Who's that kid with the Oreo cookie?

It's a love/hate relationship really. Oreos. I despise you, yet your crunchy deliciousness and creamy goodness fills my empty soul. I prefer eating the first cookie without the milk. Very slowly I pull apart the two cookie ends to find the white filling staring back at me, two large white eyes begging to be eaten. No licking of the filling is involved, I simply devour one side at a time. Cookie number two is dipped half way in the milk. Count: one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, then up to my mouth. Mmmm that's good. Next thing I know, the entire sleeve is gone. Blast you Oreo manufacturers! Why do you have to make your cookies so irresistible? It's like an abusive relationship. I know their not good for me, but I can't stand to be without them. And now my milk's all gone. Okay, just one more without the milk. Make that two more.

Thanks to a new ap on Cam's iphone, I can envision how our family will look if I keep up this bad habit:








Here are some fun things we've done over the month of August:

Cooling off with some backyard fun. No broken bones this time.

Ella giving Kenny an underdog.

We all traveled to Grandpa Page's cabin to spend the night and have some fun!

The kids suited up and played in the stream.

Ella and Dax were pretending to be secret spies, and were hiding from the "bad guys." Soon Ella freaked herself out too much with her overactive imagination and wanted to stay inside with me instead.

Cam taught the boys all about tree tipping. You find a good, dead tree, make sure the path is clear, then shove it hard while yelling, "Timber!" They had a blast!

Our happy family going for a little hike.

The kids and I had a great time at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden this past month. So many fun things to do and fun stories to read. Ella's favorite, the doll room.

Daxton loved the "Knight" room. He put on a costume, and sat in the King's throne the entire time (holding tight to his "pet" dragon.)

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so.

Giddy' up cow girl.
And Cowboy.
Daxton instructed his students to draw a picture of themselves.
Warming by the fire in the teepee.
Joshua

Some quotes over the month:

"My dad is pretty much a big fan of protein."

Ella, "Josh you almost got my dress dirty!"

Josh, "Ella, it's fine if your dress gets dirty. It's not like you're going to the temple."

Josh's first day of 3rd grade.

Josh had a pretty great month. We were able to do some fun things before back to school time started, including a trip to Cowabunga bay. Of course good fortune happened that I took my kids to the water park on the coldest day of summer, and Josh was the only child brave enough (or crazy enough) to go down the slides and brave the freezing temperature of the water. Dax, Ella, Kelli, Amelie and I opted to stay in the tub-warm water of the lazy river. His favorite was the purple slide, because it was steep, and dark and you couldn't tell which direction you were headed.

We tried our luck fishing up at Silver Lake this month and Josh was very adamant that he did not wish to partcipate. I'm farely sure that this boy will be an animal right's activist one day. The other night Cam and I went on a date and Josh called me on my phone, hysterical, because our neighbor was "choking this dog because the dog was chasing his daughter, and she was screaming, but it wasn't the dog's fault. He was only trying to play with her and I kept trying to call the dog over to me so he could play but he wouldn't come....and he was choking the dog!" Interesting how his concern wasn't the screaming girl being chased by the dog.

Daxton

"Mom, I like you."

Seriously, he says it all the time and each time it just warms my heart. I love it!

My little Dax-man.

Dax has really enjoyed riding his bike over the past month. His favorite is riding up our neighbor's steep driveway, then racing down as fast as he can pedal, cross the street (without looking) and hopping up our curb to the driveway. So far, no car encounters, though we have had one close call. He's only supposed to cross the street if I am outside watching him (and watching for cars). Makes me just a bit nervous.

Dax starts preschool next month. He is so ready to be out of the house and away from mom. He just missed the school deadline, so he will wait one more year before he starts Kindergarten. I am actually really glad that I get one more year with this little curly headed boy. He just makes me happy!

Ella

This is what she does when I ask to take her picture. She has to strike a pose.

Dax has a friend over and Ella just said to him, "Oooh gross, smell my butt," because she passed gas. Sigh, this girl!! What are we going to do with her? Yesterday she told a neighbor boy that he was a "fat man," so a FHE lesson insued about people's feelings---what you should and SHOULD NOT say to people.

Along with being a gross sass-a-frass, Ella has also become quite the storyteller.

The other day she took my face in her little hands and said, "Mom, I am going to miss you when I'm in the whale."

Then we were having lunch at the table and she began coughing.
"Ella, are you okay?"

To which she repies,

"No. (cough, cough) I fell out of the trees."

And finally we were at Grandpa Page's cabin, tucking her in bed when she begins one of her stories:

"When I was a little girl and my family died..."

