We Improvise Around Here

I went to Wal-mart to buy one of their bigger plastic pools.

And it was TOO big to fit in the back of the van. So, with five little kids* and hearts set on swimming, we improvised...

I poured out the contents of our toy buckets and let them splash away!

Here's Mo in action:

Now we have a pool with a little slide and believe me it's getting LOTS of use.

But in the meantime it was a pretty good improv I'd say.

*Yes, I said five little kids, no I didn't have another baby, Bekah had a friend over.

Lizzie

We have a new pet, a scrawny little imp of a cat.

We named her Lizzie. She's a black and gray tabby and absolutely adorable!

But like I said, she is rather tiny and due to the fact the Humane Society "fixes" the kittens when they are so young, she'll probably always be little.

But that's okay, she makes up for it with her playful curiousity and her big heart!

What amazes me is how much this cat loves Bekah.

I'm amazed because Bekah totes this thing around like she's a stuffed animal instead of a live cat. She's constantly carrying her around like her baby and has a special knack for waking her up from her cat naps. Yet at night, who does she curl up with?

Bekah!

I've tried sleeping with her but she keeps attacking my toes.

Half Birthdays

Aaron's birthday is in December.

Since it's so close to Christmas we said he could choose his BIG birthday present in June for his 1/2 birthday. So when Aaron turned 6 1/2, he got a Lego set of Mack and Lightning McQueen. I think he was pretty excited to say the least, check it out:

Yes, that's spaghetti on his face.

In all of the 1/2 birthday hoopla, I forgot to tell him to clean up before the pics,

oh well. As you may have already noticed, Mo is also running around in just a diaper...

Ya, we strip the babies down to diapers on spaghetti night.

It saves me from fighting with the stains later.

Planting Season 2011

Make sure you wash that binky!

This year we planted carrots, cucumbers, watermelon,

green peppers (for Gail NOT Mike), tomatoes, and sugar snap peas.

Here's to a plentiful harvest!

The prophet said to plant a garden, so that's what we'll do.

For God has given rich brown soil, the rain and sunshine too.

And if we plant the seeds just right and tend them carefully,

Before we know, good things will grow to feed our family.

We'll plant the seeds to fill our needs, then plant a few to spare,

And show we love our neighbors with the harvest that we share.

Oh, won't you plant a garden, too, and share the many joys

A garden brings in health and love to happy girls and boys.

-Words by Mary Jane McAllister Davis

Emma's Promise

Recently, Emma entered the waters of baptism and made special promises with her Father in Heaven. We are so proud of her and the decision she made to be baptized. It was such a good day, filled with family and fun, a little white dress, a yummy cake, and lots of photos.

Here's Emma with her family:

Mom & Dad

Brother & Sisters

Grandma Jan-Jan and Grandpa Ken

Grandma Kae & Grandpa Russ

Grandma Kitty

Aunt Coco

Bend It!

Emma's soccer days.

She was the only girl on her team.

Way to go Emma!

Phil

My brother Phil says the funniest things sometimes. Before I tell this story I have to preface it by saying my mother and I look a lot alike. So after my mom got her last haircut or got ready for the day (I forget which) she asked Phil how she looked, he said this:

"You look like an elderly Gail."




Hilarious!