Rewind--Gavin's Blessing Weekend

Sorry for the constant rewinding, but I have to catch up on events for my posterity :) Gavin's blessing weekend (in April) was a whirlwind of activities. They are as follows:

My parents and sister and brother-in-law came in for the weekend. We went to a session at the Mesa Temple.

Steve and I posed for the paparazzi--we can rarely escape them.
Paige had a volleyball game--she got it over the net and returned a serve! YAY!
Steve subbed as coach for this game.

Our resident "yell-leaders" for the Wildcats.

A very fun ride home jamming to Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape". Our Stake production of "Joseph and the Amazing...." (More pics are in an earlier post somewhere)
Many delicious items were prepared for the after-blessing gathering---this was not one of them. And, despite her presence in the photo, I must clear my dear sister of any participation in this horiffic creation. (I will give special recognition to anyone who can guess what this was intended to be.)Now, this is how you make a dessert!

And now for the star of the show--Gavin Benjamin!

So, far, Steve is the only "ham" as far as the male gender goes in our family. The other XY's are not as enthusiastic about pictures.

Vegas, Baby!

A few weeks ago, the kids and I tagged along on Steve's business trip to Las Vegas. We went out to lunch and played at parks while he was in meetings. The rest of it was good ol' fashioned family time. This is the hotel where we stayed. It had a Kids Suite which was fantastic with the jungle theme and kids beds, and their own TV, etc. We went to the dolphin and tiger exhibit at the Mirage which was very cool. ( Too bad we had to walk through the entire casino to get there--like everything else in Vegas)


These are the baby tigers in their "play room" which the kids were happy to observe from the outside.

Before & After

So, Gavin's room is the first one I've completely finished since we moved into this house. It's such a happy, baby boy room. He and I spend lots of time in the chair in the corner and we love it!

Before

After

He likes it too! (Thank you Terri for this darling towel you made!)

Yew-Tah!

Can I hear an "Amen!" because I finally got myself a new USB cord and can now post up-to-date pictures! So here are some shots of our trip to Utah this month. We started the trip with a Lewis Family Reunion (Steve's mom's side). She is the oldest of 9 children, so it was all of them (except for 2 that have passed away), and many of their children and grandchildren. It was a great weekend of fun, good food, great company, sports, swimming, games, genealogy, going through Grandpa and Grandma Lewis' memories and stuff, talent show, mission reports, family cookbook, and oh, did I mention good food? The whole clan had matching shirts and depending on which sibling you came from, you had the corresponding number on your back. We were #1.
Here's all 9 kids (John and Chrissy are standing in for Katherine and Bonnie, respectively)
On the 4th, Steve and I took Paige and Trev to the Stadium of Fire at BYU.

Great patriotic pre-show.
And then just a little show by a certain Hannah Montana (insert scream here).
These two had a great time singing and dancing along. I haven't fully allowed Hannah Montana's influence in our home :-), so even though they didn't know all the songs--it was SO fun!

We spent the rest of the week with much of my family. This is us, my parents, and my sister and bro-in-law's family at Brick Oven in Provo. In case you're counting, my sis has 8 of 9 of her children there!My mom, sister, neice Ashley (bride-to-be) and I went wedding cake shopping and then out to lunch (thanks, Mom!) and enjoyed some pre-wedding, girl time!A day with cousins and Nana and Papa at a lovely park in Cedar Hills. This creek was FREEZING if you're wondering why everyone is making a run for it! Wrestling time.

Me and the Gavinator .Gavin getting a little quality time with my parents.

Just one more picture of the Goo man.

Male bonding with boche ball.My big sis and me.

(and my cute hub in the background)I love this picture.

I had the chance to catch up with some friends from yester-year. This is Shar and Summer from BYU days.

