The Wrong Idea

People have the wrong idea about having kids, they really do.  Not ALL people.  But a lot of people.  There is so much talk about the diapers and the teething and the messes, but honestly--it takes like 45 seconds to change a diaper (usually--every once in a while you have a Hiroshima diaper event).  You are very likely going to spend more time doing stuff like this than changing diapers on an average day if you have an 18 month-old:

It's a sweet sweet life that's flavored with baby giggles.

Joey Takes the Big Dip

Joey was baptized on November 11th.    He was soooo excited!

Grandma and Grandpa Farnsworth were able to come all the way from New Mexico for the event.

It was a very sweet day for me.  There were 7 kids getting baptized in the stake that day, so there were a LOT of people.  The chapel and the over flow area was full.  James and Sam sang a special musical number.  It was an arrangement of "Come Follow Me" and "How Great the Wisdom and the Love" that I wrote for the event.  (Which made me crazy, but nevermind that.)   It was so precious.

  

After the baptism Joseph was asked in Sacrament meeting how he felt while he was being baptized.  He said he just felt "really peaceful."  I felt really peaceful too.  I was relieved, *whew* another one safely in the protection of Jesus' atonement.  But one person did not feel peaceful AT ALL.  Guess who?

Danielle screamed bloody murder when he went under the water.   She couldn't understand how we could let him drown like that.  (She never saw him come up cuz she was too busy pitching a MAJOR fit and they closed the curtain.)  Kind of nice to know you are loved, I guess.

All Danielle

Danielle is so funny.

She looooves to flirt.

She likes to try on everybody's shoes.

What she craves most in the world is a big ol' peach or some other fruit that mommy won't give her because of the terrible gastrointestinal consequences that follow.

She makes really cute excited sounds when you go to read a book to her.

People at church love to watch her smile and play peek-a-boo with whoever is behind us.  People tell me they have never seen a baby smile so much. 

Our humble parishoners are NOT as fond of her eardrum-shattering shreiks, which she employs, ya know, just to keep things interesting.

Life is just a big adventure when you are one.

I love my little hija.

How to Handle a Summer

At first there is trepidation...oh no, here comes another Arizona summer with its 100+ days of 100+ degrees.  How will we ever survive?  (The real question really should be how the heck was this valley ever settled before air conditioning?)

But it takes you firmly in its grasp, and you learn to love it for what it is...HOT, which is perfect for swimming, so what's the harm in that?!  It also makes snow cones, popsicles, and ice cream more wonderful.

And then all too soon it is coming to an end! 

(But don't worry, it will be hot for a while yet.)

Better enjoy it while you still can!

Check out how James can part the waters.  How very biblical of him.

Hope you are enjoying your summer as much as this little girl is enjoying this swing!

"Neigh-h-h-h-h-h!" 

Her favorite word is now the horse sound, FYI.

Danielle's 9 Month Pictures

Momentous day!  Danielle is now 9 months old. 

Such bright blue eyes, such a trusting expression

Nicely Framed by the Mesa Temple

This is a good capture of her personality.  She delights in being delighted, and smiles so easily...as long as I hold her...constantly.

Her lovely features--a cupid's bow on her lips.

"Whacha doin laying on the ground, Mom?"

"Trying to seize the day, Love."

"You're just lucky I'm too young to be embarrassed of you in public."

"Exactly my point, my dear."

So, nine month milestones:

• She has been out of the womb longer than in it
• I am supposed to be back to prepregnancy weight.  (So close!  Just 3 more pounds...)
• It is time to start freaking out a little that she is not crawling. (Or is it?  My boys may have skewed my perspective--they were all soooo eager to get going.) What do you think?

And most importantly of all, I need to really just enjoy her even more, because the next time I turn around, she will be out of the baby stage, and become a vivacious toddler (which is also cool, but still).

Happy Easter!

Inspiration here and here. 

Macro! Vote For Your Favorite.

Most of my posts are about my family, or about me.  But THIS post is about YOU.  I've taken all these macro shots.  And now it is up to YOU to define yourself.  Are you the kind of person who goes nuts for a divine yellow flower?  Or are you more a closet bird-watcher?  Maybe patterns in nature get your seratonin flowing.  Decide, and then let the world (or at least me) know. Vote for your favorite in the comments and I'll do a special happy dance just for you.

(Click on them to see full size.)

#1 Beckoning

I like how I can almost feeeeel the texture of the petals.

#2 Fauna

This bird was so tame!  I was about 6 inches from it when I took this shot. 

