Thanks for The Trampoline Mom and Dad!

Since Ray and Jill will be leaving for their mission in Samoa on Monday, they have been getting rid of a lot of things around the house. We have been the beneficiaries of TONS of food storage, a printer/scanner, an upright freezer and much more. The item that Lincoln is the most excited about is the trampoline. It's one of those heavy duty ones they made back in the day. It is over 30 years old! It's not like the ones they have now that bend and blow away in the wind. Lincoln LOVES his new "panch." (tramp...he often mixes the first and last sound of words.) Take a look! Keep in mind that the trampoline resides in the part of the back yard that is still not finished. It's kinda embarrassing....

Aquarium and Pool

A few weeks ago, we took a long trip to SLC. It was our family vacation for the summer. We had a great time. We visited the aquarium and the Bountiful Rec. Center.


This little frog was one of my favorites. He is so cute! However, he is VERY poisonous.

The piranhas were kinda creepy.



Lincoln liked parts of the aquarium more than others. He liked looking at the fish......


He liked touching the bumpy star fish......



He thought the pink jelly fish were cool......


But mostly, Lincoln took great delight in pointing to the letters he knows on the signs around the aquarium.

I have to brag for a second. As we were walking into the aquarium, my mom was holding Lincoln's hand. Up by the entrance, the words FIRE LANE were painted on the asphalt. Lincoln approached the word LANE and pointed to (and identified) all the letters. What a smarty!



We had a great time at the aquarium. We will definitely go back sometime.

Later in the week, more visitors joined us in SLC. Tori and Alexis came from St. Louis! Tori's friend was getting married and really wanted Tori to be there so she bought her a ticket and flew her out. FUN!

Lincoln LOVES Alexis. He wanted to play with her all day long. He even tried to wake her up from her naps so they could play. He is so soft and sweet with her and she is as adorable as ever.

Lincoln loves to kiss Alexis' leg. He had so much fun with Tori and Lexie. In every prayer since our visit, he has been sure to bless Tori, Dan and Alexis.

We also went swimming at the Bountiful Rec. Center. They have such a nice facility! Lincoln was so brave in the water. He surprised me! However, it is a little unnerving to have a child who is not afraid of water. Now Lincoln thinks he can jump in the water by himself...AAHHHHH!



My mom really enjoyed all the time she got to spend with Lincoln.




We had a BLAST! Thanks mom and dad for putting up with us for so long. We love you!

Fun on the 4th

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2009



We had a great time on the 4th of July. We woke up that morning and got decked out in our red, white and blue, then headed to Parowan for the traditional festivities.


(Lincoln loves flags now. :)
We watched the parade with the fam...
Then went to the park for races and Popsicles and headed home for some chillin at the house.

We participated in the second annual slip-n-slide event held by the Cecil family. WOW! I am glad we don't have pictures for evidence.

Next, we got the kids cleaned up....

And ready to pose for some cute pictures.


Games, food, fireworks and root beer floats closed the day.
I love our holiday traditions!

Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis: a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism.

See that little froggy in there? Rayn Blair and I took our kids a few weeks ago to La Verkin creek to catch little polliwogs. Lincoln and I caught four and since then, we have been watching them with much anticipation. This little guy has been changing from tadpole to frog for several weeks now. This morning, I was delighted to find that he finished his journey and is now ready for life as a little frog. The ability to witness this profound change has been incredible.


These other little tadpoles are a little slower to make the change, but I am sure that they will start their lives as frogs very soon.

I wanted these little critters to have the best chance of survival and I know that the natural habitat is the ideal environment for them so Rayn kindly offered to take them back to the creek. She wants to teach her children that we should place things back where we found them. That's so nice! I will miss watching these little creatures, but I know that they will be happier and healthier in the creek where they belong.

In writing about these little frogs, my thoughts have wandered a little to another "change" that I am experiencing in my life. It has been a hard change to embrace and I still have a difficult time talking about it from time to time. The change I am referring to is that of a new vehicle. I am going to be an official mini van mom... We sold my cute 4 Runner and we are going for something a little more practical. Rayn laughed when she heard the news. She only laughed because she knows how I feel because she drives a van as well. She was able to put my feelings into words. She said it is kinda like turning 30. My thoughts EXACTLY!

I will post pics of the new ride in a few days after I get the thing...