...in which Paige played a Sultan

This month, Paige attended Arizona Broadway Theatre's Youth Academy (fancy name for theatre camp). They performed Disney's Aladdin Jr and it was adorable and funny! We were amazed at what the kids were able to learn in just 2 weeks. (Though it was every day for 6 hours) We could tell that many of the kids were "seasoned" performers, and this being Paige's first time on stage, we were so proud of her!

One great sadness is that we did not get a picture of her wearing the most bodacious white turban. A moment of silence...

And in other news, I have started Weight Watchers...

This is Miss Jeannie who was the singing coach for the camp. Paige loved her, and P.S. she has been in many of the productions that Steve and I have seen and was a brilliant Eliza in "My Fair Lady".

The future Drama Club kids.

Paige's Craft and Cooking Camp

Paige put each child's name on their aprons to take home at the end of the week. P.S. Do you love Paige's whistle?! She only used it to collect everyone from breaktime in the backyard :)

Paige decided that she wanted to attend a theatre academy camp this summer at our local dinner theatre. Steve and I are frequent patrons and love this place--Arizona Broadway Theatre. Well, we decided she should try to earn some money to help pay for it. She immediately wanted to do a craft/ cooking camp for young kiddos.

And, she let me know early on that she was in charge.

And, I let her know early on that I was the one with the car and money to buy the supplies and this would be in our home and I would more than likely be helping her manage the 13+ children that would be attending.

Ahem.

Well, she did an amazing job planning and executing this camp and it was a hit! A HIT, I tell you!

Over the course of 3 mornings, they made personal pizzas, chicken roll ups, sugar cookies, cupcakes, PBJ sandwiches, homemade tortilla chips and fruit smoothies. YUM!

She also had them paint birdhouses, make Father's Day gifts/cards, picture frames (each child went home with the picture above), painted flowerpots, and have fun with pipecleaners and pom-poms!

Doesn't that list make you tired?

Anyway, here is some of the fun:

And, yes, she was in charge. She decided on all the menus and crafts on her own. She prepared ahead of time and showed the kids how to do everything. But, as she got started she realized that she definitely needed an assistant :)

Thank you again for all who supported her. She had a great, fabulous, wonderful experience at the theatre camp and can't wait to do it again next year!!

Father's Day

Guess what Daddy got for Father's Day?

An entire church congregation :)

So, Happy Father's Day, Bishop Owens---

the "Father of our Ward" !

Blessed

Lucy's blessing day was so wonderful. She was a fluffy, bundle of white and was silent during her entire blessing, but as soon as Steve said, "Amen." she let out a cry as if to say, "Amen!" We are thankful for her place in our family and for her safe arrival to us. As each child has been, she is a bit of heaven poured into our home and we love her.

Getting bigger

Paige wore this dress too!

Just a hint of one of her smiles...

Lucy is such a cherub and we all can't get enough of her!

Mother's Day

Oh, hi.

I totally need to catch up this blog with our lives.

'Cuz I've been kinda consumed.

Or foggy.

Or I just gave birth.

And I have a total of 5 kids now.

And 5 kids is a lot, ya'll.

Oh, and Steve had shoulder surgery, so it was kinda like I had 6 kids.

But, he wasn't acting like a baby...just needed to be babied.

So, I've been reeeeallly busy.

Mmm. No I haven't.

Just reeeeeally exhausted.

'Cuz then I got mastitis. Which was the worst. THE WORST.

And, after my fever broke after four days, I was like, I need to blog.

But, frankly, I don't have many moments when my hands aren't full of Lucy.

And, it's hard to type with one hand. Well, no hands, cuz nursing, for me, takes two.

And, when she naps I have to choose wisely what I will do with my time.

And, the big-ticket-items on the list have been the necessities:

Laundry, dishes, or sleeping.

And, if my big kids are lucky, I pay attention to them, like we read or dance or something.

And, oh! Laundry. That's funny. 'Cuz last load that was done ended up with melted crayons all over...so then I was like, We don't need clean clothes, do we?

'Cuz we pretty much hang out in our PeeJays all the live long day anyway.

And not much is getting done.

Unless you call squeezing and kissing on a little chubby baby getting something done.

And, around here, well, we do.

And, even now, as I type this, I'm like, Why am I sitting at this computer?! I have so much I could get done?!

She'sgoingtowakeupanyminute!!!!

Hup! There she is. I'm out.

Lucy on her due date aka 3 weeks old

Angel baby.

Aaaand, we're done.

Easter

And then the Easter egg hunt at Grandma & Grandpa's, and these are the only two photos I managed to take:

Daddy/Daughter Dance 2011

Paige seriously dresses better than I do. And, she's better at doing her hair.

Birth Day

Everybody's ready for Miss Lu-Lu.

37 weeks. Last bellypic. Ever.

Before the pain began. See? I'm still smiling.

And, viola! Here she is! (It happened almost that fast actually.)

My amazing doctor and fantastic nurse. I love them.

My mama was there, the silent support (and photographer).

Steve's mom was at the delivery, too!

We have "girls"!

Our first familypic. All of us. Complete.