Riverboat

More fun in the backyard.....Geoff made a boat for the kids to play with in the river. So here is how it works: he made a little wooden boat that has a fishing line attached to it, the line runs up to the treehouse, and there the 'pull and jump' can be controlled! I'm tellin' ya - only Geoff thinks up these things for the kids - and they love it!!





Here is a short video of Ems and Jacob playing with their new toy.

Open House and Sleep Over

My brother, Robert, got married to his sweetheart, April (and she is such a sweetheart!!) in April and we had an Open House for them a couple of weeks ago.



Of course Abby's favorite part of the whole event was getting to spend time with Tatiana. They are about 6 months apart in age and about 2000 miles apart in distance, but they get along as if they were next door to each other (isn't that the greatest thing about cousins!!!)



During this week, the kids finally had their first trampoline sleep over. They were so excited, gathered all their sleeping bags, pillows, extra blankets, etc. They got all set up and were giggling and having fun....then they all started sliding into the middle....and then came the complaints, "you're on top of me!" or "stop leaning on me!" or "move your feet!!" I repeatedly asked if they wanted to take the slumber party inside and they all declined--so I guess they didn't really mind the sliding mass into the center. (I stayed out there with them, because, well, my kids are young and I don't want them to get snatched!) Anyway, somewhere around 3:00 am the temperature dropped and it ended up getting really cold and I kept waking up to slide Emeron and Anna and Farrell away from me and to cover my frozen head. ::::sigh:::: Good times. :)



This was taken 'the morning after'. Emeron and I went inside to thaw out.

We love it when Tatiana comes to visit and had a lot of fun -- always do! We spent the next day (after Tennis and Violin) at the Thanksgiving Point Farm and Ice Cream Shoppe.


Here is David enjoying his ride in the stroller. He is always enjoying everything by the way, he is such a happy baby!!


Everyone had pony rides. This was Annalyn's favorite part of the day!


Here is Fare, Robert, Anna, Tatiana, Abby and Emeron on the wagon ride. I think they all liked it, but they just don't have that same look of excitement that David had for his stroller ride. ;)

Well, we can't wait for the next visit Tatiana, we love you!! :)

Baby Robins

There are a few new arrivals to the big pine in our backyard....



Geoff props a ladder up against the trunk and sends the kids up for a close look. This is one of those pictures that just makes you smile! :)

FATHER'S DAY

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home, glad as I can be!
Clap my hands and shout for joy, then climb upon his knee,
Put my arms around his neck, hug him tight like this,
Pat his cheeks and give him what.....A GREAT BIG KISS!!

Fathers and Sons

On the night of Fathers and Sons, Geoff had to marry someone,... er, uh.... rather he had to marry another man and another woman,.... er, I mean he performed the marriage ceremony for another couple. (whew!)

ANYWAY, the boys sat waiting for Daddy to get home on the porch and once he drove in the driveway (at around 8:00 pm) they jumped in the car and waited for Dad to change and then they headed off for Fathers and Sons camp out up at Mutual Dell.

They stayed up late around the campfire, slept in the suburban (due to their late arrival) and woke early to a bacon, eggs and pancake breakfast.

After cleanup and playing around a little they ventured off to hike to TIMP CAVE....



Correction: Daddy and Farrell hiked, Emeron piggy-backed.......



Don't let the paved path fool ya, it can be a hard hike!! :) Here are the boys inside the cave, where the temperature is always cool. They loved seeing all the various stalactites and stalagmites.



After their hike and spelunking excursion, they had lunch at the base and followed the tradition of their Great Grandpa Farrell and ordered their hamburgers 'extra stinky'.

Quote for June 5

I have a calendar that has quotes for the day on it; some thoughtful, many inspirational, and even more humorous! Sometimes they say just what I feel. The quote for June 5:

I hate housework! You make the beds, you do the dishes - and six months later you have to start all over again.

HA!! :)

Super-Sized Playpen

We found another use for our trampoline......





It's kinda nice, I can work in the garden while David is in this 'playpen'. He just crawls around and bounces a little, and he thinks it's kinda neat for now - but you know how that goes! :)

School Is Out

School is out and there are mixed emotions.... Elation and a little sadness. Abby, Fare and Anna all loved their teachers so much and each offered them opportunity for a number of positive learning experiences. I asked the kids to share a memory w/me: Anna said she is going to miss Mrs. Seibach and all of her friends that we don't know. :) Here is Anna's class at a field trip to Albertsons. (Anna is in the middle w/pigtails.)



