FoNd FaReWeLl To SwIm LeSsOnS

Annelise's swim lessons are officially over till next year...and I must say it has been fun (and hot) and I am glad I got a few pics of the kids in their '08 swimwear! And I must say that I am thinking the lessons were worth it since in Annelise's last set of lessons she could swim all by herself! It was so fun to see her do it and I anticipate what more she will learn and try next year! Goodbye to Clearfield Aquatic Center for a year! And a definite goodbye to smelling like chlorine!

GaRdEn Of EdEn...

Well, it is our minature garden of eden! I have really enjoyed our garden this year. We started out with peas (and plenty of them)! And now we have zucchini, tomatoes, spaghetti squash, banana squash, cucumbers, green beans, edible flowers, and butternut squash. I must say the tomatoes are my favorite and Josh is a huge cucumber fan. And like father like kid....the kids like the cucumbers most as well. Annelise did love the peas though...but we harvested them months ago. It has been fun to put seeds/starts in and reap the benefits. I wish I was more garden-savy...but it is coming along! Any ideas for what I should plant next year? I think I might try more cucumbers and maybe a cantelope. We'll see!

OuR sIxTh WeDdInG AnNiVeRsArY

On the 8th of August Josh and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. I worked that day...but then at night we got a sitter (luckily it was a friday) and went to Lagoon with some of our dearest friends. They were the friends that got us through our sad times of being away from family in Seattle for 3 1/2 yrs. I am so glad that we have kept up our friendship with them and I am even more glad we met them and had them in Seattle. They happened to be here in Utah because Monica was graduating from PA school. Congrats Mosky! While it wasn't the most romantic anniversary- it was still so worth it to see the Shribers. (even if I didn't get to ride any rides and was the official purse holder and picture taker). Happy Anniversary anyways Josh...I love you.

OlDiEs...BuT gOoDiEs

I finally printed some pics of from my...duh duh duh...disposable camera- and thought I just had to share in the quality of pics you get from a disposable! How could I resist? I just know that you all are going to be jealous...and hey...just think- you can get your very own disposable camera at your neighborhood Wal-mart!





First are some pictures of the 24th of July. We went to the parade in Salt Lake (a tradition for Josh's family). We sit in the same place every year...and I gotta say I really do enjoy that parade. Josh's favorite float is the Mama's Faith Church float (with a boistrous choir with big Easter hats on)...and my favoirte along with Aaron's was is the motorcycle cops in the beginning. Annelise loved all the floats that had royalty on them...and wanted to know the names of each girl (I was running out of names half-way through the parade!) She loved their dresses and would wave back in the traditional "parade wave."

After the parade we cruised over to Lagoon-a-beach to cool off and after went home for naps. Later we went back to see their firework display. I never realized how wimpy Annelise is for loud noises because she had to cover her ears the entire show! I love the music to fireworks...and I think Aaron liked his first firework show in dad's arms. That made for a pretty perfect day.

WhAt'S oN yOuR mInD?

Well...I thought I would just post the top 5 or so things that have been on my mind lately. So...here we go.

Numero Uno. I realize that the summer is ending! It has been getting darker earlier and it is cooler at nights. And...Annelise has her very last day of swim lessons tomarrow! I might be done with swimming altogether after tomarrow! That is actually kinda sad. She has really come far with her swimming and now can swim all by herslf for about 15 yards until she starts to loose confidence. I took her to get icecream to celebrate and I must say that I am so glad she is doing so well with it. Her teacher says she is just so tiny and then surprises you with a swim to the side! And I must say I am jealous of her tan little body. I am just the Shamu mom watching on the side with Aaron but I am a little sad it is ending. And with the soon passing of summer...that means school is starting soon to! Preschool again for Annelise and don't I wish Aaron was old enough for something!

Numero Dos. I am so not ready for three kids. I wouldn't even mind if the due date was farther away! I am just so afraid of what I am in for- (all you veteran moms are laughing at me now I know it!) Annelise is excited and Aaron has no idea whats going to happen soon. And me, I just know I am about to be so sleep deprived with three kids who need a mom...and there may be only scary-monster-brittanny-mom left for them! They are such sweet kids and I hope I can deliver for them.

Numero Tres. I am just about out of energy to do any last minute summer projects! It has been a pretty project-oriented last couple of months...and I must say I am done! We did a cute border/paint job in Aaron's room...and some paneling in Annelise's room and quite a few other big projects. Josh got pretty good with a nail gun and saw and showed his true manly side...and I decided that I have absolute respect for all the finish-work guys out there. It is way harder than it looks! I am just now getting all the paint out from under my fingernails and vow to not start another project for a while!

