"YooHoo Big Summer Blowout"

Aaron bought kayaks for the kids on a end of summer clearance sale. Corbin asked if it was a "big summa blowout" (a quote from the movie Frozen. Haha) 

When you live 2-5 minutes from 3 lakes, why not get some kayaks? We live in such a beautiful place. Thanks Aaron for being such a fun Dad! 

Running (or trying to, at least!)

On Memorial Day I schlepoed out a hot humid and slow 10K. I'd say it was "fun", but it really was more of the got, humid, and slow variety!  I am, however, thankful for a body that can run, and I did very much enjoy the hour and 9 minutes of running time to be alone in my own head. 

Our house is a September whirlwind of activity right now. Lady and grandpa arrive tomorrow. With the help of a few friends, I finished painting her house on Wednesday night. I'm headed over there today to clean it because vacant houses plus super disgusting tenants (dogs, smokers) really left the home in a  state of filth. It's looking pretty good now though, other than some deep cleaning---which will be done today.

Our own kitchen is also almost finished! I grouted and painted this week and am trying to get light fixtures up today or tomorrow.  

There is a youth temple trip tomorrow, but there are also soccer pics and a game and my parents arriving, and our final home inspection with DHS is coming up on Tuesday, so we are going to divide and conquer. Aaron will spend the day in OKC and the kids and I will stay here and  knock out the rest of the to do's. 

I woke up with a headache and infected sinuses. It's par for the course for this time of year. Once big kids were off to school I crawled back into bed, but I hear little Sloane awake and beckoning me now and even though I think I might rather close my eyes and drift off to a hundred hours of uninterrupted sleep, I know I'm the leading lady in this crazy gproduction and have a role to play. The show must go on!  

As I think about all the plates we're jiggling right now, I can count a few we've dropped (again and again and again) but all the ones that truly matter are still spinning. Running isn't my main focus, but I'm fortunate to be able to pick it up once or, if I'm lucky, twice a week. It's a good act and a good life, and today will be a good one!  

Happy Friday morning! Do something good. 

Sister LOVE

My mom's two sisters are visiting her for the next two days, helping her get the last of the house packed and the moving truck loaded. Today, they took a break and spent he day on cannery row in Monterey. That is such a happy place for me and I am really happy my mom got to have a "last hurrah" there before she moves...even if I am jealous that I'm not there with her. I asked them to take lots of pics together and they texted me these (on the right). How fun! Seeing these pics makes me ache a little bit for the sweet and salty wharf air, and for laughing with my own sisters. We took these pics (left) 6 years ago and I still love them because I vividly remember how happy I felt at that time.  We were together for my grandma's funeral, and typical for my family, we used the funeral as an excuse to be joyful and funny. We do know how to be serious, too, but humor and spontaneity brings us together like nothing else can. I laughed until

My face and stomach muscles ached  that weekend, and looking at today's pics of my mom with her sisters and the old-ish pics of me with mine has me nostalgic and really craving some carefree girl time, away to laugh with some grown ups. Or maybe just time away. Or maybe just grown ups. Or probably just care free time and some laughing. I need a sitter and a Friday adventure. Or to just lighten up. Sisters, let's not wait 6 more years before we get together to laugh and take selfies!

Young Learners back to school! My Name

Books:Chrysabthemum, Tikki Tikki Tembo, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Pete the Cat's New Shoes

The first week of school went beautifully. We talked about our names, shared photos from home, practiced taking turns and waiting in a line. 

Math: shape match and counting the letters in my name. Who has the longest name in our class? Who has the shortest name? 

Art:  watercolor resistance magic names 

Before school, I wrote each of the children's names on card stock with a white crayon. They created freely with watercolors and watched their names "magically" appear.

Pre-Literacy: magnet names. Who can find all the letters for their name? Who can put the magnets in the correct order? 

Music and movement: name games!

Share: pictures of my family

First Day of PreK

Soren and I had our first day of preschool today. He is the first of my children (so far) to not go to another school other than my own.  He is such a treasure and I loved being his teacher today. 

