And Bella makes 6

NO! Not six people in the Bascom family! (But I knew I would catch some attention with that title.)

We at the Bascom abode love animals. We now have two fish, Cosmo and Wanda, two rats, Dumbo and Lucy, and two Dogs Sadie and Bella. This first picture was taken for Aliyah to take to preschool the day before we got Bella. The next two are of Bella and the kids.

Bella is a Dogo Argentino, nicknamed the Argentine Mastiff. We wanted a BIG, tough looking outside dog that would be so gentle with our kids. She has a beautiful soft white coat and the sweetest personality. She has already decided these kids are her own. We sent her to get her ears cropped a few days after we got her. When she came back, she would not go outside to the bathroom unless Mya went with her. She is only 15 weeks and will probably tip the scales at 100 lbs when she is full grown. (Not even half the size of the last dog I had as a kid which was 220 lbs when he died. That was an Old English Mastiff.) The hope is that she will make people think twice before coming into our yard unannounced but be sweet to those who we welcome to our home. I will get pics up when her ears heal so you can see our Beautiful Baby Bella ready to keep us safe!

Change gonna come

So we have been trying to sell our house for a while. We finally found a buyer and will close on Friday. I am spending all my free time packing, packing and packing. We will move in to my parents for a few months (ok close to 8) while our house is being built. My parents are grateful to have someone stay there while they are gone.

PS I am in no way shape or form a hoarder so where did all of this JUNK come from?!?

Mya turns 6!

I hit all my kids birthdays in a 4 month period. I It's nice to have it over with before all the holiday madness begins at the end of the year.

Mya turned six! For some reason this birthday of hers made me realize that my kids are getting bigger AND BIGGER. Austin is supposed to grow up, he is the oldest. He is a missionary in a little body just waiting to grow up! Mya is supposed to stay younger, always younger, than 6!! That's just how I see her. (I'll bet Aliyah will want to turn 6 one day too. ) I am fine with my kids growing up. Really, I am. I love to watch them grow, develop personalities, interact with others, conquer new goals, skills or hobbies, etc. I like to see that one day all of my work and worry will turn into a tangible, functional beings who contribute to the kingdom and society. This birthday was just reflective for me.

Mya decided in her free time at school LAST year, that she wanted a Spa Party. She wanted to paint nails, paint toes, fix hair, etc. That's what we did. We also made pizza and had a dance party. I had Maddie and Gabby come over to help and to dance with the girls. The girls thought that it so cool to have teenagers at their party!! I think Maddie and Gabby had a great time and didn't mind making some cash on the side. They actually spent the night the night before and watched the kids while we went to the temple and then help clean the house and set up the party. Essentially, they saved the day!!!

Abigail

Annabelle

Austin, Abigail, Kylee, Allie, and Gabby

Annabelle, Aliyah, Sarah, Mom, Nikki, Maddie and Mya

Mya

Maddie, Mya, Gabby

Sorry the dancing one gets turned sideways...what can you do?

We got her ears pierced for her birthday. I don't think she was anticipating then pain!

Austin

My firstborn has had a summer to remember (and make his mother feel old...)!

*Warning: A lot of these pictures were taken on an iphone and not that great of quality. Sometimes I forget my camera and the iphone is the only option. I blame my parents... Ideally I would become a great picture taker/editor but who said this world was ideal?

His Baptism was obviously a big deal! Eric's parents, and two of his brother's families came for the event. My parents barely missed it :( My brother Shane cooked Jambalya for everyone to eat after. That is a big deal, if you don't know. It takes hours to do over a large cast iron pot outside in the LA heat. He got up early and had it done for us to eat right after the baptism. Thank you Shane!

Mya, Aliyah and I sang and Chrisie Grandma and Uncle Dave spoke. It was neat to see him make such an important choice in his life. I am so proud of you Austin and the sweet boy you are becoming!! (My camera died after this picture. I need to get the others that my Sister-in-law took with her camera)

He became a Cub Scout. He wants to get his Bobcat and Wolf by the first pack meeting. He is well on his way!

For his birthday he chose not to have a party but to go the LSU Father/Son Basketball camp with his Dad! (it was actually held on his birthday). I think he wanted to live there. They slept in the dorms, ate in the cafeteria and played in the new LSU training facility that was not even all the way finished! The LSU coach in charge also happens to be the Elders Quorum President in Baton Rouge I ward and he and Eric know each other pretty well. He announced that it was Austin's birthday and the entire camp sang Happy Birthday to him!

Nick Robinson

Austin is a fish! This was his first summer on a swim team. He was one of the teams highest scorers. His coach loved him and I think may have taken him home if I was ever late picking him up. He swam breast stroke and butterfly mostly which is not easy for his age. He impressed the coaches so much he won the Coaches Outstanding Swimmer Award! There are awards given for an outstanding swimmer in each age group and then one overall given to a girl and one overall given to a boy. He was the overall boy winner! His award was a pretty big deal. I am a proud mamma:)

Coach Di

First Day of School

I have so many things to post...I have a feeling I'll find some time now :)

Backpacks are so big on Mya! (Aliyah dresses herself...I take no credit for those pjs!)

A cool third grader who has to switch teachers during the day this year! That's the definition of cool...you didn't know? I'm surprised. Somehow, he and his best friend ended up in the same class. He has high hopes for a great year!

Beautiful girl. New bling on the ears. Boys...her dad works out, ALOT.

Aren't I a lucky woman?