Farrell's class did many memorable activities, one of which was the Second Grade Egg Drop. An activity for the kids to concoct some sort of a container to hold an egg in, have it thrown off the roof of the elementary school building, and then see if the egg broke. Farrell made his container of foam, 3 small boxes, duct tape, and a dowel. He sure was surprised and excited to find his egg whole.



Abby's teacher is an artist and therefore made many, many creative artistic projects throughout the year. Something fun and memorable for her was the fourth grade Wax Museum, she really loved this project. Her assignment was to be Wilford Woodruff, and I loved how animated she was as she explained who she was. Check it out on this short video clip.



So I have stacks (and stacks) of school papers, art projects, important stuff to the kids. I have made books (3-ring binders) of their stuff in the past, and I guess ;) I'll do that for this year too. But really, do we have to keep everything? Of course!! Not.

Something else the kids are going to miss..... the crossing guard. There is none like her -- she loves the kids she 'crosses' and she unfailingly was there to help Anna cross the street everyday at noon, even though Anna was the only child that crossed at noon and we live just down the street from the school. She would give the kids treats weekly, sometimes daily, always remembered their birthday and even gave them christmas gifts. She built friendships with each of them and always went above and beyond. Thanks Amiko!

Old Homes and Ice Cream

We spent the other day picnicking, taking long walks and touring late-1800 homes at Heritage Days in Spring City. There are so many homes there that have been beautifully restored, a number made from limestone. This picture gives you a flavor of what some of the homes are like.



On our way home stopped at The Red Barn for some of THE BEST ICE CREAM.





The kids were enjoying (devouring) their ice cream cones and Jacob licked a little too hard and tipped his cone a little too far and….








The pictures tell the rest of the story. :)

Memorial Day

We were up at the crack of dawn, dressed and off to the “Fireman’s Breakfast”. A benefit breakfast our local Fire Department cooks up right in the Fire Station. This is a tradition we have been going to ever since Abby was a baby, it’s not only fun to have a big huge breakfast of ham, eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes, chocolate milk and o.j., but to eat it in the Fire Station, amidst all the firemen’s paraphernalia and big shiny fire trucks just outside, we love it.

After breakfast it was still raining, so we went to the church with a couple of basketballs and a football and just played around for a little while. Following our own family church ball games, Geoff took the kids to a movie and then Smart Cookie for a treat.

It rained on and off pretty much all day. Everything was soggy-but led to great opportunity to jump on a wet, slippery trampoline; to use a favorite umbrella; to jump in waiting, quiet puddles, etc. Abby took to the indoors and made her first movie of various random pictures on the computer. She is becoming quite the photographer!! I might put her in charge of taking pictures for our blog, since I always forget the camera.

Later, around dinner time, the rain still drizzled. Grammy and Jenny came over and brought with them some yummy steaks and we BBQ-ed them up and had dinner and FHE together.

When it was time to get the kids ready for bed, Geoff and Farrell slipped out to ‘drop a line in’. (I protested because of the late hour, Geoff insisted.) Well, it paid off for them and they caught a couple of 12-14” german browns, and that night as Farrell was climbing into bed said: “today was the best day ever!” :)

There is something about hearing that phrase that just makes me smile. It makes me pause and think that the little things; like missing bedtime and doing a little fishing, meant the world to this 8 year old boy, and he went to sleep with a smile on his face and happiness in his heart. If only everyday, I could embrace the little things and let them make my day - the best day ever. So, with meaning and intent, I say the cliché: “it’s the little things that count”. :)

Running With Angels

Abby, Jenny and I ‘participated’ in the Running With Angels 5K at Thanksgiving Point. We had fun and enjoyed talking, walking and beautiful scenery!



We had to take off shortly after we finished the race to head for Farrell’s Piano Recital, and so we missed the part where they were handing out prizes. Jenny had a friend that heard our names called, and called, and called again. It turns out that both Jenny and I won something! Too bad we couldn’t stay to find out what it was!!

That was a lot of fun, Jenny!! Sign us up for next year!

Spittin' Image

To say that our children look like their Daddy is an understatement when it comes to Jacob. He looks so much like Geoff, it’s eerie. He has the personality to match, too.

Pigeons

Geoff is known to bring home peculiar things on occasion, ie: fuselage, ski lift chair, small motorcycle, etc. Sometimes he even likes to surprise us and has brought home live animals, ie: our dog Buzz, bunnies, chickens, etc.

