The Last Little While

It has been a while since I last updated the blog.  We are still alive and kicking (some of us more than others).  We have been riding the parenting roller coaster as of late.  Sometimes we as a family do really well and other times it seem that I have no idea what I am doing.  Lots of prayer and thought and talking with Rob and visiting the temple and more of all of those things and some day we might feel like we are a little in control of things (I am sure that is when things will change).  I am very grateful for a loving Father in Heaven, wonderful mother who is encouraging and helpful and loving, good sisters and friends and of course a wonderful husband that talks through things with me and works with me to make sure that we are on the same page and may make it through another day of parenting our wonderfully unique and stubborn children.

During the month of May we had another set of babies at our house while our nanny watched all 4 of them a 2 year old (Marlissa), a 16 month old (Olivia), a 13 month old (Elizabeth) and a 3 month old (Issac).  How very fun for Sister Simmons! So here is Issac and Elizabeth watching TV together – Strawberry Shortcake!  Marlissa is “potty training” which is wishy washy at best this is her favorite way of sitting and waiting and waiting – watching Strawberry of course!

School ended and we celebrated with some yummy Chinese food.  We have since spent time together as a family and with friends playing, swimming, playing, swimming, reading, doing math, eating lots of food (seems like they have never ending stomachs) and working at the farm.  Tonight's dinner of roasted chicken, cucumber, cantaloupe, tomatoes and potatoes were all raised or grown by us except the potatoes – what wonderful flavors!  I think that the kids learned some valuable lessons while gardening.  We will see as we attempt another one next year.

 

The babies have had a lot of fun playing in the baby pool and the community pool – Elizabeth is a little fish and loves it.  Marlissa is doing better than last year which is nice.  We are working on swimming lessons for everyone so that I feel more comfortable with the kids at the pool.

We were “growing” mosquitos in our baby pool and so we dumped it and then Zaba thought it would be a great idea to play in it – she was fun to watch.