cute little way when she is stumped or when we tease her.

4.   She is wonderful at writing letters, cards, notes to everyone for any reason.  She loves to get notes and letters in return but I think the driving force behind it is she likes the feeling she gets when she knows she is making someone else's day brighter.

5.   She is a planner and an organizer.  If I need a big project or task done all I need to do is ask Spring and I know she will get it accomplished early and completely!

6.   Spring is striving to correct her own little mishaps in life and is becoming very quick and eager to apologize when she has wronged someone.  She is also quick to forgive those that have wronged her.

7.   Spring has a solid understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She wants her testimony to keep growing and she does something about it.  She reads her scriptures daily without any prompting from us and she loves to study her "Preach my Gospel" book. 

8.   She has become a great swimmer in such a short time period. She really is very athletic.  She also has taught Gideon how to swim when he wouldn't even get in the water for Joel or I.

9.   She is a strong leader and great friend.  She tries to include everyone around her and others are drawn to her.

10.  She loves to serve others.

  

Vacation!

Joel took last week for vacation and we had grand plans of spending the week camping with our family.  We decided to just camp at Silver Springs so we could still get the kids to swim lessons and we could utilize the pool as well during the day.  We headed to the campground Tuesday.  It was early and already super hot and even more humid.  We got all our tents set up and had lunch.  Then we headed to the pool.  It was so nice to be in the pool and we really didn't want to go back to the campsite but by 7:30 the kids were getting hungry.  We went back and had dinner and Sammy was so excited to have a campfire.  According to Sammy, "It isn't camping unless there is a campfire!"  It was so hot and miserable.  We were all dripping in sweat and there was no relief.  By 10:00 pm we were all miserable.  I suggested we jump in the bus and run to the gas station to get slurpees, to which everyone quickly agreed.  The AC in the bus was awesome!  Then we headed back to the campsite to try and get some sleep.  It was a long, hot night.  I don't think the temps dropped below 90 all night and the stickiness in the air wouldn't go away.  Needless to say we didn't sleep much. 

 

The next morning we cooked breakfast and Joel took the kids to the fishing pond.  We were all super hot.  Then the girls started throwing up from the heat.  After some discussion with the kiddos we decided it would be better to pack up and head home.  We promised we would still do as many "camping" things as we could but be able to escape the heat when needed.  It ended up that all last week we were under heat advisories with heat indexes around 110 and high humidity.  So, it was  a good call and the kids were troopers.

 

We spent lots of time swimming together at the pool and playing games.  We cooked dutch oven in the backyard and made smores in our firepit. We gave the kids the option to sleep outback but everyone opted for the cooler house!  Thursday morning Joel took Thomas, Sammy, and Joshie fishing.  Joel caught a tiny fish!  Sammy caught his first fish ever and Joel said you would have thought he caught a whale by his screaming excitement.  It was only a few inches long but he was sure proud of himself!  Joshie caught the biggest of all...himself!  He got the hook caught on his shirt but Joel thought he had the hook caught on his face at first.  He was very relieved to learn it was only his shirt.

 

I loved the week.  We did everything together as a family...no outside commitments pulling us in separate directions.  It was awesome.  We are excited to take the kids camping again when the heat and humidity are not so high.  I love the memories we made with one another.

What We've Been Up To

I look at the calendar and realize we are toward the end of July and I wonder where our summer has gone.  I feel like we have been going all day every day.  We have been spending A LOT of time at Leisure Time, the swimming pool and golf course in town.  Between swimming lessons each morning and then going back in the afternoon and/or evening to swim we have spent a lot of time there.  We have loved the time together as a family and the kids are all so much more comfortable in the water and doing wonderful at swimming.  It has been awesome to see their growth.  Joel and I would try to get Gideon to get into the pool, other than the steps, and he wouldn't do it at all.  He would hold around our necks so tight we thought we would choke.  Well, Spring worked her magic with him, as she often does, and she has taught him how to swim.  He still wears his floaty thing but he will swim all over in the pool.  If we are holding him he will push our arms away and say, "Swim!" while moving his arms.  That's our cue to let him go and let him swim around on his own.  I love it.  Spring, Thomas, and Sammy love going to the deep end of the pool and practicing their diving. Sammy often still does belly flops but he thinks that is cool too.  Joshie is a little fish and has no fear of the water. He goes full force and full speed all the time.  Mary is becoming more and more confident in the water and loves to play. To say Sara loves the water would be the understatement of the year.  She loves to be in the water splashing around and giggling.  She has even almost fell asleep at night while she is in the water.  One thing is for sure...when we come home at night we have a house full of very tired kids so bedtime has been super easy this summer!

 

With our membership we also have use of the golf course for free in the mornings.  Joel took last week off work and he took Thomas and Sammy golfing one morning before swimming lessons.  They had so much fun together and can't wait to get back on the green.  We have enjoyed the opportunity to beat the heat and enjoy our time together doing something active.  I know we will have many more hours of fun together in the pool this summer.
 

