Levi's Baptism

Levi is eight! Can you believe it? I still remember the phone call to come into LDSFS to read Sher's letter. I still remember my first sleepless night holding him, afraid to put him to bed in case I dreamed it; his first smile, his chubba cheeks, his deep chuckle, wow. I guess they really do grow up although I'm not that thrilled about it!

Levi's baptism was wonderful. He isn't scared of water--he's an Arizona rat and we all live in the water. It was a great day. Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Carma were here to see it and he was baptized with two of his best friends in the ward. Joseph and Caden are just as fun and crazy as Levi and just as excited that day. Yes, Levi is definitely tall for his age. Joseph has tall parents too, but Levi still tops him. People are always looking at how tall BJ and I are and commenting! I just smile. Thanks Sher for the height. Levi loves being tall and growing by the second. He compares himself to my "shrinking" height all the time and just smiles! Sigh. He'll pass me up by 12 for sure, maybe sooner.

Summer Memories

I live in Arizona. There is no ocean, no soft breezes, no surfers, no beach houses, no cooling off at the beach. Nope. It is pretty much as hot as hell.

This summer I got tired of the heat but my wallet said no California vacation just yet. So we headed for the mountains and a lake. I figured that was as close to "beach" as we were going to get. Well, there wasn't much beach, but it was one of the most magical days we had all summer.

No television = no SpongeBob.

No Playstation.

No whining "what can we do?"


It was simply magical. Lia sat on the blanket and played with her toys. Ate the occasional handful of dirt and sand. She enjoyed it.



Grace ran and dipped her toes in the water. Loved it.



Sam, Ellie and Levi declared the day fabulous and swam in the cool water.


Sam tried to convince boaters to take him for a ride (such a sweet-talker that one).


Hilary and Ellie lounged on the sand.


And of course no day at the lake would be complete without catcus ice cream (it is Arizona after all). I miss summer already.

How many days until school ends?

Staples: Not the Easy Button

So Levi's school called the other day . . . yes, wait for the other shoe to drop. It always does.

"Levi fell and cut his head. He might need stitches." School secretary.

They were so calm about it, so I quietly responded: "Okay, I'll be right there."

Thinking of course of a small cut that might or might not need stitches. So I got the babies up from their 5 minute nap. Happy, happy babies. I got Sam back in the car after a morning of errands. Happy happy Sam. Now I hurried, but didn't "rush" to the school. When I finally got to the school, there was blood everywhere and my son was still softly crying. Happy, happy Mommie! A "little cut" my foot. His shirt was totally bloodstained (side note: a brand new WHITE shirt, sigh), his hair was matted with blood, and he was sad and crying.

So off to the hospital, and Dad meets us there. Mom with 4 kids in the hospital = not a good time. Levi wants BJ to take him in and hold his hand so off Mom goes, a little teary eyed that her son wants Daddy more when he is hurt.

BJ called me later and said they would be putting staples in his head! I was then GRATEFUL I didn't stay. I may have passed out.

Levi came home from the hospital with a bandage around his head; I told him he looked like a Nephite warrior and that was pretty cool.



We weren't sure how many staples they had put in because it was all covered up. The next morning we removed the bandages and counted: 10 staples! Gross and OUCH. He was a trooper and didn't cry at the hospital at all. He got 10 staples, two days off school and lots of sympathy from friends. He thinks it was all pretty cool after the pain went away.


I'm just glad he's okay. The next time the school calls, I'll be running to pick up Levi.

Monsters and bad guys

Levi came to me tonight scared.



There are bad guys and monsters in my room. So we took pictures.

I don't see any bad guys and I've got the pics to prove it.


So off to sleep in our tent, with a perfectly good bed right nearby.

Sigh. I guess you're only a kid once!