Out of Africa

Grandma and Grandpa Wheeler came home from their mission!  We made the journey to the SLC airport to meet them.  A little detour to temple square before the airport was where this picture was taken.  

Renn had been waiting his whole life to meet G+G Wheeler.

All the Wheeler grandkids.   Yes, we made them all wear sailboat shirts and yes, we had them on too.  The 26 sailboat shirts definitely made a statement at the airport.  The story goes like this, Once upon a time when Jed was about 6?  his mother made red sailboat sweatshirts for everyone in the family.  I have the picture to prove it.  The family has grown since then (we probably all have a kid about the same age as a parent in the picture) but a new wave of sailboats have emerged.  

While with all of the family we hiked, played, ate and caught up,

 it was a wonderfully, exhausting reunion.

Renn really loved hiking.  Every time Jed would take a step up a hill or rock he would giggle as Jed grunted,  he knew exactly what he was laughing at too!

The weather was nice and cool, very refreshing after leaving the 105+ temperatures of NV

Elise and her bestie Chloe.  

These little girls had so much fun.

So many children and this is only half!

It's good to have you home Elder and Sista Wheeler. 

Elise 4.0

Where do I begin?

I think this picture says a lot, so innocent and angelic. However, this blessed angel doesn't have on a ninja turtle shirt for nothin'!

She never stops.  Ever.  So much love, energy and words.

 Her quotes.  Jed and I die laughing. 

Occasionally she's violent, it's all talk (mostly)"I'll punch you in your patella!" Good thing her preschool teacher is teaching her all the correct names of the bones.

We have also been watching 'Emperors new Groove' and she occasionally threatens to 'Smash you with a Hammer' if you don't cooperate.

Me:  "Elise you're naughty" (after she threatened one of her siblings)  

Elise:  "It's okay, Jesus still loves me."

At the lake Jed wrecks on the wakeboard: "Game over daddy."

"I saw that witch at grandma's and cried like a BOY!"  Of course she isn't going to insult girls. 

"It looks like coronation day."  As we were all in Utah celebrating Jed's parents mission homecoming.

Our old man neighbor "K' came over for dinner she told him as he walked in the door, "K__ I'm so glad to see you!  Give me a hug."  She is extremely friendly.  I have to remind her that her doll cannot hug random strangers in the grocery store.  Yes that happened.  

At the lake she went off in the rocks to go to the "bathroom,"

Me:  "Elise, you done?"

Elise:  "Just wiping my invisible poop."  Sometimes she's gross.

"I'm the princess now because I got sick of being the queen, she just sits around all day on her throne."

She also insists that her dolly named 'Diamond' say evening prayers, which she performs in a higher, diamond-toned voice. Diamond (in actuality her alter ego)also recently lost her hand in an unfortunate accident, and Elise tells everyone "this is Diamond she needs to have her hand super glued back on."

Elise is 4

"I'm big, I'm 4, I can go to preschool now!!!"

Party people

I love that it was spirit day at school and all the elementary people are wearing their colors, it's almost like we had a theme for the party, practically pinterest style.

Birthday donuts, Elise no likee cake

Our traditional birthday photo

Presents=happy

Per request a pink and purple, pony pinata.  

Try saying that three times fast.

Jed only knows how to pick out life-size pinatas.  I guess for someone his height it is little.

We have also learned that pinatas have led to post birthday threats, such as: "Give me that or I'll punch you like a pinata!"  And she wants to be a pinata for Halloween.  

Candy, pinata, it all makes sense of course.  

First Day of School

Grow strong little bugs, grow strong.
Grow kind. Grow wise.  Grow brave.
Grow love.  

Elementary

Third grader

First grader

Preschooler

Just don't grow old!

Ruby the Refugee

Stupid dog tore up my Raouuuul blanket.  

Let me explain...

Once upon a time when I was wild and free and 18, I went to Mexico for Spring Break, my one memento was a blanket haggled out of the back of a van owned by a man named Raouuuul.  Use your very best accent.   It was a prime moving/camping/picnicking all around, multi-purpose, indestructible piece of quality workmanship.  Ra-ool made the best.  Until Ruby came along.  As you can see my backyard is a pit of despair thanks to her, nothing survives her wrath.  Anyway, as we were eating dinner one night I see her burritoed up in the blanket waging war with her tail and sent a picture to my sister, who promptly texted me back that she looked like a war refugee and /or Sarah McLachlan should be singing a song about saving the animals. Whatever, everyone knows she was just fashioning her own doggie poncho to hide her drugs. Loca perra.

Scout Camp

I would like to say this was the last scout camp seeing as how Jed was released from his calling just prior to the camp.  HOWEVER, I know there will always be scout camps, this is just a brief respite.  We get a little loony tooney after awhile.  Okay lets rephrase that, I get a little loony!  For example:

Upon sniffing the black vanilla scented marker and all of us declaring it was out favorite we had marker spots under our noses.  When life gives you marker face, you make mustaches.  That's right I gave everyone a mustache to match their personality.  There are no words to describe the joy of looking at your 3 year old daughter adorned with a "toothbrush" stache.  I'm still giggling and I promise I'm not on drugs.

Compensating

Filling a void. 

 Jara miraculously got Renn to take a "plug" while I was running around in the evenings trying to make dinner, clean-up a little, and get Elise to bed.  He's still going strong.  I'm so, so happy.  One future orthodontist bill I will be more than willing to pay!

And when daddy came home, he brought a unicorn.  And I thought we were loony!

Swim Lessons

I was not going to do swim lessons.  Too hot.  Elise.  New baby.  However, by the end of July the flying monkeys and evil witch were at war.  Most people get cabin fever in the winter, stuck inside all day with little kids, snow, everyone gets cagey.   I wouldn't understand, but those of us who live in the desert have our own version of cabin fever once temperatures reach 90* at 7:00am!  It was necessary to give them a physical outlet.  Swimming lessons proved very effective.  A full 45 minutes of actual swimming.  They learned all of the strokes, how to tread water properly and worked on diving skills.  I was impressed with how much they learned in three short weeks.  My kids have been able to swim for years but now they know actual strokes, I'm going to have them teach me since I know one stroke, 

the dog paddle.