Rieley's chore has changed from the downstairs bathroom to the upstairs...along with other chores. Yesterday afternoon this is what I noticed on top of my toilet. Don't those neclaces look lovely there?! It makes me chuckle to myself at first and then I let out a deep breath and think, "one more thing to pick up!" They are still there at this moment. There are just so many other millions of things that I need to be picking up and organizing that I thought these could wait. Besides Rieley put alot of effort into that, I'm sure.

Sweat shop.

We start them young in this house. For the past year or more(probably more) I have been really trying to crack down on chores. I WILL NOT be cleaning up after this whole household forever! Although, atleast it would be done the way I want it. Anyway, last summer we got into a fair routine of chores but then school started and I had a hard time trying to fit in everything. Should they miss out on play? They need time for homework. What about family time? What do you cut out? Needless to say chores became a saturday thing. So now that it is summer again, actually it is almost over already, we have a new chore routine. I made chore charts with dry erase markers. Each girl has her own chart with pictures to describe the chore. Nothing impressive but they like them. Some days are better than others but as a whole nobody plays until the chores are done. For some reason yesterday went really smooth. Everything was done by 8:45. I usually don't let them play until after 10 but they did so good that they started early. During the cleaning session Devyn wanted to be included so I gave her a dish towel and pointed her to the dishwasher. I think she spent 10 minutes there wiping. When I tried to take the cloth she yelled. I'm glad to see that atleast one thing I'm teaching them is for their benefit.

Happy Pioneer Day!

I love holidays that include the flag! As a fundraiser the scouts will put up flags during certain holidays. This was one of them. It is always nice to wake up to a flag in the yard. Especially when there are flags lining the street on almost every lawn. It makes my heart swell with pride.

Ogden Pioneer days Rodeo

This is a really fun rodeo that has been put on for 78 years, I think. Obviously the idea is to celebrate the pioneers and of course it takes place during the last couple of weeks of July....because Utahns celebrate the 24th of July as Pioneer Day! What a great thing to support! I never want to know what it was like to make the kinds of sacrifices that were made by the pioneers. I will always be grateful!!

We left Devyn with a babysitter and just took the older three. It was really fun! What a difference there is when the kids are a little older. It wasn't a trip filled with anxiety and fear. I could actually hang out and enjoy the festivities with the girls instead of worrying about their safety. This is a different world for me. I am a paranoid parent so being able to enjoy life a little easier is priceless. I am so glad that we left Devyn with a sitter!!!!!!

New do's

Rieley had already had her visit to the salon a couple of months ago. It was now Morgan and Leytons turn. Plus, school is already just around the corner. One strange and funny phenomenon about this transformation is that somehow the stylist snipped away the hatred that Leyton and Morgan feel for one another. Seriously, Leyton always tells me that she loves Rieley and that Morgan is the meanest sister. Later that night when the girls were watching a movie on their room before bed, I was walking past on my way up the stairs when I noticed Leyton sitting in Morgans lap on the floor. She wasn't even in a choke hold. Morgan was hugging her though. STRANGE! Then as I was getting them settled into bed. Morgan asked to sleep with Leyton. Morgan said; "It's just that she's so much prettier with her new hair cut!" What? Really, that's what she said! Then I realized that Leyton did have a fabulous side ponytail in her hair adorned with many colorful hair ties compliments of Morgan....and the mystery was solved. Somehow these two girls have finally bonded over Morgan doing Leytons hair and it has sealed the deal. That was two days ago and it has not worn off. Morgan talks politely to Leyton and they want to hang around eachother. They are "buddies". Occasionally I do hear Morgan remind Leyton that they are buddies so she should be cooperting with Morgans will. Manipulation or not, this house has never been so peaceful. I didn't realize how much of the problem was caused by only those two. I'm just waiting for the love drug to wear off.

I can't believe how much older Leyton looks with her new haircut! I really love grown out ba ngs and didn't want to let Leyton get them cut but then I decided that it was time. I think that is the best part for her. She feels like her older sisters. We cut 4 or 5 inches off the bottom too and added layers. I love it! It is still long, but not too long and it is more stylish and manageable now.

Interior decorater inthe making

Today one of Leytons chores is to dust the front room. Apparently she was not satisfied with how I had things set up and so she re-arranged. Normally the basket is on the bottom and the other thing is on the top(waiting for something to go with it but I am not a natural and so decorating takes time). The scriptures were on the couch because I had read them this morning(yay me!). Who knows, maybe it does look better this way. I am no one to judge.

Homemade.

Yes, I made these babies. Okay, so they aren't that spectacular and the level of difficulty is -5, but I made them all by myself. I have always wanted to sew and infact purchased a sewing machine back in AZ about 4 or 5 years ago. Learning to sew, no sewing room and little kids do not mix well for me...so the sewing had to wait. Finally, I decided that I wanted to do a bold print window treatment in my office. I would have loved to buy some but everything costs so much money and if I'm going to spend the money, I have other things that I'd spend it on first. So instead I found SUPER easy directions for a valance online, I ordered the fabric, it sat on my loveseat in the office and then 5 months later I finally made two valances. Wahooooo! Watch out clothing and textiles people, I am on my way! (Either the picture was taken crooked or I hung them crooked, it doesn't matter. I intend to have Todd fix it...he was out of town when I finished and I wanted to see them hung so I did a half-butt job doing it.)

What a cheeser!

Devyn is th biggest cheeser ever. She really gets sillier and sillier all the time. I love this little lady!

4th of July festivities.

Happy 4th of July!!

This year we decided to stick around town and do all the local festivities. They have them going on in every town. We live in a somewhat small town so we knew that things would be on a smaller scale, but we like to support our area. There was an early breasfast at the park...we all(5 1/2 of us) ate for 15$. It was pretty good too. We had ham, eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes, milk and juice. I haven't been so full from breakfast in a long time. Then we had a parade just a block away from our house at 8:30. We met up with friends and ad a really good time. I was impressed with how good the parade was. Again, not a Macys Thanksgiving day parade, but impressive and fun....especially if you yell out the name of each float with some clapping and screaming and a "wahoooo for Clinton Dental, I love the dentist!!" like I do. We had a ton of fun! Then we headed home for nap time. I mowed the lawn while Todd edged and trimmed bushes. Then we bbq'd with our friends and neighors. Then we had another nap time in preparation for the fireworks and festivities. We headed to the park at about 6 and set up blankets. There was a free dinner there for residents which was bbq pulled turkey sandwiches, chips and cookies. There were a few booths and the kids played at the park. Because we live in a smaller area, it wasn't too crowded. The park did fill up, but it didn't feel like total chaos trying to find a place to sit. The girls loved the fireworks and then we only had a 3 minute drive home because of the traffic. I love the 4th of July!

Spittin' image

It is so sweet to watch kids learn and grow as they mimmick things that we do. Today Devyn wanted to wear my flip flop through the house. She was very determined to do it. She slowly scooted one leg across the floor all the way from my bedroom, down the hallway, through the kitchen, to the stairs and back again. Every few steps she had to re-adjust but there was no stopping her.

There was a man made pond near the cabin. We tried fishing but had no luck. That was okay because the 4 wheeler ride there and back made it all worth it.

Incredible views!

This past friday night we went to a friends family cabin up Ogden canyon. The scenery was amazing. There were millions of green, quaking aspen trees and aspens are one of my favorites. We had a great time and I wish we could have stayed longer. I'm not a horse person...yet, but this made me want to ride one. Maybe I've been reading too many Louis L'amour novels.