Wow. I have so much to say. This may take awhile... :)
First of all, SCHOOL HAS BEGUN!!!! Hooray!! As you can see from the picture below, everyone woke up early and was excited for this big milestone. Erin began 3rd grade this year and Zach began 2nd!! I can't believe how old they are getting. Wally will start Preschool in about a week and a half. He is very anxious to begin since the older two have already started.

So our fall sports have also begun. Zachie is playing football with his first game on Friday!! Erin and Wally are both playing soccer. Erin's first game is next Wednesday, but Wally has already played his first game and he was so excited for it. He kept reminding me that if someone on his team scored a goal, it was okay because it was like he scored a goal too since they were on the same team. I wondered if he was trying to convince me or himself.

He did a great job and ran hard, but all those little 4-year-old's were getting pretty tired by the end of the game. They just kind of stood there and kicked at the ball. Then one of them would fall on top of it and they would all stand there for a minute. A coach would help the kid up, and then they would all start to tumble. (It probably helped that a few little ones would shove their way through the throng of children gathered around the ball) I swear the last 5 minutes were spent just falling and getting up. Scott and I were laughing so hard. Afterwards, Wally told me that soccer games were really hard.



Ok, next on my list is Erin got glasses!! Towards the end of last school year, she began complaining that she couldn't see the board at school and things, and so we promised her that we would get her eyes checked out for the next school year. We were a little late, and she didn't quite have them for the first day of school, but we picked them up yesterday and she wore them to school today. It is funny how excited you are to first get glasses. It's the wearing them year after year after year that gets old... She is sooo incredibly cute in them though! She is such a beautiful girl. After school yesterday, she and I were just sitting and chatting about school and kids and her teacher. At one point we were both laughing so hard, tears were coming out of our eyes. I haven't laughed like that since I was a teenager. She is already becoming one of my best friends, and she's not even nine years old. I am so lucky to have her!

Scott and I have passwords set up on our phones to mostly protect them from the kids. Wally hates the fact that he doesn't know our passwords and is constantly begging us to tell them to him. The other day he was asking Scott to please tell him the password. Scott shook his head. "PLEASE Dad?? I have a really bad memory and so I'll just forget it anyway." What a smart kid! I can't believe he's four years old and using that kind of logic on us already.

Zach lost his front tooth!!! He had been talking about it being loose all week long and asking his dad to pull it out. So finally, Scott announced to the whole family, "Tomorrow, I am going to pull out Zach's tooth." Then he warned Zach he needed to really work on it so it would be loose enough to come out. Zach worked on it and wiggled it all day faithfully until night came. After scriptures, Scott called him over and yanked that tooth right out!! Zach said it hurt a little but he didn't cry and was very brave. :)
He was holding the tooth and came over to me and asked, "Mom, is there really a tooth fairy?"
"Of course there is a tooth fairy, Zach. Who do you think gets your teeth and leaves money under the pillow?"
"Well, I was thinking maybe you and dad did it."
"What?! What would we want to do with all those teeth?"
*pause*... "Make a bracelet?"
Scott and I couldn't stop laughing. Oh, Zachie. You are the most creative kid I know. It's so much fun to be your mom!

It has really been awhile since I have added an entry. It has been too much fun of a summer for me to sit down and write, I guess. We have been so busy and gone on several little trips as a family and had a ball! I sure love my little family!

So last week Scott and I talked about the possibility of heading up the canyon and going camping. Neither of us were super excited about the idea (although compared to Scott, I was thrilled). It was funny because he was the one who suggested it. Maybe he feels obligated because the kids talk about it all the time... But anyway, Scott and I finally decided we just couldn't go through with it. We have our little 9 month old, campfires aren't allowed right now up the canyon, we have none of the fancy camping cooking stuff, and... we don't really like camping. haha... However, to pacify the children, Scott set up the tent in the backyard and let them sleep in it. They were soooo excited!

