August/Sept

 These kids love to play at the park that has a huge sand box (volleyball court) Heath says it's just like being at the beach without the water.

 Hannahs new favorite hat. (one of the toy boxes)

 One day for school we wrote all the S words we could think of on paper and Stuck them to ourselves. It was sure fun.

 These boys love school.  Houston especially loves to do his school book. Most mornings that is the first thing he asks to do.

Hannah is such a little girl.

 Hannah brought a bunch of books over for Houston and placed them on his belly while he was napping.  She even opened them up and faced them the right way for him.

 One day both boys were sitting in time out. Hannah went running over and sat down with her arms folded too. I guess she thought it was the cool thing to do.

Grandma found some clearance costumes for the boys.  They LOVE them! 

 On 9/11 we learned about flags and made our own. Heath was very careful to count out 50 white paint "stars". Houston got to about 15 then just started making dots like a mad man.

 I had this picture on my phone.  I dont remember exactly what happened but I do remember Matt had asked me how things were going and I sent him this as a reply.  Some days are really really hard for Houston right now. Every little thing (like me putting his spoon on the wrong side of his bowl in the morning) can set him off like this. After a few minutes he's totally fine and normal again, but man when it hits, it really hits.

We did a knight unit in school.  We learned about medieval symbols and were going to make our own shields.  Heath remembered that there was a Forsyth coat of arms and wanted to make that for his.  Houston asked if there was a Hansen coat of arms, so we looked it up and there was.  So I drew out the shields and they colored them.  Heath added the symbol for the first son on the top of his, and Houston added the 2nd son symbol.

They were so proud and happy.

 Hannah loves to take off her jammies now.

At the water fountain park. 

We had the swing set up for Gage, and Hannah found it the next morning. A perfect rocking chair for her and her baby. 

 Some of our friends took us to the zoo with their safari passes.  We got to go see the sea lion show for the first time. It was pretty amazing. We also got to ride the train and go to the children's zoo with them.  It was awesome!

 We also went to the nature center with some of our friends. Can you spot the Momma and her twin baby deer?

 We sure love this crew! Heath, Wong, Evy, Jensen, Ryley, Hannah, Leong, Bean, Ulysses, Houston

Hannah is addicted to Dot's Pretzels. (a special treat from our family in ND)  I had them sitting on the dish washer, and they disappeared. We found Hannah hiding in the toy closet with her mouth and fists full.

 Daddy gave a lesson in FHE about how the Nephites fortified the city before the Lamanites came to fight, and wore armor to protect their bodies.

We talked about how we can fortify ourselves before bad things come our way.


The kids absolutely LOVED it!

Hannah

 This girl sure loves her Daddy.

 Memorial day weekend we went to the lake with my family.  It was SO much fun!

We played on the boat, wave runner, and fished. 

The kids especially loved jumping off Grandpas giant lily pad.

 Hannah turned into a crazy girl and was jumping off right along with the boys.  She was squealing and screaming the whole time.

 Hannah & Dal,  Hannah & Daddy

August Visitors

 Uncle Pete and Daddy went on a trip to Indiana for several days. While they were away the kids and Mommies played!

 Cousins are the best!    Heath and Bertie

We went to the Zoo, the Science Center, saw a live performance of Beauty and The Beast at the Outdoor Muny Theater (and enjoyed 3 paper grocery sacks full of homemade yummy buttery popcorn), visited and swam with our Denney cousins and played and played and PLAYED!

 Lucy and Hannah at the zoo

 Lily Hazel Maren Hannah Owen Houston Bertie Heath Lucy outside the insect house at the zoo.

Talking with the zoo keeper in the Butterfly house. 

 We love the butterfly house!

 Do you see it on Owen's head?

Ready for Beauty and the Beast to begin!

 All of the kids were amazingly good for the performance.

 Shooting balls at the Science Center

Swimming with our Denney cousins!

 Hannah loved to love on baby Hazel.   Hannah would lay down next to her and let her hit her face like crazy.  She just loved being by the baby.  : )

 The next week Sterling and the rest of my family came to town for Sterling to go through the temple before his mission.  (Mom I need a copy of the picture I took of these two much like this, about 14 years ago.)

 Uncles are the best!

 These 4.... it was nearly impossible to get a picture of all of them looking at once.

 We had a beautiful time in the temple. There was a beautiful peace there and we all learned things.  I love going to the temple with family.

Afterwords we all went and ate at Joy Luck! mmm...

Since Sterling's birthday was in a couple days we had a Birthday celebration for him!

 He requested a Lemon cake.... and let me tell you.... it was amazing! SO GOOD!

 This girl loves her Grandpa.

 and her Grandma!

 Poor Dallin is the only child at home now....

I'd make that face too... Just kidding. : )

 Since Sterling's cake was fabulous, even though we had all just stuffed ourselves silly at Joy Luck I think we all had a second piece.  Who does that?

Then we had to say goodbye for 2 years.


Best wishes Uncle Sterling!  I know you will do great things.

Part of our hearts now lives in Idaho.

A Visit from the North

 Uncle Eddie is going to be starting Med School soon.  They were up in Alaska and flew in to visit for a bit before school starts. Since we live right close to the airport we got to see them for a day!  It was awesome!

They got here at about 1am and after a quick hello went right to sleep.  Being used to Alaska time they all slept in till almost ten.  (I would too after a long traveling day, and that's about 7am Alaska time) I tell you we had some super impatient boys waiting for Uncle Eddie to emerge from his room.  : )    When they were finally ready to wake up it was giggles and smiles all around!

 These two are 3 days apart in age.  Rowan is the older, more mature one.  : )

 Cousins are the best!

 Since is was Chick Fil A's dress like a cow, get a free meal day Kaitlyn and I made some quick not so fancy cow costumes for everyone and we went out for dinner. (That is our friend Taylor (Matt's old missionary companion from Argentina) in the background grabbing his sons head.... I thought you might enjoy that Liz.  I'm sure he is saying, "Hey Walker!")

 Hannah and Rowan were pretty weary of the Cow man, but Walker was all smiles and giggles.  Such a cutie!


It felt slightly awkward to get up to the register, order and have them say, "Your order comes to $32.something, but your total is $0! Thanks for coming to Chick Fil A!"

I imagined that is how it will feel when we get to heaven, and have offered up our paper plate's worth of a costume worth of works and faith throughout our lives
and hear, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the Joy of the Lord."

 Daddy Rowan Eddie Kaitlyn Heath Me Houston Hannah     

It was SO fun to have you guys for a day! Hope to see you soon!



We drive past this sign almost every day we go somewhere.  It always makes me smile.


Since I wasn't driving and had the camera I finally got a picture of it!

Isn't it great. : )