August

We had a touch of a Groundhog's Summer when we found ourselves at Nizonhi pool in Chandler the day before school started with Shelley and Marcie. Same as last year!

Olive wanted to jump off the diving board. I had no idea what the rules were but I told her to go ahead and if they told her she was too young, well, then we'd know. The thing was, she didn't just jump off the diving board. She did a dancey dance- cat walk to the end of the board, stopped at the edge, did a few more shimmies, THEN jumped. I love this girl so much! Once Lindi saw that Olive could do it, she was brave enough to go too. Hallelujah, they spent a good 30 min. enthralled with the new adventure of being big enough to jump off the diving board!! Same story for the twisty slide. Olive isn't always independent, but she soldiered to the top of that staircase and down the slide with no coercing or hand holding from me at all! 

Our ward does a huge, Back to School, mutual night at the ice skating rink every August. They rent out the whole place for an hour and the kids can bring as many friends as they like. I think the last time I went ice skating was for mutual in Buffalo, at least 8 years ago! Us leaders were like fawns learning to walk, and poor Cassy got taken down by a girl who fell, hitting her head so hard she momentarily blacked out. As I kneeled next to her on the floor, the first thing I ALMOST said was, "Can I get you some ice?" *face palm* So glad I caught myself before offering that! Haha.

These silicone rings have become popular for when you're exercising or doing whatever physical activity and don't want your regular ring on. They're so lightweight it feels like nothings on. You know it's true when you accidentally slip on your real ring, forgetting you had it on in the first place!

My cousin, Jimmy Lindblom, was running for Arizona Senate again and I offered to help. Rachelle brought over a map of homes that are known, consistent voters with flyers for us to stick in their doors. Kate joined the campaign party, helping the kids run the flyers from door to door. I did the driving and directing of which houses to go to, while Travis sat in the back with the kids and made sure no one got run over. It was definitely a whole family endeavor! It was a HOT, August day and they were beet red and sweating. (Update as I'm writing this... Jimmy didn't win the Primary election. Sad day! I guess we'll see if there will be a round 3 in two years!) 

I asked Collin to pick an instrument to play in the band this year. He was indignant and told me he didn't want to. "Well, sorry. I want you to learn an instrument so pick one." His face puffed up as he dug his heels in and angrily retorted. "You can't make me! It's MY life!" 

Um. Wow.

I was unaware he had turned 13.

But this was a battle I wasn't losing. Luckily, with time, he simmered down and acquiesced. He picked the trombone and we went down to East Valley Music to rent one. Travis played the trumpet as a kid and couldn't help but give this a try! I was impressed!

We have a second child in Let's Play Music!! Olive started Red Balloons with Mrs. Harris and LOVES it. I'm sad I didn't get a picture with Weston and his wand, starting his Purple Magic semester! He's on his 3rd and last year. They have back to back lessons on Wednesdays which hasn't been super fun to manage, but managing we are. 

Marcie asked if I could watch Landon and Scarlett one evening while she was at the temple and our kids were THRILLED to have cousins over! I'm counting on these two cuties to be best buds and already love seeing them together!

Long ago I tried to do parent dates with the kids each month. Yeah, that didn't last! The boys haven't forgotten about them though and beg regularly to do something special with us. My revamped goal is to do them twice a year. Once, on their birthday when I take them out of school to eat lunch at a restaurant. And then again on their 1/2 birthday they get to do something special with Dad. Well, it was Weston's turn and he chose to go golfing! He really seems to enjoy that sport.

Sort of proud of this one!

These two, on the other hand, get parent dates all the time! This treat was after going to open gym at USA Gymnastics. 

For mutual, Alec Lamereaux, had her mom come in to teach cake decorating! I felt really smart when I had to ask what a "naked cake" was and every leader and girl turned around to raise their eyebrows at me. Then several whipped out their phones to show me pictures on IG. Geez, sorry. Guess I'm not up on what's hip and cool these days. 

Just check out these masterpieces though!! I've always been tempted by the idea of cake decorating but my gosh it's a process! And the amount of frosting she used! Tubs and TUBS of it. My blood sugar levels raised just watching her spread it on. 

This is me, learning how to make the BOMB salsa from Cassy! I bought some from her daughter's fundraiser and asked her for the recipe, but she said she didn't even know it! It's her mom's recipe and she had never actually made it herself before. Once I knew we were moving for sure, I pestered her to find out how to make it and teach me. I couldn't move without learning it! It's soooo yummy!! You have to cook your tomatoes on the grill first and us this pepper I'd never heard of. I'm posting the picture just in case somehow in the future I lose track of it. We made SO MUCH SALSA. I shared a little of it, then ate the rest. Within a week. Not even kidding. 

Lunchy lunch date at.... where else??? Chick-fil-a!