They pulled out their sleeping bags and pillows but did not want to go outside. It was too dark, even with the lights on in our house and the neighboring houses. So I went out with them and got them all settled. They started begging me to stay, everyone talking at once. Erin kept asking if they were going to have enough light and whispered to me asking, "What if Wally has an accident all over everybody?" I quietly assured her he would be fine but secretly just crossed my fingers. I always feel like it's a 50/50 chance with Wally. I always joke that Wally never has an accident during the day, only at night. Richie never has an accident during the night, only during the day. *sigh* Wally was whining a little and asked me if bugs could get inside (I shook my head), and Richie wouldn't get in his sleeping bag. He kept crawling and jumping all over everybody. Zach said he was going to have nightmares, and I gave him kind of a sideways glare and harshly whispered for him to "BE QUIET SO YOU DON'T SCARE EVERYONE" through my teeth. I was not going to have gone through all this work for nothing. Besides, I liked the idea of the memories it would create if they could just muster the courage and stay. And staying out there with them was not an option. :)

I told them I was going to go get my camera and come back. I took a bunch of pictures, which they thought was great fun. I told them they were so lucky because they got to sleep right by each other for the whole night!! And they could tell each other stories as late as they wanted, as long as they weren't scary, or sing songs, or do whatever they wanted. Zach was thrilled when I agreed he could play out in the yard as soon as he woke up. They seemed much happier. I told them all good night, zipped them up, and headed inside.

Richie lasted about 3 minutes. Erin brought him in crying, but then she headed right back out. The other three made it all through the night. I was so proud of them! Nobody coming in crying with bad dreams, and Wally didn't even wet the bed (sleeping bag). What a great adventure!

We have some big news!! We have cement in our backyard now!! I'm not gonna lie. I feel pretty proud of our backyard. We have a basketball goal with a court that extends back to the three point line at least in some spots. We have a tramp and a big swingset! And we will get a little kiddie pool for Richie's birthday in two weeks (shh... don't tell him). I feel proud of how fun it is back there! We are so blessed!! Here are some pics of the process. It was so fun to watch! Even the neighborhood kids loved watching them work their magic. We even got to put the kid's handprints in the cement! I added a pic of Russell's. It doesn't look perfect, but it will still provide some great memories! :)

I had the most amazing thing happen to me yesterday that testifies of the goodness of people in general and also of Heavenly Father's watchful care over me. So yesterday I had a doctor's appointment with my OBGYN in Salt Lake, just my regular yearly checkup. Since I was driving into Salt Lake and gas isn't cheap, we tried to combine everything I could into that same visit. I left as soon as the kids left on the bus, bringing all three little boys with me. I got the oil and filter changed and tires rotated on the van and then headed to my appointment. After that, I promised the kids lunch at Costco. Then shopping at Costco, Walmart, and Deseret Book. Unfortunately, my doctor was running about an hour behind. And then, when I got into the room, it still took about another 20 min before I saw her. So by the time we were eating lunch at Costco, it was about 1:15. The kids get off the bus at 3:45, and Lindsey had to go into work at that same time. I determined I was going to have to cut something out to make it home in time, and since I was already at Costco, I decided I would cut out Walmart. We did all of our Costco shopping. I had planned on spending about $50, but it rang up about $98. Depressing.
Then I remembered that I had no idea what my PIN number was. Costco doesn't take my VISA card, which is what I always use. I had to use my debit card. I had written down my PIN number at one point but had lost it, and I haven't had to actually use my debit card in months and months. I could vaguely remember the numbers, but after three tries, the checker and I both decided I wasn't going to get it right. I did not have my checkbook, and I informed the checker I lived too far away for them to hold the groceries for me. I was so embarrassed because Costco was SUPER busy and all these people were waiting, and I was so angry at myself for wasting all that time on a day when I was already pressed for time. Now I would still have to cut out the Walmart shopping and I wasn't going to get Costco done either. I was biting back tears and apologized several times to the workers as she announced a "1021" or whatever into the loudspeaker for someone to come get all my stuff. I began unloading my kids from the cart when the lady behind me in line came up and handed me a receipt. I said, "Oh, thank you," confusedly. She smiled at me and told me to have a nice day. I looked at the receipt and realized she had paid for all of my groceries. I just started bawling. I am still crying now even writing about it. A $100 is a lot of money to just give away to a total stranger. I reloaded the kids and thanked her again, but I couldn't talk very much through all the tears. She just smiled again and told me to have a great day. I don't even know her name. She doesn't know mine. But she is my sister and truly an angel from my Father in Heaven, and she was definitely on His errand yesterday. She was a huge blessing to me, and I only pray that someday I will be in that same situation and I will be able to help someone like she helped me. It meant so much.
The Lord truly watches over us and takes care of us and sends us angels like this when we need them. I did not expect the help. I don't know that I deserved it. With just a little foresight, I could have avoided the whole situation. But the Lord blessed me anyway, and I am so grateful for Him and for the wonderful woman he placed in line behind me.