Numero Cuatro. Come to find out...I am obsessed with the Olympics. I have stayed up way too late watching them each night and can't go to sleep unless I have had my fill! I am not sure if it is the pregnancy hormones or what but I have gotten teary-eyed numerous times! It has been amazing to watch Michael Phelps win 8 Golds and I loved watching the Americans win so many medals in gymnastics and I love love love watching track and field. Diving is another favorite and I am so proud of our great athletes representing over in Beijing!

Numero Cinco. Now that the Twilight series is officially over for me (I read all four books) I really need something great to get excited about. I am so glad I read them, and I did so enjoy them (sometimes a little too much!) So, I started reading Tom Clancy books again. There is nothing like a Tom Clancy novel. There is no wonder most of his books have been made into movies! I love his books because they involve politics and some current events and a whole bunch of hypotheticals that may not be so hypothetical if we really knew what went on in our government! They are going to keep my mind pretty occupied until this baby comes.

Well, that just happens to be what is on my mind lately...there is other stuff floating around in there- but those are just some highlights for ya. So tell me...what is the biggest issue on your mind lately?

AnY iDeAs?

I am looking to get the baby photographed within 7 days of him being born...so I want to schedule it now. Do any of you know of a good photographer of babies? Oh...here's the catch...I was hoping to not spend a fortune! If you have any leads I would love them! Thanks!

HaPpY bIrThDaY mAyRa!

I have just got to post a happy birthday to my sweet sister-in-law today. She has been so sweet and created super cute posts for Josh and I's bdays...and I must say she is quite something. She is so super thoughtful and truly deserves a great bday. (I hope brandon gives it to her!) And I hope she knows how much we miss and love her. And...how much Annelise and Aaron miss her too! Happy Birthday Mrs. Mayra Jenell Harline!

SwIm LeSsOnS

Annelise has had (almost) three sets of swim lessons so far this summer. They are each two weeks long and I timed it so that after a set she has two weeks off. I was just telling Jenelle Nordfors that is has been a blessing and a curse. Positives: I really love to always have something to do; Annelise absolutely loves the water and has shown some serious improvement; it was affordable; I get to take the kids swimming after her lessons anytime (which I usually do 2 times a week); and it is teaching Annelise how to swim. Negatives: It is sometimes so annoying to have to take her; and the pressure from the kids to stay after and swim is terrible (it is alot of planning and pack-muling around a bunch of stuff).

More positives then negatives. Good thing because we still have to get through this week and another set in August. I hope more of you meet us there...is always makes it more fun to chat while the kids swim...so come join us someday! I am still working on geting a little tan- "tan fat looks better than white fat"...and since I am getting bigger- this is crucial. Official invite: Come swim if you ever can!

WoRk SoNg

Work work work...all day long...
work work work...while I sing this song...
going clean those teeth...going to make them shine...
I get off just in time for kids' bedtime!

I have been working way too much lately and I am so glad I have this week off! I need to catch up on a hundred projects and start a whole bunch more. I have always been a self-appointed tasker to make my life more difficult (as Josh says). I wonder how other moms keep up on things so well...when I feel like each day is just slipping away! I am so inspired by so many of you and get help from so many others as well. I really do not look forward to next week...I work everyday. And then the next week it is the same thing! Then, I cut back to sparatic days each week until Sept. 12 being my last day of work.

I might go back after the baby...or...I might not if we don't need me to! I certainly would rather not with the monotony of my job. But, it is good money for the time I am there! I can't argue with that paycheck when I need to pay the bills! I do miss the kids though. Hard to imagine sometimes when they drive me nuts when I am at home.

AaRoN's SeCoNd BiRtHdAy

My sweet lil Aaron had his second bday on the 6th of July. It was a Sunday so on his actual bday we just had Grandma Vicky & Grandpa Delyn for cake. I made spice cake for him since he is named after my dad (his middle name being Dennis) because that was his favorite...and apparently Aaron really likes it too! He loved being sang to- he would join in the best he could and loved all the attention.

I have made a rule for myself that I would only have official birthday parties on the even years for the kids...so this year Aaron got a party. We wanted it to be about something he really enjoys so I thought naturally it should be a swimming party. And to make it "cute" I had a themed swimming party with pirates. Aaron is lucky to have a few sweet friends this early in life who came, and we invited his cousins. Not all the cousins could make it so I was so glad that his friends could enjoy the pirate cake! We had the party at Clearfield Aquatic Center and I am telling you that there is no where he would rather be. Aaron is a lil fish! He loves the water and is usually the last to want to get out.






I have so enjoyed the last two years with him so much and love him more than words can say. His little personality is so fun and I love how tough and pain tolerant he is (esp. with a rough big sister). He doesn't say much yet, but I can see so much in his eyes that tells me plenty. I almost get sad when we add to our family that I might not be able to give as much of myself to the older kids, but I hope Aaron will always know how much we all love him and are so glad he is in our family.
Happy birthday Aaron Dennis.