National Night Out

I really love our neighborhood! On Oct. 12th we had a big neighboorhood icecream social by the pool. The boys were in heaven eating icecream with loads of sprinkles and playing with all the little kids. It was just so fun to be with all the poeple around here--it felt like a church gathering. Everyone was so nice and friendly.

It was a hot day and all of us parents tried to keep the kids away from the pool, but once the first little guy jumped in it was all over. There were 15 kids splashing around in the wadding pool all completely clothed. It was great. I wish I would have brought my camera. But as soon as I dragged them home I got a picture of those crazy boys (to show to Dad who was at mutual during the party). The camera just dosen't do justice to the sweet little tan lines and cute white bums poking out of the droopy drawers.

Can you spot the lizard?

One of the fun things about living in San Antonio is that there are a lot of lizards. Not the big scary kind, but the cute little run around in the trees and catch moths kind. It's fun to look around the yard and find them hiding.

Kimball's interview

I'm trying to keep up with my family tradition of doing interviews. Here's Kimball at almost 2 and 1/2.

Touch the Temple

A few weeks ago we went to save Uncle Joe who was at his brother's house after getting sick while doing a session in the temple. Since we were only a few minutes away, I decided to take the boys to see the temple. This was a luxury to me since there was no way I would have taken them to the drug-lord run city of Juarez, Mexico where our last temple was. But when we got to the temple the gates were closed so we couldn't walk around. Everyday after that Joey kept asking me when we were going to be able to walk around the temple. The next week we were finally able to drive up there when the grounds were open. That morning I relistened to the talk from Conference that spoke of temples and our homes. I loved this quote:

"Even our young children have been encouraged to visit the temple grounds and touch the temple. President Thomas S. Monson once counseled, “As we touch the temple, the temple will touch us.”

Gary E. Stevenson, “Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples,” Liahona, May 2009, 101–3

It made me so excited to start planting seeds of love for the temple in my boys by taking them to the temple grounds frequently. I was a little disappointed though when we actually went and it wasn't the amazing spiritual experience I expected :) The snails, waterfall, and Great Harvest Bread across the street were far more exciting than the temple. But after telling myself that they are just sweet little boys, I knew that if I could at least develop a habit of taking them to the temple and sharing a few words about its importance, that would hopefully be enough. I was then glad to hear what Elder Bednar said in his last conference talk:

"Sometimes Sister Bednar and I wondered if our efforts to do these spiritually essential things were worthwhile. Now and then verses of scripture were read amid outbursts such as “He’s touching me!” “Make him stop looking at me!” “Mom, he’s breathing my air!” Sincere prayers occasionally were interrupted with giggling and poking. And with active, rambunctious boys, family home evening lessons did not always produce high levels of edification. At times Sister Bednar and I were exasperated because the righteous habits we worked so hard to foster did not seem to yield immediately the spiritual results we wanted and expected....

Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes."

Cute, Scared Boy

I love this picture of Kimball. he is just starting to get scared of things in movies. The other day we rented Journey to the Center of the Earth and Kimball seemed to loved, but was apparently terrified of the dinosaur in it. He was fine when Joey and I were in the room, but one time when we left I found him cowering under the table sucking his thumb. It was so cute.

Funland

We discovered this place on a rainy day when Grandma and Grandpa Taylor came to visit. The boys love to bouce, slide, and run around.

The best are the kid powered trains. Joey got tired from spinning his arms so he decided to use his legs

I love it when they still think they are playing the game with out actually starting it.. Saves a lot of quarters

Brotherly love (for a few minutes at least)

I couldn't believe it when Peter told me that the boys were sitting on the chair together and not fighting. I grabbed the camera and went to take a picture but soon realized it was on movie mode. When I went to take a picture the battery died. But I still had to post the evidence that for a few brief moments those boys were loving little brothers watching their "Jesus Movie" together. Joey didn't even mind that Kimball had his feet propped up on him.

Swings!

This is Kimball after a melt-down afternoon. Everything seemed to be horribly wrong. But a band aid, a balloon and some raisins seemed to really help.

Here are some of the many things that went wrong. Those darn clovers in the yard were just not doing what he wanted them to do. They always seemed to make themselves unpickable by his standards.

Then the swing kept hurting his tummy, but it was too fun to get off so he decided to continue the torture.

He finally had some fun times

Those boys love to spin and swing

Swim Cap

Joey was being silly and wanted to put on my swim cap one morning after I got back from the pool. He looks like a totally different kid. I almost didn't recognize him :)

The relief of Desitin

Kimball must have had some uncomfortable skin on his face because he decided he needed to put a tube of Desitin all over. And this was right after he had gotten out of the tub!

Backyard Fun

Here's some cute pictures that Sally took of Joey, Caleb, Kimball and Joe playing in the backyard. It's so great to have family here to play with!

Joe, you're such a good sport to take on those two!

I love this next picture of Caleb. it looks like he's doing baby yoga. Maybe he needed a little peace after being with those two crazy cousins :)

Bye, Bye Crib...Hello Big Boy Beds.

Thanks to two wonderful Grandpas, Joey got a new bed. Thank You Great-Grandpa Starkey for your amazing bunk bed making skills--we love it! And thank you Grandpa Taylor for helping us get the bed set up. We only have the bottom half for now because I am too afraid of what these crazy boys would do with a double story bed--I don't need any broken bones.
First of all, there is nothing better than two clean little boys in jammies. And then they were so cute passing the baton of the car bed from Joey to Kimball. Kimball did great in his new found freedom from the crib.. He hasn't destroyed his room like Joey did at that age (making a mess of every single toy and taking all the clothes out of the dresser and throwing them everywhere). I do have to tie his door shut with rope just like I had to with Joey because those supposed child proof knob covers are not very effective. But Kimball has done great in the transition and it is so cute to have a sleepy eyed little boy come walking in happily to our room in the morning looking for a snuggle. He used to scream and wail from his crib in that beyond loud Kimball voice.

Joey loves his new bed and his new McQueen sheets!

Grandma and Grandpa Taylor

It was a lot of fun having Grandma and Grandpa Taylor here for a visit. We got to do a lot of fun things and play a lot.

Grandpa Taylor helped the boys cut up a prickly pear fruit from the cactus--yummy Texas treats.We got to take the boys to the Circus. The animals were amazing and the people were so talented at what they did. It was fun to watch, but sad to think of the life of a circus performer. It was a fun childhood memory, but probably one that won't be repeated due to the immodesty of the performers. So Sad that everything has become tainted. Many of the old childhood pleasures have lost their innocence. I guess the home really has to be the greatest source of strength.Joey and Kimball and I got to ride on an elephant. It was so cool to touch his spiky hair and feel his giant ears flapping on our feet.

Swinging with Grandma on the hammock