After school, my friend Jill texted that she was taking her twin to ride their bikes at he lake. It was naptime but I couldn't resist the opportunity to play with friends. I've turned into a recluse since school started. I make time each day to read to my littles and play with them with no distractions, but outside of those moments I feel like I am in a constant state of drowning in housework, projects, and to do lists. None of that today. We loaded up the bike and stroller and happily spent an hour moving and sweating snd exploring on the lake trail with our pals.  Soren was so very happy. He asked me on the way home if we could do that again sometime. I will make it a priority. I really reallg loved mothering, today. I secretly felt bad for the moms who dropped off their awesome kids at my house for school today because I got to see all of their cute faces and play with them. I loved sharing Soren's classroom experience with him. He will thrive this year. 

Sloane liked throwing rocks :) 

Soren loves his balance bike. I brought it indoors a couple weeks ago and he zooms around all over the house. It's adorable. He loved having a mile of open road ahead of him at the lake. We need to go back soon. (I should probably pack his helmet next time. Oops!)  

Earthquake

I'm buried in projects and getting behind on posts, but had to document the little earthquake that shook our house, this morning! 

5.6! Didn't feel like a 5.6, but we are 190 miles away from the epicenter. 

What an exciting way to start our morning. This will be a great 3 day weekend! 

Arizona weekend

The Willies left their mark in the Tulsa airport early last Saturday morning when we made a quick trip to Mesa, Arizona over the weekend. 

Sloane was very happy to have a direct flight. 

President and Sister Parry were Aaron's Mission Presidents during Aaron's mission to Guatemala. They keep in touch via social media and phone calls and have come to visit us, and we were grateful for an invitation to bring our family to visit them at their home in Mesa, Arizona.

The desert landscape is a stark contrast to the lush Ozark Forest we live in. The kids couldn't get over the limited color palate and lack of vegetation.  They did love playing on the Parry's turf lawn and gorgeous (and insect free) patio! 

. Susan got everyone up close to feel the saguaros. 

We drove down to the river bottoms of the Tonto National Forest and put our feet in the cool water. The big kids collected beautiful river rocks, found crawdads, and Sloane splashed and got soaked. 

On Sunday, we went to church in the Parrys' daughter, Cassie's, ward, to hear Cassie speak. Some of my kids were angry with me for having them go to unfamiliar primary classes with total strangers, but they lived to tell about it. Later Sunday afternoon we had a quick visit with Aaron's uncle Steve, and cousins Christie & Mike, Laura, and James, and their kids. We also took a drive over to the Mesa Temple.  

The longer we spent in the desert, the more I craved to return to our colorful, humid Arkansas. It's true you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone". I'm usually found complaining about the extreme humidity in August, but in Arizona I felt as dry as a fish out of water. My skin and soul felt parched and every sip of water felt like a dried out sponge trying to wipe up a wet countertop. 

One of the perks of Arizona is legit Mexican food! We made a pit stop at Señor Taco on the way to the airport Monday morning and stuffed our faces with carne asada and green sauce. President (who the kids affectionately call El Guapo) coaxed Reese into eating a Serrano pepper, and Soren and Quincy tried ceviche.

I like to tease Aaron that not every wife would be up for packing 5 kids to Arizona for a spontaneous visit with a family she has only met a few times, and chasing kids around while her hubby catches up with a dear friend and mentor.  I would like to say our children were perfect angels as guests in someone's home, but the reality is a little different. Our favorite "kid moment" was when Corbin was asked to offer the blessing on the food and he prayed, "please bless us to not break anything in this really nice house." Haha Amen, Corbin! Amen. They came close a couple of times and my teeth stopped sweating once we were finally home in Ar.  Aaron was grateful to have hours and hours to reminisce about his mission days and time he served in the mission office Witt the Parrys. We was given of couple blessings, one being a testimony and list of long term goals that he wrote at the end of his mission. Aaron loves reading this paper time capsule to our family on Sunday night. The Spirit was felt strongly by everyone in the room and I was again reminded what a wonderful man I married. He is so good to create these opportunities for the Spirit to testify truth to our children, even if it is an ordeal involving missing school and cross country 6am flights.  He gets a prompting and doesn't quit until he's seen it come to fruition.  All in all, our Arizona weekend  was a great, exciting adventure and adventure is something I love about being married to my Aaron. He's always up for excitement so there's rarely a dull moment when you're a Willardson!