palette knives and paint brushes.

Today was the day. The day Stella has been talking about for weeks. It was "art day" at Grandma Deb's. She has been practicing with water colors at home and was so ready to paint at Grandma's. The girls woke this morning and promptly put on their aprons and sat patiently waiting for us to go. Seriously. So we put Henry down for a nap and headed to the studio. 

 They started with a little charcoal to sketch out the pumpkins. Ruby was very concerned that they weren't painting actual pumpkins. Even after she discovered the pumpkins were fake. Stella was trying to make her pumpkins exactly as Grandma was painting them.

 Then a paint brush.

 They learned about primary, secondary and tertiary colors, and how to mix them.
Ruby made green. all. by. herself. And Stella made a beautiful shade of orange. What five year old talks like that?

 For Stella, art is a very serious business. It has to be as perfect and as precise as she sees it. And she would like Ruby's to be that way as well. oh my cute little rule follower.

 Chubby little hands smothered in oil paint...

 You can't count yourself as an artist if you don't put your paint brush in your mouth. Stella is an artist, clearly.

 I wanted in on art day as well. But it's not officially fall yet, so I have to refrain from all things pumpkin until then. Monet's poppy fields are better anyway.

There isn't much better than a day at Grandma's. I think thats why we have children, so that one day we can be grandparents.

Plus I might have stolen a few paintings... Thanks Mom!

love love

forever.

It only seemed appropriate that we end our summer off with the best event of the entire season. This last Thursday, Kevin and I were sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. We were able to have the kids in the temple with us and I can't adequately explain the feelings that were there. It was such an amazing, beautiful day. My heart has never been more full for this wonderful family of mine. I am so blessed to call them all mine.

 Ashley Thalman  took our photos before hand, and I'm so excited to see the rest. Thanks Ashley!

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I have just a few photos from after the sealing, we had to dodge the rain. It only seems appropriate that it rained. 

 When I grow up, I want to be Deb. She is my hero.

 He is a dreamboat.

 Thanks to Trisha for being there for us, for taking a few photos and cheering us on. 

Thank you to those our families who were there to celebrate with us. We missed those who couldn't make it and are grateful for all the well wishes we received. 

love love

*The Brimhall's were there with us, but didn't stay for photos. 

The Last

Oh my goodness, how has the time just flown past? Anyone else wondering how it is June 11? But really, seriously? How is already summer? How is my baby brother leaving tomorrow? for 2 whole years? How is Gus already 7.5 months old? And he waves? How is any and all of this possible? Darn you time and always moving forward.
Last week ended up being a whirlwind and I should have know it was going to be that way. I should have been more prepared for it. But I wasn't. And I'm paying the price this week. The month I have been scheduling with Kevin for the last 6 months is now up on the calendar and there isn't a day on it that isn't scribbled on. And by "scheduling it" I mean I have been laying it in front of him telling him all of the things that are going on, on this day and that day and what I need to do for it here and there. All while he smiles and lets my jabbering go in one ear and out the other. Regardless of his retention of my jabbering, it makes me feel better.
We ran away to Tabiona  with some of the Brimhall's on a Wednesday. And as I laid in bed watching the quakies turn gold as the sun rose, I agreed, again, that this stay at home stuff is sometimes pretty awesome. There it was a Wednesday and I had just up and left, and it was ok. I snuck downstairs, made a batch of cinnamon rolls and watched the mountain side welcome the daylight. That Tabiona, regardless of the shenanigans of the quick retreat, is nothing but goodness for my soul.
Unfortunately the girls don't do as well as I would like with a quick trip, in the middle of the week. I go messing with their routines- ya know, lucky charms, jake and the neverland pirates, aerobics, sprinklers under the tramp, jam sandwiches for lunch, a NAP, bike rides and wrestling matches with dad and a chapter before bed. Their life is pretty hard. It's a good thing my soul gets all nice and healed up before coming home, because dealing with a combustable Ruby is exhausting in any and all circumstances.
We came home, did some more laundry, they napped for not long enough and then it was the last weekend with H. Is anyone else tired of saying goodbye? And we haven't even said the last one. He leaves tomorrow morning and I'm sad, and proud. It's the most happy of sads you can have. We spent Friday night at the temple with him. Saturday, I kicked his butt on the golf course (but really) and then we dined out with the peacocks on Saturday night. Sunday the girls snuggled next to him at Stake Conference and then I stood over a pan of frying chicken for dinner. It was loud and chaotic and peaceful at the same time. The way it needed to be.
Now to distract myself from the official looming goodbye I'm gearing up for the next part of the calendar, the part where I'm scheduled out of town until what feels like the middle of July. But really the middle of July. Again, this stay at home life is pretty fantastic. :)

 I swear I wash the "snoopy shirt"

 We take National Donut Day very seriously.

