Taste of Home

Well, the monsoon season is upon us just as everyone around here had been warning us about, and it has very much reminded me of home, my ex-home.

Have had some pretty rough storms, rain that causes street flooding, and even when it isn't storming the cloud cover remains.

For the past couple of weeks I have had to deal with some things I didn't think I would have to deal with here: trying to manage my Hermione hair, shooing mosquitoes and other little flying things away, wiping a constant stream of sweat from my brow....

Kind of nice not to have the unforgiving sun beating down on me, but I still don't miss the humidity!!!!!! I will be glad when it is dry again.

Tatattooie

Goodnight Moon!! I tell you what, the shock still hasn't worn off yet, and I have lived here now for 10 months. Every other person's flesh is decorated with tattoos out here. Even the women have these huge tattoos they seem so proud to display. While I will not go as far as to say they are immoral or anything, to me they sure are gross. A huge turn off really--sort of like smoking and beer drinking--ew. Now I know to some one or all of the above mentioned are really super, but no way not for me.
I am sure in time it won't even phase me, and who knows maybe I will be lured into getting one myself. Those little Care Bear hearts would be cute--just kidding.

Can't Wait!

Well, Saturday is the big day. After breakfast, I will be dragging the kids to the store to pick up my very own copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I am on the edge of my seat to see how things turn out. I just re-read the 6th book, and I think I am convinced that Snape is good. I could be wrong, though. He just very well may have to give his life for Harry in the end, who knows? When one saves a wizard's life, I believe the saved one is bound to the saver in some sort of way--sort of like they owe them one or something. So in that case Harry has saved, Ginny, Arthur, Ron, Wormtail, Sirius(but he's dead already),and Dudley(but he's not a wizard). Am I missing any? I think Snape owes Harry, too b/c his dad saved his life. I wonder if one or more of them will have to sacrifice in order to help Harry carry out his quest????

Since we are on the subject of Harry Potter, I saw The Order of the Phoenix. It was a good movie, but boy it went by soo fast. I remember thinking surely the Centaurs couldn't already be carrying Umbridge away!!! A lot was left out, but it was good. Isn't Snape just great? I know the boys are itching to go soon.

Well, I am about to fall asleep, and I keep hitting the wrong keys, so night, night...

What's New With Sue?

Shiloh is growing up so fast. In some ways I am thrilled, and in some ways I am not. Babies and toddlers are sooooo incredibly cute and yummy, but, oh are they ever so much work!! After 3 kids I am completely drained. My quiver is full.
She just loves having tea parties now, and when mommy plays, we get out the special tea party set. Her two favorite Care Bears, Heartsong and Amigo are always invited. I love watching her set up all of her dolls and give them food to eat.
Well, we must be down to the last drop of lemonade.
Look! Shiloh is now using her toddler bed. I think the first time she slept in it was just a few days after she turned 2. She fell out a few times those first couple of nights. She probably won't fit much longer on this baby mattress, though, since she is quite tall for her age. She is as tall as some 3 yr. olds, but still in a diaper. Oh please, don't get me started on potty training. This girl is being such a little stinker. I thought girls were supposed to be easy!! Well, I must say my patience level is much higher now that I have 3, so I am not really stressed or anything. But, I know she could do it if she wanted to. I bought Dora pull-ups as an incentive, and she absolutely loved them. She would take them off, though, all of the time. One night Mark went in her room b/c she was crying, and she was completely naked and shivering in her soaked bed. Anyway I have gone back to diapers. I really just got tired of her always sitting on the pot but not putting anything in it. We will try again later. Daddy has promised her a new Care Bear if she puts something in the potty!!
Shiloh likes to color and put stickers all over paper. She can open the fridge now,too, which drives me bananas. I haven't found a lock for the side by side fridge either.
Let's see what else... she loves Veggie Tales still, she loves to sing, and one of her favorite songs is Rebirthing Now by Skillet. She also loves to listen to David Crowder. My brain can't think of any more things right now. I am sort of using my blog as a keep up with Shiloh's life thing, so when I get around to her Baby book I will be able to remember stuff!!

Goodness gracious! The days are long, but the years are short.

Humidity is Relative

I just thought is was so funny to hear folks chatting about how humid it was in the valley today as we were leaving church. There were a few clouds in the sky, and it did manage to spit a few raindrops upon us as we headed to our car. To us it was a bit of a relief, though I will admit I haven't really missed that good old fashioned Memphis humidity. I remember when I would return to Memphis after visiting my mom in AZ, how I would just feel completely overpowered by the humidity as soon as I stepped off of the plane!!!! Takes your lungs a few breaths to adjust to the thick air, but then again out here your lungs have to get used to filtering dirt!!

So Sere Here!

The 20 or so drops of rain we received a few days ago did nothing to quench the desert's thirst!! It is so hot and dry here that we have had to try and keep ourselves entertained indoors. Mullin has had a fun time building Pirate theme park rides. I believe this was a toy Pawpaw and Grandma gave him that he is just now growing into.
The other day we made tasty models of molecules. The one they are holding up happens to be for Fruit Sugar. I let the boys pick out different colors of Jelly Bellys to represent the atoms that make up the molecules. Of course Shiloh didn't make molecules, but I did let her pick out some pink Jelly Bellys.
Thank you Grandma Honey for the cookie craft! The boys loved being creative with blue frosting and gummies. Mullin was sad he had to pick the gummies off when it came time to taste, but he can't eat anything sticky while wearing braces.

Can't believe how fast the summer is going, and can't believe how much of my to do list is still left!! I am ready for a vacation with just me. A week at home all by myself sounds really good right now!

July Fourth Pool Party

We all went to my brother's house to hang out, but poor Ryan was sick. So this is Shiloh and Kenneth.

Shiloh couldn't wait to get in the pool, and she didn't understand why we couldn't let go of her. She had this really cool bicycle move that made us all laugh!

Lincoln was doing a super job swimming, and Mullin was such a fish he wouldn't stay still long enough for me to get a decent picture of him. Later that evening Mark, Mullin and I watched fireworks right from our own backyard.

Fourth Fun

Posing for Mama in their festive attire.
The boys just can't keep their lips off of Shiloh's chubby cheeks!!
If they do a good job posing nicely, they are rewarded with a crazy pose... or two.

How in the world did my kids turn out looking so differently??? And yes they all have the same mama and daddy!

Knight Bus Pics

The day we've all been waiting for finally arrived and Mullin got to board the Knight Bus and make his 15 second video on why he likes the Harry Potter books.

My mom and I and the kids made it to Surprise, Arizona in just an hour and a half. We planned on at least 2 hours, so we were a bit early, which ended up being great because the kids had time to participate in the Harry Potter activities at the library.

The boys made Harry Potter glasses, and Shiloh had fun coloring pictures.
We didn't think Lincoln was going to be able to go on, but in the end he did. I think he was a little disappointed about it not being a "real" triple- decker bus.

Once we were in we just sat and waited for Mullin to do his video. Quite honestly the room was cramped and it was a bit warm, but all in all we had a blast. What a neat experience!!!

After all the Harry Potter fun, we had lunch at my mom's Aunt Lynn's house, stopped at Cold Stone Creamery, then drove home. We left at 6:40am and got home at 3:00pm. I am whooped!!!

Soon we will let you know where you can view Mullin's 15 second video.....