Make up time...

Kennedy keeps us laughing, she is getting really good at hers...(laugh, that is). This is what our house looks like when it's clean (HA)



Emma and Audrey goy their hair cut last night. It was so much fun. The gal who cuts our hair does it out of har mom's house and they had 2 week old yellow lab puppies. The girls loved that.

Audrey in the process of her hair cut (notice the pink wash sink, she was thrilled about that!)

After the cut of 4 inches and BANGS! She said she was ready for the BALL!!

Emma with her long pre-cut hair. It was down to her elbows!
Emma after her cut. She cut off 6 inches and added layers again. It was a long time coming. She has amazing hair!

Audrey tucked herself in, or under the bed, er... Emma's bed. Audrey's bed is on the left side of the video. Emma reported the next morning that she was singing the whole time (scroll down to hear her song).





Audrey likes to hang out, well "nakey" so if she's not wearing her dress ups she's wearing her birthday suit. I never cease to be amazed at what she comes up with. I caught rockin' out the other day, and I had to capture it. A few explanations, though she usually beyond explaning; she wanted to try panties that day, emphasis on the word try, they haven't been back on since. She has a bandaid over a spot on her leg where she was the vicitim of a moster mosquito. She came up with the song (ABC's/Twinkle, Twinkle) on her own as well as the jig. Nothing is out of her realm.



Another nakey video. I don't realize she's without chothes until I upload the video on my computer and the moment has passed. Oh well, its hot outside. The story behind the cheer leader dance is we went to a basketball game where cousin Kelsie was cheering. We were a little late, and Jr. High basketball games aren't long, so in the literally last 2 minutes of the game Audrey saw Kelsie cheer and saw the basketball players make one basket and she talked about cheer for weeks on end. Now when she's asked to do her cheerleader dance, she throws her arms up and shouts, "GO TEAM, GO TEAM!!"

Sent from Heaven

Okay, 2 super sweet confirmations that we (Tim and I) are doing something right here. On Saturday evening we went swimming and came home and Emma was passed out asleep before bedtime rolled around. Audrey was still awake and demanded we follow through with our night routine ( scriptures, prayers, hugs and kisses, brush teeth, and tuck-tuck- tight). A new element I've added to this routine just recently is personal prayers. My girls are too short to reach the top of the bed when they kneel by it, so they just sit by the bedside. Emma was already zonked in bed when I was done helping Audrey brush teeth so I was just going to tuck her in and walk out. No, she wouldn't have it. I almost tripped over her in the dark because she was sitting by her bed saying, "Fada...day...Emma...Kendy...Wobby (Rob)...Tah (Tara)...Gaga... Gacob(Jacob) ...Ali... Mommy... Daddy... Happy...Jesus AMEN!" I could barely get her into bed before the tears started falling. She is so sweet, and that was her first prayer all by herself.

Then this morning Emma was on her way to school and for some reason Audrey was throwing a huge fit. I couldn't understand what she was saying "PED!!" and finally after Emma was gone and Audrey calmed down enough I said "Show me" and she knelt down and started her prayer. She wanted to say family prayer. She is so sweet, and a good reminder of what's important. I hope you all remember your prayers too!

School Days

Getting pictures for the record, Emma's so cute, and Audrey's a Hoot!

That backpack is huge on her!

Getting in the car (it's already nearly 90 degrees at 8 a.m.)

Tim walks Emma into the school and her classroom for her first day.

It's a big day for the Harpers, today was the first day of Kindergarten for Emma. She was so excited to go, she chose her favorte breakfast, M&M pancakes. She had her hair braided without complaining once, Audrey got dressed and hairstyled and we were out the door. It was a quiet day at home with just 2 kids again. Tim picked Emma up and when they got home she burst through the front door and said so exitedly, "I LOVED IT!!" Tim walked her into her class this morning and picked her up after school. Audrey was excited too, she knows Emma's teacher's name is Mrs. Dean. She had a fun day at home making messes with mom. Wow, life comes at you fast, and Emma is so excited for tomorrow. I love her enthusiasm for it all. I love being a mom. She is so nonchalant about it all. Here are some of her first day of school comments:
"We ate in the cafeteria, it was good, they had food there."
"There are two playgrounds in case one gets full, we can fill up the other one."
"I found 3 cousins in my class, I wasn't shy at all!" (she knew 3 kids in her class)
"I wore my shoes and socks ALL DAY!"
"There's even a nurse in my class, if I get sick, I'll be okay!"
Good luck to all those who get started or back to school in the next few weeks.

My Three Beauties!

It's not sooo hot.

Well, I think it may be a defense mechanism, but I really don't think this summer has been as hot as previous summers, nonetheless, I sure wish we could have spent a week at Mack's with the Mixes. I cried a little bit out loud, but mostly to myself. It is like a puzzle in my head... I try to think how do I get from here to there, right now, and forget that it isn't an event to get there, but a process, but it just didn't work out this summer. We watched our home movies set up there, and it will do. I think of my own memories growing up vacationing with my family and I want my kiddos to have that ache for family like I have when I think of playing in the river and playmill fudge and big springs and old faithful. The good thing is, I realized that childhood is fleeting, and whatever the sacrifices it is worth it. So, one day I will look back and miss where I'm at right now, but right now I miss where I'm not. I guess, now I just needed to get it off my chest, that it really sucks having missed the reunion at the cabin and reading blogs with pictures of kids growing up in the woods and my kids aren't there, or me or Tim. Who knows we might make it up there later, but the family there is what makes it. Okay, I'm done whining, hopefully someone can check on my tree on top of Sawtelle, and enjoy this picture I took of the cabin when I was in high school and tell me nothing has changed. I'll be okay till next summer when my sponsorship has come through and we are independently wealthy enought to go to the cabin and be.

Camping fun

We went camping for the 4th of July up at Fool Hollow campground, just outside of Showlow, AZ. The weather was beautiful, and we were lucky to get a spot at the campground. We were right on the lake and it was sunny and breezy and rainy and wonderful. We were glad to get out of the heat for the holiday weekend and relax. The kids got dirty with cousins and friends, catching fish, crawdads, bugs, and taking boat rides.

4th of July

At church today, we sang some of my favorite hymns; "America the Beautiful" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Every time I hear these hymns my heart is warmed with memories of watching the big flag wave out the picture window of the chapel at Mack's Inn, ID. I can't help but sing those and feel a deep sense of pride for this great country in which we live. Tim and I went back to Williamsburg, VA last year and seeing the places where the people lived that founded this country and wrote the "Declaration of Independence" and how much their faith was part of their lives was a great experience. I appreciate the freedoms we enjoy here the more I learn that we have so much and so many people in the world have so little. I am thankful to live in this beautiful country and for the faith of our founding fathers and for the hope of the future in our children. So as we celebrate the 232 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, remember who came before, who pays the price for freedom now, and what we can do to help preserve it for future generations. Oh, and enjoy your baseball, hotdog, swimming and fireworks, where every you may be.

Monkeys in the bed

I remember growing up and always thinking mom and dad had the softest, warmest, cuddliest bed in the house. Maybe that's because it was always full of kids. Because I work early most days of the week, on Saturday morning when Emma and Audrey see me in bed, they pile on (softest, warmest, cuddliest...) and now I know why mom and dad's bed was best. Smiles, laughs, sneaky tickles and lots of screams make mornings fun. Kennedy laughs and smiles at her sisters more each day. She is growing so fast. She is such a sweet addition to our family. Girls rock!