found

What have you been up to lately?  Me?  I've been packing. And packing.

It is funny what you come across as you load up all your earthly possessions into cardboard boxes....

* A love note written from a love-sick BYU student to her 'long distance' (clear in Salt Lake) boyfriend. Oh the memories!
* The first letter Dallin ever wrote, to his cousin Carson, when we had just moved here and Dallin was in kindergarten.  The printing is precious, the accompanying illustration darling.  It was sent and then returned by my smart sis who knew I'd want to keep it in his book for always!
* And this:

Shouldn't it be considered 'vintage' at this point?  Why, you may ask, do I still have this lovely pastel Caboodles case?  It makes a GREAT storage compartment for Chad's shoe polish. ;)

funny things...

...I've noticed lately:

*My baby LOVES babies!  She loves to rock and give her dolls a bottle.  Today she tried to take her doll for a 'walk' in the stroller.  Problem is, she doesn't know how to walk herself.  How can a girl who is still such a baby herself love to play mommy?
* Bitty boy is talking more and has started to SING his little heart out.  I guess I shouldn't say 'start' since he has been singing for a long time, but now I can tell which song he is performing.  Not so much because I can understand the words, but this boy has great rhythm and pitch!
*Sissy is getting so long and lanky.  She has always loved to dangle from a ledge we have in our house, but now her feet reach the floor!  When did she get so big?
* Mr. D is so darling with his face full of grown-up teeth.  Maybe he won't have as awkward an awkward stage as his mother had to suffer!
*I'm not very good at taking pictures of all these great little moments.  But, I did take some one-year-old shots of this cutie.  Enjoy!

glued

College football season started yesterday. Much to my chagrin.  One person in this house, however, is ecstatic!

Make that two. 
Nothing like a perfectly still 'customer' (GLUED to the game) when you want to play beauty parlor!

Our Summer, in Pictures: August

baby got big

There are no words....I love this girl beyond beyond!

bittersweet

The first day back...

 the bitter:
* saying 'goodbye' to the long, lazy days of summer
*sending these kids off to just grow up some more...really can't anyone figure out a way to stop that?
*earlier wake-up times
*earlier bedtimes (at least in theory)
*another season written in the books....did we have enough fun to last 'til next summer???
*watching Kate nervously find her way to 1st grade...I didn't know she'd be scared!

the sweet:
*saying 'hello' to more structure and organization that comes with fall
*sending these cute kids off into the world to learn and grow...oh, how they make me proud!
*earlier wake-up times are good for me (right?)
*earlier bedtimes for mom, too (in theory)
*another season written in the books...it was a glorious summer, wasn't it?
*seeing Dal wave me off with a 'see ya later, Mom' and no worries at all....when did my baby get so big?

Grandpa O. 1922-2011

Grandpa.
A builder, fixer, gardener, tinkerer
A missionary, testifier, teacher
A writer, family history keeper, genealogist
A veteran, a peacemaker
Father, Grandpa and Grandpa Great.

I will miss you so!