 Look at those cute faces?!

 I beat both of them, at Red Ledges none the less. And now I'm done playing golf. To end on a high note and all.

 Micall, will you come home so Brian can photobomb your pictures?

 Stella asked if Hunter would go get a snow cone so they could say goodbye. She is very sad that they can't FaceTime for two whole years.

Is this one of those posts where you just keeping thinking #firstworldproblems? I am.

love love

The last time

Kevin came home from his week long business trip to a weekend with the Tolberts. YAY! An unapologetic, completely out of control, full on Tolbert weekend. Sorry honey. I know it seems like those happen all the time, and they sort of do I guess. Again, sorry honey. But this time it was different. It was the last time. The last time we are all together before our little Huntsy leaves on his mission. (insert tears of joy and sadness, Mom) Of course there was food, grief, work projects, golf games, birdie balls, (FYI, get some right now), laughing, more food, mule rides, Dairy Keen, attempted ridiculous movies, and late nights laying around laughing with everyone. It was sort of the perfect last weekend. Also, I required a family photo. Because it was the LAST TIME. And it was the easiest family photo we have ever taken, if you don't count the sprinklers that hit us and the wind that blew us over. 

--Ruby leaned over during Hunter's talk and said, "Mom, I think I gonna miss him." (Again, insert tears.)-- Aren't all these kids like really really cute? They will be so big when he comes back!--

 --I am just going to say this. I have taken a lot of photos of the Brian Tolbert family, and I'm not gonna  anymore. Too picture perfect.--

 --Favorite photo ever.--

 --Oh look it's Trace and a Mini Trace. Both wearing amazing ties. Surprised? I'm not. --

 --I promise we didn't even coordinate this photo. I just asked that everyone have clothes on. Which for some, has to be requested. --

 --I love this little family of mine. A lot.--

 --AHHHH. Seersucker shorts and Top Siders! Turns out dressing a son can be fantastic. I love him--

 --The pure bloods.--

 --What we are really like most of the time.--

 --Oh that mother of ours, she's my fantastic. Like really.--

 These people are all my very favorite. Weirdness and all.

Hunter gave a great farewell talk to a packed house and all those great people joined us at the house afterward. It was really nice to see all people that you don't see very often, to mingle, to eat great food, to sit in the sunshine. It was all perfect. Thanks everyone for joining us, it was great! Mexico, you have a good one coming your way. Well done Hunter. Well done.

love love

#raisingthemright

Miss June and I went skiing last week! For the first time together!!! A sunny day, fresh corduroy, a deer valley cookie and all those Tolbert's making for the best ski day around. Seriously, I was beaming like that obnoxious mom squealing down the mountain with her. We were there celebrating Finley's birthday and everything was right with the world. Kevin was playing at home with Ruby and Gus. I know right? He's pretty awesome and I'm pretty freaking spoiled.
But seriously, I went skiing with my girl. There I was, one arm underneath her arm pit lifting her up on the chair lift, talking about all the great things in life. Because all great conversations happen on a chair lift. Singing songs and giggling down the mountain. It was a beautiful day, to be there watching Grandma Deb ski with her grand daughters, to have Grandpa Trace teaching them all about a rockets blasting off as the lift heads up the mountain and making big turns. Watching her flap her wings and zoom like an airplane. Not a single thing wrong with any of that.

--grandma is better with June than I ever was with Kevin. This would be where I left him to fend for himself. oops--

--maybe my favorite picture to date, maybe.--

--these girls will be serious rippers when you get back Hunter... --

//happy birthday finley!//

I have found myself watching the video's I took with my phone over and over again beaming I tell ya!  So please indulge me in a mom video, what? it's my blog...

I can't wait for the many more ski days to come with my little rippers! eek! It makes me all giggly!
love love