Tibi's famous!

Sorry that the picture is so blurry, but it's a newspaper photo...what do you expect? Tibi made the front page of our local newspaper today. She is the one on the left slip 'n sliding at the park for the "back to school" bash. She had a great time, especially getting wet in the hot weather and spending time with her friends. We thought it was a cute picture of her, showing her true, fun side...

First Day of School

First off, this is the first year that I have not taken a "first day of school" photo - dumb! My kids are going to be mad at me, and I don't mean the kids that are going to school. Maybe I'll be lucky to get one after school today - it's still not the same. Tibi figured out this year (sophomore) that dressing up in new clothes the first day is lame, so she opted to wear her brother's athletic shorts and a plain white t-shirt (you go girl!) topping it off with flip-flops. Landon is a freshman this year, so he HAS to look good! Although he didn't really do his hair. So off they went to their first day of Seminary and we'll see how the day turned out when I pick them up at 1:05. Then home for a quick lunch and back to school for both of them with Cross Country and football practice. Here we go...

Football Lock-in

This is the "after shot" - you can see it all in Landon's face. If you could hear his muscles, they would be screaming! For the last 4 days, Landon and his fellow HS football buddies have been "locked in" at the high school doing drills, weightlifting, sleeping, having down time, eating, and being out on the field having practice twice a day. It is still a hot, August summer in Nevada, so it had to be pretty brutal. He didn't get as many naps in between time as he probably should have taken, didn't maybe get as many showers as he would have needed or wanted, but he did get to hang out with his friends doing what he loves to do. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all...

ANYBODY THAT STARTS HAVING KIDS AT 40.....

Man, do I appreciate what my married kids go through... I have had Connie and Peter's three kids the last three days while they are living it up in Orange County, CA. They have generally been good, but BOY, does it take just about everything out of you! This is why people were meant to have kids in their 20's and 30's. Maybe I am just used to my boring days, I don't know. We HAVE had a lot of fun though...
Connie and Landon chillin' after they got here on Saturday
Cooling off in the little pool

Goldfish at grandpa and grandma's house just taste better...

As soon as they got into Logandale and unloaded, the kids wanted to help feed the chickens.

Another "First"

This is an exciting "first" for us here in Logandale. My only regret is that Tibi isn't here to join in the jubilee! We came home from church yesterday, checked on the chickens, and found that one of those beautiful girls had dropped an egg. We weren't expecting them to be "expecting" until late August or September...I'm actually surprised that they could lay anything in this heat, but I guess it can be done. After all, I "laid" both Tibi and Landon in the Nevada August heat many years ago. The eggs start coming out a little small at first, but will get as big as large eggs that can be bought at the store. That's what we wanted, BIG eggs. So you can see that they have a little growing to do!

homegrown on the left, store bought on the right
WOOHOO!!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!

I'll tell you where I've been....right here. Well, up until recently. Lexie and the kids were here till about July 9th and after taking them back to Arizona and getting home myself, I seem to have fallen off the earth, when it comes to blogging, that is. I have been such a slacker. I guess that I am taking a summer vacation, literally...although I still seem to fix dinner and do the laundry. It has been very different not having Tibi here, just Landon and us boring old parents. Landon took off last Monday for scout camp all week, just got home this morning, so Kevin and I took a quickie trip to Carlsbad. We went to the beach, did sealings with dad as sealer, went out to dinner with all family adults, and went shopping with Lisa. And did I take even ONE picture....NO! I don't even have a good excuse either. I did happen to snap these two pictures right before we left to come home.

My beautiful sister, Lisa, and me. People are always telling us that we look alike, but even more, SOUND alike. She works at JoAnne's Fabrics and every time I walk in and start talking, the employees all freak out because they can't believe how much we sound alike. I don't get it...

And my lovely mother...she's even beautiful without her makeup on! Too bad I look more like dad. ( He doesn't look so bad without HIS makeup on either!!)

Family for the 4th

This year's Nevada summer has kicked into high gear with Lexie and Sharrid and the boys coming to visit. Lexie and the kids have been able to stay all of June and through next week of July while Sharrid has come back and forth a few times for job opportunities. It has been good for both Lexie and the boys, as she is pretty much homebound at home in Arizona without a chance to get out. The boys have also been able to get outside and help feed the chickens and water the garden when the sun goes down at night. We have run errands, gone swimming, played at the park, and then come home to end up like this:
Yesterday Michaela came up with grandpa and grandma on their way up to the cabin. We decided to have our gathering in Logandale this year instead of at the cabin, something we haven't done since the cabin was built. The fireworks are GREAT here, especially for a small town...much better than at the lake, so we are excited for that to happen. Kira and Sean came in late last night. The only ones not here are Connie and Peter and their kids, but I am excited for them because Connie and Peter are going to see "Wicked" tonight in Phoenix! Here's Michaela and Tibi laughing it up...

Marce likes to try his hand at "old school" Nintendo 64 when he gets the chance.

Lexie got on Amazon and found the old "Sweet Valley High" board game that all the girls used to play when they were young. They have even made Landon and Sean, Kira's boyfriend, play - even though they have to be girls in the game (with boyfriends to find!)

Phoenix has been off his regular nap schedule a few times since he has been here. Sean is getting some good practice in in getting him to get his nap, wherever he can get it!

More to come later.....