Catching up

It's been awhile since I've posted.  We have been pretty busy the last couple weeks.
We went to the King Tut Exhibit at the science museum.  And got tattoos.

Brian's dad and brother stopped by for a weekend on their way to Wisconsin where Brian's brother will be moving and attending grad school.  It was fun to see them.  We visited the Foshay tower and the History museum.

 It's open to the air at the top and there was a vent or something blowing air too so the kids liked catching it in their shirts- and of course Brian couldn't avoid the temptation to try it.  And a nice photo of Brian's dad in the background.

 At the end of the hall is a view of the capitol building- a little hard to see now that I compressed the photo.

 A very cool exhibit that I loved- and just really didn't happen to take many pictures- I guess I got a little busy talking to a man working there about the books displayed about cooking and gardening during the depression and with war rations and then noticed everyone else was ready to go.  I also watched a movie about going to the movies-  I loved it because i remember my grandpa telling me he used to deliver fliers advertising for the movie theaters and he used to like going- it was a big deal then.

 Just in case you can't read the signs:  Don't stick your elbow out so far it might go home in another car burma shave.  I love those burma shave signs!  i wish billboards were still like that. :)

 this bus actually had very comfy seats for me- more comfy than chairs now that look more comfy.  Maybe I have a figure more ergonomically correct for another era. 
We also spent a week creating for our city art show.  It turned out to be a really cool one to display.

I'll have more pictures of our art on my art blog soon.
I finished drawing birds for a scout's eagle project and spent a good part of a day helping teenagers paint them.  Here's mine:

Ana had her first diving meet and Isaac had his first cross country meet.  They had a good time.
Our van has not been starting the last two weeks.  It usually starts on the third or fourth try, but Friday it didn't.  Brian jump started the battery and then we took it in get looked at.  They could find nothing wrong that would cause the van to not start, but did find about 5 other things that needed to be repaired. :(  We have a rental until Monday, but it of course does not fit the whole family, and is not a convertible or something cool because i did not get to pick, and we have to pay for every mile we drive it.  oh well.
This month I did get a new line for my list.  "Come on!  I want to see your foot in my face!  Put some aggression into it!"  I was drawing a comic book cover and trying to get Ana to pose for me.  I tried getting all my kids to pose for me.  Children who pretend to be ninja masters were all of sudden giggling wimpy pansies who seemed confused by the request to put some power into it.  My neighbor, mom, by the way, knew exactly what I was going for and came through with a pose.  Here's my finished cover of Mom vs. the Sassybrats (I was thinking about Sassmouths, but the kids voted Sassybrats):

There are no underlying emotions showing through at all.  None.  Really.  I could just keep my kids and all the neighbor kids and their friends entertained in my home and yard all day, all year round. I'm not sad that my vehicle repairs bill is crushing my dream for a fence and new landscaping in the yard.  What fence?  Why would I want a fence?  See. 
I should actually be clear.  I don't want a fence because of kids.  I want a fence because I have a vision for landscaping my yard and a fence is part of that.  I think it would help visually bring the front of my house forward so the garage is not the first and main focal point of the front of the house.  Some private areas of the yard might be nice too.  Then I could have a clothes line. And not need to put the dog out on a tie out all the time.
Okay sorry- this post is getting boring.
Oh, we also went geocaching for the first time with some friends. I think I mostly took pictures of plants I'd like in my yard. ;-)  We all had a lot fun.

The kids start school next week.  Ana will have early morning seminary every day.  Isaac starts Jr. High.  William will go to the elementary school.  Henry will start afternoon kindergarten.  Isaac will go to Cross Country practice and then Ana to dive practice.  My days will be spent in the car pretty much.  Maybe I will check out Go Dog. Go! from the library.

ends and beginnings. just mushed together.

The last week of July Ana had girls camp.  She loved it.  I think it may not have been too exciting to come back to a house full of boys, but I was glad to have her back to enjoy watching Emma on you tube with me.  I did get a phone call in the middle of the week- to tell me everything was fine and the girls were having a great time.  I had to laugh.  The complete opposite of the other experience with camp this summer.  Ana did get a tick the last (?) day though :(.  Ticks are so disgusting to me.  It was in her leg and the other girls tried to get it out with a lit match. tsk tsk tsk- wives tale!).  They eventually took her to the nurse who successfully used tweezers to get it out (the way to go- for sure, but I will spare you my tick knowledge- for now). 
Isaac did a sports and fitness camp that week with some neighbor kids to earn some money.  He did a pretty good job and the kids seemed to have a good time so I would call it a success.  :)

As far as August goes, hmm.  I think we have been busy, but busy being lazy?  Reading books?  Drawing up my ideas for completely re-landscaping our yard?  What did we do so far?  Oh, Henry had his last soccer game.  I think he had fun, but I have had a hard time telling.  He is an athletic kid, but he said he didn't like going to soccer, and he always acted really goofy.  Except the last game he seemed to actually get into the game and play.

Friday we spent the afternoon at Beebe Lake with some friends.  It was wonderful.  I'm hoping we go again before summer is over.  Everyone had a great time and it was a nice lake for swimming.  I am not always on board for lake swims because some lakes are kind of gross with plants and dead fish. This lake seemed really clean. My friend did get a little surprise nibble from a fish though. Hee hee.

My neighbor planted some milkweed a few years back  and now every year she gets monarchs to lay eggs on them.  We took some pictures of the caterpillars.

Saturday was our annual ward temple day.  Brian was in charge again.  I complain because it is a lot of work that falls on his shoulders, but it is good he does it because he keeps it simple and well organized so it is successful.  He is glad to have it over with though. ;-)

This week will be busy just getting laundry done and cleaning done and errands run.  It is also Brian and my anniversary- 16 years. :)  Brian's taking a couple days off and then Saturday his dad and brother will be stopping by for the weekend on their way to Wisconsin where Brian's brother will be moving and going to school.
Next week we will have more art lessons and cross country season will officially start and diving season will start and jr. high orientations.  Plus I said I'd help a scout with his eagle project by drawing 11 birds so others can paint them.  We are going to be kind of busy.