Playing in the Rain

Alyssa came running inside on Monday and said we all needed to come outside because it was raining and it was deliciously beautiful! (She had already gone inside by the time I took pictures.) Everyone took her invitation to heart and played outside in the rain while it poured for the better part of an hour! 

The puddles were the best in the gutter area, of course! There was much fascination with the way the water ran down the storm drain. A few bits of grass, flowers, and leaves were sent on a journey to the great unknown.

Unfortunately the water was not quite deep enough to float a boat, but it was worth a try.

 

Average Summer Activities

 Erik and Alyssa have been hiking on Saturdays to prepare for a longer hike - maybe Mount Timpanogos - while we are in Utah. They had fun last Saturday hiking along the Barton Creek greenbelt. They crossed the creek at some point and then ran out of trail and found themselves back in the creek and eventually swimming to get back on the trail. There was a little more water than they had anticipated!

While Alyssa and Erik are gone, I have been taking the boys to a community soccer thing. Taft loved it the last week because there was a school advertising and he got hand sanitizer! And chips and juice. Taft also played more than he had the previous week, which probably made it enjoyable. Can you find Taft and Joel? Joel is holding a rainbow kickball if that helps you and Taft has eyes...

We've also been engaging in fun playdates and water activities. This week we went to a splash pad. Joel spent most of the 2 hours on this frog. Alyssa and Taft also played on the nearby playground. There was a giant web swing and a bunch of kids piled on it while Alyssa pushed them and another kid dumped water on them. I had the lovely privilege of holding my sleeping Evan the entire time. :)

When we are not out and about which is actually most days, this is what our mornings look like. Alyssa and Taft have been doing Hoffman Academy piano lessons and everyone gathers around, doing their own thing.

Some Pictures of Late - a short update

Kent put this monkey on his head like a head band. 

I have visitors most mornings during scripture study. They're kind of noisy, but they are cute.

Joel draws pictures and narrates as he draws. On this day he drew a house with stairs. He has a T on his head and Kent has a G on his head. Dad is pushing a lawn mower. Taft is carrying an H with a house on it and our garden is growing. (Taft collaborates and drew himself in the picture.)

It's a thing to wear stuff on your head. Joel's eyes look magnified in the VR goggles. Kent's eyes look depressed with his pants pushing them down.

Kirsten had a birthday so Alyssa made an apple cinnamon cake and we had a birthday party. It was so fun! Yay for birthdays of dolls! She's 6 now.

And here's the cutest baby in our house! He's a happy guy, that Evan! He likes to eat and sit up with some help. He ate a graham cracker yesterday - his first solid food. Now his poop will not be sweet and innocent any more. One graham cracker can do that. We all love him. Taft, Kent, and Joel played with him yesterday with baby toys. They made a tower of little cups and had him knock it over. They also hung Sir Prance-a-lot from his bouncer thing so he could play with it. What a crew of brothers we have!

Evan fell asleep like this in his swing. It's hard to get a clear picture of a baby that's swinging, but you can't let these cute moments pass you by!