I know I haven’t written in a long time. I haven’t had the motivation. I haven’t had anything to say. I feel like I’ve been in a spring time funk with bad weather, bad health, and a perpetual bad mood. But I thought I’d catch up via some pictures of the past few weeks.

I took pictures of the littles in the Provo Orchard. I do think they are lovelies.

Awww . . .

I really like this one. I think it’s magical.

That red stuff: nailpolish. For as much as is on his leg, there was just as much on the carpet. Text to Wyatt read: “What ever you think you’re going to do to Calvin, I’ve already done it. Just remember, this is why we chose the cheap carpet!”

We went to Manti over memorial day weekend for some VERY MUCH needed R&R. We went on “be-ventures” in the field, Cal needed to be carried of course.

Olivia looked for treasure.

And with every treasure she found, suggested with great enthusiasm that we call the museum.

I spy with my little eye . . .

Even Everett got into the spirit of it! (Of course, he wanted to put all the treasures in his mouth).

We painted in my sketchbook.

Then Cal decided to paint Bret.

And Olivia and Cal went shooting.

I went to St. George for a day to help my sister with her wedding plans. I returned with bird houses for the kids to paint.

We had a summer treat night under our tree . . .  the light positively GLOWED as a storm threatened for hours over head. Finally it exploded upon us, complete with lightening and theatricals. We moved to the porch where more treats and conversation were consumed beneath the drama.

Photo of lightning bold by Rick Smith

And rainbows were given as the final desert of the evening.

Ick. Sick. Again.

A fever yesterday set the evenings tone. Olivia is sick.

Every few hours in the night: Children’s tylenol, cuddles between Wyatt and me. Calvin in, Calvin out. Feed the baby. More tylenol. Check Calvin. Check baby. Check Olivia.

A couch day today. “Just rest.”

But Cal isn’t sick, and the sun was so promising today. So he went out to play. “Mommy, mommy! I found a million ants!” – Sure enough, he has found an ant hill. He sets about to collect them for his tricycle trunk. And then: “Mommy, come see the creature I caught.” Beneath the plastic snow thrower is a big black beetle. Another excellent addition to his trike trunk. Boy. Boy.

And then some drama. Because this would make for a boring post otherwise.

Olivia’s temperature at approximately 3:45: 105.7º  -

that can’t be right. Take it again: 105.3º -

not making me feel any better.

Take it again: 105.5º

Call Dr.

Consult.

Take Baby Sunshine in for a visit.

Temperature has gone down (or thermometer read incorrectly).

“Yep. She has a fever. Make sure she get’s plenty of rest and plenty of fluids. Give her tylenol.”

Later that night Olivia and I are on the couch. Daddy and Cal are outside cleaning the garage. Baby Everett is asleep.

“Tell me a story.”

Okay.

One day Olivia and her best friend ______

-CALVIN!

One day Olivia and her best friend Calvin were walking through the _________

-JUNGLE!

And they walked and walked and walked until they came to a _____________

-RAINBOW!

And they ___________

-WANTED TO SLIDE DOWN THE RAINBOW

So they climbed and climbed and climbed to the top of the Rainbow and then slid down the rainbow into the _____________

-OCEAN!

And in the ocean they swam with _________

-FISH

And they grabbed the backs of the fish and swam all the way across the ocean until they met a __________

CRAB

and they had dinner with the crab in the crab’s house which was__________

A SEASHELL

and the seashell was so beautiful, it was pink and purple and green and yellow striped. And they had dinner with the crab in the crab’s house, and they had their favorite food ___________

FISH

Fish and ____________

BROCCOLI

Fish and broccolli. Yummy! And when they were done they rode the fish all the way back across the sea to the beach. And it was raining _____________

SILVER

and they sat in the lovely silver rain and enjoyed the evening. Finally it was time to go home. And Olivia’s mommy asked: Olivia! Where have you been?

ON A BEEVENTURE!

After our story on the couch, Cal came in. He needed a bath. Boys who clean garages need baths. Calvin literally had streaks from the dirt on his face and hands.

One clean little boy and warm cuddles later and Olivia and Cal are off to bed. Olivia shows me the page she colored while Cal was in the bath. There, written neatly across the top is the word “TREE” – I didn’t tell her how to write it. But I’m pretty sure my child is a genius.

Sweet kids.