First Day of School 2010

The kids were excited and ready to go this morning. Damen has Mrs. Evans and Seth has Mrs. Covington. It's always fun, and a little nerve wracking meeting your teachers and wondering if you are going to have any friends in your class, but I'm sure the kids will do great. They are such great kids anyway, how can they not do great!

I think the following pictures tell the real story. Seth a goof and Damen laughing at them and Dad excited or at least pretending to be.

Yes Railey cried for the next 30 minutes after the boys left! It didn't help that Dad, whose been home the last few days, went to work today too.

Buff Boy

While taking a quite peacful nap on Sunday afternoon, I awoke to Seth making LOTS of noise with a plastic bag. Later when I came out of the room Seth had made holes for his legs to go through and then had his arms through the handles. Thankfully he listened and put shorts on. He came running upstairs and said "Fear not, it is I, Mr. Buff Boy." (He had just given a talk in church on Christ walking on the water hence the "fear not, it is I")

Yes Seth, those arms are worth kissing. ;)

I love the tough face!

Oh what do you do in the summer time?

This is what we have been doing ALL summer! We got a "free pass" as the kids put it (you don't have to pay, or so they think) to the outdoor pool and have spent 2-4 days a week down there swimming. We definitely got our moneys worth this year. The kids love the diving boards, the slide, the basketball hoop (new this year) as well as playing with diving toys and teasing Railey. They have all learned something new this year as well which has been fun to see their excitement in the learning game. I love seeing joy in my kids eyes!

Seth loves to do cannon balls. I guess the slap of water hitting your backside is pleasurable??

Seth learned to do back flips. This is him going to do it then last second just jumping in.

Railey being my little fish

Seth getting ready to go off the high dive. He loves it!

Damen learned how to float this year and loves experimenting with holding his breath vs. letting it out.

Railey learned to go under water by "myseowp"

I told you there was joy at the pool

Railey coming out of the water. I kept trying to get the perfect picture of what her face looks like on most times out of the water. You know that pure happiness, I did it look all while laughing and giggling. Well it wasn't happening the day I took the camera, so this was the best I got!

Feeeesh (as Bill puts it)

The last two days, the fish haven't been biting as much. One day they went in the middle of the day yesterday they went late at night didn't get back till midnight our time. So they decided to go a little earlier, actually in the morning, this time around. Looks like it proved to be a good plan. He keeps telling me of eating "fish bellies" and how even as I write they are smoking some salmon and I will love it because it's not as salty (I'm not a huge smoked salmon fan). I just love how happy he looks in the pictures. I have always loved his smile, especially when it's as big as it is in this picture. Dang I miss him! Can't wait for you to come home!!!!!!

While the Cats Away the Mice will Play

Steve has been gone since Sunday night. All of us miss him A LOT! I have tried to keep the kids entertained to just take their minds off of it. I keep telling them "well Dad would just be at work now anyway so stop thinking about it." But it's not working for them or me. But we are staying busy.

On Monday we went and did all the school shopping. Just call me nutso mom, because yes I took the girls with me. What was I thinking? But it's all done. I decided to do it all in a day so I wouldn't be an awful Mom for 2 different days.

On Tuesday I took the kids swimming. It was a milestone day at the pool. (I've wished so many times this week that I had my camera, but we sent it with Steve) Seth started doing flips off the diving board. Back flips are his specialty. He also does a thing he calls a "come together" (I don't know where that name came from) "basically Mom it's a cartwheel and a flip in one." "Seth they already have a name for that, it's called an aerial." However he tries to do dives and just can't. Who would have thought that a dive would be harder than a flip. I always thought I was just too chicken to do flips, but I can do a great dive. I've had it backwards this whole time.

Railey is now going under the water "by myseowf" She just bounces up and down all over in the water until she goes under. I will get a picture of her face coming up out of the water when Steve comes back, because it is priceless. It's a "I'm so proud of myself, I love the water, I'm big, I'm beautiful and cute and everything else" all in one little smiling look. It's priceless.

Damen started floating on his back and was pretty proud of himself for doing that. He loves diving for things in the pool but doesn't care much for going off the diving board. He says his legs always come open and it "really hurts my privates." Poor kid, we got to keep those legs together.

On Wednesday we went swimming again and also went and picked from the garden. Lots and lots of corn, green beans, couple squash, tons of peppers and my whole colander full of strawberries!