Well, last week he went with Farrell and picked up some pigeons. We had some pigeons years ago, (see two black specks in picture above) but it was time to have some again. :) They are fun to watch fly around and then come home again. Our new pigeons are young and have not flown yet, you have to keep them in their pen for a number of weeks first. So, these three; Shiver, Speckle, and Theadore, will get to use their wings around the second week in June.

Wolf & Rain Gutter Regatta

What an exciting day today was for Farrell. First, at pack meeting tonight, he earned his WOLF badge and FIVE arrow points! Hurray for you Farrell! He was so proud – as are we, his family. Then, Farrell got to participate in the Rain Gutter Regatta and “sail” the sailboat he and his Dad made together. He had a nice smooth sail, one that Grandpa on the Island would really be able to appreciate!

It's A Party

We always say that ‘it’s a party’ whenever we get to play with Seth because all our kids LOVE HIM SOO MUCH!! We were extra lucky to have Seth stay with us for a few days last week while his parents were out of town. It was a 3-night slumber party – full of games, crafts, pizza, popcorn, movies, cookouts, home-made donuts, exploring, jumping, sprinklers, picnics, parks – I’m tellin’ ya, non-stop fun!

Seth brought a fun bead craft with him and everyone (even my sister Kathy) enjoyed making creative bead creations over and over and over and over. Even Grandma stopped in for a visit and brought the kids lunch and piggy-banks with a few quarters to get a jingle in their new banks. Farrell said that was Seth’s “treat sack” from the party.

So, with all the fun they had, I am now wishing I would have taken more pictures. I need to think of that during events – not after. Sometimes I’ll take a bunch of pictures, with the thought, ‘for our blog’ and then never get around to posting them. This time, however, the thought is too late. Anyway.…. Sether, WE LOVE YOU!! And can’t wait for you come and see us again soon!! Just now as I am blogging, Jacob asked me, “where’s Seth?” :)

We All Live Downstream

The river behind our house started running today and along with it came more trash than one could imagine. Really. We thought we were surprised when we saw a wicker patio chair with cushion, and then came a couple of buckets, along with a ton of debris and about six cords of wood. Shortly after followed two kitchen chairs and to top off our astonishment, a LA-Z-BOY recliner came a floating down the river. Yea, you read right, a LA-Z-BOY recliner. Can you believe it?! This was one of those times I wished I had my camera.

Update: Only a couple of hours after the runoff started, I was in our back yard cutting the boys hair and we heard this loud rumble, we looked in the river and saw a.....COUCH. This is ridiculous. I can't imagine water skiing in the lake downstream, it would be a obstacle course of sorts around furniture.

Jakes the Rakes

My brother sent me a funny picture of my nephew and their dog in sunglasses - so cute!! But, not as cute as this little guy!

So, here is a challenge to all you bloggers.....post cute pictures of your kiddos in sunglasses! I can't wait to see all the fun pictures. :)

No Need For Toys

Jacob loves to be outside and it doesn't take long before he is covered from head to toe in sand or dirt. Why not play on the grass you may wonder? Well, he stays clean that way.

Who needs toys when you have dirt, rocks, and sticks?

Get Comfortable

I was putting David down the other night and he was kicking his legs and acting really restless and bothered. So I rubbed his legs a little as I held him close and that helped for a short moment, but then came the kicking and restlessness again. I had just fed and changed him and knew that something was bothering him.

Now, Geoff has always said how he thinks the ‘footed’ jamies look so uncomfortable for the kids. And, as David is growing super fast and his jamies were a little snug.… I finally followed Geoff’s recommendation and slipped David’s feet out of his jammies, held him close and…. like magic, he fell right asleep.





Kids seem to come with their own unique ways of how they feel comfortable – and it’s not just jeans or sweats. Abs is very particular about her socks and the stitching area in the toes. Anna needs her clothes and shoes to be considerably snug to feel like they ‘fit’. Emeron likes his pants rolled above his ankles and his shirt sleeves rolled above his wrists. Jacob likes, well, nothing on. And Farrell is probably my most easy going as far as comfort goes. Of course, they all like their feet bare!!

Violin Spring Recital

The girls had their Spring Recital up at the Salt Lake Recital Hall last weekend. They both did a fabulous job and we couldn’t be more proud! I wanted to insert a sound-bite but have yet to figure that one out…. Here they are with their WONDERFUL teacher, Ms. Libby.