Week ending 7-30-17

Sunday: Spencer has been helping an older gentleman in our church with his garden all summer and was given this zucchini. We have a similar picture of Kaitlyn with a big zucchini Spencer grew in 2010, so we had to take one of Talea with the big zucchini too.  

Talea, 3 weeks old.

Kaitlyn, 8 weeks old

Spencer, age 6

Monday: Nathan and I went on a hike for our anniversary. The 3 oldest girls were at niece's week and Spencer was at scout camp. Nathan's mom, visiting from Florida, baby-sat the other 5 kids. 

Nathan went hiking in new white socks and sandals. I took this picture to compare what they would look like after. 

The hike was beautiful, with lots of wildflowers. And Talea was great the whole time! 

Here's the after picture. They weren't as bad as I thought. 

The soles are actually pretty thick so they didn't get very dirty.

My shoes looked worse than Nathan's white socks.

This is what we came home to: Grandma, a bunch of kids, and a huge stack of books.

Wednesday: We went to the school breakfast with Mama. 

Friday: Spencer surprised us by getting home from scout camp at 5:30. Luckily I had made a nice dinner for the three boys left at home (Nathan was at work and the 5 girls were at nieces week).

I loved how Andy was already wearing Spencer's hat.

Talea at 4 weeks old.

Saturday: I thought she looked so cute here sitting on Lexi's lap.

Thursday morning my mom left to go back to CA. Friday night the 5 girls and Spencer came home. Saturday was my first day with all 10 kids and no company to help(Nathan worked all day). This week we start school. I'm a little unsure how I'll be able to homeschool with a newborn and keep on top of everything, but we'll see. Spencer goes on the high adventure later in the week and next week the 3 girls have girls' camp. Then we're finally done with all the trips and camps. I had planned school before I knew the dates of the camps (there's never been any camps in August before), but we're keeping with our schedule so that we can take time off in October when the weather is perfect and we're ready for a break.

Week ending 7-23-17

Last Sunday: Kaitlyn holding Talea 

Sunday night I posted on our RS facebook page, looking for a swing to borrow while my older kids are gone the next few weeks and it's hard to hold Talea while putting the little kids to bed. Monday morning at 7:30 someone brought this swing to our door, saying she found it on the curb after seeing my post. What a blessing! 

Tuesday: Tea party 

Talea enjoying the swing. 

Starting to look chubby. She's almost 8 lbs now.

I had fun doing a little photo shoot with Madalyn's camera. 

Kaitlyn looked like a cute English lady from the back. 

 Talea and Makenna hanging out before bed. 

Wednesday: Talea was one of Lexi's babies while they played house all day. 

Apparently she doesn't like the doll stroller though.  

That night my mom, Lori, and the 3 oldest came home from Wyoming. Here are the pictures Madalyn took there:

On the way to Worland they stopped at a famous ice cream cone place 

and got these huge single cones. 

My brother and his family are living in a trailer while building their log house. 

Working hard. I mean, playing hard. Hey, I thought you went up to work?!! 

Kylie and Madalyn with their cousins. 

Beautiful Wyoming sunset. 

The foundation of the house and the neat clouds. 

Stripping bark off these huge logs. 

The kids slept in tents. 

Stripping the logs. 

Yeah, I guess you were working! That looks hard. 

More neat storm clouds. 

Lifting the first log onto the rebar on the foundation.

Thursday 

Spencer used to baby-sit for this friend in NC. 

Now he's taller than her! It was great to see her and her kids. 

Hanging out with Mama. 

and Spencer. 

My sister, Trish, who teaches Social Studies in China, visited us on Friday and got her Talea snuggles. 

Friday night Nathan's mom flew in and got her Talea snuggles. 

Saturday Nathan and I went out for our anniversary and when we came home we had a nice surprise in our bedroom. The kids cleaned our bedroom and bathroom, leaving chocolates on our pillows, 

handprints on the mirror, 

and laying out Talea's blessing outfit for the next day (our real anniversary). 

It was hard to get a picture of the handprints, but it looked awesome. Madalyn had drawn a picture of the temple in the middle and traced all the kids' hands all around it, even little Talea's. I don't know if I can ever wash it off. I want it to stay there forever. It was all super sweet! We have the best kids. 

Alexis played babies with Talea again, dressing her in a matching outfit as her baby doll. 

Saturday night: Hanging out with Grandma, reading scriptures and writing in journals. 

We blessed our 10th child on our 18th anniversary! 

Both of our moms came--Nathan's from Florida and mine from California. 

Eating lunch after church and hanging out. Nathan had 5 siblings come and I had 1. That made 37 people! It was awesome. I love having so much family nearby for special occasions as this. 

 When I saw everyone come into the chapel I just started to cry. It's the first time we've had much family for a blessing and it meant a lot to me.

Cousin Paige holding Talea.