I love my Auntie Rhonda!
Mama and I went to visit her and her family in Nebraska for a week. I'll be posting photos from my trip real soon!

TIME TO GET READY FOR SCHOOL, SISSY!
(BUT FIRST A WARM SNUGGLE)

THE CREATIVE PROCESS...
do not disturb.

All surfaces are canvas to a true artiste.

(note my stylish purse. i take it everywhere.)

ISN'T THIS WHY WE HAVE CHILDREN?

ROCK ON BABY, ROCK ON...

Click on each photo to see the priceless expressions!


Hey Logan, the beat is good!MAKES ME WANNA SING!

Everyone's Child

Every time I look at this photograph, my heart just aches and the tears sting my eyes. All I want to do is take this child in my arms and hold him so that every fear, every cry, and every hurt he has ever experienced could be erased. I wish I could take him into our home and give him the same safety and love that we give our own children. I can't help but recognize the drastic difference in security, care, and warmth between Ever's existence and this poor child's. The injustice of this life MUST be redeemed in the next! In the mean time, may the Lord bless and keep this child, because I cannot.

The link to the original photo by Ismail abu-Shmais is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ishmais/94723716/

Hi, I'm Ever :-) And this is my friend Sora.

Mama says: My little girl is growing up so fast! The expression on your face in this photo reveals the security you feel and the confidence you have in your 'being' It shows your gentleness and the ageless wisdom you possess! So, wonderful. So beautiful.

I say: I LIKE KITTIES!!

AND PUPPIES!

MAMA'S KITCHEN WINDOW
A Small Oasis

MY FIRST ART "PROJECT"

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings I go to Scooterville. That is the daycare that my mom's friend, Scooter, owns. Scooter has "pre-school" every morning. I really have a great time playing with the kids, singing songs, and making fun things.
This Cheerios Circle was from our shape (circle) and letter (O) lesson.
I glued the Cheerios on all by myself, but when my mom came to pick me up I plucked a few off and ate them before the glue dried.

I HAVE STRANGE SIBLINGS
PART I

Here's Logan and his friend Geoff. Logan made a smoke bomb out of postasium nitrate (salt petre), sugar, and baking soda.

It was smoky, but not as impressive as he'd hoped. I was impressed though. And mama was impressed enough to take pictures.

Then the guys thought it looked a bit like the aftermath of Apocalypse Now.


And Logan is back to the drawing board to make a bigger, better, smokier bomb.

I HAVE STRANGE SIBLINGS
PART II

This is my sissy, Delacey with her friend Josephina. Mama calls them the "Living Dead Girls", I call them SCARY!

Mama says its better to let them play at being dark and gloomy and bloody than forcing them to become that way for real.

WHOO HOO! WATER!

When mommy wants me out from under her feet as she's cooking or cleaning in the kitchen she sticks me in here. I'm totally cool with that!

Snoozing With Papa

We like to snuggle with each other. Dada is warm and soft. :-)

Getting used to the idea of water as a BIG toy...





So here's Papa helping me figure out the whole 'pool' thing.

But he's not alone...Autie Rhonda, and Greatest Auntie Nadine are showing me how great the pool can be too.

And I am starting to agree :-)

Now that I've figured this out I can dump the growed-ups and head out on my own!

I think I'm ready for the BIG slide! My cousin Mason could hook me up!

But they said I didn't quite measure up for the ride with the big dogs :-(
That's okay...back to shallow water.

And time to chill.

HELLO SHADOW!

AM I...

BIG........SMALL......BIG?.....SMALL?

BIG ENOUGH TO TRY...


SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT!

AND I FIT IN THIS....

...AND IN THIS!

The Pioneer Handcart Trek
Waiting for Logan and Delacey to come in from the three day trek across hot, arid terrain.



It was HOT out that day! Actually it was HOT ALL WEEK (in the 100's)













Waiting in the shade was nice...











The first handcart companies cresting the hill!















These youth worked HARD for three straight days. Where's my brother and sister?

Here they are! Dirty, but happy.

They got a small idea of what the Latter-Day Saint pioneers went through to be able to make the church what it is today. But THOSE people were on the trail for 100 times longer than these kids, and MANY people (babies too) died.

Logan's pioneer family.

YUMMY NANAS

No, bananas aren't chocolate. I had a pre-snack before this snack. :-) D's friend Jamie is holding me in this photo.

And me is a BIIIIG GIRL! I can sit all by myself on the stools at the kitchen bar. But...what am I getting into?
Something sissy gave me?Ohhhh! Mama's nail polish!Hi, Mama! I looooove you.