Scout Camp

Dear Thomas,

Well, you completed your second year at MVSR Scout Camp this summer.  I love how excited you get before camp and I love to hear all about your experiences when you come home.  This year, as Senior Patrol Leader, you had many additional responsibilities at camp and you shouldered those responsibilities with dignity and with determination.  You learned valuable lessons as to how difficult it can be to encourage fellow scouts to be where they need to be when they need to be doing what needs to be done.  Your leadership by example was noticed by many.  I know there were moments when other scouts were disrespectful and said hurtful things to you.  My heart hurts for you when this happens; however, I know it is a learning process and I know that those experiences are helping to mold you into the young man and future leader our Heavenly Father knows you will become.  I think one thing I most admire is that even though you had these experiences you did not allow them to change your feelings towards your peers.  You still love them and you still served them with a Christlike love that is not commonly found in young men your age, let alone in adults with experience beyond your years.  Thank you for wanting to be an honorable young man and for wanting to share your love of scouting and of the gospel with all around you.

 

I want you to remember the great accomplishment you made this year at camp.  Swimming has never been a strong suit for you.  In fact, it is something you struggle with and that you worry and have anxiety over at times.  You worked so hard last summer, with Dad, to pass the BSA Swimmer test for the 1st Class requirement.  I was so proud of you and your willingness to work through that difficulty.  Well, you were determined to pass the swimmer test at scout camp this summer.  But you didn't stop there.  You decided to take the Swimming Merit Badge at camp as well.  The amazing thing about this decision of your's is that you do not "need" this merit badge.  You already completed the Cycling Merit Badge and you have all your merit badges for Eagle.  I think, deep down, you wanted to prove to yourself that you could do it.  I was worried about you choosing to do this merit badge because I know what a perfectionist you are.  I was concerned you would be disappointed in yourself if you did not come home with it completed.  But, I kept these concerns to myself and encouraged you to do your best.

 

Dad sent me a message the first day of camp telling me that you had not passed the Swimmer test which is required to take the Swimming Merit Badge.  My heart dropped and I cried for you.  He told me you were disappointed with yourself.  I wanted to put my arm around you and tell you how much I love you but I couldn't.  So, I did the next best thing and started praying.  I prayed that our Father in Heaven would comfort you and give you the confidence to try again and trust in yourself.  I prayed that you would have the strength to prove to yourself that you could do this hard thing.  About an hour later I got a message from dad that said, "He passed the Swimmer test!"  Once again I cried...only now they were happy tears!

 

So then began your work on the swimming merit badge.  There were some requirements that were not easy for you and some that were downright difficult.  You had to use your clothing as flotation devices and this proved extremely difficult for you.  You were blessed with an amazing counselor, Duncan, who patiently helped you throughout the week and believed in you when you didn't believe in yourself.  At one point you spent over 9 minutes trying to work up the courage to jump in the pool with your clothes on for this requirement.  You finally did get in the pool but were not able to complete the requirement.  You doubted yourself but you never gave up.  You continued to go to your class each day and try your best with all you needed to do.  And, I want you to always remember that you never gave up in a situation that would have been very easy to do so.  And, I want you to remember that this perseverance paid off.  You came home having completed the Swimming Merit Badge!  You are an amazing young man.

 

Along with this merit badge you also completed the Rifle Shooting, Model Design & Building, Woodworking, and Kayacking Merit Badges.  It was a wonderful week of camp and you accomplished so much.  Most of all, you conquered a fear and realized you can do hard things when you trust in your Heavenly Father and never give up.  I pray you will always remember this experience.  It will give you the strength and courage you need when you face other challenges in life.

 

I love you, Thomas!

 

Love,
Mom

Swim Lessons

We have realized our folly recently in not having signed our children up for swimming lessons ever.  We vowed to change that this year.  We enrolled Thomas in lessons toward the end of the school year so he could have them completed by the time he headed to Scout Camp.  Last summer he worked really hard, with Joel, to pass the BSA Swimmer Test so he could complete that requirement for 1st Class.  After countless hours, frustration, diligence, and perseverance he passed.  However, he just is not very confident in swimming.  He worked hard in his swim lessons and it paid off as he passed the BSA Swimmer Test at Scout Camp this summer and he is even taking the Swimming Merit Badge this week.  I never thought he would do that! I'm grateful for the opportunity Scouting has given him to take on something that is extremely difficult and even fearful for him and for him to overcome that fear with a lot of work and faith.

 

The last couple weeks Spring, Sammy, Mary, and Joshie have been enrolled in swimming lessons and loving every minute of it.  Spring has really improved so quickly in confidence and skill.  Sammy is a daredevil fish.  To say he loves the water would be the understatement of the year.  His favorite thing to do is jumping belly flops!  The kid scares me most of the time! :)  Joshie is fearless and loves his lessons.  Mary has been a little timid the last few days but I think she is beginning to progress pretty well.  It's been fun to watch their excitement of taking lessons and to see them learn something new.  I am amazed at how quickly children learn.

 

Summer Goals

This summer one of Spring's goals was to learn to make homemade bread.  Yesterday she accomplished this as she made a batch of homemade bread all by herself.  She did awesome.  And, like I always say, it tastes so much better to me when someone else makes it!

Off to Scout Camp

Well, the week of the 4th of July means it is Scout Camp week again.  Joel and Thomas headed off about 6:00 this morning for a week of fun and adventures.