Yesterday evening I went to the grocery store with Wally, Richie, and Russell. Wally and Richie hung onto sides of the cart and did pretty well, although a little hyper, throughout the store. Then at the very end, Richie wanted Wally's spot on the cart, and Wally did not want to share. So began his royal fit. It began as screaming and sitting down, informing me he was "not going to leave this spot." I walked away. Then he followed screaming, trying to force his way back onto his spot on the cart, lots of jumping up and down, throwing himself on the ground, and more screaming. He did not hit, which looking back on it, says a lot. I did not help matters very much and mostly ignored him. I should have stopped and talked him through it. Wally is the kind of kid that works very well with, but I didn't. And as I was trying to leave the store with him trying to block my way (screaming all the while), I finally grabbed his arm, pinched him, and told him I was very close to spanking him and he better move NOW. He did. But he was not happy with me. Yelling about how I hurt him, he followed me to the van. When we got there, he yelled to me that when daddy got home, I was gonna be in trouble! I said when daddy got home, HE was the one who was going to be in trouble. He responded that he was going to tell daddy that I had pinched his arm and daddy was going to be mad at me! I told him that I would tell daddy how he had thrown fits in the grocery store and daddy was going to mad at him! But I was honestly laughing very hard inside. He was threatening me with his daddy. Scott has made quite an impression on our children. He makes us all believe that he will back each of us 100% of the time and will always be on our side. I know I feel the same way (although with me it's actually true). That is a difficult task to accomplish, because he even though he definitely still disciplines them and makes them obey, he lets them know he loves them and they know he listens to them. I don't always listen, as I proved in the store. I often just react or send them away to their rooms so I can ignore them until they calm down. He is such a good, patient father.

This morning during my cereal, I read the talk by President Boyd K. Packer from this last General Conference address, entitled, "And a Little Child Shall Lead Them." Beautiful, amazing talk. It made me cry to hear it and cry to read it again. He gives a quote from Psalm 127:3,5. "Children are an heritage of the Lord: and... happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them." When I read that, I immediately thought of my experience with Wally at the store last night. I definitely feel like my quiver is full of children, and I don't know that I felt happy about it last night during Wally's tantrum in the middle of Soelberg's. Ok, I didn't feel happy about it. I felt embarrassed and frustrated and somewhat angry. But if I would have thought more on this scripture, I could have had a better outlook, and probably been more helpful to Wally. He isn't just a little boy throwing a fit, he is an heritage of the Lord. And the truth is, I am happy, so happy to have Wally.  Just like I am happy to have my sweet little girl Erin, even after she bawls at me that nobody in this family loves her or understands her and runs down to her room dramatically. I am happy to have my hilarious little Zachie, who gets in trouble at school for talking out of turn or taking other kid's things just to get attention. I am happy to have adorable little Richie, who unrolls the whole roll of toilet paper in the bathroom or leaves his popsicle melting all over the countertop, ruining notebooks and bills and every other paper I have laying around. And I am so happy to have my sweet, happy little baby Russell, whom I stayed up nursing for over an hour last night and finally got him back to his crib, only to have him wake up again in a half hour.

