Foster Bunny

One Sunday this summer, as they were walking home from the park, Tyler and the kids found a rabbit. It was just hopping around in someone's front yard. Naturally they decided to bring it home, not wanting to risk a raccoon attack should it be unable to find it's way home. We put up flyers around the neighborhood but didn't hear anything for almost 2 weeks! I was convinced that either someone let it go on purpose or some kid was pretending he hadn't lost it because he was afraid to tell his parents. Turns out- it was neither of those. The owner finally called one day and came to get it.


The kids were pretty sad to see it go. They had named it "Comet"- because it looked like a dirty snowball. I was thrilled because that thing stunk! After he came to get it, the guy called me back to say, "I didn't want to mention this in front of the kids, but if you want the rabbit- you can have it. It belongs to my daughter who left for college." No thanks! Maybe if we didn't live in the frigid arctic and I could leave it outside. It was fun to keep it for a little while, though.

Our new playhouse

Although not nearly as glamorous as our playhouse in Holladay, we put a new playhouse in our backyard. The boys had a lot of fun helping get it together.



A brick floor had to be installed since the backyard is so uneven (or maybe Tyler just wanted to add his own personal touch =) so we worked quite late. Tucker LOVES wearing head lamps.

Now the boys want to spend every minute they can out there. Between the playhouse and the chickens, Tucker is really in heaven!

Liberty Park

Before the DeHarts left for their new life in Texas, we got to spend a couple of days with them trying to make up for the time we would be spending apart! One day, we went to Liberty Park to play at the splash pools.

Savannah was at soccer camp and didn't get to join in the fun, but it was a good day. It's hard to get a good picture with all them so this one will have to do! Aynsley and Emmaline thought it would be easier to keep up with the kids if they used a rope and had the little ones hang on.

The results were interesting, but they were persistent =) We did make it home with everyone intact. (Sorry Evan- didn't notice you were losing your pants!)
I tried to get a good close-up of everyone.

Max spent some time on the edge checking out the other kids.

Emily helped with Tucker (although keeping up with that guy is a challenge).

Jacob mostly seemed to enjoy relaxing in the cool water.

Evan thought it was a little cold and was glad to have a towel.

Aynsley was very worried about THAT many kids in such an open space, but was able to relax a little, I think.

The bathing beauty.

I think Anna and Emmaline had the most fun of all. Racing around and making up games.

Katy always finds interesting things to do with a shoe. At least this one made it home (on another day she buried her shoe in a GIANT sand pile at the track).

One last one of Emily- I couldn't resist.

We are sure jealous we can't be in Texas too, but glad all is going well. We can't wait to see you again!!

Out with the old...

This summer has seen the demise of several key items in our family. First of all... the jogging stroller.

I got this double jogger when I first started to run and we had just moved to Holladay. Savannah was 5 and Emmaline was 3. They were such motivators for me because they loved to bring along those handheld pinwheels and yell "Faster, Mama" if they thought I was going too slow. It was also great training for me since they weren't very light to push! I've loved that stroller and it has continued to work hard for me as I run with Tucker and Oliver. But alas, it's glory days are over. At the beginning of the summer the hand brake broke off, but I didn't worry since I never use that anyway. But by the end of the summer, the front wheel broke off as well. It was really hard to find one to replace it. I tried to newer versions and hated them and was finally able to find an almost identical one on ebay. Here's hoping it will last 8 years! Kidding- my babies are growing up faster than that.

Second- the Mazda MPV. Almost as old as the stroller, the old mini-van blasted through it's second transmission this summer. This time the computer went out which made the transmission misfire. Since it's only been a couple of years since I replaced the old transmission and the car itself probably wasn't worth the $4000.00 + to fix it... we decided to retire it. But, as you probably know- I HATE making big purchases. I labor over them and re-think and have terrible buyer's remorse. This time, I figure I probably cost us at least $2000.00 by taking so long to make a decision. First of all, Tyler and I couldn't agree on what kind of car to buy. Since he now has a small car, this car needed to be something he wasn't completely embarrassed to drive since we'd have to drive it where the family went. That cut out the minivan. And I really HATE driving huge SUV's. I'm kind of a small person (*wink*) and I really don't feel safe driving something really big. Anyway, by the time I finally decided what I really wanted was a Honda Pilot (much to Tyler's chagrin- but with Consumer Report's nod) used car prices had sky rocketed. I guess "Cash for Clunkers" decimated the used car inventory, but since people still want used cars- prices have gone up. Oh well- the struggle is over and I bought a white 2004 Pilot with gray leather interior. And I'm happy about it! (Maybe the struggle made that more possible?)

