8-months-old already?

Lincoln crawls...pulls himself up on things...dares to hold on with only one hand...gives slobbery baby kisses...makes high-pitched bird noises...sprouted six teeth (for a total of seven) in one month...and loves food!

Going for the spaghetti!

He loves both of his siblings but I think he adores Des the most...even though Des does not return the feeling! I can see it now - big brother turned around with a scowl on his face while little brother follows him around, grinning madly :D

Linc has also formed a special bond with his dad :) No one can make him smile and giggle like his dad can, or get him to relax without first putting him in a milk stupor!

I can't believe that, in only 4 months, we'll be celebrating his birthday, too!

Aislin the Kindergartner

It's been a long five years...but we finally got her out of the house :D What's even better is that the Mesa School District has full-day kindergarten! It's not the optional program, either, for parents who need childcare after school, but the program. It's marvelous.
Over the summer, she attended a three-week part-time summer program at her new elementary school. It's an awesome program intended to introduce our little ones to kindergarten and prepare them for the coming school year. Her summer teacher was a caring and energetic woman who kept parents very involved in the whole process, and provided tons of free materials (games, flashcards, etc.) that parents could use throughout the summer with their kids. The best thing about her was that she later became Aislin's kindergarten teacher, too!
School started on August 7th... Aislin chose to ride the school bus, so every morning she and I walk down the road and around the corner to her bus stop, and in the afternoon the boys and I drive that short distance to wait for her in our car. (What?? Afternoons are hot in Arizona!!) So far she's had her birthday celebrated in class, and the boys and I got to visit that day with brightly-colored cupcakes in hand; she and her class did the "Gingerbread Man Search" around the school before finding him perched atop a shelf in their classroom; she participated in "Color Days" where her class would focus on a different color each day (over the course of two weeks) and show their participation by wearing the day's color or using it in some way.
Aislin is enjoying school and learning so much every day. She's changing and growing before our very eyes. Tim and I are also enjoying this experience of having our first child go to school, and of being involved at her school. We're so proud of our little kindergartner :)

This pic was actually taken during her summer program, and the lady right behind her is her kindergarten teacher!

This was taken on the first day of school after she had come home. Although most parents take pics with their kids posing in front of their home or their school bus, or in their new classroom and sitting at their desk...I didn't :P It all just happened so fast, but I guess it's better than no pic at all :)

Finally Five

Aislin spent all of her pre-K school year watching her friends turn five. On August 3rd, the wait finally ended!

Happy Birthday, my restless, weird, witty, outspoken, strong-willed, protective, thoughtful, adventurous little girl. We love you and all of your countless eccentricities :)

Who doesn't love Brave??

 Thank you, Dairy Queen!

The big finale to her birthday was taking her to her very first movie - Despicable Me 2! She had a blast. I loved hearing her burst out laughing during those hilarious scenes :)

All Settled In

From a boxes-unpacked-and-pictures-on-the-walls perspective, we've been settled in for a while now...but from a broader perspective, you'd know we're settled in because a) Tim and I both got callings at church, and b) we've committed to a few new projects.

I think Tim may have beat our ward's record for shortest calling when he was sustained as a ward missionary before being released - two days later - and called as Elder's Quorum First Counselor! He would have been a fantastic ward missionary, but his current calling seems...right :) He may have felt a little nervous or even confused as we left the Stake President's office, but I know that with his willingness to serve and help others, he'll do a wonderful job :)
I've been called as a Cub Scout Den Leader for the Bears. I know - whoa! I was a deer in headlights in my first couple of weeks, but thankfully I work with a sister who has years of experience and volumes of scouting knowledge. I may have been a little nervous at first, and felt out of place at the first few meetings, but now that summer's over and den meetings have started up again, I've been able to get to know my own den and steadily know the pack. Every week has been a fun experience, and this week was my first time to lead an activity. It went well, and I was grateful for that time getting to know the boys :)

As for those new projects I mentioned...they include me joining a gym and hiring a personal trainer, Tim buying a weight-lifting set and starting a powerlifting regimen, Tim starting his own business called Ornery Development, and me joining the PTO at Aislin's school, volunteering as a Parent Helper in her classroom, and taking violin lessons (again).

We're definitely settled in, and busy!

Reunited

(Note: this post is completely out of order and should have preceded the post "Why Arizona?" I thought I had posted it but given the chaos of this summer, one of the most important events had been left out. So without further adieu...)
Back in May, just days before we left Washington, Tim's Aunt Betty and Grandma Annabelle (his dad's sister and mom) came to visit...after over a decade of separation. They had found each other on facebook after his dad passed away and kept in touch every since. We certainly didn't mean to move just hours after taking them to the airport, but it was still such a blessing to have them visit...and their help during the move was paramount!

The kids may never have met them before their visit, but they took to them right away as if they'd known them since they were born. Desmond had formed a bond with his great grandma, and Aislin took to Aunt Betty so well that she couldn't stop from crying when she and Tim left the airport. 

We love those two ladies so much and are grateful to have finally met them!

The amazing quilts that Aunt Betty made for the kids!!

Told ya she loves this lady :)

The kids with Great Grandma

This was our last visit with my family and the first time they had ever met (in person) anyone from Tim's family. It was a very special day, indeed :)