i'm proud of my rat pack.

I'm proud of the way the kids have really stepped up to help in my time of need. Rebecca loves to be in charge and be a little mother. I came downstairs one morning and all the kids had already all worked together to clean up the kitchen except for Rachel (because she was still in bed or something) because her job was outlined for her in this note left by Rebecca.

I then went to my office and found this note for me. Rebecca had assessed our food needs and made this list for me. Talk about service!! I can't wait until Jacob can drive and I will wake up to the food already bought and put away. With Rachel gone at camp right now, Rebecca has taken on even more duties. Today she learned to do laundry and did all of it, down to folding. I love that girl.
After they get their jobs done, they all hang out together all day. They haven't wanted to go to friends or leave and do anything, they are content to cozy all day together going from one activity to the next. When Jacob is up and happy, everyone is happy. (I should make a plaque that says that in my house.) He rallies everyone and keeps them all happy and positive. He is the one that leads them from one thing to the next. They play video games, then a board game, then pool time, then a movie, then cozying in bed and reading a good book. He lets them have slumber parties in his room every night too. What a good brother. I love that he loves to be home and hanging with his sisters.

I have a lot to be grateful for. These summer days with all of my baby chickens safe at home cozy and happy will be my favorite memories when they are grown. Oh please don't keep growing! I have a feeling that Heavenly Father knew that it would be too much for me to lose Jacob when he leaves on a mission in 4 years. He needed to make sure I had another little boy who will be four. A four year old boy is all about mom, and rules her heart. Heavenly Father always takes care of me. I like that.

that's the way we roll.

i told dave last monday night that i was sad to not be spending the fourth with family for the first time in like forever. His reply, "well i can leave tomorrow." Is there another family as crazy as us? So, i stayed up until 1 am in the garage routering (is that a word?) around 150 wood plaques for one of the crafts for girls camp. Rebecca and Jacob sanded my completed work. I was glad that we didn't get any complaints from the neighbors. Rachel did laundry and threw in a few outfits for each kid. We finished up errands in the morning, loaded the car, and away we sped to lake tahoe.


I can't explain the ecstasy that i feel with that first inhalation of sweet pine goodness. I have been so aching for it. In fact, melanie got a picture of me at the pioneer trek just standing with my nose to a tree. I swear it was a Jeffrey pine, which is my favorite. It has the sweetest smell. trust me. There are few problems in life that can't be solved with a trip to tahoe with a little john denver playing and the sweet scent of the pines wafting in through the open car window. I slept every night on the couch next to an open window. The smell and cool mountain air lulling me to sleep despite my discomfort. Well, the benadryl helped too. smile. oh and the law and order til all hours.


i love all of these pictures because well, they aren't in my professional opinion good. But they tell a story, and give a glimpse of how things really are right now. Unmatched outfits, dirty faces, unbrushed hair, and total relaxation. I took so few pictures (not even a picture of the lake). But i knew that I already have a million great pictures, and i am secretly planning another trip back this summer. (I'll let you know the day of dad and kathi, ha ha). I just didn't have the energy. This darn pregnancy thing. smile. I wish especially that i had video of the party games at rebecca's birthday party. We did our family classics. The cotton ball game (where you blind fold the person, spread cotton balls all over the floor, and give the player a spatula and bowl. You time how many cotton balls they can get in the bowl in a minute. It is hysterical! Try it!) Also, dropping clothespins into a mason jar while standing on a chair. Kenny was at his competitive best! He insisted on always going last. It was fun to see Kathi and Sophia learn this family tradition as the newest additions to the family. Kathi gave kenny a run for his money too.


without further rambling.....

This is a must do on every trip. The jumping over the hedge. Lizzie was the one to be initiated this trip into the tradition. It took a lot of goading but she finally DID IT! Leah as you can see still struggles. She is sure that she broke her ankle in this picture.
Jacob is quite confident in this skill now. He is their trainer. ha. (Leah still getting no sympathy.)

I know this picture fills you with longing Kelly, Nicole, and Gloria.

i love this kind of happiness. It is written all over her face.

ok, my dad has become seriously obsessive about garage saling. He now does it religiously and says that he has "the eye." Than he peddles his deals on ebay. He always carries in his pocket this little magnifying glass to check out if jewelry is real. He confiscated some of the things the girls were wearing from the dress up box because they were real silver. Above Leah is showing him another piece of jewelry she found. He had her hold the old Polaroid camera that he just bought at the garage sale down the street. hysterical.

No trip to tahoe is complete without a trip to Sprouts on the way to the lake for some organic goodness. One of the best things about tahoe is it isn't a fashion show. The more unkempt you are the better. We fit right in. ha ha. only the tourists wear make up and dress up.

my favorite from sprouts.... the ATOM bagel (avocado,tomato, onion, and monterrey jack cheese with seasonings and green onion). It is out of this world and didn't make it to the beach, i'll tell you that.

uh- oh. Look what we saw as we pulled out of the parking lot. giddy-up.

we came away with this beauty for $4.50. The girls are in playing office heaven now.

One more stop for slurpees and corn dogs at the 7-11 on the way to the lake

and we are on our way. Wish I had pictures of the girls building sand castles and floating on rafts. next time.

what has gathered such a crowd?

a special fourth of july cake. i love all the expressions here. (i wish i had pictures of your gorgeous fourth of july bbq spread kathi. As dave said it was our best meal all week! Probably all year! so delish)

and here. Where is rachel you ask? She left with KEnny, Leticia and Sophia. (She babysat Sophia while they both worked that night. Although we rarely saw her the whole trip. She spent most of her time cozied up somewhere reading. Remember those 30 plus books she checked out from the library?

So that's it. I always cry when i leave tahoe and this was no exception. It was hard to even think of going back to the desert, but Rachel needed to be home for girls camp. The minute she gets home, off we go again. This time to Utah. i love summer.