Plein Art Festival

Push a button, pull a lever, see where the water comes out at.

Water Fountain Sculpture

Bird Show at the Zoo

When we went to the bird show at the zoo we were able to get seats at the front so we had a great view of the birds.

Noah's Ark

One day this summer we were lucky enough to be the first one's at the Noah's Ark wading pool and I was able to take some awesome pictures of my children. Awesome because I was able to get there attention and not have a million other children in my shots (at least in the beginning.) Later on we met up with some friend to play at the gardens with us.

Benjamin & Asaiah

Bekah & Cindy

"Mom! Look what I can do."

Apparently this is the best way to get your hair wet in a wading pool.

Mom, he's spitting on me! Take a picture!

It's looks like the ark is losing water instead of taking it on.

Good thing it isn't too far off the ground.

The zebras calmly supervise the children as they play.

Benjamin helping Noah look for land.

Benjamin giving Mrs. Noah "five." (I forgot her name.)

Our beautiful Bekah testing the waters before getting wet.

Michael's Birthday

Okay so this post is a month and a half late, but better late than never.

For Michael's birthday we went to the Texas Roadhouse restaurant. It was super good! They had so many healthy side choices that I let feeling full and satisfied without feeling bloated or stuffed. Happy Birthday, Love!

Benjamin's Stitches

Benjamin received a cool Daffy Duck (like on "Space Jam") sticker to help keep his stitches clean. (They were out of Bugs Bunny.)

Here is Benjamin just before the doctor stitched up his chin. Once the numbing shot was over, he didn't move once because he couldn't feel a thing.


Another chin close up. His stitches aren't visible here, but he received 2.5 cm worth of bright blue stitches that were in for 5 days. After 5 days the doctor taped his chin together and told us no swimming until the strips fell off on their own. Benjamin was a good sport and very brave through the whole ordeal.

You can change your name, can't you?

On Sundays, we watch the Animated Scripture movies and today we watched Saul of Tarsus. The story of Saul is that Saul of Tarsus captures, persecutes, and executes the followers of Jesus Christ until he receives a visio from Jesus Christ. Christ asks Saul why he is persecuting Jesus and his followers, and subsequently takes away Sauls sight. When Saul enters the city he is found by a follower of Christ who holds the Priesthood and is healed by this man. After realizing that Christ is real and compassionate Saul stops persecuting the followers of Christ, starts preaching the teachings of Jesus Christ, and changes his name to Paul. He says something to the effect that a new beginning needs a new name and he is no longer Saul of Tarsus, he is Paul.

While watching the video, Benjamin says, "You can change your name sometimes, can't you? I'm going to chane my name to . . . ."

To which Mom responds, "You can't change your name unless I say so!" But Dad wanted to know what Benjamin would change his name to.

So Mom asks, "If you could change your name, what would you change your name to?"

Benjamin asks, "Dad, what's your whole name?"

Dad says, "Michael Hardy."

Benjamin declares, "I would change my name to Michael Hardy."

"That's my name! If you change your name to that you will be me."

"I think I will be Michael Genas."

Mom inquires, "Michael Jonas or Michael Genius?"

"Michael Genius. Then I can always be a Genius!" So I guess if Benjamin could change his name, we have an official genius in our family.

I don't know what else Benjamin learns from the story of Saul of Tarsus, but I think he is learning that sometimes changes are so significant that we need new names to adequately describe them.

Fishing and S'mores

We went to a park with our good friends, Jeff, Shara, and Abby, to play the other night. The children had fun "fishing" in the pond (we found them sticks for fishing poles) and afterwards we made s'mores. Yummy! Then we let the children play on the playground until dark. Though I think the dads had as much if not more fun than the children when they attempted to use the "zip line" on the equipment.

The Cousin Lineup

Kayla, Benjamin, Kynzie, & Bekah

The last time we were up at Roger and Victoria's the kids decided to line up in front of the door. They are so cute!

2nd visit to the Temple Open House

Please excuse my brother's face pulling. It was the first time in 2 years he had the chance to hang out with his family, and he is a goof ball.

Now, what did the temple look like again?

Old Fashioned Games

The children (with parental assistance) made rockets from paper, faom, and styrofoam that were shot down the hill using pvc pipe and an air commpressor. benjamin had more fun chasing his rocket than he did making it. Way to run!

On the way up the hill, we stopped for the children to get their faces painted. Bekah got a heart and Benjamin wanted a firework.

Recognize this game? Joseph Smith played it as a child.

It's called stick pull.

Michael let Benjamin win at least once. He was trying so hard!

...and finally, the sack race!

At one of the Monday night activities we attended at the Gardens, the children learned about old-fashioned games. You know, the kind of games that don't involve computers, TV, or other electronics. Just good, clean, people powered fun.

