Things That Warm My Heart...

...Good times with great MOPS friends

...the Train Park (thank you to whoever's idea that was!) in Scottsdale with BOTH sets of grandparents
(not pictured--my dad popping up in clever places along the train route to take pictures in classic Joe Kaufman style)

...Annie's first ice cream cone with Gamma (don't worry, she didn't eat the whole thing, just gnawed on the cone, mostly. And yes, Sam and Evan, I never would have let you have ice cream so early, just deal with it)

...Jeremy graduating (with high honors, brag brag brag) from Phoenix Seminary with his Masters of Divinity in Biblical Communication





...Evan standing on the pew and clutching all his "treasures" and listening attentively during the entire worship set

...enjoying the day with Jeremy's brother, Jack, who we were blessed to see alive and well after a scary medical situation last month. We love you, Uncle Jack!

...Jeremy not complaining about me going overboard with his graduation party. I just couldn't resist!

...Annie reminding me to look on the bright side by viewing a broken dryer not as an inconvenience but an opportunity to toss wet clothes around and giggle

...celebrating Evan's birthday at Peter Parker Pizza (that's what they call it) with Grandma and "Crampaw"

...brotherly love (or a subconscious attempt to strangle younger brother and steal his new Buzz Lightyear wings)

...trying to get 3 children in matching outfits (from Hawaii) to smile into the sun for the camera (okay, that one warmed my heart in a different way--more like raised my blood pressure)

...babies with automatic weapons

...Samuel saying proudly, "Look, Mom, this is how the cool guys wear their shirts." To which I replied, "But the cool guys who wear their shirts like that have hairy chests. Do you have a hairy chest?" "Not yet!" Samuel says, looking down with great excitement and anticipation. Oh, if he only knew.


...watching tractors and cranes with "Crampaw" at the new Walmart

...the great efforts the boys went to on their own in order to be together watching their movie

...Evan bringing cupcakes to his new "big boy" Sunday school class. This is his proud face, if you couldn't tell.

...roasting marshmallows with Gamma and Pa J for Evan's birthday dinner dessert.

...flowers in my flower bed. I'm a little obsessed, I confess.

...Sam's Lego Museum (no doubt inspired by his recent trip to Legoland)

...little boys in matching outfits, headed to the park (actually a good idea when trying to find said boys in a crowded park later).

...Movies on the Square with friends, watching an excellent selection--"Star Wars: the Clone Wars" (AWFUL--thanks for choosing it, our pediatricians!)

There. Now I'm caught up and you're bored. Shorter post next time, promise!