Friday Around the House

This morning . . .

. . . Joy played dress-up with her friend Luke . . .

. . . while Daniel colored pictures on the Friend website (dressing the Prophet in a mauve suit would certainly make for a memorable Conference), . . .

. . . and Anna bounced in the Jumperoo, her new favorite toy.

Later, the big kids splashed around in the perpetual puddle outside our porch, then took a spin around the pool together.  Ah, the simple pleasures of childhood.

Family Hike

 We went for a hike in a local canyon this afternoon.

Even Anna came along for the ride.

Our destination was a little stream that was perfect for splashing . . .

 

. . . or just sitting on the shore and reflecting.

Good times.

Beach Day

Warm weather has started to set in, so we headed to the beach today with some friends.

 Joy was so excited to be there that she threw herself headlong into the first few inches of sand she came to.

While I put up our umbrella and got lunch ready, the big kids set to work digging to China . . .

 . . . while Anna relaxed in the shade.

Joy collected a bunch of shells while we were there, and I let her choose five to bring home with some sand in a little nature jar.  My kind of souvenoir - pretty, personal, and free.

Flowers

As we were driving around town today, I saw a wildflower garden in full bloom.

We stopped by later to check it out, and Joy and I decided to look for flowers in every color of the rainbow.

We saw yellow iris . . .

. . . red geraniums . . .

. . . and lots of other flowers whose names we don't know . . .

. . . including these funky green ones.

Daniel noted that there was also plenty of sand.

The Tooth Fairy Cometh

 What's missing from this picture?

Joy's first lost tooth!

We put it in a special pouch under her pillow last night, . . .

. . . and when Joy awoke this morning, she found that the Tooth Fairy had generously replaced it with four quarters.  Joy's now independently wealthy, and her parents are grappling with yet another sign that their baby is growing up (sniff).

Conference in the Valley

We headed to Pink Grandma's home for a second round of Conference today.

Joy had fun coloring some more  pictures in her packet and keeping track of which apostles had spoken.

Anna was just happy to be hanging out with Daddy . . .

. . . and Grandma.

Conference at the Cabin

 The kids and I went up to my parents' cabin last night (Phillip had to be at a symposium on campus today - we missed him).

Long after I put the kids to bed in the Cub Den, I heard little voices downstairs and discovered that a light was still on.

 

Joy had climbed in bed with Daniel, and was reading stories to him and Aunt Heather.

This morning as we prepared to watch General Conference, I gave the kids bags of snacks and printed activities to keep them occupied.  Joy enjoyed the printouts . . .

. . . but Daniel was more into the tent and tunnel Papa set up.

Between sessions, the kids played with Papa on his iPad . . .

. . . and we took a fun little picture of the sibs. I won't show you the other fifteen shots where at least one child is making a silly face.