#3 Crystal Fortress

I love water.  Water is amazing.  People who "don't like water" need to fast more often.

#4 God's Eyes

Notice how not a single flower is perfect, but they are still beautiful.  Just like us.

#5 Crown Princess

I have absolutely nothing to say about this photo.

#6 Fragrant

Sweet Alysum.  My mother used to say that I was named after this flower.  She called me "Sweet Alysumbeth."  There's a shortage of teeny tiny flowers that are always in bloom and have a sweet scent.  Sweet Alysum is the answer.

#7 Fractal Attraction

I wasn't going to say anything...but that's just, just NOT my style, is it? 

This one is my favorite!  I vote for this one!

#8 Supernova

That is a naturally occuring water drop, I promise!  Although I might've squirted it with my water bottle if it hadn't already been wet.  I have very few qualms, I guess.

#9  Refreshing

Hopefully this is not marijuana.

#10 Eruption

Danielle's first tooth.  I missed a lot of sleep for this shot.

The photographer

"Has anyone seen my keys?  I thought they might be behind this palm tree."

You can't vote for this one.  (I'm looking at you, Mom.)

This Beach is NOT for Sissies

We went to a really interesting beach while we were in California.  It wasn't the kind of beach where you wade in up to your waist and splash around.  It was very rocky, and exciting!

From what I could tell, it was mostly just a natural photo shoot--a haven for women who want to use their new cameras.

Sometimes it was peaceful, like this:

I love this picture!  Expand it, so you can see the water running.

But then a big swell would come in and explode against the rocks, like this:

You can't possibly grasp how big this wave is.  Here, I'll include a husband to show scale:

Expand this picture!  It is more impressive.

Joey loved the drama.

I like the airplane.

Sam loved the opportunity to explore.

"I hear the siren call of an adventure..."

He would have waded in if we had let him.

Adam said the hermit crabs made him "uncomfortable," and so that's why he kept trying to smoosh them.

We had to talk about tolerance. 

I love the halo he gets in this picture.

Danielle mostly beguiled other beachgoers.  Every time she sees a new person, she tries to catch their eye, dazzle them with her special smile, and then act bashful about it.  Here she is in action: 

(Some random lady is walking by.) 

What a flirt!

Probably she gets it from James.

The setting sun turned everything golden.

School glue has many uses, btw.

Overall, a good time was had by all.

But I think that my trigger-happy-picture-finger and I definitely had the the most fun!

Achievement and Reward!

We interrupt this rousing game of "cops and dragons" to bring you a very important announcement:  The jar of magic beans is full.  (Actually, they are pinto beans that I spray painted gold.)

So you know what this means, right? No?  Well then, you must not be a child in our home.  All little kids within my jurisdiction are required to get dressed, put away their pajamas, eat breakfast, put away their dishes, and brush their teeth every morning (hopefully without reminding).  When they complete their morning routine, they get to put 3 to 5 magic beans (depending on accuracy and speed) in the jar.  I told them that when it was full we would take them someplace REALLY cool.  They were thinking Chucky Cheese.  

I was thinking DISNEYLAND!

WEEEEEeeee!

They were very excited just by the tram ride to the park.

Watch out, Disney, here we come! 

 Prepare your security forces to look for lost little blond boys...

Adam wisely passed on many of the scarier rides.

But he still had fun!

Sam is not afraid of heights.  I sometimes wish he were.

Joey loved charming the locals.

"Calmly Waiting for Death"

After this shot, Adam asked me why Darth Vader didn't try to kill him. 

Then we had to have a rather painful discussion about how Star Wars isn't real.  He was quite shocked to learn this.

"Fuel for Future Therapy Appointments"

I'm sure Danielle will remember this trip forever.

Joey was so tough.  He didn't scream once during the "Space Mountain" ride, and even proudly announced that it "wasn't even scary."  I screamed the whole way.  I suppose I don't get out much.

"Lybi's Main Attraction"

James and I were just really proud of the fact that at the end of it all, we still had 4 kids, and we knew their geographical location and all.

I loved Disneyland, but my favorite part of the trip was probably getting to hang out with my beloved best friend Shae, who very conveniently lives close to Disneyland.

P.S.  Overheard the night before:

Adam:  Dear Heavenly Father, tomorrow we go to Disneyland.  So please bless that it will rain so I can use my new umbrella...

BINGO!

It totally rained.  All day.  But it kept the lines really short...just the way we like 'em.