Daphne Loves Shoes

Hi, my name is Daphne, and I love shoes. Well, I love most shoes...as long as they are not my size I love them. Just try to put me in a size that actually fit my feet and I'll fight it tooth and nail.

Daphne in Mommy's shoes...

in Rex's boots...

in Caleb's shoes...

in Rex's shoes...

and in Madilyn's shoes.

Summer Adventures of 2 Sister Wives and 6 kids

We will always remember the summer of 2011 when Aunt Julianne and cousins Caleb, Madilyn and Luke came to stay with us in Pittsburgh. It was a summer of constant motion and great memories.

No summer is complete without smores...

or a giant inflatable slide.

This is the red tailed hawk we tried to keep away from the baby robin in our fosythia bushes. The hawk won out in the end. It was a sad start to the day.

We thought we'd brighten the day by taking a bike ride...Beverly Hillbilly style

Our bike ride took us to the water steps.

Here we are on the trail.

Next stop...a walk in Fall Run Park. Here's Daphne sporting her hot pants.

On the trail...

We made it to the waterfall for some slip-n-slide fun.

Some days at home felt like an episode of Survivor. At this point in the game, I think Daphne and Luke had formed an alliance and were applying their tribal markings.

Since the 2000 mile drive from Texas to Pittsburgh wasn't enough, for us all, we decided to drive up to Niagara Falls, NY and Palmyra, NY. Don't they look excited?!

Daphne knows how to kick it in the car.

Here we are on the Maid of the Mist headed into the Falls. It was spectacular! Put it on your list of things to do.

Sporting the ponchos

Now on to Palmyra. This is the view from the top of the Hill Cumorah.

This is a trail through the Sacred Grove.

Here is the Joseph Smith family home. Now don't we look like a dutiful polygamist family?

Palmyra Temple

Back home in Pittsburgh...Juli and I took Felix and Caleb for a paddle on the Allegheny. The boys enjoyed being out of the kayaks more than in.

Bombs away!

Margie and Felix

2nd Annual Summer Boy Party (plus 2 girls)

Classy Camping Lady

Here we are on our last adventure together...camping at Raccoon Creek.

Notice the angle of our campsite?Whoo-Hoo! Summer Rocks!

Summer in Texas

We spent 2 weeks in Texas recently and had a great time. Here are some pictures of the insanity!

Felix, Cousin Zac, Cousin Cooper, Rex

Crazy Uncle Darrin throwing Felix

Felix and Scott

Felix catching a wave at Galveston with Coach Uncle Steve

Rex catching a wave

Rex and Felix at the lake in Steve and Ismari's new, fun neighborhood

Galveston, TX

Daphne and Pa Pa...she had had enough sand for one day

Daphne kissing Cousin Luke...one of many apologetic kisses for terrorizing him

Lady on the go

Rex with Cousin Maile and little fish at their lake

Thanks for the fun times everyone!

T-Ball

T-Ball season is over...probably forever. Felix is done with sports, he says...unless it's a quiet sport like Golf. Rex wants to start Karate. He often says he wants to play football, so we'll see what he decides down the road. T-ball turned into a battle getting the boys to go...at least Felix, and of course Rex had to follow suit with big brother (even if it wasn't how he really felt). Turns out T-ball was just a way to get treats from the concession stand. Proud parents right here.

Perhaps a Future Slugger

Boys with buddy Matthew

Summer Dayz

I suppose I should give a pet update for any wondering. We kept our cute puppy, Ruby, for 3 weeks and then the kids' cruel mother found a new, loving home for her. It was too much for me to handle, and I felt more comfortable caring for a gerbil, which we got, but died 3 weeks after we got him. Ruby and Joe are always remembered in our prayers each night. We will be getting 2 new gerbils sometime in the near future.

Daphne, our little cruiser

Felix, our little Mr. Smarty Pants

Silly Rex with buddy Josh

End of Kindergarten

Felix finished Kindergarten with great success. He made some good friends and is excited to start 1st grade with them...that doesn't mean he wants summer to end anytime soon.

Felix with best bud "Benj-er-min"

Felix got to throw a pie in his Principal's face for helping his school raise money for school children in Haiti. They raised $854 just in pocket change...mostly pennies!

Other best buddy Noah

Graduation Procession

Felix and Miss Melliand, his Kindergarten teacher

Felix's 1st Science Fair: Egg Drop

Way to go Felix!

Meet Ruby

Everyone, meet Ruby.  A dog sounds so good when you don't actually own one.  The boys really wanted one, so we wrote up a plan for them to earn one and they did it.  (We're now realizing the plan wasn't nearly difficult enough.)  I really wanted a dog, too.  Scott did not.  In hindsight, I do not either.  She seems to be a sweet and obediant dog thusfar, but the night time routine of waking up to go potty multiple times is really annoying and exhausting.  Last night we made some progress though.  I needed progress because I had a wee little breakdown yesterday over the impact the dog has had on our schedule.  I keep telling myself life will be normal again after it's housebroken, but I'm not so sure.  I feel like I'm in prison.