Finally!

Back in April Grace got her first loose tooth!

She really wanted it to fall out before school ended, so her name could be put on the tooth chart.

I assured her it would; afterall, school didn't get out until June and it was April.

She wiggled and wiggled and ate apples and wiggled more.

And I was wrong.

School ended.

Her tooth still in place.

A new permanent tooth grew in behind it, so we brought her to the dentist. 

She told us they didn't want to pull it and to keep wiggling.

And finally...

It came out today.

The last day in July.

She doesn't have a cute toothless grin, but she was the MOST excited girl with a grin full of teeth (and one grown-up tooth in their to boot), when it fell out in the car while we waited to pick up Mike from work.

Yay!

Potty Training the Third

I have been absolutely dreading potty training Josh.

In fact, I told Mike, "I would have a dozen kids for you... if I didn't have to potty train them."

And then, Josh went ahead and got potty trained.

In a day.

Which made me start worrying the it was a sign that I should have a baby or something.

;)

I don't take any credit for his potty training so fast.

The fact that he has some OCD tendencies/is insanely (and annoyingly-most-of-the-time) crazy independent, is completely the real reason he did it sooo stinkin' fast.

Of course, lots of M&Ms, praise, and earning a Thomas the Train toy (when he finally filled that HUGE chart... good grief!) didn't hurt either.

;)

A Whole Lotta Scout Moolah

Adam got a bag of pins, badges, and belt loops at the pack meeting tonight!  He had earned most of it at day camp in June.  I am so thankful for the leaders and all of that HARD work they did to help the boys succeed!

Pioneer Day Carnival 2012

We went to the Pioneer Day carnival that the North Stake puts on, again this year.

It was awesome!

Adam and Grace worked really hard doing chores I avoid to earn money for their tickets. Our rule is that they have to earn the money, but they can spend it on whatever they like!

The entire thing (food, games, bake sale, activities) is done with tickets. Which means the kids use their tickets to buy their own dinner.

Which usually means that they choose things like soda and chips.

Well-rounded, no?

We had a fantastic time! The fireworks show was awesome, finding and talking to friends was awesome, the talent show was awesome, and seeing the joy on their faces as they went down slides and won small prizes was the awesome-est of all.

Like I said, it was awesome.

;)

A "Good" LV Storm

Besides family (of course) I can only think of one thing that I miss about Phoenix*:

Monsoon storms.

Real monsoon storms.

Our "monsoons" in Las Vegas are totally lame-o.

But, we take what we can get:

And for these rain-deprived Las Vegas babies of mine, they thought the sprinkling we got today was HUGE, and they were in love.

*Notice I said Phoenix, not Arizona. That's because there are approximamtely 8 gazillion things I miss about Flagstaff.  Notsomuch about Phoenix. 

The First Half...

Summer is HALF over!

And we are halfway through our 80 Days of Summer fun.

There are 80 days of summer vacation,

Until school comes around just to end it.

So the annual problem for our generation,

Is finding a good way to spend it.

Like maybe:

Going to storytime at the library

Earning a free book at Barnes and Noble

Making friendship bracelets

Blowing giant bubbles

Celebrating the 4th of July

Making homemade ice cream

Watching a movie at the dollar theatre (The Lorax in 3D)

Trying a new fruit (dinosaur pluots... the kids were NOT fans)

Visiting the water park

Visiting a new park (Reunion Trails Park in Henderson.  It.  Is.  Awesome!)

Having a picnic at the park

Learning about a new culture (Japan)

Making playdough (moonsand with flour and baby oil)

Watching the Fratello Marionettes show at the library

Eating frozen custard from Nielsen's

Visiting the pet store

Making a fort

Playing water pinata

Painting our annual handprints

Making bird feeders

Planting a garden

Writing and putting on a play

(Nephi gets the Brass Plates.  King Laban was played by the vacuum)

Visiting a museum (Lied Science Center)

Celebrating Adam's 9th birthday

Making a new snack (fairy toast from Australia)

Coloring nature rubbings

Writing a book

Going to the summer reading kick-off at the library

(where we scored these sweet tickets)

It's been FUN! 

I love being with these kiddos all day long!

Heaven, According to Josh...

... was walking into Barnes and Noble and seeing this train table:

We're not exactly sure how he became super-in-love with Thomas, but he soooooo is.

It's adorable.

I didn't think we would ever pull him away from that table, though.

