Teila's special day

These are just some pictures of the actual baptism day.

Annie-she's not my favorite I promise...

Don't try and tell me you wouldn't have snapped this picture and posted it. Teila's flip flops, talking and laughing on the phone, the swiffer... It's too much, too much!! (for me at least). I love it! And like I said before, the no shirt is not common. She usually is fully dressed... Truly.

The Sherwood's visit (Tegan)

Tegan has been coming in the summer to visit with us for a few weeks. She currently lives in Nebraska while Nathan is attending, his now 4th year, of medical school. This is usually the only time we get to see each other during the year, at least have the kids get together. I LOVE IT!! She stays at my house in the office with an air mattress and at least one baby, usually two. Then her other kids just pile in where ever with my other kids and it was WONDERFUL!! I did not take as many pics as I should have because I just thought, I'll do that later. With 9 kids under 9 in a house, it's amazing how the day went by and we felt like we did nothing. Sometimes I felt like I hardly even talked to Tegs. We didn't go on many 'adventures'. Actually we didn't go on any. But taking them swimming every day was adventure enough beleive you me! We did spend a day shopping and that was fun and then Uncle Steve and Aunt Cindy braved a movie with all of them (G-Force). But we mostly just stayed around home and let them play and hang out. Was it insane and crazy? How could it not be? But I would do it again in heartbeat. And after we bawled our eyes out when Mean Nathan came to take them back home, it was a little nice to have the house back to normal and I can say that because I know she feels the same way. So here are the pictures.

HERE THEY ARE (minus the baby Creighton)

below Annie, Sam (in orange), Teila, Kate, Joey, Brennan (behind), John, Kenzie

The baby Creighton (named after the medical school that Nathan attends). He is 8 months-ish. Very cute. I thoroughly enjoyed him. Even if he was teething almost the whole time. He was delightful. (my brother Steven is holding him)

I think it's safe to say that I am Creigh's favorite Aunt. He practically lived in this thing!

Meet my Sammy boy. Samuel is something else. But we seriously bonded on this trip. Not like last year. It looks like I am making him take this picture and he's not happy about it, but the picture isn't totally accurate. He really loves me. He even called me today. We didnt' talk much because he was chasing a bouncy ball, but I think it's pretty clear, I'm the favorite.

It was darn near impossible to get him off this scooter. Imagine how fun that was for me and Tegan to constantly be dodging the scooter all day long. (blast laminate floors all over the house!) But he loved it.

Annie and Sam (almost 2 and almost 3)

The story of their time together: playing happily one minute...

arguing the next. And it's not fun when these two stubborn kids have different ideas...

They could have some great fun though. Good times, good times!!

Yea, that's them alright.

Makenzie (Kenzie), Teila, Joseph

Kenzie and Joe were buddies the whole time. They got along really well. They are both 4 and about 5 weeks apart. Kenzie shares my birthday, and Tegan's and Nathan's. The lucky girl! These two played, and played and played. What did they play, I couldn't tell you. But they did it for long periods of time (hooray!)

LOVE THEM!! And they really love each other. Joey misses Kenze a lot and talks about 'his cousin who is 4' often. Or asks if Kenzie is going to go to school with him.

Kate Frances Sherwood. She just turned 7.
Kate is a near perfect child. She and Teila are great friends. Which puts her high on my 'near perfect child' list. She is soft spoken and kind (a lot like Tegan) but don't get her upset, it's not pretty (a lot like Tegan). And please no comments, like "oh no, not Tegan! She doesn't act like that." "I've never seen Tegan get upset at anyone." I know some jaws have probably dropped and frankly, I'm glad I can't see your shocked looks, it would make me sick. The Tegan you think you know is not the real Tegan. Sure she is nice and talks soft and acts all friendly and is a great mom and all that. But please let the record show that Tegan is NOT THE NICE SISTER! I AM! IT'S ME! and I personally feel, the sooner people realize that the better. Not to take away from Tegan's wonderfulness, I'm just saying.This is Teila's baptism. All my kids plus Kate.