And here are our offspring. We all started with a girl and then it's been nothin' but boys ever since! (Two babies not pictured)

Out to lunch with two dear friends from my Virginia days. We hadn't seen each other in 10 years, but we happen to have reunions in Utah the same week. My brother and I actually lived with Mary and Julie's family during my freshman year of high school while my dad was commuting out of state for work. We had us some fun times!
My sister from another mother, Molly.

We were BYU roomies and kindred spirits, and I always see her every summer that we head up to Utah. I have always greatly disliked being in pictures with her because of her gorgeousness, but it is a necessary evil to prove to our children that we were friends and hung out every once in awhile.

Spirited

"Arrrggghhh!" is Preston's favorite "word" these days to be used while jumping, running, kicking, punching (yes, punching), jousting, tackling, etc..... this is our spirited one.

Other favorites include: "I'm gonna hit you!...arrgghh"
"I'm gonna bite you!!...arrgghh"
"I'm strong!!...arrgghh"
"I'm Superman!!...arrgghh"

We're working on channeling aggression....any ideas?

Tender

(standing shirtless, with a belt and sword): "Mom, don't I look just like a Stripling Warrior?"

*****

"Mom, maybe when I'm big like you and daddy, I could wear a suit and go to meetings."

****

"Mom, thank you for making this dinner for us....Mmmm, this is the best dinner in my life!"
(this happens quite often, even if it's just chicken nuggets)

*****

(when we got back from our trip to Utah--our little homebody): "Oh, I'm so happy to be back at our house in Arizona....Mom, aren't you so excited?!"


He's a keeper, that Trevor.

Precocious

Me: So, what you want to be when you grow up?

Paige: I want to be a hair and home designer....

Me: Oh, you would be great at that.

Paige: ...actually, I also want to be a teacher and an artist and a veterinarian....oh, wait, nevermind because then I couldn't eat meat.

Delicious

Gavin is 5 1/2 months now and I'm a loser mother because I have not posted any recent pics at all. Here are some cute ones from our Utah trip last week that my mom took. More will be forthcoming. This little 20 lb. pudge is already getting on his hands and knees and scooting and eating solid food and just got his first tooth! I think he is trying to show up his older siblings as far as the "baby book stats" go.

Dancing Queen

Circa 1982. I always had great hopes for my dancing career, but alas, it was not in the stars. How fantastic is this picture (besides my obvious awesomeness): Orange shag, maroon velvet couches, my dad's karate parafunalia on the wall (yes, he is a 3rd degree black belt--watch out). My sis sent me some old school photos and I have decided that I will dazzle you all from time to time with some classics--this is only the beginning.

Land of Promise

I love 4th of July, and I love it even more when we are up here in Utah. We have made it a tradition for the past 4 or 5 years and I think we will keep it up. First of all, we get out of the blazing heat of AZ, and second of all, Utah does it right for the 4th. I love the small town feel of all the parades, flags in every yard, days and days of fireworks...it's so fun and reminds us of the importance of being patriotic, appreciating the land and freedom we've been given.

Both of my fathers and my big brother have served in the military and it's amazing the swell of pride and love I feel for them, especially this time of year, because of their service. My mom posted these pictures of them on her blog and so my sis and I are stealing them :)

Look at these handsome men in uniform:

Ben Leonard (Marine Corps)

Michael Tanner (Air Force)

Jason Leonard (Coast Guard)

Paige says...

The more children you have, the less often you can keep track of their likes/dislikes with food. I can never remember who likes ketchup or mustard or mayo or ranch and who doesn't:

Mom: Paige, do you want ketchup with your meat?
Paige: NO--I will never want ketchup with anything probably for 20 years.
Mom: Oh ya, I forgot.

