June

Tate's birthday party! Such a good group of boys!

Collin has been begging to learn how to drive. After an ortho appointment I decided to be a nice mom and take him to the church parking lot. I had way too much confidence in him. But not as much confidence as he had in himself. I was literally teaching him which pedal did what and the very most basic tenets of driving a car, but he was acting like he knew everything and this was easy as cake. I was giving him all the warnings. Especially the one about people confusing the brake for the gas. He was barely listening and acting so cocky. He took off going way too fast. I made him slow down and we did a couple rounds around the parking lot. Then he wanted to practice parking. He pulled into a spot against a curb and when he tried to back out he didn't turn and was getting stuck. So he put it into drive and started to go forward. When it was time to put on the brake he accidentally pushed the gas, HARD. We lunged forward toward a huge electrical box and I just knew my car was toast. I was picturing my hood crunching into it when miraculously he found the brake and stopped JUST IN TIME. BAHHHH!!! My bumper was 1/2 an inch from the electrical box. "Get out!" I couldn't believe my car was still whole. In that half a second I had already accepted that my car was wrecked. I was shaking so bad. What a mistake! He had no respect for what he was doing. There is no way in H that he's touching my car again. Not until he humbles himself or we get a junker car he can practice on. He was shook for one minute and then he was singing his praises that he stopped in time and kept saying I was overreacting and he had it all under control. Curse words!!!! How will I ever survive 4 teenage drivers?!

Collin got to be a backseat driver to Lincoln getting to practice in the church parking lot just a few hours after I took him to do the same thing!

Dove hunting. Ewwwww. Tasha is a very nice mom to let them do that in her kitchen!

The Sunday I was in SLC, Travis took the boys to dinner at his parent's house and Aubrey did her magic. He looked so good!

Tanner Banner turned SIX!! It was his golden birthday! He wanted to go to Fat Cats so we invited Landon and they played at the arcade and then we saw Spider Man- Intro to the Spider Verse. It was ridiculously long. He helped me make a yummy, homemade chocolate cake and he topped it with cars and gummy worms. He chose lettuce wraps and pot stickers for his special dinner... his favorite! Tanner likes crunchy vegetables; raw onions, celery, bell peppers, lettuce. He's so funny! He totally digs eating salads. Probably because I'm always getting Salad and Go and he wants to eat what I'm eating. He does not like potatoes, sauce on his pasta, or lasagna. Tanner has a need for speed. He loves riding on the Super 73 with Travis. He loves going on regular bike rides with me too. He doesn't like the animal pictures in his room because they're scary so we've had to take them down. His best friend is Landon. He also likes playing with Noble, Tyde and our next door neighbor, Christian. He is a typical boy in that he loves playing in the sand at the park, playing with cars and Legos. He always wants a new remote control car for Christmas or his birthday. I'm typing this in November but right now he's really into paper airplanes and doing origami. He loves drawing on Art Hub For Kids. He does not like being alone. When he takes a bath upstairs he always asks me to sit on Olive's hair counter so he can see me. He likes watching Dude Perfect and Ryan's World. He wants to be like his big brothers so bad and copies everything they do. He sleeps with no shirt just to be like them. He still sits in my lap at church. He's finally getting a little better about having his hair cut and won't cry and flinch the whole time. I have to make a point of not babying him. He asks me to get him a drink when the cup is barely out of his reach but I'm across the kitchen in the middle of doing something. I find myself saying a lot, "No Tanner, that is something you can do for yourself." But he is always testing me! At least he knows how to ride a bike, tie his shoes and put on his own swim goggles! We took Noble to swim practice one day and he didn't know how to put on his goggles. I refused to do it. I made Tanner teach him how. Lo and behold he figured it out immediately! I had been watching his mom do it for him all month. So I try to remind myself that even though he is very much the youngest child and pampered in ways the other kids weren't, it could be worse! Travis and I take turns laying next to him at night until he falls asleep. I love snuggling him and love when he falls asleep in my arms. I usually read a book or two to him before bed. He HATES waking up for school. Every morning it is a battle. He won't get up and when we force him he cries and falls apart and acts like this is brand new information that he has to go to school and we are the worst parents ever. He is a good kid. If I ever get upset with the other kids and raise my voice he cries and hides and tells me I scared him. Heaven forbid I get impatient with him and use a stern voice. Same reaction. On the blessed days when we don't have to pull him out of bed and he gets up on his own I can't help myself, I scoop him up and kiss him all over and coo and love on him. I can't stand my baby growing up! He is such a love! He has the best tan and is so handsome. I get compliments all the time from other people about how good looking he is. 

