my greatest joy

In January I made three goals.  Goal #3 was to enjoy motherhood.  I wanted to try harder at having fun with my kids. Not just fall into the roll of parenting all day long.  That really isn't all that fun.  I am still working at my goal.  But it is very easy to enjoy my full time, every single day job, when my kids look like this...

But let's be honest.  Life is usually a little more like this...

Cal got a little creative with the baby powder while I was putting Rhett to bed.  When I came into get him get ready for bed and saw this mess I gasped and said, "What happened!"  Cal looked at me very seriously and said,  "I don't know who did it."   :) 

I do have the worlds best job!   

we miss you arizona

This was a fun week for the Lewis family. Elder CJ returned from his two year mission in Ghana and Kelvin was sealed in the Temple to our family.  Lindy came to watch Cal and Rhett while we were inside and I am glad she did so we could get this little gem of a picture:  

4th of July

oh dear mom,

 we miss you a lot!

thank you SOOOO much for letting us move in for the summer.

we had so much fun!

Back in the old horse pasture.

The triplet boys are 3 years old and have oh so much fun together!

Viva Las

Cal & Ella's first try at gambling, fun at Circus circus, log ride with Grandpa Smoot.

 

We love cousins camp!

"Swiming is Awesome"

Day 1, day 2, and 1/2 of day 3 looked like this...(but much, much louder and with no mercy on my part.)

Day 4-8 went a little more like this...

We swam the summer away.  I view swimming as a right of passage- you learn to crawl, walk, run...and then swim!  You've got to be able to do it in Arizona, and fast. 

Cal got the nick name 'Nemo' not from his favorite new swim suit, but from his awesome 1 arm stroke.

They ended every class with a cheer, "Swimming is awesome."  I hear that line about 10 times every day now.

Love love love the beach!

The perfect Packard family vacation!

I love that the beach tradition still carries on. 

Something about the sound of the waves, the smell, the wind, the warm sand never get old- vacation after vacation. 

Plus the company cannot be beat!  

Dear Daddy

Thank you for letting us have a wonderful summer in Arizona.   We've had a lot of fun...can you tell?

You may not recognize me because now I have 2 teeth, can sit up all by myself and am in love with any orange or green vegetable that is blended up.

But after 6 weeks in Arizona with  trips to California and Nevada, we are now ready to come home to Texas.   

We love you so much! We'll be home soon!

Love, Cal and Rhtett

ps.  Mom says to make sure the house it nice and clean or she may be extending the trip a little longer....

40 years ago

These two fell madly in love.  And I am really glad they did.   

I am so glad I made it to Arizona in time for the celebration.  It was the perfect night!