We do have great kids and I really am glad they miss their Dad it shows how important he is to them. They love him because he shows them love and shows them that they are the most important thing in his life. I know because he does the same with me. He deserves this break but we sure are looking forward to him coming home on Sunday. They look forward to skyping him every morning, though not much is said and the mic is fought over they can't wait to see him and ask if he has bought their presents yet and how big the fish were from the day before. Today Seth even made a sign to show on the video camera it said "The wrld's gratest Dad" and "I love You."

If you do end up reading this Steve we are really looking forward to you coming home but hope you have loads of fun while you're there!

Delish!

Alaska living off the land is so rough. Steve with his plate of breaded salmon. (Yuuuummmmm)

First Silver

Steve went up to Alaska for the week to spend some time with a friend of his and of his Dad's. The kids miss him terribly, and if truth be known so do I. We skyped him earlier this morning and oh that was an adventure. Railey thought she needed to put the microphone in her mouth as she talked and all the kids wanted to be the main one on screen so they were pushing each other out of the way, but it was fun to see and talk to him. Hopefully tomorrow it goes a little better. We just got an email of this picture it sure helps the kids when he sends home pictures. Especially knowing that he caught 3 of these today! Oh I need to go clean out the freezer now!

We've been reunionited- Part 2

We headed off to discovery park on Saturday afternoon to have our lunch after heading down the canyon. I didn't think I had ever been there but Mom and Dad informed us that we used to come all the time. Why don't I remember this fun park? Oh well I'm just glad I know about if for my kids.

Railey and Kate on a rock

Damen "falling in the water" while watching the ducks. Boy he stunk after!


We played on the playground and I think Bri won for the most static funny hair

After the park we headed back to Chris' for pizza and a rousing game of "Noodle Hockey." The kids and adults had a blast. I wish Kenna would have let me play a bit.

Reunionited-Part 1

So this year for reunion we stuck around close to home. But ya know I have decided it's just as fun all you really want to do is spend time with each other, so it was great fun. Jon and Brooke did a great job planning and organizing the fun. We started off Thursday night with a BBQ and then a little program which the rain eventually took inside and didn't allow for the Marshmallows to be roasted. But it was good. Chris and Caralee's family did a skit on how Jon wanted to charge everyone by how much more they weighed at the end of reunion, Damen sang "Oh Canada"....

Grandpa did his magic show

But when the rain and lightning came the camping came indoors. Yes, we had 3 tents set up in the basement!

Friday we got together and went swimming at the way fun Lindon pool then headed up to Mikes wedding reception (no pictures I didn't want my camera to get wet or bother keeping it hidden so someone wouldn't still it.)

Saturday we went up to Cascade Springs. We had a great time. It's so pretty up the canyon.



All the boy cousins

All the girl cousins (too many little ones so moms got to sit in too--Kendall couldn't hold them all)

The ones who started it all

Steve hauling Railey around

Damen playing in the water

More to come in another post! (it's giving me problems downloading all the pictures)

Junk Mail

Seth has always been quite the character. For example see the band-aid on his ear? He hit a sign riding his bike to church. We got to church and Damen came running out to the car saying Seth was in with a member of the bishopric because he had crashed his bike and was bleeding. We found him with his arm and ear all scraped up. Sad thing is his bike took the brunt of it and he bent the frame and wheel and did quite a bit of damage. He's always been too busy enjoying the world and what's happening now to look ahead at what's coming. It could be a great quality just not when he hits signs (probably the 4th or 5th time of doing this).

But that's not the only reason why I sat down to type, I just saw the band-aid in the picture. Today while waiting to go into RS an old primary teacher of Seth's was waiting to go into her classroom. We got to talking and she asked if anyone had told me about when Seth got his birthday card in Primary. "Oh no, what happened," I said, knowing that he had done something. Well in our primary we have a mail box and all the birthday cards and all the cards that say who will be giving a talk, scripture and prayer are in the box. They usually pick someone who's birthday it is to come and open the box. Well I guess Seth was picked so he walked up opened the box, pulled out the cards, sorted through and pulled out his put it aside then proceeded to go through the cards tossing them to the ground saying with each one, "Junk mail, junk mail, junk mail." She could not believe that quite, shy, little Seth would do such a thing. "That was so unlike him, " she said. But I quickly corrected her and informed her that she was finally seeing the Seth that we see all the time. Oh how we love our little comedian that can't stay focused on the signs ahead of him!

KABOOM! or fizzle, fizzle, fizzle?

