Differences

Unfortunately it isn't very often our skies look like this in Arizona.

I love dark skies, thunder clapping, lightning striking the clouds, the sound of the trickling water, and I absolutely love the thick scent that is produced from rainstorms. There's nothing like it in my book.

My children have a different love for the rain.

From the coolness that touches their face, the wet clothes that cling to their bodies, and the slick trampoline that allows for a ready made slip n slide.

Nature allows them a completely magical experience in a different form.

Further reminding me that it would be nice to be a kid again, then I could run rampart and sing in the rain, flip and flop around and count my wetness as cleanliness, giving claim that it is my shower for the day while droping my pile of soaking clothes on the floor, and await for them to later be magically clean and folded for hopefully, another, rainy day.

Luckily I get to experience this kind of magic again, through my children's eyes.

What Kind of Mom am I?

Upon some deep introspection of myself I have realized what a neglectful mother I am.

What kind of mother has never taken any nudey bath-tub shots of their chubby boy to post and share with all? Mostly to induce embarrassment when he is 16.

Not to worry I have repented, and now behold:

my splashing,

playful,

happy tub boy.

Illinois 2009

We took another trip out to Illinois and had quite the whirlwind of adventure. We were gone for 9 days, traveled to 3 different States, 4 different places and packed and unpacked a total of 6 times. Whew! Needless to say I was a bit exhausted from our 'vacation' but we did have a good time.

Our trip was filled with....

Lots of time with cousins.

This is all of the Gearhart cousins, at least, all of those who have made it to the earth yet. I am sure there will be plenty more...not to worry though I doubt I will be adding to the pot.

Catching fish in Grammy's pond.

This is Alli's second catch. They would release them right back in...this one survived a trip to and from the house, a photo op, and a few plops on the ground.

Club houses with Nintendo's and donuts.


Green, green and green everywhere filled mostly with corn crops.


A ride over the M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I river into Iowa.

A wagon ride around historic Nauvoo.

A night's stay in the

Hyrum Smith Farm House.

Pictured above....they added onto it so I took only a picture of the original building which is actually the side of the house.

Hot tubing

with cousins in said farmhouse.

I bet Hyrum Smith would have loved one of those babies.

Marriage of Thomas' little sister,

which also included photo ops at the Nauvoo Temple, it was such a shame it was raining that day, I had grand plans I did.

Wedding reception held in the barn house..

A day decorating said barn house....

it was so much fun and was so pretty.

Unfortunately my pictures do not do it justice.

Dancing the night away

to a live duet band. Which included the violin and keyboard...think Michael Bubble (sp?)

Smiles

from this little guy who after this night was super sick and would smile no more.

Chasing fire flies.

One night Claire and some cousins caught 63, and they had them displayed along the sidewalk oh so beautifully.

A trip to Kalahari at Wisconsin Dels,

a huge resort that has an indoor and outdoor water park, theme park, two baby tigers, a kangaroo and a bunch of other crazy stuff.

Where the girls were brave enough to venture on the wave runner.

Ains

Claire

Alli, cool enough to give me a wave.

And of course their dad who coerced them into doing it with them and even pulled out a few flips on that thing. I was a bit impressed.

Our trip is filled with lots of fun, lots of craziness, and a little grumpiness, but mostly filled with memories that will last a life time.

Karaoke Goodness

Alli has been asking all summer to have a Karaoke Party without her little sisters. I thought I could indulge this request, she is such a helpful sweet daughter and thought she deserved a fun reward. The time has finally came and we are having it right now. I have to admit, I love throwing a good party and this one was super fun.

We went to Walmart to get these 'superstar' sunglasses and some gold sequin fabric to make scarfs for goodies for all of our singing guests.

We had lots of yummy goodies. Bottled creme and grape soda.

Complete with Alli's own Logo of:

Allison's Simply Superb, Scrumdillicious, Super Star Soda.

Guaranteed to make you sing.

Oreo Cookies, summer blue style....

take note of my cute cake plate I made all by myself.

Oh I love me a delicious twix, and so does Alli.

MMMMmmm chocolate covered pretzels with sprinkles.

And of course some scrumptious popcorn....what kind of Super Star party would it be without that?

Take note of my beautiful decorations, made by my dear friend Tammi, who I think, likes to throw a party even more than me.

The full spread.

The Super Stars.

Rocking out to some Karaoke on the Wii.

The girls partied out from all that singin, replenishing their voices with some yummy food.

As of now I have Taylor Swifts, Hannah Montanas, and Miley Cyrus' running around my house, checking themselves in the mirror, going to and from concerts, riding in limousines, and ordering room service. Sounds like a rocking time to me.

Summer-ness?

This summer, especially after being home from our vacation, I have enlisted a mandatory "quiet time." Mainly consisting of them in their rooms, with no electronics. Most of the time it starts with a big moan, some even bigger whines, and some even bigger threats by me. The other day I allowed them to take quiet time together and they even got to take Rainier.

Behind the closed door there were giggles...

with baby Rainier sprawled out on the floor with a custom made bed of cushions, pillows and blankets...

with his sister dutifully lying next to him keeping him entertained.

