Between a Rock and a Hard Spot. . .

I love Harry Potter.

Who doesn't??

Last month I re-read all six books to prepare myself for this final book.

Nate has not read them . . . yet. But he does love seeing the movies with me. After seeing the Order of the Phoenix last week, he immediately went home and ordered the new book for me on Amazon. Sweet gesture and he was so excited to do it for me.

However . . .

today is Saturday, July 21st

the book is out

and my mailman doesn't come til the late afternoon

and I'm not that confident in Amazon's promise of delivery today or your money back

I DON'T WANT MY MONEY BACK

I WANT TO READ HARRY POTTER . . NOW

AND I AM IMPATIENTLY WAITING . . .

if it's not in my mailbox this afternoon, I'm hi-tailing it to Wal-mart.

London's Birthday

July 6th

3 years old!
How on earth did my baby get that old!?!!?

London has recently become obsessed with E.T. ever since watching it at Amy's house a few months ago. I really can't blame her - he is so cute in the movie.

Nate is convinced that London looks like my little sister, Megan, so here is another way that our London is like Megs -- Megan LOVED E.T. when she was young. Obsessive, like London, would be a better choice of words.

In our family, most of the toddlers have June/July birthdays so everyone in Utah was caked-out. Hence - the huge cookie decorated with beloved E.T. . London was very specific that she wanted E.T. flying across the moon on the bike when Grandma Cyndee asked what she wanted on the cookie. Thanks mom for the awesome decorating job.

Birthday girl with one of her favorite gifts - a Tinkerbell doll. Savannah became a tad bit jealous, but London is ever-ready to share with her big sister.

I just love this picture because anyone who knows London, knows that she does not necessarily like men -- except Nate and his dad. Jim (Amy's love) claims that she has just recently started liking him (and we're around them a lot!). Tyler, my crazy brother, is a bit too wacky and loud for my girls and they always tell me they don't like him. I missed this moment, but Amy caught it on film and I love it because I never thought I'd see her sitting on his lap . . . but then you see her face and how hard she's trying to keep it together. How funny.

London's other love: Curious George.
Did I ever mention how much she loves monkeys?

Family Pictures

We hardly ever get pictures of our little family together so this is a rarity that I thought I'd share. Even more rare are the pics of Nate and I alone together -- it seems our camera was only made for our beautiful girlies and not us.

The worst thing that could happen did!

Arizona 115 degree weather + 1 dead air conditioner =

* a 97 degree home
* an empty home
*about 100 emails in the inbox to be deleted
* no blogging


2 days of a.c. fixing issues + 1 persistent and wonderful husband with connections =

* a 77 degree home
* a happy Mandi
*cleaned out email inbox
* a blog entry

A million thanks to Amy for letting me invade her home for 2 days straight even though it was chaos and she already had house guests. Our older sister, JoDee, has been in town for the week and it's been fun hanging out. So now, with no visitors and a cool house, I'll be ready to finish up my Utah trip memories. Stay tuned. . .

4th of July

I love being in Cedar
for the 4th of July.

There's just something to be said about a small town for this particular holiday. I love it. Despite it being unusually hot for Cedar (the 100 degree weather actually felt nice compared to our AZ heat!), it was a fabulous holiday.

Madalyn, Savannah, and Talin

The 13 cousins had a blast at the parade

*begging for candy
*being sprayed with water
*petting the mini-horses ( I know there's a name for them, but it escapes me just now)
*starring in awe at the dance groups (well, mostly just my Savannah!)
*dancing to the music (well, mostly just my London!)

sorry about the background clicking and the sideways view. . . didn't think about that when I was filming it on the camera . . . and then the girls were being too silly to do it again. . . little girls are VERY VERY SILLY.

There was much fun to be had. . .

tell me that isn't pure chaos on the trampoline!!!












there were races to be run. . .

on your mark

get set

GO!












races to be won...

















pictures to be taken. . .
back:Aidan, Wyatt, Bailey, Savy, Talin, Wesley, Madalyn, Andersyn
front: Collin, London, Noah, Davyn, Crew










and an obstacle course to complete!

8-hour drive to Cedar City, Utah

The girls were good, but it is a long drive and next time we will definitely be buying portable dvd players for the car.

I love the Savy's snarl -- that girl's got sass!

Dino Museum with Megan

Trying not to get eaten . . .

Panning for Gold

The on-off-buddies, Savannah and Aidan.
You never know what mood they'll be in together...this was a good one.

Serious business

Sisters

Serious loot!

Hands-on Play/Craft Area

Aidan and London

Coloring: serious business once again

Playing: not so serious business. Savy has a great imagination and could play
people with two toothpicks if she couldn't find anything else.

Attack Grandma! Colin, London and D get her!

Megan reading to London and Aidan.

Mom and Talin both look like they're back in school - something they
both love. Hello - people - it's summertime!

Everywhere we go, Amy snaps a picture of this nature.
We are not kidding when we talk about D's London-obsession.

At the end, we saw a flash flood take place over all the dinos on this
mountain scene. Very cool and the kids were amazed by it.

good times.

And that concludes Meg's week with us. . .

We are off to Utah and will see Megan/Tom again along with JoDee/Shane and their family and Tyler/Gina and their boys.
Amy and Jim will be heading up also.

Fun, fun, fun. . .

I'll be taking a week off!