Godmothers, Babies, and Books

We've finally got a new computer after two years of the old laptop with a broken screen and the slowest processor ever. Jonah's brother set it all up for us and it is so Niiiiice. Rrrwarh. (that's like a tiger roaring noise). Its got Windows Vista, too, which is smooth as buttah. But, we've spent a whole week trying to get acquainted with the new system and new programs, so I haven't been able to get these pics up on the blog. Hopefully I'll finally be able to figure out how to resize and post the pics.

So, last weekend was nice and we went on a hike Saturday morning. Its called the "Dragon Hike" because its got a big knarly tree that looks like a dragon at the beginning. Usually, the cool slot canyons have a ton of water in them and there's waterfalls and waterslides and the works. But, as we've had a lovely drought all spring, it was bone dry except for one little stagnant pool at the end, which the kids and Jonah just HAD to get into. I resisted. (Actually, it wasn't tempting to me at all, but they enjoyed it)

The summer has been long and I thought I was going to go crazy after a couple weeks of Aniston and Camden bickering and making messes everywhere. But, we've finally all settled into a summer routine and Aniston and Camden play together every day all day with very minimal sibling rivalry. They are SO into make-believe role play games. They will only eat if I pretend that the kitchen is a restaurant and I am the waitress Flo. I give them menus and they pay me with fake money from the board game Life. Aniston's name is Alysha and Camden's is Ninga Turtle Boy. He gets mad even if I just call him "Sir". They also play "dog" and literally spend hours dragging each other around by a leash and making dog houses. And, they also put on plays. They make Jonah and I have parts, too, but we don't have to dress up. My favorite plays so far have been "Cinderella" with Camden as the fairy godmother, and "Annie" with Camden as Annie. Sometimes I wonder if he's a little TOO comfortable with the whole dress thing, but then he goes and puts on dinosaur feet and uses his wand as a sword, and I'm okay with the whole thing.The kids loved the Tuacahn production of "Cinderella" also. We went and saw it with a bunch of my cousins the Monday after their big home performance. (Camden was a better Fairy Godmother, though).


Aniston has been so nice to Camden and Elsie and is always so willing to entertain them or read to them. I know she's bored sometimes without school, but she is such a happier girl when she doesn't have to get worn out at school every day. I think 1st grade will be better and hopefully she won't be so grumpy when she comes home from school.

Finally, my sister and her baby came to visit this weekend. They've been home from New Zealand for almost three weeks, but since they live in Phoenix, we haven't been able to see them until now. Sonna's husband Sloan was working so he couldn't come up. I just ate little Ruth Simone up. She's just the cutest baby ever and I miss her already. She and Elsie are just like Sonna and I, with Elsie (Aja Jr.) doing all the talking and Mina (my nickname for her) just staring in amazement that somebody could just keep going like that.