I am happy to have each of them, as close as they are and no matter what hard times we have. They make me laugh so hard and they make my heart full when they hug me or draw me pictures or pick me flowers. I LOVE having my quiver full of children. I love being surrounded by them at church, and taking their pictures with them all lined up. I love turning on music to start cleaning and watching them all dance around the house. I think of my good mom, who now has an empty nest at home and how much she still would much prefer to be surrounded by her children and grandchildren than to have peace and quiet at home. I love this stage of my life. It is not always easy, it is definitely not quiet, but it is happy. I am so grateful to have my quiver full of children. What a blessing they are to me! This Mother's Day weekend, I am reminded how lucky I am to be a mother to so many wonderful little children. They do make me happy!!

I know why they nickname this stage "the terrible twos." My little Richie has been so easy-going and easy to take care of since he was born. He was happy as a baby and slept well. He has even now taken to potty-training very well. He has so many wonderful qualities and makes me laugh all the time.

But boy is he a little stinker! I remember getting so frustrated with Wally during this stage of life, and it has now really settled in that it is not the child, it is the age. The other day, Wally came to tell me that Richie had locked himself in the bathroom and couldn't get out because the doorknob was all soapy. Perfect. So I got a butter knife and unlocked the door and found soap all over him, the countertop, and all over his head. I stuck his head under the bathtub faucet and rinsed off his head amidst screaming and yelling and lots of kicking. He remembered it well enough to tell Scott about it that night. "Mommy got water on my head and me cried and cried. Waaaaaa," as he put his hands on his eyes. He is a good actor. I am hoping it was traumatic enough to make him not do it again. We'll see.

He also is consistently doing things I tell him not to do as he looks at me and smiles. He loves getting a reaction out of me until he gets a reaction. Then he cries (and continues to fake-cry long after the real cry ends) and tells me how I hurt him and how I made him sad and now he is "crying."

He loves little Russell, but he can be too rough with him and I am constantly getting after him. "Get your feet away from the baby's face!!" "I told you that you can't feed the baby anything! Only mommy!" "Don't hit the baby on the head! That hurts!" "Why did you take Russell's toy?" "Get off the baby! You can't sit on him!" Each one of these comments is followed by a smile but nothing else until I stomp towards him. Then he quickly stops hitting or gets off the baby or runs away and drops the toy. It is often frustrating to raise this child. He thinks it's funny to get my attention and just laughs when he does something wrong. He reminds me so much of Zach that it's unreal. Scott and I talk about it all the time, about how much Zach has prepared us for Richie. One thing about it is Russell is going to be pretty tough, if he survives.

Richie idolizes Wally and often just follows him around and repeats whatever he says. Wally: "Mommy, I want a snack." Richie: "Mommy, me want a snack." Mom: "Then go get one." Wally: "I want you to make me a sandwich." Richie: "Me want you to make me a sandwich." Mom: "Not right now." Wally: "Aawww. Please, mom?" Richie: "Aawww. Please, mom?" Seriously, it goes on and on and on. It's pretty stinking adorable. Richie has given me the same problem every other two-year-old I have raised has given me. Frustration and anger and ready to just beat the child and then laughing my head off the next minute. I know I give mixed signals all the time, but sometimes I can't help it. He is a stinker, but he is a smart one and he truly makes me laugh all the time. He insists lately on being called, Richie Richie instead of just Richie. He really is a wonderful boy and always wants to help, and he loves to sing and laugh and dance. His dancing is truly hilarious. So, terrible twos? Yes. Terrific twos? Yes. All within ten seconds of each other. Nothing else is like motherhood.