Dallas Fun

In addition to Eric's race we were there for my nephew's blessing and to hang out for the week. Despite two trips to the doctor and one emergency surgery for my niece, we had a great time! The kids and I drove out a week early for the blessing and Eric rode out with Mike and Adi later to meet us. The kids were great the entire time. Couldn't have been better.

We:

1. went swimming at their friends' and Tracy's mother's neighborhood pool

2. played slip -n- slide

3. went to the Dallas children's museum

4. went to church on the forth of July

5. ate yummy dinners out

6. ate pizza

7. shopping at Sam Moon and the LDS Book store

8. went house looking with just me and my brother. We haven't done anything with just him and I for years so that was very fun for both of us!

9. ate dinner at THE CUTEST RESTAURANT EVER! The Magic Time Machine. The servers dress up like characters and the entire thing in an act from the time you walk in to the time you walk out. We got Tinkerbelle. Highly recommend this place. Austin asked Pocahontas where the bathroom was and she literally yelled to the entire place, "WATCH EVERYONE. THIS KIDS GOT TO GO!" Austin hated it but really it was hilarious! I saw Cinderella taking a group of kids to the bathroom and made them do a conga line chanting "We gotta go. We gotta go."

10. got strep throat (Aliyah and I)

11. watched kids while my Sister-in-law and brother stayed at the hospital for Brittany's emergency surgery/stitches. Kids: never climb WET monkey bars...never.

12. Generally threw a schedule out of the window and totally relaxed.

This trip is on the agenda for next year!

Magic Time Machine

Cutie Patootie

Jaden gave up on the spoon for his ice cream...my kinda man!

Tink

Magic Time Machine

Children's Museum

Baby Chase

Slip-n-slide

Buddies, born three days apart!

My 4th of July kids :)

BUNCHES of Bascoms!

Eric's family has always been wonderful about making an effort to come see us, the black sheep of the family who moved away. We love them for it. This time when they came we decided to jam in as much activity as humanly possible into the time they were here. (In case they never come back, right?)

We did:

1. Mya's gymnastics

2. two of Austin's swim meets (bless their melting souls!)

3. looked for gators

4. yummy food

5. a night at the Cabin, which included lots of lake swimming, fishing, crafts, yummy food, critter finding, boys cousins all piled in one room, girls cousins retreating to travel trailer with Grandma and Grandpa, jumping off of the boat house, smores and a not-so-scary-to-anyone-else-but-the-Eric-Bascom-kids story.

6. Austin's baptism

7. waffles after church

8. jambalya courtesy of my bro Shane after baptism...delish!

9. Global Wildlife center where the pregnant giraffes ate right out of our hands!

10. shopping

11. golf for guys

12. forgetting our kids where around because they did not need us at all with so many cousins around.

13. barbecuing

14. touring Houmas House

15. eating at "The Cabin"

16. more shopping

17. Eric's Rotary dinner, which we totally dolled Chrisie up for!

18. youth temple trip

19. swimming, swimming and swimming

20. sno-balls

21. lizard, frog and turtle catching

22. girls fixing each other's hair

23. etc., etc., etc.

A jam packed week. Adam and company left on Sunday and Dave's fam and Eric's parents left on Thursday. We miss everyone so much!

Baptism Boy and Dad

Warming up

Visit to see Mike the tiger. There's a real tiger it the habitat in the background.

Lewis, Cali, Aliyah, Mya

Chrisie and Me

Mya found a cozy seat

Zach, Nathan, Austin and Lewis

Kids, Eric and the gator at the Coffee House where we got... beignets, not coffee people.

Crashing at the cabin. I think there are 6 people in the picture. Can you find them all?

Grandpa cooking breakfast

Aliyah and Josh

Austin with Adam and Amy's family after his baptism. He made the hair flower amy is wearing for her.

Paddle boating. I think its Mya and Cali paddling, Zach pulling them out of the mud and Aliyah and Josh along for the ride!

There are more pictures that I need to get from Wendy and I will post them when I get them!

Tri #1 down

400 M swim., 11 mile bike ride, 2 mile run. He trained. He bought the gear. He rented a bike. He found a friend to train with him. He convinced his wife he would not die of a low blood sugar. He signed up. Drove to meet us in Dallas where we were already for my nephew's baby blessing. Tested his blood in copious amounts before, during and after. He stopped to give insulin during the race when it started to go high. He ate candy when it began to go low. He threw up candy after the race. All in all it was worth it!

I will post pics of the visit with family and such later. But for now...my man!

#207, Age 30

Getting bike into ready position. It's very early in the AM and very dark!

Racing Friends

Heading to the water. He is the one closest the camera and unfortunately the most blurry. Dang humidity!

Waiting in the water for the starting horn. His age group was the first to start. They were marked by the green caps while in the water. Once out of the water, they were marked by their age on their leg.

Transition to the bike from the swim. This is where he lost alot of time. Most people did not have to test their blood sugar, wipe their feet down excessively to avoid foot damage and give two units of insulin via a pump before they could continue. This was the fun of the challenge for him. Doing it and being competitive while adding in the "extras".

He really enjoyed the bike ride if you couldn't tell! This was him returning from the 11 miles. He wished it was longer and the run shorter. He hates running!

Mike on the bike. His chain came off which costs them some time too.

Mike, sinus infection and all, finishing.

Running in from the finish. That candy is not sitting so well.

Be right back. Gotta go puke.

Starting to feel better.

Cheerleader Adi!

Cheerleaders Amy and Austin! Eric is feeling great now!

Now he can wear the T-shirt. He wouldn't wear the shirt until he had finished! (Mya is adorable and Baby Chase is not so happy here!)