Anyway, we've just been at home working outside weeding and prepping for fall and winter and working a little inside, having dance parties in the living room, learning letters, planning Zander's birthday party, teaching Hannah to walk, and teaching the kids how to all get along with each other without fighting, hitting, screaming, or whining (that's an never ending process). I have been doing a few things for my new calling as a compassionate service leader especially since we have at least a dozen pregnant ladies who are all due this fall. I'm still trying to get to know everyone in the ward and neighborhood. We have tried several times to invite people over for one thing or another, but those haven't been as successful as I'd like. Stephen and I decided to try to invite at least one family over for dinner a month, so hopefully we can keep that going.
Stephen has just been busy with work working longer hours because of some high profile cases. He's been traveling a lot this year and not just to St George or Vegas. He'll be gone again off and on through October as well. He's still doing Scouts on Tuesdays...I can't say if he likes it or not. It's just hard to plan stuff out when he's caught up in work. He is still an excellent cook. He bought a sous vide a few months ago and uses it constantly. He's also baking all sorts of breads all the time and they always come out perfect.
I've been busy the last two weeks trying to get everyone's Halloween costumes put together including my own. I've searched in several stores for all the parts I need, and have had a lot of success this year, probably because I got to it earlier than I normally would have. I've been anxious to put up my Halloween decor, but not too soon because I get really tired of looking at it by the time Halloween night arrives. We are going to be a family of Star Wars characters this year as per the boys' requests. Zander will be Luke skywalker, Lucas is Darth Maul, Hannah will be Darth Vader, I will be Princess Leia, and Stephen will be an evil Sith Lord. We've also been waiting to see who and when someone is going to move in next door.
Zander is really excited to start a wrestling class this fall. It's only for four weeks but it won't start until November. It's put on by the high school, and I've heard a lot of good things about it so I'm excited for him because he's so excited. Zander has also started a hip hop and break dancing class. He was wait listed for a few weeks but got the green light last week. He is the youngest by far in his class because the kids are supposed to be at least five years old to start, but I talked to the owner of the studio and she let me add him. All the other boys are at least 2-5 years older that him and repeat students, so he has a lot of catching up to do but so far he's been doing really well and loving his class.
Zander is still learning the alphabet but can sing his ABCs in the right order; we just need to practice writing them and learning to write his last name. He's been loving the Sesame Street learning games online during quiet time in the afternoons to help him learn his letters better. He really loves to play with any and all kids in the neighborhood no matter their age; he's really a social butterfly.
Zander idolizes his dad. The other day I asked him what he wanted to be when he got older and he replied, "A gym guy and a worker guy just like Dad!" He doesn't even know what dad does, but he wants to be just like him. Every Saturday morning Zander follows Stephen outside to mow the lawn...he literally follows behind him as he mows the lawn. Back and forth, back and forth right in Dad's footsteps for an hour. He is always wanting to help Stephen with his projects and any other time he needs help. Like the other day Stephen shattered a glass pan in the oven. Zander ran over to see if Stephen needed help. He was told he couldn't go in the kitchen because he needed shoes on, so Zander raced downstairs and put his winter boots on so he could walk in the kitchen to help out and pick up pieces of glass. he always wants Stephen to play with him the second he comes home from work. Even though Stephen is tired from a long day in the office he always plays with the kids; they just love him as do I.
Lucas is still up to no good most of the time. He loves to play tricks, tease, and tease some more. I love his sense of humor and the light mood he always seems to be in, but a lot of times it gets him into trouble and a smack on the back by his big brother. Lucas is also always giving. He will give up what he has to someone who is sad or seems to want what he has more. He is the first to give hugs and kisses to everyone. He loves his baby sister and has to be the one to go get her in the mornings to say hello and give her a hug and kiss on the forehead.
Lucas is also the first one up every morning right around 6:00 am or earlier to watch his new favorite show on Netflix Booba. spending so much time with Zander and his obsession with Star Wars, Lucas is genuinely getting into Star Wars too. He likes to play the Start Wars video game with Zander after his nap. He loves to go to nursery each week and has to show off what he did that day in class.
Lucas is definitely a button pusher and is always testing his boundaries and limits. He likes to be read to and can also recite the alphabet in order and count to 11. He is my lover of all things sweet...or really just food in general. He plays with his food at the table and makes as many messes as he possibly can. I can't get enough of his laugh; it is so infectious.
Hannah will be 14 months next week. She started standing by herself this month. I thought she'd be walking in no time, but she is taking her time. She gets shaky and nervous if she's on her feet too long so she falls to the floor where she's more comfortable crawling. She is also a lover of all things sweet, and is generally a good eater. She is essentially the girl version of Lucas...literally. They look and act the exact the same way. I am really anxious to see her little personality reveal itself.
She is a thrill seeker who likes to be tossed, twirled around, and tickled. She is very dramatic when she wants something. She loves her mama and can be quite shy around people she doesn't know. Hannah loves bath time! She splashes and splashes and has quite the time in the tub. Her favorite place to play is on the top step of the stairs, and she doesn't like to get dressed, ever. It's like the worse thing that can happen to her at times by the way she screams and flails around on the floor. She loves her bottle and refuses to drink from anything else despite my best efforts to wean her.
We are all enjoying life right now, and are looking forward to our staycation tomorrow. Next week we'll be taking an adventure with Grandma to Spokane to visit Becky, I can't wait!
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