September

 Life can be relaxing when you are not running. 

Azalyn has started to develop her own since of style. As a mom you can fight it or embrace it. (I choose both) One day at preschool she wanted to be all Horse (it was H Day) She had horse bows, horse dress, and horse shoes. Another day she wanted to wear leg warmers, we embraced the 80's with a side pony. 

Our couch stopped working. (Our brand-new couch we got in April). They ended up just giving us our money back, but they did not want the old one back. This time we got a couch with a love seat and a wedge. I love having a couch in the front room. 

The cousins have really missed each other. The boys and Axel discovered that they could call each other and play Roblox together. I love that they want to stay in touch. Since we are in different time zones it is not super easy to connect. Talking about connections, we met a new family. The Davis’, our kids are the same 2 boys (same age) and then a girl. Azalyn is in her preschool (but she is a year older) We have loved hanging out with them. 

With Greg not stressing about homework ALL the time we have done more little family things. Like he went on a bike ride. The kids wanted to show him another park they discovered. Then he was the one to suggest swimming. He recognizes that swimming is something that everyone loves (he has started to enjoy it more) We also put my treadmill together. The sad part, it will not work. I was hoping it was just a lose wire but it has a short and not worth the fix even if we could.  

I love 99% of Arizona. The thing I miss most about Utah is the doctors. I took Colvin to his year checkup. I would never bring a baby to this office. Then I took Azalyn to an ENT appointment, and they had scheduled her wrong, they did not have a doctor that could check her hearing since she was under 5. I will search till we get to 100%. I did find a really good kid dentist. The boys had no cavities. Azalyn had one cavity but never even flinched getting it filled. All the cities do movies in the park. (they are so fun and we love them) We went to Bad Guys, rolled ice cream was the highlight. Azalyn fell asleep you can only run so fast. 

I have been letting the kids drive home (the 2 blocks before home). I told them they had to go 10 mph. They got to 20 and thought they were speed demons. It is cooling down, so neighbors are coming back. We finally got to meet our neighbors across the street (they were gone by the time we moved in last year) They are really nice. I do love our neighborhood. 

I have a problem. I have discovered that Sam’s Club, about a mile from my house, has hot pretzels. I have gone weekly if not more than once a week since the discovery.  Azalyn has discovered that she loves doing puzzles. However, she wants me to give her all the pieces. I told her to try it on her own. 10 min of whining. Then she had a whole puzzle together in about 2 min. She was so proud of herself. Azalyn got to go to a friend’s house and play. On her own for the first time ever. She did really good for about 30 min. Denali auditioned and got a lead role in the school play. They are doing Aristocrats, he is Toulouse B. Denali and Colvin both got 100% on their poems. We have been working all quarter. I was able to go and watch both of them.

Colvin:

4 Bright Coins:

4 bright coins shining at me,

The 1st one said, "I'm a penny you see."

The 2nd one said, "How do you do?

I'm called a nickel, and I'm bigger than you!"

The 3rd one said, "You're both small stuff,

If you want to buy something, you're not enough!

But look at me, I'm small, and I shine,

I can buy something cuz a dime."

The last coin looked at them all and laughed,

"All of you together don't measure up to me.

Cuz I'm a quarter, can't you see?

Denali did:

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

By Susan Blackaby

Scientists are like explorers,

Using what they know and see

To blaze a trail that, step by step,

Will lead to new discoveries

 Formulate, distill, and focus,

Narrow down, define the gist,

Determine scope and pinpoint locus—

This is your hypothesis.

 Gather all the stuff you need,

To put in play the machinations.

Document the happenings—

These comprise your observations

 What things change and what things stick?

Record the outcomes and effects.

Don’t presume and don’t predict—

Collect the data: just the facts.

Combine the concrete things you see

With what you know and trials you test.

Interpretations is the key—

Results are where you end the quest.

Denali and Colvin fasted for the first time. Greg and I are bad at fasting. However, we know it is something the kids will learn by example. Both boys did not eat breakfast. They did eat a little lunch but no water. (it is about the try) Colvin graduated from speech. He started speech when he was 2. The first full sentence was, "Mom I want that red truck"(I still cry). He is really smart, he had to take a state test 98-115 is passing, he got 129. 

Greg did the sweetest thing. He stayed home and helped with the kids because I was sick. I always complin that he gets a day off when he is sick but not me. He worked from home, took everyone to school and picked up preschool. This month Greg and I went on not one but two dates. The first one the kids got to stay home on their own. Did Denali and Colvin feel so grown up. They even had to warm up pizza (in the microwave). We went to Red Lobster. Then on the 2nd date they got to go to a friend’s house. Yes, I let my kids go to a friend’s house. Greg and I went and got food then came home and watched Hocus Pocus 2. I Love my husband; he really is my best friend.  We have started watching shows again together. We finished Sweet Tooth and started Goldbergs. (My big bang theory)

Greg is in activity days (A very growing calling for him). They did a nerf war combined (all girls and boys from 8-12). The boys loved it. Our kids spent a few days making their shields. 

I was able to attend a women’s conference. It was not, here is a list of improvements. It was, yes you are on the right path and yes you are doing it right. A few great quotes: A lazy mom does it all. (My kids really hate me saying I am no longer their slave). The church is not a cruise ship where a handful of people serve everyone else who is relaxing. No, the church is a battleship where it is all hands on deck and everyone serves the mission. I have been in nursery all but one week the last 2 months (the goal is only to be in there once a month) I had almost every member of the primary presidency come and ask if I was ok. I love that they care. I was asked to do a young women’s activity. They wanted ME yes me to teach them how to do hair.  It was one girl, and she wanted to learn to French braid. (My family was all surprised they asked me, I was too) After the younger girls just wanted me to do their hair. It was not perfect, but it was fun. They really needed my mom. She does not understand the talents she has. I made edible homemade bread. I had mom on the phone 90% of the time with me but I did it. The boys did not love it. Greg and I ate a whole loaf. (Hot bread right out of the oven is the BEST).

We finally had a solar guy come out ( I have been pushing it) the first one said yes with TONS of panels. The 2nd one said we are ineligible. Solar panels would do us very little good. We are going to make our house as energy efficient as possible. 

I have been touring schools for next year. My prayer was I would have NO this is not right, or this could work. I will keep you posted.