Number 3

You are probably wondering why this is such a lovely photo I have chosen? It's the best I could get from an impatient 6-year-old who wanted out of church clothes. Anyway, Anna and I went to a wedding on Thursday night. We were sitting at the table eating, and she was biting into a chewy chocolate caramel bar. All of a sudden she says, "Mom!" I look at her, and there is blood running out of her mouth. I look in, and her bottom lateral in laying flat on her gum. I wiped up some blood and told her to pull on it, and out it came. No days of wiggling required. So, we have lost 3 teeth in 2 weeks!

At the Cemetery

My photographer cousin McKenzie sent me this photo from the funeral. I love it! Thanks, McKenzie.

Grandpa Lyle Scott

My grandpa Lyle Scott died two weeks ago. The funeral was last weekend. He was 96 years old and had lived on his own up until the last few months. My grandma died almost exactly a year ago, and he has been lonely and, I think, ready to move on. Well, he had a hard time getting out of this world, but he finally was able to go be with Grandma. He was a faithful, hard-working, and good man. We will miss him here, but he certainly led a good and long life. The funeral was in Menan, ID, and he was buried by Grandma in the Annis Cemetery. It was a beautiful service and so nice to hear things about my grandpa that I never knew. The kids had a lot of questions about living and dying, and we've had some interesting discussions over the last couple of weeks.
Annie by Grandpa and Grandma's headstone
My mom and her brother and sisters
Our family--gotta love that Idaho wind!
My family (minus Mel, Thys, and Sophie who had gone to the car to be safe from the oncoming rain).

Sophers

This little girl is such a joy!! She is trouble a lot of the time, but oh so cute that she gets away with it. I love her blond hair and her dracula smile. I love that she only talks to us at home. No one else has heard her flow of sentences and requests: I wanna a drink, wash hands, juice, get out, hi T, ride bike, read book. . . and on and on. She knows what she wants, and she usually gets it.
Soph is also way into other people's shoes. In this pic she is wearing T's crocs, but she also loves Anna's tap shoes, my shoes, Mel's shoes. . . and even her own. She has a thing for shoes. She had some pink patent leather shoes in the spring, and she couldn't wait to get them on. A girl after my own heart!

And, We're Back to School

Anna worked and worked on her top two teeth. They looked terrible. The were both hanging different directions. And the week before school started, she finally got them out: one on Tuesday and one on Friday. The funny thing is, she lost her bottom two teeth the week before she started kindergarten last year. I guess that's a good way to being kindergarten and first grade: toothless. We are two weeks into school, and Anna absolutely loves 1st grade. I am so relieved because she is at a new school. Her favorite parts are riding the bus and eating lunch, but she really enjoys everything all day! She comes home full of excitement and stories every day. I love to hear all about the day!
#1
#2
The first day of school with the lunch bag and the new school clothes--her choice, not mine! Although I do think she looks darling!

Out With a Bang

Even though I had to work a few days the week before school started, I wanted the kids to have a fun last week of summer together. Mel even took Friday off to play with us, and we had so much fun. We tried to do the things on our summer list that we hadn't done, plus one surprise.

DINOSAUR MUSEUM
Once we got Thys pulled out of the car and convinced that the dinosaurs were NOT going to chase him (thank you Night at the Museum), we had a lot of fun. We only lost Sophie once, and after a few minutes of panic, Anna found her. That's what I get for letting her out of the stroller to have a little fun.
Sophie just before the escape. She is playing in the sand and water area.
Thys and Anna on the dino

Digging for fossils. Soph was only in the sand long enough to take a picture. She hated it. She didn't want her feet to touch.
I wish I dared put up the shot from the other direction because you get a view of a pretty full moon, but these days. . . yeah, I just don't dare post that on the internet for the whole world.

SWEET'S CANDY FACTORY

We have been to the factory once before, but Anna wanted to go again. I thought we would go on Friday with Pops, but come to find out, no tours on Friday. So in between work and ballet in a raging rain storm, we made our way out to the factory. I was a little nervous about keeping three hair nets on and keeping everyone in the yellow lines, but we did it. And don't we look lovely in our hair nets?

INCREDIBLE PIZZA

The surprise for the week was going to Incredible Pizza. We went on Friday with Papa. It is this new joint that opened right behind the cool new water park Cowabunga Bay. We didn't know exactly what we were getting ourselves into, but we took our good-deal coupons and were very pleasantly surprised. We got there before noon, and didn't leave until about 3:30. There is so much to do. We rode bumper cars, ate at the all-you-can-eat buffet twice (once at the beginning and once at the end), played glow-in-the-dark mini golf, drove bumper cars and go karts, played laser tag, and went bowling. And played a few arcade games. This is a totally dream-come-true type of place for kids. I can't tell you how many times the kids have asked to go back. The good-deal coupon ends on Labor Day, so hurry up everyone!
Anna on the bumper cars
Soph driving her car in the toddler area
Ann in the go karts.
Pops and T in the go karts.

Canadians (wait, Dutchies) in Town

We had the pleasure of family visitors. Oh, how we enjoy them when they come. Everyone is so great with the kids and showers them with attention. First we had Melvin and his friends for dinner. . .and a game or two with the kids. The next day we got Molly (Margreet) and Tessa. The kids were so excited to have them here. The highlight of the visit was visiting Temple Square instead of stake conference (no one tell). I figured the kids would get more out of Temple Square exhibits and the Spoken Word than out of stake conference if I took all three alone. The kids had never actually been to Temple Square, sadly enough, except in the Christmas lights crowds and cold. They loved it. By the way, if you haven't been down lately, the Salt Lake Temple in miniature is really cool and worth a trip--especially for people who have never seen inside.
Melvin and the kids playing "the ball game."
Annie, Thys, and Tessa at the conference center after The Spoken Word
Molly and the kids inside the conference center.
Everyone hanging out at Temple Square. Sophie and Tessa had wheels: Sophie so we could keep track of her, and Tessa to avoid killing her achilles tendon which was operated on a few weeks prior to the visit.

I love this baby!!!!!

Painting Projects

Thys and Anna are painting their projects from Home Depot booth at the Children's Parade Party, so. . .

of course Sophie insisted on painting as well. She loved it!