Strike!

Another punch on our coupon card used!




This is our soon-to-be-complete temple! The building we attend is right next door--you can actually see the temple from the chapel windows--it's amazing! The Church owns all the this land around it and is developing it into housing. There are walking trails and a lake--it's going to be lovely!

Hot Stuff

Those of you who know me, know that I let my kids be themselves, even if it means that they look like this every day.

Awesome, I know. They look abandoned. Jimmy has a black eye from a shopping cart. I found Robbie wearing five shirts the other day, 'cause he thought it made him look like he had bigger muscles. And Ty, well, he just has his own sense of fashion.

Fun Run

We bought one of those coupon cards from a friend and have had a great time getting the card punched! This place is just a jolly jump house heaven. The kids loved it, and Rob and I had our fun too!

Basketball

Go Panthers! Robbie is on his first basketball team, and I must say, it is hilarious to watch! The whole concept of guarding your man on one side of the court only to try and get away from him on the other (oh wait, that is until we switch sides . . .)it's craziness out there! But, he did manage a sweet spin move at his game on Saturday and even made a basket! Way to go, Robbie!

Final Days

It's always sad for me to leave home--especially this time of year when I have to go back to FREEZING! The boys still have to call my dad every night for story time (he has the BEST made-up stories, with hilarious deliveries (Dino the Dinosaur and The One-Legged Deer are some favorites, as well as the Three Little Pigs--I just don't do it the same!) But, now we get to be with Rob! Such a blessed life! But, before we left, here's what we did:

We got ice cream MANY times. "Blue kind with marshmellows" was the latest craving, but the all-time kid-iest creation was Robbie's root beer ice cream with Junior Mints. He insisted it was delicious! :)


A little Chuck-E-Cheese action!






The boys were very attached to Ella and Hunter. This was when Robbie gave his tearful goodbye.
I'm a brave woman--traveling alone with three kids, but the truth is, they were just great! Thanks guys!

There are perks to everything. Though I am sure my parents cry themselves to sleep at night since we're not there (ha ha) at least they can find solace in that their house is now free from our destruction. There are some little people, that just know how to make mischief out of anything (this would be CHALK, and he bathed it all over the dogs as well!)

Farmers

I wouldn't exactly call this place a farm, but we do have a tractor! Jimmy loved his first tractor ride with Grandpa, and, of course, Robbie and Ty were totally pumped.

The place is full of yummy fruit! Strawberries, blueberries, pears, plums, peaches, apples, cherries, pomegranates, Tahitian limes, lemons, avacadoes, oranges, tangos . . . no wonder the air smells sweet!

Coconuts are in our future!
The boys picked lemons with Grandpa today, and watered them too!


I am so sick of buying yucky avocados at the store for $2 each when I can just pick one outside!
Tangos! My parents have about 150 of these trees (thanks to Rob digging all the holes!) They aren't quite ripe, but the boys picked them and ate them anyway.

Spoiled

I wake up to the sun. I go outside and it's . . . perfect! Not too hot or cold or windy or still. The other day I just laid on the sidewalk and I seriously could have fallen asleep. My parents live in a gorgeous home with some acreage (and hello! Look at these views!), so we are in our own little world--no traffic or loud neighbors. It's like living in heaven. If Rob were here, it'd be perfect. (Plus, there is yummy food, and a DVR on a big screen . . . it doesn't get better!)

Man Time!

Boys need to play . . . hard . . . constantly. It's exhausting for me--I feel like I've been chasing them around all day, and then to have to throw them around again is just--well, tiring! Thankfully, there is some kind of play-all-the-time gene linked to the Y chromosome. My dad is a great Bucking Bronco, a feisty wrestler, and a superstar catch-you-throw-you-on-the-bed player! I'm so grateful for his energy and playfulness since the boys desperately need the activity and attention with their dad being away. Grandpa Harp (their great-grandpa) raced cars with them too, satisfying their "wheels" cravings. I'm so grateful for such great men and examples to my growing boys.