;)

(By the way, do Thomas the Train toys have diamonds embedded in them?  Because good freakin' grief are those things pricey).

Adam at 9 {with commentary from Mom}

I WANT:  a 3DS {Really?  Again?  Never.  Going.  To.  Happen}
I HAVE: a pesky sister and an annoying brother {how touching}
I WISH: that I could play more Wii.
I HATE: taco soup.
I MISS: my grandparents, my cousins, my aunt and uncles, and my dad.
I HEAR: a fan.
I WONDER: why if I ride my bike over a piece of charcoal why it doesn't turn to a diamond. {  :)  }
I REGRET: being too cautious about germs.
I AM NOT: popular at school.
I DANCE: not regularly.
I SING: regularly.
I CRY: when mom takes away Wii.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: deadly {ummm... thank goodness?}
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: art.
I WRITE: reports at school.
I CONFUSE: my sister.
I NEED: a Nintendo 3DS {oooh, boy...}
I SHOULD: eat more broccoli
I START: fourth grade soon
How old are you? 9
Nicknames: Adders
Are you taller than your mother? No {Not for long}
Do you cry often during movies? NO!
What is your biggest pet peeve? Grace licking stuff.
Favorite color: Orange, neon green, yellow, and red
Favorite foods: Pizza, Mexican haystacks, hamburgers
Favorite beverage: Dr. Pepper {I don't recall him EVER being allowed to have that...}
Favorite cold cereal: Fruity Pebbles
Favorite Smells: nail polish, pizza baking, gasoline {good-bye, brain cells}
Favorite time of day: night
What is your favorite game? Monopoly
How many pillows do you sleep with? 2

Do you play an instrument? Yes, the piano

What was the last movie you saw? Bedtime Stories

What is your favorite article of clothing? My lightning bolt shirt

What is your dream vacation? Going to Legoland and Disneyland and Harry Potter World

What do you love most about Dad? That he wrestles me.

What do you love most about Mom? That she gives me yummy food, except for Taco Soup

What is your favorite "me- time" activity? Reading Harry Potter

What is one of your weaknesses? I have none! {sooo humble!}

What is the emotion you feel the most? Happy!

Do you consider yourself outgoing? Sometimes

What are some of your talents? Playing the piano, reading, art, wrestling, doing tricks on my bike, avoiding eating taco soup {it's true; he can avoid that stuff like the plague}

What is a word or phrase you overuse? EPIC {noooo.... really?  I didn't realize 1,985 times a day was overusing}

What was the hardest thing that happened to you this past year? Moving

What is the best thing that happened to you this year? Swimming at Teagan's house

The best thing learned this past year? How to play the piano

What was your favorite thing about being eight years old?  Getting baptized

What are you most excited about being nine years old? Being a Bear Scout and my birthday and Christmas and Easter and when I lose a tooth!

Adam is so fun and creative and smart and helpful.  He is growing into such a wonderful person, and we just adore him!  I am so thankful every day for this sweet boy.

Our Fantastic 4th of July!

This week was already fantastic, because Ethan and Cameo (my brother and his wife) came up on Monday! We had fun visiting with them and going to the dollar theatre with them earlier this week.

Today, they came over for a fun barbecue and fireworks show!

The kids spent the morning listening to patriotic music while coloring flags.  I tried to teach them about why we celebrate, but they were all pretty hyper. 

In the morning, they all had red, white, and blue clothes on... somehow, however, the water got turned on in the backyard, so they got soaked and had to change.  It was cute while it lasted.

We had hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon, potato salad, macaroni salad, chips, beans and homemade ice cream with apple pie!

As yummy as dinner was, I think the highlight of the day was the fireworks.

Fireworks get donated all of the time to D.I.

D.I. can't sell them.

But, the managers do get to divide them up and take them home.

(So, by all means please keep on donating your fireworks).

;)

We had quite a collection.

But, Mike decided that it wasn't enough. 

So he ran out and bought some more.

And then, Ethan and Cameo brought fireworks over, too.

So, we had quite the show.

(That and EVERYONE around us was doing the illegal in-the-air fireworks, that you can buy in Parhump.  We were surrounded by them and way closer to them than we would have been, had we gone to a show.  It was pretty great!).

We watched fireworks for a long time, and then came in around 11:00 and had dessert (crazy!).

We had SUCH a great 4th of July! It was even better because we got to spend it with Ethan and Cameo! We LOVE when family visits us!!!