Helping? build a tree house

Here are the kids at the Fox's. My friend Rebecca's parents live in our ward and she was here for the summer with her kids. We had a great time.
















The kids stayed there one afternoon while Bro. Fox was building this tree house. Rebecca, Elias, and I went to see a movie. They had a great time playing with Joshua.











They got very wet playing in the water which was a good thing as it was very hot that day!










Here are Joshua, Jesse, Eva, and Saul. They were such good helpers!!

What I find interesting......

Is how many other Latter-day Saints are out there blogging. I sometimes just click on next blog--many times, I come across an obvious LDS blog. I think it is great that there are so many people out there who set a good example in their writing and pictures for others to partake.

I have been working on a friend of mine, working to get her to my house so that we can meet up with the missionaries. I worked with her about 10 years ago and she always seemed interested in the Book of Mormon and other aspects of the gospel. The boss lady didn't like us talking religion, unless it was about her church.... so we mainly talked during lunch breaks, when she wasn't around. I lost contact with her after a few years. I have seen her twice now and have her phone number. Her husband remembered me by name and she said he had been wondering about me. I know there is interest there. I hope I have been a good example so that the gospel can be taught and I think they are ready!

That is exciting because in our ward, we have been having about 2-3 baptisms every month. Sometimes more. The kids are a little tired of going to baptisms but I think it is good for them.

So, there you have it, all my thoughts in a jumble. I know the gospel is true. I can't believe I have let myself become shy about sharing it again. I'm going to change that now. Having the gospel in my life is the most amazing thing. Nothing else can bring the peace and happiness it brings----

What have I done with summer?

Here is the ball court. We poured concrete last Saturday. It was quite the job, but the kids have a great time riding bikes on it and I know they will have a great time playing basketball, once we get a goal!, and tether ball out there.









We have been working hard around here. We finally started on our carport (here at the left--the lower portion in the vans parking place). Chad decided to also put in a basketball court(upper portion), with enough room for a tether ball pole also. We also have a lean-to in the works--for all of Chad's work stuff that shouldn't get wet, I want it all out of the pump house! So here are some pictures of the progress.









Here Chad is working on getting it as level as possible.










Here is a front view. Left is going to be the court and on the right will be the car port. The kids had a fun time placing their hand prints in the footings for the car port. It was Jesse's first hand prints and he wasn't sure he wanted to do it at first. Now he likes to point it out to us all the time.








Here is Jesse taking a break from 'working'. He thinks he is such a big kid!












A boy and his dog. Jesse loves his Bitsy!








The summer seemed to crawl along until all of the sudden, it is at an end. We went to the school
last night to meet the kid's teachers. It was a fun evening and the kids are, for the most part, excited about starting school Monday. I'm a little apprehensive about having only on child at home......it usually means I have to entertain more than I've had to do all summer!

I, on the other hand, have been dealing with some kind of infection. The Doc was pretty sure it is MRSA, an antibiotic resistant staph infection. The results from the culture are due any day now. Apparently, I've been carrying this not-so-lovely stuff for quite a while. It manifests itself on my skin as absesses (or boils). They are very painful and usually last a long time.

Thankfully, I found that Essential Oils work wonders on shortening the length of time for each sore.

Piano anyone?

I have a little son, who can be oh so difficult........it is nice to share some light humor on him sometimes-----

My friend Rebecca's son, Joshua, wanted piano lessons. I told her I could get him started, they are moving in about a month. So.......he had had one lesson when -------- I was practicing for church one afternoon and having a hard time with a song. For those of you who play, hymn 41 , third line is really hard for me for some reason. So, I had made a few grumbling sounds and some deep breathing--very frustrating, you know, not being able to make my fingers do what I want them to do.... So, I notice Saul has sat on the couch and is watching me. I have tried to get him interested in playing the piano again. I'm not the best teacher, but I could get him started on the basics, which is what I did a little more than a year ago.

I pointed out to him that playing doesn't come without practice for me either--that is one of his complaints--practice! So, he said maybe he wanted to start lessons again, like Joshua.

I said: "Sure, would you like me to help you?"

Saul: "Yea, I want to start at the beginning of the book again"

Me: "Sure"--I started pointing and reading and reminding him of the notes, etc

Saul: "So, what notes am I supposed to play"

Me: "The ones written on the page."

He looks at the page for a minute.

Saul: "Maybe I would like to start back where I left off....."

Me: "Sure" I turn to the page and ask "Do you remember this?"

Saul: "No"

I give him a short reminder.

Saul: "So, how is it supposed to sound?"

Me: "Read and play the notes."

Saul: "So, how is it supposed to sound?"

I explain that he needs to look at the notes and play what he sees.

Saul: "Maybe I really don't want to play the piano after all."

So much for Saul playing anytime really soon! Elias and Saul would both do well if they had the desire. When they are a little older, I will press the issue. I was never really pressed so I don't feel the need to press them. They both love to watch me play and that is how I started playing.

Fun times at the St. Louis Zoo

What is a trip to St. Louis without the zoo?? The kids really loved it. They had a tame turkey outside the children's zoo that morning. The kids had a good time trying to pet it and getting a picture with it.














Elias-9
Saul-7
Eva-5
Jesse-3







Here the kids enjoyed petting a guinea pig. So soft!!










They had a very cute sign by these frogs. It read: "Frog parking only, all others will be toad"

HaHa~rather clever!










Eva playing on one of the frogs.














Here are the kids on the rock just outside the zoo. They love to climb on that rock.












Here is the final picture. I know you all wanted to see our family. We had a good time and we look good too!