So much fun around here!

I feel pretty smart. I used to have a rice bin we would bring out periodically and play with in the dining area but the mess became uncontrollable. I swear Sam was blowing it out of his nose, it was everywhere all the time! So we took all the remaining rice and poured it into the kiddy pool outside. I added more rice and some beans as well. We also placed the water table, basketball hoop and a bunch of toys in it. Hank called it 'Rice City" and the name has stuck. Rice city is my new best friend. Sam AND Milo could stay in there hours.

My other genius idea came from a failed attempt to get Sam to make bread with me. It's always a nice idea in my head. I always imagine the two of us laughing gayly while Sam pours the dry ingredients happily with minimal spilling and is sits quietly with a smile on his face while he watches me knead the bread asking questions about the process. In reality most of the ingredients are all over the floor, he has a mouthful of dough and is trying to squeeze Milo to death. So while two of Sam's friends were over I decided to just give them all of my baking stuff and just let them have a party. It was a major hit. They were literally at that table for hours, in and out a bit here and there but always returning. I baked what they mixed together and it was pretty good! I am always cleaning messes so what's another one if it means happy children?

Labor Day at the Lake. We spent Labor day at the Confluence in Auburn with some good friends. They have three energetic boys so we all get along well. We had a blast swimming, exploring, jumping off rocks and talking...well signing. I am actually have the time of my life right now with this family because both parents are Deaf. I have been spending a lot of time with the mom and I translate for her on Sundays. I forgot how much I miss Sign Language until I started doing this. I got to spend the whole day signing with one of my favorite people in a beautiful place with happy dirty kids. It was one of the best Labor days to date!

Big week in the Florence home this week. Sam has started preschool at the Roseville Community Preschool. I love this school. The whole theory is learn through play. They don't focus on academics. They just provide a rich environment where children are free to explore and learn on their own terms. It's also a parent volunteer programs so I get to work in the classroom once a week. Hank and I also have to attend parent meetings where we learn about child development. I feel like I have been waiting forever to attend the school and now that it's here Sam and I are just thrilled! When Hank asked Sam what he thought of school he said very casually "oh it's just my favorite". I feel so emotional watching him while he explores the campus and interacts with other kids. He's getting older and he is so capable and I am so proud.

A huge highlight of our week was traveling to San Francisco to see War Horse. Not only was the show phenomenal, truly spectacular but the lead guy was a good friend of ours from BYU. On top of it all we went without the boys, so it was all a novelty for us! Visiting with old friends makes me so nostalgic. I love that guy. Sometimes I wish I could just live near all the people I love all the time, but I guess time apart makes the time together that much sweeter.

So we are so lucky to live near a Filipino family. We are even luckier because they own jet skis! We went out for a while with Sam and his obsession with "fast" was confirmed. After being out for probably a half an hour I asked if he wanted to go back "keep going!". Unfortunately the next time we went out something went haywire with the jet ski and we all flipped over. Sam was pretty traumatized and kept crying/yelling "I can't like jets skis!". Fortunately a good Samaritan saw us in distress and brought us back to shore. After that I am not sure we'll get Sam on a jet ski anytime soon.

When we weren't skiing we had fun eating Filipino food and chatting. Ahhh, love days like this!

My sweet Milo. It's been a big week for him as well. He cut his first two teeth and it hasn't been pleasant, but now that they are through we get to see his true sweetness more often.

Sometimes pictures describe my boys better than I can...

don't you agree?