After seeing the neighbors make a volcano our kids wanted to make one. We had a great time doing it and the kids loved putting their hand in the goop. But, as they put it, "ours has to be bigger" so we had three volcanoes in one, or in other words three bottles to dump soda and vinegar into. We sure have had fun "doing" this summer. I am glad we DiD this.

Yes we went through the rest of my vinegar and a whole bottle of expired lemon juice as well. Time to go to the store!!!

it definitely wasn't a big Kaboom, more of a fizzle but lots of fun and they did learn a little about Ph Balance and how the acid and soda all work and balance each other out (I don't know much about it). But don't you love their paint job!

Lotion then a Bath

Ben and Nat came over for some treats on Sunday. We were in talking when all of a sudden we could hear the girls just giggling away. Well you might say oh cute, but we knew they must be up to something so Steve went to investigate. Pretty soon he hollered "Bring the camera." So we grabbed it and ran. They were in our bath and had taken a bottle of lotion and were wiping it all over each other. Oh you should have seen the greasy mess. But one bottle of lotion later and two greasy girls later had us all laughing hysterically! But there was nothing to do except turn on the water and take their clothes off. When I say covered I mean COVERED in lotion. It look almost as much soap to get all the lotion off. But they loved having a bath together and had to show their swimming, splashing and kicking techniques to each other. It was quite a hoot. Oh those two girls sure do have fun and sure do get into mischief when they are together!

Camping

We finally did it! We went camping with the kids (looks like we'll be keeping the tent trailer for now). We went to a place called Elk Horn, it's about 20 minutes outside of Loa. Anyway, we had a great time. We were a little worried cause when we got there it was raining but we figured it was just the afternoon heat stirring things up a bit. By night the clouds had cleared and it was great. We cooked and hiked, fished, and played in a lake, played "mountain boccie" and rode bikes, ate too many smores and roasted starbursts (got to try those), and just plain had fun with the kids and watching how much fun they were having. Railey learned all about the potties and loved going much to our frustration, but hey she's pretty much potty trained except for naps.

Here's Kenna on her first real camping experience.

Here the kids are getting ready to play a game as we wait for the storm to pass.

The wood around camp was so wet that it made getting a fire started a loooooooooooong process, with lots of blowing by Steve. The problem was we had planned to have hot dogs on that first night and when we saw how wet it was we thought we would switch meals but the other was still frozen. We got a fire going long enough to roast our dogs and a marshmallow or two and then we let it burn out. It was too much work to keep it going.

Friday the weather was beautiful and we took a little walk then later went down to a little reservoir. Getting down to the river just about made me pee my pants. It was so steep and nasty and I literally would open my eyes only to close them again in fear. Lets just say we were grateful for 4 wheel drive when it came time to leave.

That night we were so excited to get to bed cause we were all exhausted. It's not hard to convince kids to go to bed when you're camping, they love sleeping in the tent trailer! Just as we had drifted off to sleep though lightening struck and kept us awake for a good couple hours, or so it seemed. It was so close! There were times I didn't even count to 3 before hearing the boom. Too close for comfort when you are camping! I laid awake thinking of how fast we could get the trailer put away and get off the mountain if there was a fire. Not that we had a lot to worry about with all the rain from the day before but still it kept me awake worrying.

All in all it was a great time! We loved it and are already planning our next trip. My favorite part was just seeing how much joy was in my kids faces as they experience new and different things. I loved seeing them so happy and I loved that there literally was no fighting. It was amazing!

Solids

Kenna has now officially started eating solid foods, and it isn't always from a jar or spoon, (she loved the leaves on my plant). With the boys and with Railey I started them right away at 4 months, I heard that's when you started so I did. I didn't know you could wait (until my 4th child) so that's what we did. It's not like she's malnourished or anything just look at her thighs, so we waited and even at 6 months she wasn't really interested. I started with the rice cereal and she did not like it, it wasn't until I got veggies or fruit mixed in with the cereal that she started eating it. But I must say I always forget how long it takes to feed a baby. I was at the table for 45 minutes plus last night trying to feed her less than a 1/4 cup worth of something. No wonder I put it off and have just nursed for so long that's done in 5-10 minutes max. Oh well she is so cute and Steve even likes watching me feed her cause I do all the mouth motions as I try to feed her. Please tell me I'm not the only one that does that. My lips move as I try to get her lips to wrap around the spoon I know it's funny to watch cause I've seen Mom do it. It must be hereditary--or at least we'll say it is.