spicy

 I put Robyn in charge of Family Night last night.  She had us make this spice cake together.  Actually, we helped put in the ingredients and she did all of the magic.  There is an art to making cakes, and Robyn has definitely figured it out!  

 Creamy Mimi living up to her name.

 Robyn said, "I love spices!"  Maybe that's why she loves Quinny so much.  She is certainly full of some spice!

hello junior year

She's ready to go!

It's going to be a great year - I just know it!

balloon art

Robyn and a doggy.

Quinny loved this balloon animal that Robyn made for her so much she slept with it.  I woke up this morning at 6:15 to the sound of squeaking.  It was really nice of Q to bring her doggy into my room and squeak it in my ear while asking me for a movie and a drink.  I'm not sure what makes more noise, the balloon or her voice.  She thinks of such fun and exciting ways to wake me up.

saturday sunshine

Karen was very accommodating yesterday.  Not only did she let us invite ourselves over to swim in her pool, but she fed us lunch as well!!  They made Rice Krispie treats, and I love Rice Krispie treats!  What a sister!  She's the best!  We completely overstayed our welcome, and it was awesome!  Karen, if you are reading this, and I know you are, thanks!  We had a super duper afternoon. 

 I love Robyn's hair in this picture.  It looks circa 1805.

 Mimi's goggles were so tight I thought she was going to give herself goggle hickeys.  Luckily the red marks wore off after a little while.  She wasn't going to let ANY water inside!

 Hi Karen!

 This is what Allison did when I asked her to look at the camera.  Shelle wasn't feeling well, so this is one of the few smiles I saw out of her that morning/afternoon.

 Keegan (Karen's youngest son)

Here's Eric jumping off the diving board and showing off his rump roast.  This is not his best jump/dive, but it was the one he chose to do for the camera.

 Half of the people in the pool were trying to coax Quinny off the diving board.  I also noticed this is the only picture I got of Haley in the pool. She's the one on the right.  She kind of slipped in the pool and then slipped out.  It's too bad I didn't get a better picture.  She has a new swimming suit and it's adorable.

Robyn to the rescue.  I guess the other picture wasn't the only one of Haley.  Look, there she is under the diving board.  You can often find her lurking about if Quinny is nearby.

ambition (the pill form)

This morning I got ready to go to the gym.  

Mia and I had a little conversation.

Me:  Ok, let's go before I lose my ambition.

Mimi:  You can just take another.

Mimi:  What are you laughing at?

If only it were that easy.

evening constitutional

 Robert and I have always liked to go for walks in the evening.  Last night was our first walk this summer.  (I know it is already halfway though July.  It's just been one of those summers!)  So, after we got Addi-Q down for the evening, we headed out.  Since Robert likes canaling as much as the kids, our walk by the canal was a bit slow at times while he was trying to find fish.  I don't think he ever spotted any fish, but he did find one of these.  

Exhibit (a) the frog.  I really wish I had brought my camera with me, but this is exactly the expression the frog had when we walked by.  He gave a simple nod as we carried on, as if to say, "I won't bother you, if you won't bother me."

 We saw a few of these.  Y-U-C-K!!  Roaches gross me out more than any other bug around.  They run fast.  They fly.  They can live forever on glue.  It's true.  I learned that on the playground in grade school.  They are just nasty little things.

 We saw something that looked like this black beetle.  This picture really looks too small.  The beetle was about four inches long - no kidding!  I literally jumped a little, and I am not a jumper-at-bugs kind of person.  It was big and it had wings.  It looked like something out of a science fiction movie.

I was looking down, as to avoid anymore unwanted beetles joining my walk, and was attacked by what I think was our state tree, the Palo Verde.  I will forgive it, though.  It was dark.  Really, we just bumped into each other.

The night was topped off with a black widow.  Since it had spun its web of destruction at our gate, Robert decided it had to be euthanized.  It can't just be hanging around where our kids are, right?  So, he squashed it with his shoe.

where's my groove?

I feel like I have lost my groove a little.  When I saw Addi's cup hanging from the kitchen drawer, I thought that's exactly how I feel.  I'm just not exactly where I belong.  I have made more than a few wrong turns while driving lately - ugh.  I am sure I will eventually find the cupboard I belong in.   I miss my old cupboard with my old dishes.

independence day

I saw Mimi on the porch riding Q's little plasma car.  

I thought, hmm, I wonder if that car has a size or weight limit.  

Mimi loves it.  She rides it a lot!!  

I decided to take her picture.  When she saw me, she switched her mode of transportation.  

Then she started to get goofy.

 Here's Haley showing her U.S. pride.  

We all flashed our red, white, and blue yesterday.

it's no cement pond

A few years back, a friend of ours asked if we had a pool.  The answer was no.  In Arizona, if you have a pool, it is a POOL, the real in-ground kind.  He thought we were snobs because we didn't consider any other type of pool a real pool.  Since then, my definition of pool has broadened a bit.  We currently have a pool in our backyard.  My niece, Ashley, was very kind and brought over her blow-up pool the other day to help us cool off and have some fun.  I challenge my kids to have more fun in a different kind of pool!

My friend, Alison, came over with her two children, Ellie and Dallin.  They spent the morning with us splashing, giggling, talking, exploring (Dallin), eating, and having a great time!

 Here's Ellie rowing with the bat.  I loved that Ellie wore her water wings the entire time she was in the pool.  She was very prepared for anything!!  I am convinced she cannot take a bad picture.  She is a beautiful girl.

 Cute buns, girls!

Mia was having great fun spraying everyone.

 Ellie getting sprayed.

 I think Dallin might be the cutest little boy I have ever met!  He explored the entire inside and outside of the house.