"How did your famiy die Ella?"

"They went on a mission and there was a goblin and he was eating a sandwich and then there was a cricket and he was this big and I was holding him and he singed a song."

Amelie

The other day I come back in the kitchen to find that Ella had done this to the baby:

Then I come upstairs the next day to see that Dax had done this to the baby:

This girl is everywhere! She has not begun crawling yet, just rolls all over the place, pivot turns, and does this scooting action. She's on her belly and will reach up with one arm, then reach with the other as she slowly inches her way forward. So our magazines have been chewed, sucked on, and completely destroyed because I failed to take into account that nothing is safe anymore. Fiber, right?

She is such a joy to have around! This girl is so smiley. Those big dimples just bring sunshine to whomever encounters her. She seems to have a silly personality, and really enjoys making people laugh and smile.

Cameron

There have been some changes at work, and Cam is moving from a team setting to be his own account manager. It's exciting, but also a little nerve racking. However, it will be nice for Cam to have a little more control over his own schedule.

A few weeks back I awoke to Cam looking down at me with a big, swollen eye. He went after a fast break playing ball and split his eye open. After doing the stitches debate, we decided to save a few bucks and super glue it ourselves. I must admit, I did a pretty decent job.

Cindy

New hair cut. I think God gave me curly hair to disguise the fact that my head is tiny. How obvious is it that I cut those bangs myself? Well, at least I look happy to be with him. I started swimming laps this past month. Every Mon, Wed and Fri I wake up, feed the baby, and head out the door while most of the world still slumbers. It is so, so great. All I have to worry about for that hour is breathing. The world is silent under the water, and I get to see the sky slowly change from black, to purple, to light pink, then blue as the sun rises.

My new swim cap and goggles. Chic, no? I put them on, then waited outside the door while Josh was using the bathrooom. He opened up the door to find me dressed like this screaming at him. I guess I overdid it. I was going for laughter, not tears. The other day we set up Amelie's high chair and had our entire family sitting at the dinner table. It was uber weird. Here we are, a family of six! Cam and I continue to ask ourselves how it all happened and how became so old. But wow, it's been great lately. I don't know if it's because our kids are getting older, and they can talk more....or if it's because we are able to spend more time together as a family; but lately I just feel so happy to be with my them. It seems we are constantly smiling or laughing at something funny they say or do. It's no wonder that a family is central to God's plan. They bring so much joy!

Missing my H key

Just got back from the mall. Turns out, people dress up to go places. I had no idea, especially since the only places I go to are the grocery store and the occasional Taco Time. Yet there I was, pushing the stroller around the mall in saggy capris and a pink collared shirt. My hair was pulled back in a bright orange elastic, my quick attempt in controlling my curly humid-induced frizz of a hair style.

I kept getting those looks from people I passed, like their stares were saying, "What are you doing here?" and "Seriously, a pink collared shirt?" The looks got worse when I was aimlessly wandering around, searching for my lost child (Daxton, we were in the game store the whole time!) But the cherry on top was my stop in Victoria's Secret. I generally feel uncomfortable in there anyways, what with my small bust and all, but their lotion was on sale and I had a coupon for free undies. A cute brunette with cleavage approached me and asked, "While you're here, would you like me to measure you so you can get $10 off a bra?" to which I replied, "Not unless you sell nursing bras." She looked at me like, "Are you kidding me? That's disgusting," and just walked away. Well, at least I discovered Victoria's Secret: DD silicone.

Here are some photos for our trip to Salt Lake City to see Grandpa at work:

Yes, I realize the pictures are sideways. Turns out that Canon camera's have some funky function that will not allow you to upload the pictures correctly (even though they have been rotated.) Some of them upload right, and some of them don't. Annoying.

Here are some pictures from our camping/climbing trip to Maple Canyon:

Josh crossing the slack line. Kelly and Cam set this up in camp-it was fun to try out. It requires mucho core strength and balance.
Me hiking with the baby:

All ready for bed.

The boys in their element.

Ella climbing. Adorable,right?

Josh keeps getting more and more brave. This was his first time finishing a route-he made it all the way to the top! Good work little buddy!

Our little camper. We love it! Ella is running down the steps in search of her new best friend: Todd.

Joshua

My eldest turned 8 this month. For his birthday he wanted to go see a movie with his two good friends, Maddy and Tate. We all went and saw "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." It's a winner......(sarcasm) but Josh and his friends enjoyed it, and that's what counts. Wendy Maxfield made his cake. We asked her to make one to coincide with the theme of the movie:

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Is she amazing or what?! Seriously people, you need a cake? Give this chica a call. Here's her website again:http://www.acakegirl.blogspot.com/

8 years old also means that my blonde beauty was baptized. It was a great day, and words can't describe the joy I felt seeing my child take the first step in his progression towards returning to live with his Father in Heaven.