Forgot to take a pic on his actual birthday of him in front of his shimmery, golden door so this is later that week.

Scarlett got baptized! Marcie asked if Shelley and I would speak together on baptism and the Holy Ghost. We brought props like the vial of water from the Jordan River and a blanket that I made for her. I had Olive come up at one point and share her testimony and it was really sweet. Scarlett played her violin with Grandma. I love how personal her baptism was. We helped with the luncheon afterward and it was all so yummy and fun to be together. Baptisms are such a bright spot in life!

The new dishwasher came! It sure is fancy! No rusted off prongs on the racks. And it has three racks! I got a kick out of this monster truck that delivered it. 

We went to KTR one afternoon with the Laws and Monahans. Us moms have made it! We're finally at a point where our kids can just go run and play and we get to talk!

I took a load of kids to Alta to climb another afternoon. I need a bigger car. Weston had to go in the very back. QT is the place to  grab a treat for sure. 8 kids got to pick a drink or ice cream cone and I got out of there for under $12! 

Got the giggles checking on Tanner and seeing me next to him haha.

Father's Day! Everyone loves Dad. He is so involved and loving. I was in charge of getting the Father's Day treat for church again this year but I went easy on myself and ordered cookies from Twisted Sugar. 

Olive and I went to Lindi and Della's end of the year dance recital. Afterward, Della said, " I heard Stephanie cheer for me." :)

Sweet boy made me a heart!

Collin and Weston have been doing dive through the city this summer. They practice from 6-7am Monday through Thursday and have meets on Saturday mornings. They've been doing so well! Grandma came to watch one and they both took 1st place in their age division!

I met Marcie at the Gilbert Historical Museum on morning, which was so fun! I remember taking the boys here when they were young. It's small, simple museum but I love the old school classroom and historic artifacts about Gilbert.

This was the podium from the first LDS chapel in Gilbert!

The classroom had a paddle, haha! My principal, Mr. Mason, had a paddle in his office when I was in elementary school. And he actually used it! 

I remember doing card catalog games during library in elementary school too. 

The first traffic light in Gilbert!

Am I a nice aunt/mom or what?! I helped them make slime. I had been doing this awful diet called The Fast Metabolism Diet, where I basically starved and I was feeling so on edge. Which made me feel extra proud of myself for allowing slime.

Lindblom family lake day! We were on the Goodman's boat and didn't see much of Grandpa's boat. I used to think I wanted a boat but I don't anymore. Going once or twice a summer is perfect. And now with my dad having a boat too, there are plenty of opportunities.

Weston's smile when he finally got up on the surfboard was the best part of the day! He's so cute!

Olive did a mini hawk cheer camp at Highland with Jacquie!

Shelley invited the boys to do a family history camp at her neighbor's house for a week. They complained when I first told them about it but ended up loving it. Props to Miche for creating a family history camp that teenagers look forward to going to! I'm sure having Rusty there helped.

I thought Marcie's testimony was so beautiful and powerful and I wanted to remember it always!

Repping Abbey's new Roco line! We love her swimsuits!

So proud of Tanner for being awarded Swimmer of the Week at swim team! He started out so scared of swim team and cried and fought it for the first couple weeks. Tears every morning. Now he loves it and is improving so much!

Shelley's first time to Hale theater! We saw Bye Bye Birdie and OH MY GOSH!!! The memories that came screaming back to me! I was in this play in 9th grade at Taylor Jr. High. I was just a screaming fan girl.. nothing special, but it was a fun experience. I hadn't heard these songs in 25 years but I could sing right along with them! Usually I can't wait for plays to be over, but I was totally entertained and loving this one!

Summer sleepovers. How cute are these cousins?!

I made them fancy acai bowls for breakfast.

Annual Sunsplash Day was a success! Grandma couldn't make it so it was a sisters outing! I always love being with my sisters.

Eating bell pepper by the fistful. What did I tell you?!

Took another load of kids to Mesquite Jr. pool for the afternoon!

Top Ramen is an often eaten lunch during the summer!

Grandma Ann turned EIGHTY-NINE!! I can't believe it. I love my Grandma Ann and feel so lucky that she is still here with us! It would be so hard to get old and have your body not cooperate with you anymore. She rarely leaves her house. I try to visit at least every other week but sometimes it's longer. I enjoy our visits. She is always so appreciative and loving. She is a tough lady! If she reunites with Grandpa this year I will be happy for her but if not, we will definitely have to party hard for her 90th!!