Here is Annie and Creighton. This happened often too..
First the cry (who knows why)

Then Annie wanting to give comfort...

Then the (usually unwanted) hug. And usually some tears after. But Annie loved the "baby". (I'm thinking this is effective birth control)

Brennan is 9 just like Teila. Born the day after Teila for those who didn't know or remember. He is so talented at so many things. I really enjoyed getting to know him better and have conversations with him. He is a reader and has a great imagination. He read all kinds of books while he was here. He introduced Johnny to computer games this summer (thanks a lot). But he is a good kid and very smart.

What did the boys do? Pretty much this, video games, computer games whatever. Of course they did different things, like Tegan and I would just let them play computer games all day. Honestly! I just didnt' get pictures of anything else they did. But they were pretty happy with this. (the other little boy in the picture is Steven, Eddie's youngest brother.)

I just think Creighton looks so cute in this one. I tried to get them to all look and smile, but you can only do what you can do.

Sam, Brennan, AnnieSam didn't ever get in the water until the last day when he actually got wet. Tegan thought to play this game with him where he would run back and forth and she would try to 'ring' him. He thought it was great and I was totally entertained.

Sam

Kate, Kenzie, Teila, Joey

Teila and Heather

This is Heather and her now husband Brandon with Teila. Heather was Teila's respite person this summer. She would take Teila 3 times a week for 2-3 hours and do whatever. She was WONDERFUL!! We just went to her reception on Friday and Teila wanted me to post this picture.

Annie's new look-

There are times when sometimes think it might not be such an awful thing that Eddie leaves his socks all over the house...

Please note: the no shirt isn't part of the 'new look'. Annie is occasionally without one though and I wasn't about to put one on just for a picture.

New York...NEW YORK!!! Johnny's trip

john and charlie

So I think most people have heard that my little 6 year old Johnny went to NY this summer to visit his cousin Charlie. They live right in Manhattan. John said he wanted to go in the Fall so Eddie told him that was great and all he had to do was earn $300 to go. Sheesh, he was only 5. So he decided to have a yard sale inspired by Eddie's brother Steven. John called family and friends and asked them if they had anything to donate. Not easy for him to do. Everyone really came through. We had tons of stuff. He helped me organize and clean it all and he earned enough money to go! I was a little shocked actually.

So Auntie Lydia who is 17 and goes there every summer, flew out with him. John was perfect on the plane. He just sat there and looked out the window. He wasn't scared or nervous or anything. John stayed there for just over 3 weeks. A bit long for a 6 year old you say? Maybe. Did John have a hard time or miss us? No. Seriously. He barely thought about us. And when we skyped with him, we mostly talked to Charlie because John was too busy playing. Eddie went out there to pick him up at about 2 1/2 weeks and stayed 5 days. But really John didn't miss us.

He was in very good hands with Iris, Tim, Auntie Lydia and Charlie to show him the ropes on subway

So what did Johnny do while in NY with Charlie?

played with Uncle Tim..

bonded....

played at the park...

bonded... who knows what they are 'discussing'



They dug for worms which I personally think is pretty gross and I'm glad he did this with Iris and not me. I just have to put up with Charlie and John catching lizards.

played with Dad...

bonded with some pretty cute little girls (2 of the cutest cousins you could ask for)

had an indoor campout because the Fathers and Sons got rained out...

and one of the greatest things is Charlie got baptized while his cousin could be there..

rode the ferry and saw The Statue of Liberty of course...

visited the Museum of Natural History several times which is where they found... Charlotte, Dragon and Fireball.

The Boyles' have amazing playful imaginations. These slithering friends were discovered at the Natural History Museum. Charlotte and Dragon got married while Johnny's was there.

went to a ward family picnic...

saw a Cathedral while Eddie was there. He is quite obsessed with them (Eddie that is)


and in general had a FABULOUS time!! Thank you Iris for letting Johnny come and stay with you. What fun memories he made. And even though he didn't want to watch a movie in the afternoon when he got home, which means Joey didn't want too, it was still worth it!!


Is this an extremely long post? Yes, but it's archiving for Johnny's sake... Sheesh. Plus I love it!!