And last... but certainly not least...

Can you read that sign? It says "Donate Your No Longer Needed and Useless Glasses." After 16 years, I am free of glasses! I had LASIK eye surgery. It was fantastic. For any of you that have glasses, remember that feeling when you first got them and looked around and realized that you could see leaves on trees from far away? That's how I feel all the time. I look at stuff that is really far away and think, "I can't believe I can see that!" Seconds after I had the surgery, Dr. Phil told me to look over at Tricia and Tyler (who were in the waiting room) and I could see them! And before I left the office, I could see well enough to pass the vision test for a driver's license (shhh- I haven't been able to do that in a long time, they just pass me because they see that I have glasses.). Really great! Kind of hard to get used to seeing myself with no glasses, but absolutely worth it.

If you've got a bunch of shells hanging around...

why not make something? As mentioned before, Emmaline is constantly doing some kind of craft. This summer, she discovered a website that I think is made for kids like her. She's made everything from fancy flip flops to adding lace and embellishments to her jeans and she calls it "caking". One night, she used a Martha Stewart idea to make candles out of sea shells. She and Oliver thought it was fun. We won't mention the mess involved. I love how creative she is... I just can't wait until she knows how and is able to clean up after these projects. Maybe that's just wishful thinking.

3 vs. 3

Every year Savannah's team enters a 3 vs. 3 tournament. It is very difficult because it uses a completely different strategy than a regular game, but it is great experience for the girls. With the fast pace and high scoring potential of each game, it is also a lot of fun to watch.

The rest of us do have to find ways to stay entertained between games. (Tucker and Emmaline are napping underneath the posters here.)

I think he's being a tiger in a cage.

And speaking of tigers, this year, Kelloggs sponsored the event. Tucker didn't know what to think of this fuzzy guy.
They also had a dance contest that Oliver decided to enter. Can you hear the announcer say, "That's the best move today." (Only the first few seconds are interesting.)

Ollie's Dance Contest from Charlotte Huntzinger on Vimeo.

Hilarious!
Savannah's team finished 4th out of 8, and she made TONS of goals so it was a fun tournament.

Back to School

We've had a pretty good start for the year. I always feel a little let down when Tyler drives the girls off to school on the first day. Part of me still wants to walk them to the front door, buut I'm glad that they enjoy it enough they have only excitement to get back into the swing of things.
A few hours into the day, I got a teary phone call from Emmaline saying she got put into "Homework Support" (basically study hall) instead the creative writing or choir class she wanted. I tried to get her to give it a try, but our phone call ended with her saying she was going to talk to the principal. That evening, as she struggled to get all of her homework done, she decided she would rather be in "Homework Support and would get the principal to change it the next day. And Emmaline wonders why that lady doesn't seem to like her?!


Oliver really loves kindergarten. He came home the first day saying, "Her name is All Red Mrs. Allred." Think he got a little confused when she explained her name. He told Tyler later that he "really liked her, but that was private." First crush on a teacher, I guess. He also said he made a new friend named "Thumbs Uh" ("Just like a thumb on your hand."). When I went to Back to School Night I found that the little boys name is Hasma. Pretty funny.
We've decided our theme for this year will be "Happiness is a choice." That seems like a harder and harder skill- particularly when you start Middle School, so hopefully it will give the girls something to think about and work on. So far we're off to a good start.

Our little entrepeneur

Emmaline is constantly trying to think of an easy way to earn money. I often wonder if our neighbors run the other way when they see her coming! Besides the lemonade stand, she has walked dogs, sold dog treats- and on one particular day- made cupcakes.


I had to take a picture of these things with she and her friend Lucy. The icing was out of this world =) I wonder if the people who bought them actually ate them?