Claire amidst the top bunk giving orders to the people.

And Allison dabbling in some fashion design...a new phase as of late.

Why do they whine and complain when they always end up having a better time in confinement? This "quiet-time" ended up lasting two and a half hours on their own accord.

As for today there will definitely be quiet time required for the following reasons.

Rainier awoke earlier than usual.

Which bummed me out because I didn't sleep well last night.

I was having kooky dreams about Michael Jackson.

(Thomas and I watched a documentary on him before I fell . As a side note can I say I am sick of hearing about him?)

Fed Rainier, and had the girls play with him.

Vacuumed the loft, bedrooms, stairs, couches, chairs and rugs down stairs.

Vacuumed spilt flour off of my pantry floor.

No one has admitted to any specific reason of how it got there.

Dusted.

Put Rainier down for nap.

Swept and did a nice spot mop on the tile.

Loaded dishes.

Fed girls breakfast.

Asked the girls to get dressed.

Thanked Alli for getting dressed.

Loaded more dishes and started the dishwasher.

Asked Claire and Ainsley to get dressed, again.

Hurried to get ready for my visiting teachers.

Thanked Ainsley for getting dressed.

Asked Claire to get dressed, again.

Received dirty look.

Turned off TV.

Thanked Claire for getting dressed....I think?

Actually curled Alli's hair while waiting for visiting teachers to show up.

(They were a bit late.)

Met with my visiting teachers.

Did Ainsley's hair for once this summer, and also allowed her to wear her leotard all day.

(I am generous aren't I?)

Convinced Claire to let me do her hair.

Begrudgingly she allowed and was happy with the end product.

(That sometimes is a miracle of its own.)

Rainier up from nap.

Fed Rainier.

Decided I needed a Diet Coke from Sonic and thought I would treat the girls to 99cent slushees also.

On the way decided we should stop at Walmart also.

Informed that Ainsley and Claire had no shoes.

Decided to go anyways and push three children in the basket...it's Walmart, its been done before.

Purchased some essential and non-essentials.

Picked up Claire a new pair of flip-flops.

Ainsley has to go to the bathroom...

shoot she has no shoes.

Let her wear Claire's flip-flops I am going to buy.

Bathrooms closed for remodeling.

Of Course.

Argued with each child as to why they did not need such and such thing.

Make it to check out, buy such and such along with new/used flip-flops.

Drive home.

Realize Ainsley didn't buckle.

Take Rainier in from the 114 degree heat.

Ask girls to unload the groceries.

Change Rainier's bum.

Claire informs me that the bottled creme sodas have fallen out of the back and broke.

Of course.

Put Rainier in his booster seat, leave him some snacks.

Go out into the 114 degree heat, sweep up sticky glass and spray down garage/driveway.

Come inside, make lunch for girls....

Feed Rainier lunch/rest of snacks.

Claire gets slushee.

Ainsley dances around kitchen floor.

Ainsley runs into Claire holding slushee.

Slushee spilt all over clean tile...

Why does this only happen after you clean?

Grab towel and proceed to clean spilt Slushee up.

Remove Rainier from booster.

Let Rainier play a bit.

Girls fight, threaten to send to room.

Blog.

Baby crying, stop blogging.

Put Rainier down for nap.

Request hopping/dancing girls to stop.

Finish blog.

Will now enlist quiet time...whew it's only 1pm.

Nauvoo Temple

As we recover from this whirlwind of a trip from Illinois I wanted to take some time and write down some impression and experience we had while being able to visit the Nauvoo temple before they are no longer fresh or new.

I remember being fairly young and being in St. George for some reason with my family. We made a stop at the St. George temple and I was able to walk up to the steps, it was the first temple I had ever seen in person and to this day I can still remember the distinct feeling I had while I was there. I knew at that young age the power of temples, the truthfulness of them, and the spirit that resides there.

My girls were able to have a similar experience with the Nauvoo temple as we drove through the town and came across the temple. Immediately the girls were thrilled when they saw it. Alli spoke up quickly and said she could feel the spirit so strongly. Ainsley quickly agreed to this and Claire asked how you know you can feel the spirit, if it made you all shakey inside. Ainsley quickly replied by saying that you could feel a warmness in your heart and we all agreed that there was definitely a strong warmness in our hearts. I am touched that my girls know the truthfulness of the temple, I hope that they will remember that strong feeling forever and will strive to be able to attend the temple when they are older.

Thomas and I were able to attend a session inside and also went to his little sisters sealing. That temple has such a unique and special spirit to it, it is hard to describe.

I am so grateful that we were able to leave Nauvoo with a new love and respect for the pioneers and Joseph Smith, for all they did for our religion, and I left with a stronger testimony of the gospel.

Imagine

Imagine making club houses, fishing, swimming, playing in the barn. Imagine large billowing, sweeping trees, waving in the breeze. Imagine green and then green and then some more green. Imagine cousins and games, and donuts too. Imagine smiles and fun and a little work. Imagine family... and now you know what I've been up to. See you in another week.