Oh Carol...

and every other female in the world.

Watch out for my 4-year-old.  A certifiable flirt. 

We've been home from our 24th of July Luna trip for a good week+ now.  The 5 days of gorgeous weather and toyhauler time was pure bliss.  Aidan got a bit restless for other kids (you guys have to come next time, Shan!), but Davyn was in heaven with all sorts of female company.  The biggest crush was Carol.  Who is 10.  And who flirted nearly as much as he did.

And he always has kisses and love for his grandmas.  This year he loved picking (and eating) peas from Grandma Hulsey's garden. 

Then there was LeAnn.  Who is Carol's step-mom (and Jim's cousin).  She helped him learn some roping and then he decidedly chose her lap over both mine, Grandma Kay's and Tasha's (unheard of!). 

There was also a little second cousin.  Their hands were glued together for the duration of Grandma Scott's 99 1/2 birthday party (I get to make the 100th cake in January!). 

One morning, on the heel of all these escapades, there was some D teasing about his "girlfriends".  I quickly piped in with "they're not your girlfriends...just girls who you like who are good friends.  Right?"  Well, he was indignant. "Them IS my girlfriends, Mom."  Everyone looked at me in agreement:  I'm in for trouble as this boy gets older. 

After we made it home, Davyn told me all the girls he plans to marry (Carol tops the list for now).  I told him that you only marry one person.  He told me that would be hard to decide.  I wanted to tell him that - in that case - he better always listen closely to his mom.  But I didn't.  For now.  Instead I considered the list of girls Jim dated along his way to me.  And the list of guys I dated along my way to him.  Somehow life ebbs and flows and eventually leads you to what's *right*. 

Thank goodness.

party week: food focus

I have to say that we are all partied out.  Yesterday was Aidan's birthday.  Which happens to fall the day after his Uncle T's...two days after his Aunt Megan's...and three days after his cousin London's.

But more about my Aidan in a (very soon) post.  I need some clarity before I sit and write to my new 6-year-old.  (fair warning: it will likely become sappy so do or don't check back depending on your affinity for such). 

THIS post is dedicated more (or pretty much entirely) to food. 

First, Aidan's cake.  This was the easiest cake assembly I've ever done.  The secret:  all the decorations were cookies made and iced the night before.  A great plan for a busy party day.  Royal icing dries hard (& stackable) and the little cookies were pretty darn tasty. 

The poor cake's "after" shot...it's moment of glory was all too fleeting:

Next...Aidan's dinner choice - Breakfast.  I didn't take pictures, but we had waffles, sausage, eggs, orange julius.  Jim's parents have a fancy Belgian waffle maker that looks like this:

And now I want/need one, too.  It seriously makes delicious waffles.  But the real killer (in a good way) is this syrup recipe that comes from my sister-in-law Shanon.  Go ahead and click on it.  And make it.  And be delighted.  (And then brush your teeth).

ON TO THE PRIOR PARTY....

T's birthday dinner was wings from Native New Yorker.  Now, when I first became a Scott, this was a typical and oft-repeated dinner choice.  But it has seriously been years now since we've had these wings.  And I must say that I quite enjoyed them on Wednesday night.  They were too spicy for Jim and Aidan, but Davyn and I happily ate our fair share (and theirs maybe? and maybe I'm including D, but really mean just me?).

AND THE ONE BEFORE...

If you live in the valley, you must go to Joe's Farm Grill on your birthday.  Bring an i.d. and they'll give you a free meal.  Our birthday Megan got salmon.  I ordered the jumbo prawns and they were beyond jumbo.  Any shrimp that requires three solid bites might need a new adjective, in fact.  But they were amazing and their homemade cocktail sauce was their equal.  Top that all off with sweet potato fries and  pineapple serano chile dipping sauce...well, you can imagine that would be divine, I'm sure.  Best of all, Joe's menu is inspired by fresh produce grown at the adjacent farm. 

AND THE PARTY THAT STARTED IT ALL...

This one wins no acclaim for the food.  Mainly because it was a Chuck E. Cheese event.  But, seriously, there are few better spots to sit back and relax your pregnant body as your kids run around having the time of their lives.  And our London birthday girl was thrilled. She is a bit monkey-obsessed, so I made these cupcakes for the event.  After making one and a half dozen of these little guys, I was no longer sure they looked like monkeys...but it was an easy&quick-ish monkey attempt.

Today we have not partied.  We have eaten leftover cake (you saw the "after" shot...there's a whole lot left!).  And will likely eat more tomorrow.  But then it goes in the garbage.  And next week there will be no sugar in this house. 

