Sweet Timothy

I've been singing Timothy to sleep outside on our swing every night the past few months while the whether is good. Those are some of my most precious moments with him--and I have fond memories of doing the same with each of the other children. If we have everyone else in bed and he knows the lights are off and it's his turn--he usually falls asleep on my shoulder within a few minutes.

Last night, I changed him and put his pajamas on in his room then said, "Okay, Timothy, let's do our personal prayers." He immediately knelt down with me and folded his arms while I knelt with him on my lap! I said a prayer with him. Then, when I said "Amen," he got right up and flopped face-down on his bed with his head on his pillow. He just laid there while I sang to him and rubbed his back, and eventually fell asleep. He fussed once when I left the room, but when I came back in to comfort him again, he laid down and fell asleep.

Talk about a sweet experience. He's a darling, and, like all the others, is growing way too fast.

Angels

Our angels asleep! They found this spot on their own and snuggled together.

Alaina's new mural

Becky's sister Wendy came to visit on their way to their new future home in Boise after finishing medical school, residency, and fellowship in Ohio.

Wendy and Becky painted some flowers and a dragonfly on the wall in Alaina's room downstairs.

We'll get another photo of the whole wall after it's finished, but for now this in-progress shot will have to do.

Lunch with Dad and New BYU Pond

This week, one day Becky brought the kids down to have lunch with Dad. We sat next to a new waterfall and pond that has been built on the north side of campus just north of campus drive.

Of course, the water was hard to resist on a hot day! At first, they barely dabbled with a few toys and up to ankle-deep, and by the time they finished they climbed under the waterfall and suggested we should have brought their lifejackets!

Angels in a sink

We couldn't resist this photo after Alaina and Timothy came in from being soaked and muddy from playing in the sprinklers.

Settlers

Robert and Jeremy and Wesley especially love the game Settlers of Catan. We have all the expansion kits for 6 players for Seafarers and Cities and Knights--which is especially interesting.

One night this week, I played with Robert and his friend for about an hour, then after he had to leave, Robert and I continued for more than another hour after that. We were so excited about how many cities, walls, roads, and settlements we had built, we took a picture.

Pioneer Park

This summer, every other Wednesday, Becky and the kids have volunteered to help at Heritage Village at This is the Place Park in Salt Lake, across the street from the zoo.

The kids had a great time dressing in pioneer clothes and Becky gave tours. We also got a Zoo membership, so usually they would go to the zoo for a couple of hours after the park.

I had a great time the first day going with them when Becky, her sister Renae, and her sister Beth and all their kids and I went to the zoo in our pioneer clothes! Too bad we didn't take a group photo--we looked like an ideal polygamist family!