Dad is HOME!

Jason works late and goes out of town on occasion (HA ha ha, he he he- "on occasion"?! That is a funny joke! Ok, you're right it's really not that funny. Just had to throw that in :) and as you know he tries to bring the kids home a little surprise when he does. They are always unique thoughtful gifts that one day the kids will really appreciate- like rocks of different formations and colors, Mexican Jumping beans and rattle snake eggs (which really has been fun) and other such things. But what they really hope for every time is a toy.

The other morning they woke up to dad being home. This is when they got their prizes.
We could hardly get Luke to look up to take his picture!
Allie was really excited about her prize! An alarm clock just like she has been begging for! Really!
THANK YOU Daddy! We love them!!!
Guess who else was out of town? Wesley got the chance to go visit Grandma and Grandpa J with some friends who were traveling to UT for a wedding. We all missed him so much. I think he missed us but he sure had fun going to the fair and sliding the big slide with Grandpa, playing with cousin Peter, making lego houses with Aunt Peggy, going swimming in the jacuzzi and getting G & G all to himself.

There was an opportunity to extend his visit by a week but we all missed him. We let him decide and he had decided to stay until someone gave him a call- someone who missed him more than anyone else: Luke. Luke had quite the sell- if he came home Luke would give him a surprise (and he insisted that Wesley give him a hug when he received the surprise). It was such a strong sell that we all thought it was all over. Wesley woke up and decided it was time. Luke gave him a little remote controlled car, and dad had to remind him to hug Luke.

He got home late on a Monday night (after having left the Wednesday before). Luke had been sleeping with Allie and Rachel since he didn't want to be all alone in the boys room. Wesley was happy to join them and they actually slept altogether for several nights.
Who needs more than one bed?!

Rachel Falling Asleep

This was right before she took a 3+ hour nap. Well... we are going to be up late tonight.

I WON!!! I WON!!!

*25 days until my due date in case you were wondering!

If you read the earlier post, you know that we took a trip to uptown to play in the water. Knowing what it is like when my kids get wet, I decided to bring and change of clothes and a towel for them. Because wet whining kids are really not fun. I know from experience. Aunt Keri didn't come quite as prepared so jokingly I said something like "Well I guess I am the Better Mom". Just a dumb comment that afterward made me worry and think "She does know I am joking right? I probably shouldn't have said that. Why don't I think these things through?! Ugh, that probably came out totally wrong." Today she called and said she had a couple of things for me. One- peach crisp (which was absolutely DELICIOUS of course because Keri is a very good cook!) and two- the award for being The Better Mother! She ceremoniously presented it to me with a card that read "For remembering a change of clothes for her dripping wet children, I award this totally transferable "BETTER MOM" Award to Joy Payne on 8/14/2012." It was a very exciting and emotional moment for me. sniff. And I couldn't stop laughing!

Keri of course made the award- cut out of wood and painted silver and gold. She is the type of person who can do ANYTHING and it always turns out amazing, tastes incredible and she looks gorgeous doing it. And she is so fun and so nice that while you may be doing a somersault and she is doing a triple flip back handspring twist, you don't feel like a loser. You know what I mean?

Now- the caveat to the award... it is, as she stated, totally transferable. Which is why I basically lost the award moments later when I went to pick up Allie from gymnastics. And I was totally late. And she was crying. Because she was certain I had forgotten about her. :(

First Day of School 2012

Luke started 1st grade this year. He was so nervous. He thought it was going to be so hard. We tried to give him all of the comfort and understanding and encouragement we could. I drove the kids to school for their first day and gave Luke a hug and reminded him that he could always pray to Heavenly Father if he was scared. And then I watched as he and Allie walked in to school- Allie holding his hand.
Allie of course- no nerves... just excited. Ready for 3rd grade.
Guess who else is excited to go to school this year?
Wesley will start the same preschool program at the high school that Allie and Luke did next month (1st day of preschool is our due date).

And not wanting to get left out of the photo shoot- Rachel!

So what did we do while Allie and Luke had their first day of school? Aunt Keri called and invited us to Abq Uptown to play in the splash pad with cousins Beau and Marianne!

This was when I reminded myself that school may be back in session but it is still August!
By the way Allie and Luke came home off the bus all smiles and cheerful. Luke said it was fun. And easy. And kind of boring actually.