The Best $65 Investment of the Summer

After months of searchin KSL.com for a inexpensive or free swingset. At the end of July I finally was able to get one here locally and it has been a major blessing. The kids love to go outside now that we have a "park" in our backyard more than they have ever before. I am glad that our kids are njoying palying outside as much as they are. It is fabulous!

Returned Missionary

My brother, David, has been home for almost 2 months now and I finally downloaded the pictures from my camera. It was great to have my family here for a week so that we could attend the "end of the mission" activities together. We were able to attend a temple session with all of the leaving missionaries, attend their final testimony meeting, and "pick up" my brother from his mission (we drove him about 30 minutes from his mission office to our house outside of his mission). It was a lot of fun to share his mission experiences with him and expose our children to missionaries and their experiences. Thanks for going on a mission and sharing your experience with us! We love you "Uncle:" David!

Today was a Good Day

I'll celebrate while I can. Benjamin actually listened today, and as a result Bekah listened better too. We had a peaceful lunch with much cooperation and little talking. I was even able to get to the gym because the children took their regular naps. And, to top the day off the children and I went swimming before going out to dinner as a family and read stories before bedtime. It was a very good day after a long week of fights and short naps or no naps. I hope the rest of this week is just as nice.

Laugh Your Guts Out

My cousin had this website posted on her blog. I don't know what I was expecting, but I certainly wasn't expecting to laugh so hard that my sides ached. I will warn you that some of the pictures are questionable at best, but most of the pictures and comments are so funny that it is hard not to laugh. Check out peopleofwalmart.com.

"America's Got Talent" Bummer

After watching "America's Got Talent" all season (via hulu.com) I was totally bummed out tonight to see that Kevin Skinner beat out everyone, especially Barbara Padilla! He has a good heart but he lacks talent unless he sings a Garth Brooks song. I can't believe he won the whole thing! I swear, I am never going to watch that show again! (At least until next summer anyway >(.)

Good News Minute

Since I haven't been to Relief Society for awhile now (Stake Conference & Nursery), I'll share my good news here instead.

• I am finally over my fatigue disease, and don't have feel the constant need to go to sleep. We think it was just a major disruption in my hormones.
• We are almost current on all of our medical bills that occurred through my surgeries and trying to get my health back where it needed to be and Benjamin's stitches (he has a nice 2.5 cm scar that he is very proud of). It's been a long year of catching up on too many years of the bare minimum because of poor or no health insurance.
• I was released from my therapist.
• My whole house was cleaned in one day last week.
• Benjamin is in gymnastics and loves it!
• I was able to put in another 6 or so feet of flower beds and hope to have them finished by the end of the month.
• I am not pregnant, or losing my mind, regardless of the symptoms my birth control was causing every month. Waking up every morning nauseous (amont other things) with nothing to show for it? Miserable! But not anymore.
• I have yet to die from frustration due to the construction disrupting travel in every direction from my home, but have had to remember to add an extra 15 minutes to everywhere I want to go.
• I survived 4 days without my husband while he was in Pennsylvania, and now he is home! (That was last week.)
• Bekah actually used the potty yesterday, even though she refuses to do so today. She is very independent.
• Our children have a swing set that they spend hours playing on in the backyard.
• Story time has begun again at our local library. Yeah for things to do that get me out of the house and entertain my children!
• All of my favorite TV shows are starting this week or next week, so I will have something new to watch.
• Bekah helped me put the groceries away and Michael helped bring them in from the car.

Okay, so that took more than a minute, but since I didn't have to divide the time between myself and anyone else

Hooked on Science Fiction

I have recently become hooked on science fiction shows. Stargate Atlantis, Eureka, and Warehouse 13 to name a few. I like that they have a more "reality" feel instead of being totally out there. Each show ties back to present day Earth no matter how silly some of the things that happen are. The interesting perspective is that science can be dangerous, especially when a "scientific discovery" is used in the "real" world before it has been fully tested. They also touch on the need for faith. Faith that an experiment will work, faith that a mission can be completed, and faith that what they are doing or working on is for the good of everyone. These shows also discuss the need for trust to make teamwork successful. When trust is lacking, the "team" doesn't find success as swiftly as when they work together. I find it interesting for all the arguments that science is at odds with religion that even science fiction incorporates a lot of aspects of religion among the scientist and law officer characters.

M.I.A.

So I've been M.I.A. for about a month now. Today is my birthday. Last month Michael had a birthday. Six weeks ago my brother was released from his mission. And somewhere in there were a vareity of sick days, doctor visits, play dates, and running around. So my goal now is to get back to the daily posting, right after I download the pictures from my camera that is where exactly?