Rare Hair

A woman in my neighborhood cut my hair for me, and when she was finished, asked if I wouldn't mind if she straightened it as well. Mind? Only if I was out of my mind! The last time I had my hair this straight was when Matthew was a baby! It took her, a professional, 40 minutes to straighten. My feeble attempts (last attempted a couple children ago) take about 2 hours and never end up looking this good. My kids could hardly believe it was me! They couldn't stop touching my hair and telling me they wanted me to keep it that way. I loved that I could actually run my fingers through it without getting them stuck and even brush it whenever I felt like it! It was so sad to break the news to the kids and Brent that it would only last until the next washing. :*(

Turning Point Dance 2009

Elizabeth did an amazing job in dance this year. Her teacher is incredible, and she thoroughly enjoyed the competition (1st place for her age division!) and the showcase held in May.

Summer Fun

Elizabeth and Rachel-- picnic in Hobble Creek Canyon

Feeding the ducks at Salem Pond

Lillies! I go crazy when these bloom every year under our front window.

Rachel is completely content: sun, suit, and sucker.

Emma at her end-of-the-year preschool water party. Teacher Karla goes all out!

Emma and Elizabeth udderly enjoying themselves at Farm Country (Thanksgiving Point).

Elizabeth, Matthew, Emma, Rachel at Farm Country.

Emma adores anything to do with horses-- can't you tell?

Roasting hot dogs in Provo Canyon: Elizabeth, Emma, Matthew

Thanksgiving Point Gardens

Our neighbors generously shared extra tickets to a Utah Symphony concert at the Thanksgiving Point Gardens waterfall amphitheater. We couldn't pass it up! Once we actually made it there (after spending one hour getting from the offramp to the parking lot), we could really relax and enjoy the concert (front-row grass, even-- thanks Brock and Terra!). During the intermission, we decided to go on a super-condensed 15 minute tour of the surrounding gardens, which never cease to leave us in awe. Here are a couple pictures.

Countdown to a Real Estate Showing

1. Get a call from realtor saying we will be showing our house in 2-24 hours.
2. Try to schedule my day around the showing.
3. Attempt to encourage kids to complete morning routines before 1:00 PM showing.
4. Try to meet kids' needs and keep track of what Rachel is getting into in between getting the house in Saturday-morning chore-clean condition.
5. Feed kids a quick lunch.
6. Change a diaper.
7. Clean up lunch.
8. Remember to take out trash all over house so it doesn't have "funny smell" the realtor mentioned from last realtor tour.
9. While taking trash outside, pull a half dozen of the tallest and most obnoxious-looking weeds bordering front walk.
10. Break up sibling squabble.
11. Prevent Rachel from dumping out art supplies all over freshly mopped kitchen floor.
12. Convince Emma to play outside so she isn't underfoot.
13. Remake kids' beds and verify their closet doors can open and close without being blocked by debris.
14. Put 184 stray items back in their proper places.
15. Use lint roller on cat fur on couch.
16. Emma saunters back in. It's too hot outside.
17. Remove all appliances from kitchen counter and hide in garage.
18. Break up sibling squabble.
19. Load lunch dishes in dishwasher, clean sink, then hide dish drainer (again, the garage).
20. Kids are becoming a little too aware of the fact that I am not paying much attention to them. Noise level rises. I finally send kids to the car, saying we will be leaving soon.
21. Remember to grab more diapers for the diaper bag, and even to grab crackers for emergency snacks.
22. Sanitize kitchen table and counters.
23. Fix blinds and cushions that have been pulled askew by juveniles.
24. "Final walk-through": Put away a dozen more items left out, turn on every light in the house, check toilets.
25. Almost forget to grab purse.
26. Start to get in van, then realize that the garage is looking awfully cluttered with bikes, scooters, etc. filling all available floor space. Quickly shove everything as close to one wall as possible.
27. Cheer with kids, "We made it!" and zoom out of the neighborhood before clients arrive with their realtor.
28. Try to find an air-conditioned place to take kids or errand to run.
29. Arrive home a couple hours later, praying that the realtor hasn't been overly conscientious and locked the door between the garage and kitchen, since my copied house key doesn't work, the realtor has my working key in the lock box, and I have forgotten to trade Brent for his good key.
30. Overly conscientious realtor. 94 degrees. Naptime. 4 tired kids. Milk and eggs in car that need to be refrigerated. Kids all say a prayer. Head to next-door neighbor's. Kids watch a movie while we all wait for Daddy to come home early from work and let us back into our house with nearly every light in the house (including the outside lights!) still on.

Top Reasons Why I Have Been Missing-on-Blog

Here's why I am so far behind (and no, it's not because my life has suddenly become boring and uneventful) on my blog:

1. First trimester yuck. Yes, we are expecting number five, due December 27! Now that I am 16-17 weeks, I am off the couch and feeling much better.
2. A few too many migraines.
3. With our house listed for sale, we have shown our house at least 20 times (see future post for details).
4. Summertime, and the living is crazy!

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

Wow, what an amazing opportunity to take our family to two temple open houses in the same year! (we went to the Draper open house in January) The kids had a pretty good idea what to expect. The weather was gorgeous, the crowds minimal, and the temple was so beautiful. I loved that my children seemed to sense the beauty and tranquility of this sacred sanctuary.