More storms and other stuff...

The river on the side of our house

We had another great storm last week.  The rain was coming down so hard for about half an hour that we couldn't even see the houses across the street.  The street looked like a river and the water was coming up and covering up our sidewalk.  The kids thought it was a blast though.

One great thing about the rainstorms here, is that they really cool things off.  There have been a few evenings (and even mornings) when it was pleasant enough to take a walk.

View of the sunset from the park on Friday night... Wow!

Friday morning we got up and decided that it would be a good day for the zoo.  It was overcast and not unbearably hot, although it was a little humid.  So we went to the zoo.  As soon as we got there, the clouds broke up and it was HOT!  We went straight for the splash pad to try and cool off a little.  I figured that it wouldn't be so bad if we were wet.  That didn't work out so much because we were still way hot.  We hardly looked at any animals, just went from one splash pad to the other and then came home.

So Ben had his six month check up about a week and a half ago.  It turns out that he has a big noggin (which is not a surprise).  The surprise part is that it is big enough for the doctor to have a little concern as to what is going on inside.  So we took him to have an ultrasound at Scottsdale Hospital last week on Tuesday.  I was a little freaked out.  The technician reviewed it with the radiologist and then told me that aside from his fluid being a little on the high side of normal, Ben basically just has a big head.  I was relieved, so I spread the news that everything was fine.

Look at that perfect little noggin :)

Trying to get the monkeys on his feet

Friday afternoon, I got a phone call from my pediatrician.  He told us that since Ben's ventricles are a little enlarged, they want us to go to Phoenix Children's Hospital for an MRI.  So much for being relieved... now I am a little freaked out again.

Random picture of Ry being... well, Ry!

Rainy Day Adventures

See the little shiny raindrops?

The rain starts... the gutters fill up... the temperature drops below 100... and all the kids in the neighborhood run outside... my kids and me included!


We got our first (little) rain of the monsoon season this evening.  At least, the first when we were all awake.  There has been a little rain in the middle of the night, but mostly we have just had clouds, humidity and wind.


I got a little happy with the camera today and took lots of pictures.  And it looks like I need someone to help me learn how to post them into my blog, because I can't figure out how to align them how I want or get them spaced right... :)

Catching raindrops with her hand

Catching rain on her tongue

Say ahh!

Trying to hide from the camera

Checking out his first monsoon

Me looking at the rain

He's too funny!

Is that my child?

Wet kid under an umbrella

View of the sunset from our house

Getting a little darker

Posing

Sailing a pink paper boat down the gutter

They named it the SS Sassypants... after guess who!

Sad that it got soggy

I'm so proud :)

Back inside, playing in his bouncer

Super cutie! (if I say so myself)

What's that noise outside the window?

Ahh, that's what it is... my little clown!

Laughing uncontrollably

Summer Fun

So the kids and I have been doing so much over the past couple of weeks. We have been to the AZ Science Center, the Phoenix Children's Museum, friends' birthday parties, Peter Piper Pizza, the movies with our cousins, swimming & sliding with friends at the Wigwam Resort and the XRKade. I have also taken Robby and Rylan to the Y with me to work out and Amelia and I got our toes glittered at my friend Audra's house.

Our matching glitter toes... yes, I am whiter than my daughter!

Without my kids, I have done Zumba, a Relief Society swim party, PTO meetings, Cub Scout committee meeting... along with just the regular day to day stuff of shopping, banking, and other fun errands. :)

I can't believe school will be back in less than 4 weeks. The summer has been flying by! We have been swimming more in the last few weeks than the last few years combined.

It also seems that I am not much of a photographer, because I don't take any pictures of the fun stuff that we do. I guess I will add that to the list of things to improve!

Benjamin is too tired for the bumbo!

Amelia is loving on her baby brother!

Over thinking it!

I think my biggest problem with blogging is a little ocd issue that I have. I think so much about how to make everything perfect that it sometimes paralyzes me from getting things done that I need to do... or should I say want to do... actually, both! :)

I think about blogging all the time. And the wonderful things I could share. But as you can tell from all my many posts, I don't write EVER!

So today I did a Zumba class at the Y. It kicked my butt. I was taking a class last year before I got too pregnant and it was almost too easy. Just different instructors, but I am positive that I will be sore tomorrow.

When I got home from the gym, Amelia told me that she could tell I was a little bit skinnier... if only it were that easy! I would love to be noticeably thinner each time I went. I am sure that would keep me motivated.

Halloweenie!

We had a Ward party on Friday night... so the kids got double candy this year.

On Saturday we went to Chad and Mandy's new house for pizza and treats and trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. It was a lot of fun. I actually didn't walk with the kids, I stayed at the house with Tia Cris and Lisa and Georgia and handed out candy. I am too slow and big bellied to have fun walking the streets for candy! :)

Halloween weather was perfect though. The evening was absolutely gorgeous... a wonderful night for being outside!

I didn't take too many pictures, but here is what I got!

Am I actually going to do it?

I am going to write again. Wow!

I read blogs from my friends and family and it seems like everyone is so on top of things... except for me of course!

So what's going on in our lives?

Amelia turned four last week! We had her birthday party at Peter Piper Pizza. Much easier on me than a party at home.

How many kids does it take to open presents? Apparently, all three of them!

Amelia and mom LOVE going to the zoo!

So strange that she is growing into a girl now. No more baby or even toddler. She has the attitude of a 14 year old. She seems hormonal and moody sometimes. Her new favorite saying when she is not happy with what I have to say is "You wuined my wife!" I can't help but laugh but I try to turn away because I don't want to encourage the snottiness. Plus, she is just too dang cute!

Rylan is in 2nd grade and he turned 8 in September. We had a birthday party at the park. Hot dogs and nachos and mini dry ice bombs and a pinata. It was a little hot but we still had a great time.

Rylan got baptized two Saturdays ago. It was such a sweet experience and I am so proud of him. He was super cute. Whenever we asked him how he was feeling, he would just give a big grin and say "good."

Robby is 10 1/2. He is loving fifth grade. Getting straight A's and perfect attendance. He also is starting band this year. He is playing the clarinet. Should be fun for him, but he won't be able to get any help around here since both Eric and I are severely lacking the musical talent area.

He really enjoys Webelos also. He is finishing up his Webelos badge and is also pretty close to getting his Arrow of Light. His goal is to earn all the activity pins before his birthday in April.

Robby can't seem to take a serious picture. I wonder which side of the family he gets that from.

Our school is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. So they celebrated with a 50s day at school and also a sock hop in the evening. Jeans and white t-shirts with rolled up sleeves are about the best we can do for 50s dress up around here, but if I say so myself, my boys are pretty handsome!

As for me, I am about 6 months pregnant now, but feel and look more like 9, due January 23rd. It is a boy, for those of you that don't already know.

Overall, we are all healthy and happy!

Worst Blogger EVER!

So I signed up sometime in October, took me a couple of weeks to post, never even got Halloween pictures up then and have not been back since. How lame am I?

I just don't know how people keep up with all this stuff... must be much more together than I am. :)