Love This Season

A very talented friend in our ward (church congregation) here has a daughter Savvy's age. We are getting to know their family, and Savannah went to their house last week. My friend decided to take these fun pics, then very nonchalantly gave me a CD a few days later, and I just had to share. I think she is so talented - just snapped these out in her backyard and house. She also took some sweet baby pics of Rachel, like the one I added to the right. Now I'm trying to come up with a talent to share with her:) I love the fall pics, Savvy (of course) loves the dress up/ballerina pics.

Discombobulated

A few Sundays ago, I was talking to an older friend at church. She was asking me how I was doing with "three" and said that when her third child was born, she was very discombobulated. "YES!" I almost shouted, "that's the perfect word!" And it is. I don't really even know how to say how I am doing right now. I feel like I am doing okay with three, but I really just feel kind of . . . discombobulated! Like I am not sure how to stay afloat and keep up with everything. A lull in activity hits, the baby is asleep, and it's like I don't know what to do with myself because I really just want to sleep, but there's dishes, laundry, piles of mail, a very cluttered house, a church lesson to prepare, phone calls to return, bills to pay . . . you know how it is. So I am still adjusting to having this new little person in my life and learning how to balance it all. We also recently started soccer and ballet again, which added another dimension. Oh, and I have had some "fun" stuff going on health-wise, but that is an entirely different post. For now, the grandparents are wanting updated pics, so here are a few recent shots and videos.







Rachel is really smiling now and starting to make cute little sounds, especially for her daddy & brother.


Savannah has decided she wants to be a Navy cheerleader when she grows up . . .



On another note, I am LOVING the fall here. It has been a perfect-weather week. Hope you are enjoying this time of year, too!

Last first day of preschool

Savvy started preschool last week and is (of course) loving it. She has been begging to go back to preschool ever since we left Virgina and she said goodbye to her first preschool. It makes me sad that this is her last year of preschool - next year she will go to full-day kindergarten! She loves to learn and to socialize, and preschool provides all that and more for her. They are learning some sign language and she is so excited to share it with us when she gets home. Trevor still remembers lots of signs he learned at that age - their minds are like little sponges. I am grateful that my kids have had such great preschool experiences so far in FL, VA, and now here. It is such a fun time of their development - so excited to learn and grow!

Rachel meets Grandma L, Daija, & Jonathan

We had another wave of visitors last week - first, Daija and Jonathan came down from Boston, then Grandma Linton joined us. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I am a little "off my game" in a lot of areas right now! We hope we didn't scare Daija and Jonathan (they are having a baby next month!) Everyone was very helpful and understanding of our chaotic household:).

Daija braiding Savvy's hair for her


Vacation wouldn't be vacation without a few
card games


Jonathan & Daija babysat Savannah one afternoon, and when we returned, she was doing cartwheels like a pro. She loved watching the gymnastic events of the Olympics. She is one determined kid - they had to tell her to rest because her arms started giving out on her.



Hooray for Navy football! Grandma, Ashkii, Trevor and Savannah were there for the first game of the season:



All the midshipmen (students at the academy) in their uniforms - always a sight to behold!


Grandma Linton was SUPER helpful to us, especially with the yard. I should have taken some before and after pics, because it really was an amazing transformation. She is a farm girl at heart and loves to work outdoors. Our neighbor commented to Trevor, "That's great that your Grandma is here helping you guys." To which he replied, "Yeah, she's a professional."

Oh, and despite her claim of not being a "baby person," she was helpful in that area as well. She and Rachel seemed to have an understanding, and she got her to sleep for us several times!


By the last day, Grandma was (finally) worn out!


Thanks for visiting us, Vicki, Daija, and Jonathan!

Second grade

Trevor started second grade yesterday. Ashkii and I can't believe we have a second grader. He had a great first day and was excited to have kids in his class that he knows from first grade and from tennis lessons this past summer. We have heard GREAT things about his teacher, which is always a relief. Especially since he has started to do that "boy thing", saying "I don't like school. I don't like homework." After he came home yesterday he said, "Mom, I actually had fun!"

Ten Years!

We celebrated our tenth anniversary this past Monday! This is a picture of us in front of the Salt Lake Temple, where we were married for eternity. In some ways, it seems impossible to me that it has been ten years already, but when I think about all that we've done, all the places we have lived, all the ways we have grown, I realize that it does seem like ten years! Thanks, Ashkii, for all the memories, for making me a better person, for being a wonderful husband and excellent father. I am so grateful for you!

Recent days

Still admiring our new sister . . . .

We're all a little tired around here . . .

I'm running the show at this house!

We have been inside, avoiding the HEAT, and have
done a lot of puzzles.

And we've played lots of games - Dad and
Rachel are a good team.

Rachel loves her baths


Grandma Goldy had to go home to her own life -
we sure miss her, and now feel the need to hire
a cook and nanny:)

The beginnings of a smile?

Savannah was in charge of setting the table,
and decided to include Rachel:)