Maybe. 

the cabin

We spent our growing up summers (and Thanksgivings...and occasional Easters...and sometimes inbetweens) at my grandparents' cabin.  Grandpa and his brother built it 50ish years ago.  On their own.  When my mother was a small girl.  So, obviously this place owns a decent chunk of all of our hearts and favorite memories.

Years ago my grandparents sold their portion of the cabin and they now summer in Pinetop.  Which is lovely.  But part of our hearts still belong to the cabin near Ellison Creek.  So when my mom called and said she spoke to her cousin about us staying there for a week, I was elated.  This is a place I wanted my children to experience. 

And they did.  For a week they ran around the same forests, creeks and lakes we used to frequent.  With many cousins.  For a week my sisters, mom & I played hours of card games.  For a week I took many pictures of dirty faces.  And I'm having a whole mess of trouble deciding which to post.  Because I truly love all of these little people.  So this picture overload is mostly for them and their mothers.  In memory of a week I thoroughly enjoyed (despite my crying breakdown after seeing two mice on night #1). 

the whole cousins crew (16 strong!) on the front porch (minus a hiding Noah, that is).

Aidan with Crew (who told him, "I always want to be on your team, Aidan").

Baylee the queen of the swing

Andee, 14 and a very good sport with this slew of littles.

London, completely unthrilled to be getting the camping hair-do.  I remember well the days in that painful seat.

Caleb in the car, where we bonded.   

Talin, Davyn, Collin 

the kitchen view of the outside diners.

the bedroom view of the outside play.

at Woods Canyon Lake

Crew

planning adventures with Andee

actual Adventuring with Andee

Reagan loved everything about being out & about free roaming.

Ryder

the day I cured Sav's foul mood with mascara & lip gloss. 

my A taking a rest

Talin definitely had the most impressive beading skills of the bunch.

I love A's chubby hands at work.

Madee.

Baylee

beading was a serious stress to the Scott boys.

There was also rock painting.  This was Andee's.

Collin

Davyn (whose mother made him paint shirtless).

I didn't get the finished project, but Grandma Cyndee wowed us all with her true artistic skills.

the "adventure packs" Cyn & I sewed up.  They all carried around pen & notebook & collected along the way.

Megan & Caleb at Tonto Creek.

D & Savs at creek.

London (a genuine germaphobe) took her time getting in.

her little sister had no such trepidation.

feeding fish

Crew at fish hatchery

Davyn at fish hatchery.

Caleb in his eternal quest for freedom.

(most of) all the cousins at Woods Canyon Lake.

where they all ended up nude.

I couldn't resist vintaging this curly girly.  Her forest elation was a Joy.

Wyatt's birthday.  Yes, we let them eat cupcakes with filthy faces.

Crew pushing A.

Wyatt at Woods Canyon

This is my favorite picture.  We left first.  And when Aidan said good-bye, this spontaneous hug-fest ensued.

Call me crazy, but I love planning activities for all of these littles.  Their enthusiasm for learning about animals and the world entire is a joy. We definitely need to start planning regular all-family reunions!

the summer of Davyn's swimming

He finally came into his own in the pool this year. 

Realizing his body is much stronger than he had previously supposed.

It took off on its own really.

Despite his own internal Timid.

And now, there's simply no holding back...

I so love these two. 

a new tradition

We're only two months into this *new tradition*, but I can already tell that it's a keeper so I thought I'd share.  The first Monday of every month is now our PIE night (on lazy nights like this Monday that can translate into a quick pudding parfait, of course..no one complains about homemade when you pretty it up.  May was a true strawberry pie...click here for a phenomenal recipe). 

It's not really about the dessert anyhow, though that's definitely part of the lure.  The idea was actually born with the worship of Jody Gonzalez in my first married ward.  She was my visiting teacher for years and I learned so much about the type of mother I wanted to be from this woman. 

This was something her family did.  The PIE stands for Priesthood Interview Evening. 

On this night, our Family Home Evening starts with the typical prayer, song, and family business, but then the boys and I each take a turn having an interview with Jim.  During Aidan's turn, I play with or read to Davyn.  And I likewise spend time with A during D's turn.  During my turn, they start in on their PIE.

My time with Jim has been invaluable. We talk together about the boys, about what we both need to do to make our home a better place for their raising.

As for the boys...I have been very moved lately, looking at them and thinking about the inevitable "growing up" that's already happening faster than I can even register.  These two are future priesthood holders and I want them to be prepared and armed against the world with an understanding of how significant their priesthood offices will be.  Of course, their testimonies grow with their Sunday classes and weekly FHE.  But this alone time, talking with Dad about where they're at, who they are, and what they'd like to work on...well, it has already affected the spirit of our home.   It's a tradition I want my children to grow up with as a constant.  I want them to remember monthly moments with their dad.

And I want to make a pretty dessert once a month.  At least.  Won't they remember me for that?