Odds and Ends

In between all of the visitors this summer we have a few odds and ends to post about. Overall we have had a great summer. We missed Linden A LOT the two months he was gone, but thanks to the help of family and friends we made it. It is wonderful to have him home. The boys have gotten back to a normal bedtime, instead of whenever Isabel decided to be patient and let me finally get them chased down and ready for bed. The normal bedtime comes in part because family visits have slowed down, Linden is home and the boys listen to him better, and Linden is home and able to help me with Isabel or the boys, whichever we feel like tag-teaming with that night. I don't know how single parents do it. I do know that I truly love my husband and am so glad that I don't have to go through any more tearful goodbye's after a short visit.

Here is the rundown in pictures of more of what we had going on this summer.

At three months (at the end of June), Isabel decided to start wielding a sword (at least when her brothers gave it to her).



She is a very smiley, happy and patient baby. Thank goodness. She is just what her mother needs!!



Zackary loves playing on the scooter at Grandma's. Especially when one of the other cousins showed the slightest interest in it. He let them know he liked it, also, and wasn't willing to share for very long. Here he obviously isn't having to share with his brother or cousins.



At the very end of June, after Linden was home, he finally started the boys' summer hair cuts. I supervised the final stages of the cutting and we ended up with three bald children. The older two by choice the youngest by genes. Unfortunately, our daughter will probably be bald for a few years. Good thing she takes after her brothers and is super cute (but in a feminine way, unlike her brothers).



Isabel after a bath one Sunday morning, awaiting her clothes.



June 29 my dad had a mild heart attack which ended up being a huge blessing. Because of the heart attack we discovered that he could have had a major life-ending heart attack at any point. To remedy the situation and prevent the major heart attack he had quadruple bypass surgery. It was all pretty sudden and unexpected. We were quite blessed with peace and comfort through this all. I know that my father's life was spared because of his great example of obedience and service. Dad was released as bishop 1 1/2 weeks after his surgery after serving as bishop for 5 years and 11 months. I know that Heavenly Father kept him from having the heart attack until it was time to be released and that he was kept here because he truly did his best to serve and love and be obedient. What a huge blessing to have this witnessed to me and to have my father still here with me so I can continue to learn from him.

I was amazed at my mother's strength as we went through this trial. I am also grateful for great friends that showed their support by helping at the hospital, calling and praying for us. Thanks to Shanna for cooking for us and so many others that helped in keeping us sane and cared for at this time.

My dad in the hospital.



The biggest of Dad's battle wounds (as he calls them). He had incisions in seven different places between getting the vein out of his leg, the heart cath site, and the three drainage tubes out of his chest, etc. for a total of 46 staples, 39 down his chest and the rest in a few other sites.



Linden left a couple of his shorts on the couch. Zackary decided to try them on and then came into the kitchen to show off his new wardrobe addition. He was so thrilled with his new shorts. Anton quickly joined in the fun. They enjoyed jumping around on the couch with their new clothes. Sorry the picture isn't that great. They wouldn't hold still. They were having too much fun.



We had a constant puddle in our yard all spring and the first part of the summer. About the middle of July Linden and our landlord were trying to figure out where the water was coming from with a backhoe. Unfortunately, the backhoe found a water line. The hole they were digging filled up with water in a matter of seconds and the lawn was covered in water. They found out the water was coming from a small crack in the water line. They got the break fixed and the leak repaired and we were only without water for part of a day. In this picture there is a ladder in the hole which was about six feet deep.



Our poor yard that Linden worked so hard on is just not the same after it went through this. Luckily the leak is fixed and we no longer have that constant puddle in our yard. Just a nice big dirt spot where the grass is refusing to grow back very quickly.