Preschool here we come! (Again!)

Don't even try it ladies. He is still mine.


This cool dude is (almost) 4 and already knows how to work it.


There were no tears, there were no battles, there was a whole lot of excitement. Shoes on the wrong feet?!  No way.  It's the new style amongst preschoolers.  Honest!


Ever since Ammon was in preschool, we have had the privilege to have all of our kids in Teacher Lori's school. It was finally Hyrumba's turn. (His own nickname he gave himself!! Love it!!)




Hyrumba, I will miss you, but I know you are in good hands. Teacher Lori won't let you get away with anything and you will have so much fun! 



Here's to another year!

6 going on 16

Emily, what am I going to do with you?  Who said that you were allowed to grow up, let alone be so darn cute, and to top it off, be so fantastically fun?! 
6 Things that I love about You!
I love the way you smile and crinkle your nose.
I love the way you love to read.
I love the way you always remind me to read scriptures and say prayer.
I love the way you play with dolls, house, dress-up (make-up included of course! :)  )
I love the way you like to jump into the middle of your brothers in a wrestling match and join right in.
Most of all, I love the way you fit perfectly into our family.

I love you Emily Jane!
Happy 6th Birthday!

Nature and Science Museum

Jubilicious

I did not know my little sister very well.  We both had heard about each other and given the occasional hello and goodbye hug, but I didn't really know her.  And then she came for a week this month.

Did I know that she could be so crazy

And yet so gorgeous?!

Loved her child-like wonder and RMNP

The amazing pictures she took.

 

The Varmints we followed.

The way my kids love her

and followed her.

I loved that she would even listen to one of my songs and would be willing to take a picture by our own little "Rolling River".

The way she shared her talent and left her imprint.

Last but not least, she got to "meet" her niece Phoebe.

Ju-I am so glad you came.  Thank you for your self-less service and your love and acceptance.  There are no coincidences, and you didn't just happen to come at some random time.  You are a beautiful, lovely lady.  Thank you for coming.  I love you.

Hyrumisms

There is something about Hyrum that makes you want to hang around him just so you can hear what he has to say next.  It keeps coming to me that as much as he is a wild child right now, he won't always be this wild child of energy and tornadic abilities to turn the house upside down.  In honor of my very own tornado.  I have decided to let you in on a ten things that make me so glad I get to be his mom. 

1. After he is done in timeout I sometimes ask why he was there.  Most often he looks at me with his pretty blue eyes and says, "Mom, what did I did?"  I make him repeat his question to me one more time because it really is that cute.  Of course I have to break out my poker face so he won't see my amusement.
2. He says the most random things at the most random times.  Yesterday it was, "Hairy chest, hairy chest." as he was walking past me and going downstairs.
3. He has Jedi mind tricks.  Honestly, he does.  It happens anywhere from me realizing he has been watching tv with me after I have put him to bed, and strangely, I am okay with it, to when I was lecturing him and he said to me, "That's enough mom." And walks away. (I was finished speaking anyway.)  Martin overhears and quickly takes away the Jedi haze he temporarily put on my mind and I correct the situation. 
4. He understands way more than he should.  Adult conversations that I think would go way over his head, don't and then I have to try and patch it up.  
5. He hears phrases and then turns around and uses them in context.  Case in point:  I was sitting checking my email, when he comes in with a very sincere sweet excited expression on his face.  "Mom, come check this out!  I won something so precious!"  Well the precious thing was a trophy pig and a bus on monster truck wheels he had earned on a game.  Precious indeed. 
6. When I tell him I love him, he says, "Well, I love you more than chocolate bunnies."  And then I retort, "Well I love you more than trains." and so it goes on and on.
7. His laugh is to die for.  He begs to be tickled, and he doesn't have to wait long before the tickle monster emerges to finish him in.  
8. He is a smart kid.  A little too smart.  It seems to get him in trouble more than it is helpful at this point in time.  A word to the wise.  If you have Hyrum observing your every move, caution, he will probably try to attempt the same, when your back is turned and will probably succeed.  
9. Angels attend him.  There has been some things that Hyrum should have been or could have been seriously injured, but was not.  Example.  Exhibit A:  A steak knife.  Exhibit B:  A wall socket.  Exhibit C:  Neighbor finds steak knife on step all blackened and chucks missing in the blade. Exhibit D:  Wall socket is black and has tripped the circuit.  Result:  One lucky dude without any injury whatsoever.  
10. His hugs, his smile, his laugh, his concern, his ability to make anyone feel better, and the chance for him to call me mom is the best ever.  

Hyrum, I love you my son.  And to answer your "What did I did" question.  You let me be your mom.  For that I thank you.

Party in the Park 2010

There was one question that Ammon kept asking over and over again as we went to this year's Party in the Park that our HOA puts on.  "Why does this only happen once a year?  This is so fun!"  Well I can tell ya why it only happens once a year because it is a ton of work!  We had it all.  Bounce houses, super slides, air brush tattoos, hair coloring, bubble machines, all you can eat popsicles and popcorn, dinner, live band, and of course the socializing and all for FREE!  

This year was great because I found a central location and stayed put with Savvy most of the night and watched my kids run from one thing to the next.  They each took a turn with Hyrum and was his "buddy" so that he stayed safe and could still experience everything.  The evening was  capped off with an impromptu game of baseball where I quickly learned that Ammon does NOT know the rules to baseball!  Looks like we might have to have FHE on the rules of the sport!  That's okay.  Everyone has to learn at some point, right?!  

We had a great night.  Em might beg to differ since she lost her matching headband to Savvy's.  We looked everywhere but couldn't find it.  :(  Poor thing.  She was pretty sad.  I'd say the hit of the night was the popcorn, and the hit-the-thingy-and-ring-the-bell game.  Good times!

Fireworks!!

Rain didn't hinder our efforts to see the fireworks this year.  We got a great spot to be able to see them from the comfort of our van as the rain poured outside.  Thanks to the DVD player in the van we were able to snuggle up until they began. 

Below is the finale... Can't you tell?  No?  Well that's because there was so much smoke, most of it was covered up!  The smoke really didn't start getting bad until the end.  It was kind of a let down because that's what you work up to, but we enjoyed it anyway.  Love the magic of fireworks!!

4th of July 2010

My colorful kids and I had a great time as we always do at the Montclair community picnic.  Every year we try our luck at the three-legged races, the water balloon toss, and the gunny sack races.  Sometimes we win, sometimes we don't.  This year, Ammon and Tyler tied for 1st place against to other adult male teams for the water balloon toss, they were so excited! 

After the festivities we went to visit Phoebe.  The balloons that we got at the park that weren't popped were immediatly sent to Phoebe as soon as we got there.  Rarely do we have any balloons in the house.  They all seem to end up with their sister to play with!  


The kids played a rousing game of hide and seek, that is until I wouldn't allow them to climb on the tombstones... I know, I know, I am such a spoil sport... :)

I love this picture of Emily.  Maybe it's the Army brat in me, but it makes me well up with pride to see my flag raised by my sweet daughter.  I am so grateful to live in this free land, thanks to the many men and women who had served, died, and sacrificed so that I may live, play, and worship as I please.  A giant thank you to those who have and do serve our country.

Happy 4th from Savvy take 2 :)

Happy 4th from Savvy