Note to self: When Dax gets baptized, pack DRY underwear as well as a BELT to hold up his pants. Sigh.

Cam first tried to talk Josh into going commando, instead of wearing wet undies; but then when mom forgot to pack a belt as well he quickly decided that was not the best of ideas (can you imagine if his pants fell down? I would never live that one down....) So, wet undies it was and Cam jimmy-rigged the pant situation by tying a piece of plastic around a couple belt loops. Basically it means that the thing Josh will remember on his baptism day is soggy underwear.

Daxton

We call it his "funny face." There's no way to describe it, you have to see it first hand. He pulls it out all the time too. He will be across the room and call my name, "Hey Mom," and I look over and there is that face. His eyes are almost closed and his lips are pursed together....it is rib cracking hillarious every single time. I'm pretty sure Josh laughs the hardest. He gets such a kick out of his little brother.

The Look:

Dax is looking forward to starting preschool in a couple weeks. We picked out his back pack today and sat on our bench at home where he needed me to pretend "drive him to school." After school I was the cool mom and let him drive us home. He's pretty good.

Ella

Grandma Holly and the kids:

It may seem odd because most days I don't even do my own hair, but one of the favorite parts of my day is doing Ella's hair in the morning. I'm not even that creative, mostly just pull it to the side. But I love asking her how she wants it, then getting it done and seeing her smile afterward.

I put the kids in swim lessons at the Clearfield Aquatic center this past month. When we began, Ella would barely put her face in the water. Now she is a fish, swimming, kicking her legs and doing her "rainbow arms." And though her hair has a tinge of green now, it was well worth it.

Amelie

Rolling, giggling, and chewing on everything in site. I figure I have about 3 weeks to get my house in order before this little munchkin gets into anything and everything.

Her hair is beginning to grow back in-blonde it seems. She loves to kick those chubby legs of hers, and has even developed quite a skill. Whenever I feed her, she uses her toes to grab onto things; like Cam's arm hair. He will be sitting next to me and she will wrap her little toes around those hairs and pull! It was quite humorous, but now Cam won't sit by me anymore.

I can see that her two top teeth are getting ready to come through. I love this age! I love looking down and smiling at her, then she recognizes me, smiles back and puts her slobber-covered little hands on my face.

Cameron

Cam and I at Ben Folds:

We went to Maple Canyon in the month of July and camped. It was a great time. I LOVE our little trailer (thanks Chamberlains!) It is so much fun to see how excited our kids get when Dad unfolds the trailer and sets it all up. They get so hyped up about it they actually ask to go to bed (when it's 6 pm).

Everyone had a great time (including me). Maple Canyon is about 20 minutes East of Nephi and is known for all the amazing rock climbs. The rock was like nothing I had ever seen before: river rock imbedded in sand stone. Makes for great climbing! We met up with our good friends, the Chamberlains: Kelly, Brenda, Logan, Reed and Jacob. Todd came as well, and Ella was his shadow the ENTIRE trip. We would ask, "Ella, who's your new friend?" "Todd." He has a Westy (a van/camper) and Ella would follow him there, he would give her a cup of little marshmallow's and she would talk his ear off.

Cam's climbing skills are great. He keeps getting better and better and it's fun to watch him in action.

Cam with Amelie and Grandma Page up at the Page Cabin!

Cindy

I was able to go to two concerts this past month: Paul McCartney and Ben Folds. McCartney blew Ben out of the water. He was AMAZING! I went with my mom, dad and sister Kelli. My mom was a HUGE Beatle fan in her day, and Paul was always her favorite. It was her lifelong dream to see him in concert, so you can imagine her expression when he comes out on stage and begins to sing..."Close your eyes, and I'll kiss you....." Tears began streaming down her face, then my dad sees her and tears up, then of course Kelli and I follow suit (don't judge, it's in our blood.) The concert was amazing. He even did fireworks during "Live and let Die." 68 years old and he still has girls of all ages screamin' his name.

The baby and I at Ben Folds in Deer Valley:

School starts in just a couple weeks, and though the summer has been awesome, it will be nice for Josh to have a schedule again (the boy thrives on that kind of thing.) We are trying to fit another camping trip somewhere in there, as well as a visit to Grandpa Page's cabin.

Has anyone seen my missing H key? Ella pulled it off the laptop and we can't find it anywhere......

Until next time!