New Fan

Jeremy and his brothers have had season tickets to the Ute football games for years now.  I got to go to an occasional game when there was an extra ticket but never all the time.  I was so excited when I got my very own season ticket for college football, even if I had to move to Arizona to get it!!  At our first game I leaned over and asked Jer who he will cheer for next year when the Utes come in town and play ASU.  Of course he was quick to answer, "The Utes but we may need to sit elsewhere!"  The first game was 110 degrees and with all the people jammed in and the humidity it was really like 120.  No Joke!  Jer just kept looking at me and saying, "I have never seen you sweat so bad in your life!!"  Me neither.  Despite the heat we had a great time!  Next game wasn't near as hot but I brought my personal fan just in case.  It's really fun to go out to dinner before the game, stop by our favorite Herb shop ;) and head over to the game!  And yes I am part Sun Devil!

Thumbs Down!

When I was younger I was a thumb sucker.  I must have been at least 4 before I quit because I remember my mom bribing me to stop.  She tried just about everything and finally picked just the right stuffed animals to bribe me to quit (I called them T.L and pupcake).  So with Kate I was determined to help her stop.  The damage to her teeth alone was worth it to me to help her.  I started when she was two.  I painted her nails with a bitter polish that is made for such a thing.  She went to suck her thumb and it tasted so bad she started to rub her mouth with her hand, which also contained the polish.  She threw up all over her bed.  I got her cleaned up and tried again.  She threw up once more.  Again, cleaned her up, painted it on her and she sucked it right off and went straight to sleep.  We did this every night for a month and I eventually gave up.  Fast forward to the present.  Again, I knew we had to get her to stop or she would soon become the brunt of kids teasing.  This time, being a little older, I could reason with her.  We promised a special date with Mom and Dad to pick out any toy she wanted. Then I painted her thumb and off she went to bed.  She tried it once and decided it was pretty yucky.  And well, she was pretty set on that new toy.  So for a couple of months now she has been thumb free and finally earned her date with Mom and Dad.  I have to say, a little part of me is sad to see the last of her baby faze fade, but some things just can't last forever!

A little brother for Kate?!?!?!!!

Kate has enjoyed these little scarecrows ever since I put our fall decorations out and has treated them like the little brother she never had. She feeds them, dances with them, fixes them up with her doctor kit and puts them to bed at night.  Who wouldn't love a life size pal that will let you boss them around, right??  She does however have a really life adopted big brother, Austin, from the ward.  He and Kate became great pals at our labor day pool party and rediscovered each other at the ward camp out.  He is like the big brother Kate never had.  I love to see him wait for her after primary every week just to say hi!

And yep, that's it. What were you thinking by the title of this post?  Don't get your hopes up, WE ARE DONE!

S.O.M.

It was 100 degrees at 8 a.m. that day and Kayla couldn't stand the heat!

As a mom there is nothing better than to get a call from your child's teacher telling you how much they enjoy having your daughter in their class.  First was Neeley's teacher.  She said that Neeley is very responsible and follows directions and is a joy to have in her class.  Next it was Kayla's teacher who called to say that Kayla was the best example of someone who displays courtesy in the class and was chosen as student of the month!

B.F. has a really cool tradition of a flag ceremony out back every morning.  The classes all line up.  Then they have a student lead them in the pledge and give a thought having to do with the theme of the month, followed by a skit or something else to illustrate it and a patriotic song.  On this particular morning Neeley had the opportunity to give the thought in front of the entire student body.  And since it was a surprise to Kayla that she was getting the award of student of the month it was a perfect excuse for Mom and Dad to come to flag ceremony without her knowing.  She didn't even look nervous and did a fabulous job.

It was fun to see the look of surprise and bewilderment on Kayla's face when they called her name.  I'm so thankful for good girls who conduct themselves well.  It makes the sting of getting a note home from another teacher for a daughter (who shall remain anonymous) who just can't control her humming in class a little easier to handle.  Lets just say two out of three ain't bad!

Dirt upon Dirt

 This child was so sad to leave.  We had to bring her home and throw her in the tub to make sure she really belonged to us!

A picture with Ol' Smokie for Grandpa Greyhair

It's no secret, Dopp's are wimps when it comes to camping.  Maybe it's because we are so spoiled with Grandpa's custom built cabin! But each year we venture out in a tent for one night and one night only.  The yearly ward campout is the only thing that we can justify camping for.  As we drove higher and higher in elevation we were elated to see the temperature go down with each passing switchback.  It brought back many memories of a time we went to the mountains in Vegas just to escape the heat.  The brisk air and beautiful surroundings welcomed us in!  And the dirt, lets just say Lilah was a magnet for it!  The girls enjoyed playing in the fairies house which consisted of an exposed root system of a large tree and a  ditch.  They even built swags of wild flowers to decorate it.  It truly was fun to see the girls enjoy nature but seemed like a heck of a lot of work for one night.  Not that that was enough to convince us to stay a second night.  As we drove away Neeley went right to work using the commitment pattern to lock us in for next year too.  And as for roughing it, lets just say the fire pit may or may not have been a gas operated fire...

76 a beautiful number!

Today is pretty much the first time i have seen the temp in our house below 85 degrees since we got here! Windows open, breeze blowing through and so begins bliss! Jeremy and I spent a couple of hours last night laying on the trampoline enjoying the weather! Finally, after almost a year of the kids being confined indoors, they can play outside!  Maybe we'll find out we have neighbors after all!

Saturday Evening Stroll

Out for a drive and we happened upon the Mesa temple.  We quickly turned the car back around and went for a visit.  The visitors center is full of fun things but nothing more fun than seeing Kate's face as she dragged me to the statue of Christ.  She was mesmerized!