It's really hot down in this part of the country:

Trevor: Mom, why do we have to drink so much water?
Paige: So we don't get hibernation. (dehydrated)

One Word

1. Where is your cell phone? ....................charging
2. Your significant other?.......................endearing
3. Your hair?....................................shorter
4. Your mother? .................................Lois
5. Your father?..................................Ben
6. Your favorite thing?..........................decorating
7. Your dream last night?........................forgettable
8. Your favorite drink...........................milk
9. Your dream/goal?..............................joy
10. The room you're in?..........................pretty
11. Your children?...............................priceless
12. Your fear?...................................bugs
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years...........here
14. Where were you last night?...................home
15. What you're not?.............................pregnant
16. Muffins......................................chocolate
17. One of your wish list items?.................bicycle
18. Where you grew up?...........................California
19. What you read last...........................scriptures
20. What are you wearing?........................clothes
21. Your TV?.....................................big
22. Your pets?...................................non-existent
23. Your computer? ..............................black
24. Your life?...................................blessed
25. Your mood?...................................peaceful
26. Missing someone?.............................family
27. Your car?....................................Odyssey
28. Something you're not wearing?................earrings
29. Favorite Store?..............................Target
30. Your summer?.................................sizzling!!
31. Like someone?................................husband
32. Your favorite color?.........................red
33. Last time you laughed........................today
34. Last time you cried?.........................Thursday
35. Dislike?..................................motorcycles
36. Like?...................................Scrabble

I tag Mom, Christi, Sharlene (here's your initiation!), & Krista.

Have you pre-ordered your copy yet?

I have!

Kids' brains

Yesterday Preston came and cuddled on the couch with me while I was feeding Gavin. As soon as he got nice and snuggled, I said,

"Hey buddy! How's your day been?"

He replied,

"I'm not Ben, I'm Preston!"

(you may need to re-read to appreciate the humor)

I gave out a huge belly laugh and squeezed his yummy cheeks. To see more of his cute-ness, see pictures below.

Paige keeps asking when I'm going to dedicate a whole blog entry to her...I'm just waiting to figure out my camera issues and then I will treat all my children equally...You may have noticed I have not included any recent photos of ANY of us! Any I have posted are oldies, but goodies. It's distressing, but I will be getting it straightened out. I know this sounds very serious, however, it is merely my lack of technological abilities, that's all.

Daddy's Day

Love this guy to pieces! I am so thankful that my kids get to have a daddy like him. I feel like the Alleluia Chorus sounds each time he walks into the door at the end of each day and we all come running to him (me a little more haggard than the rest). He makes life so splendid, and I try not to think about what life would be like without him. He is so fun and silly, but also the patriarch of our home and leads us with love and devotion. He is one of the most positive and friendly people I've ever met, and that is such an example to me. He loves to serve and help people and most importantly, he loves to serve us, his family. I am so thankful for the respect and love he shows me as our children's mother. If they say something naughty, he will say, "You do not talk to my wife and your mother that way" and sometimes when I'm just walking around the house, he'll say, "Doesn't your mommy look pretty today?". The best is when he is kissing me at the end of the day and the kids want his attention, he will say, "Just a minute, I'm not done kissing mommy yet." He makes us all feel secure and safe and loved. We love you Daddy!

venting

I wish I could cry like this right now. I just want to crumple up on the floor and cry. Just like this. Unfortunately, my tear ducts are on strike (probably due to an overabundance of tears accompanied by our 4th baby--those darn baby blues.) Isn't it just like this sometimes? I just have SO MUCH TO GET DONE and can't seem to DO IT. I have dinner, laundry, packing for our trip tomorrow, feeding the baby, cleaning the kitchen, refereeing fights between children, keeping toddler off the kitchen table and out of the pantry.....this is when I say, bring on the nanny! So, I want to cry, but can't. So, in times of desperation, I resort to my next method of operation which resembles this:

Yes, I bust out a High G above High C with all the vibrato I can muster....and I don't care if the neighbors hear it. I suggest you try this at home. It feels good, almost like a loud sigh set to music. The kids think I'm crazy when this happens, but it's better than yelling, right? So, as I wait for the water to boil for dinner, I do now feel a little better having gotten that out.