July 21, 2011 

The boys...yes all 5 of them are eating us out of house and home.  I think it might just continue to get worse.  I make lots of food, big breakfasts, dinners and everything gets eaten up.  It is great to have a bunch of healthy boys around....and that is why I have no choice but to use coupons as much as I can.  Yikes!  Our food bill is huge!

Man Training...

June 2010

Day Camp with the cub scouts is a whole lot of fun.  I found this old post and was sad that I never posted it.  This is Day Camp 2010... It was a lot of fun!

I just love Day Camp.  It is all boy, rough and tumble, and lots of other good stuff.

Oh, yeah, rifle shooting!  There are few things a cub scout loves more.  Jacob looks like such a big tough guy and see Brady Bean further down?

The obstacle course is the most awesome!  

Obstacle courses give those manly boys a chance to show off their muscles.  

Playing Native American games...  so much fun. 

Learning about being patriotic. It makes your heart swell with pride and love for our great country, America!

It is so cool to see all the boys in uniform saluting the flag.  

Panning for gold.  

This day camp was just terrific.  The boys had a great time and I really loved it too.  Fun day!

And They're Off!

Registration materials in- check

School Supplies bought-check

Summer Reading for English Honors classes done-check

A few new school clothes and new shoes bought-check

New School Year Pep Talk-check

Father's Blessings given-check

And they are off!!

Joseph... starting his senior year..! 

Jonathan starting High School!!! A Sophomore.... 

Michael starting 7th Grade!!!  This picture was taken on the day he left for 7th grade orientation...He is looking like he is not so sure about this whole thing....

But, here on the official first day of school..he is looking much happier!

And with that my heart goes ..... a flippity flop.  Happy Sad...all at the same time.  

The Summer was too short.  We got out late (June 12th and started early August 22nd)  So, I have never felt more unprepared to let my children go..  

Yesterday (Sunday) was about the best Sunday we have ever had.  We just so enjoyed being together.   It was like we knew we needed to enjoy  the quiet before the storm.... our time together as a family..just us...no demands, no rigid schedule..just us.  

We had a wonderful dinner and a relaxed afternoon, talking, laughing, sharing this and that.  Then in the evening, as we do every year, Steve gave everyone a blessing.   I will not forget the feeling of love, warmth and closeness we felt in our home that day.  There was a lot of love there and a feeling of support and strength...everyone encouraging each other on, ready to start a new year. 


And I will never take for granted what a wonderful husband I have...and how he blesses our family.  Sweetest day ever.  

End of the School Year Wrap Up

 Here's a quick summation of all those end of school year events...


First and foremost, Joseph auditioned for and made Vocal Ensemble!!   Hooray!  we are so thrilled for him...  
Counting our blessings....  The pictures show when he is kidnapped and taken away to the V.E. initiation breakfast.  Yahoo!  

Blind-folded and whisked away..

Jonathan won an academic award...  Hooray for Jon!  

If I could give out awards as his mom I would .  Jonathan has had an awesome awesome year.  We are so proud of him.   He has excelled in every way.  He pulled a 3.9 GPA, excelled in football, created great friendships, has a raging social life, had done very well in school, has loved seminary and just had been a wonderful wonderful Son...who is growing up.  It is a thrill to watch him.  He has just wonderful friends who support him in his goals and they are all headed in the right direction together.  We really feel blessed.  

Michael was awarded his Tenderfoot award in Scouts.  Can you see it?  Can you see that teenager in him just wanting to come out?  He finished up 6th grade and now prepares to go to Middle School.   The last couple of months have been big in his life.  He turned 12, joined Young Men's, officially joined the Boy Scouts of America, and was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood.  Whoa.   And to boot, he is pretty dang handsome.  

Michael finished up his year with almost all A's.  He has done so well.  Wow.  


My heart ached that last day I dropped him off at Elementary School.   ....   Ouch. 


We are proud of you Michael!  And we love you. 


Jacob performed in his play.  He was  almost the star of the show.  I know I am biased but he was truly funny and really played up his part.  

 He was the butler...you must say it like this... the "butlah."  He spoke in a very proper English accent.  And acted very serious in the face of hilarity.....

....and only broke out of character once to give me a quick smile... which I happened to catch somehow..  

This really was such a cute funny play.  I loved it.  

Good Job Kids!!  


Jacob also performed in his piano recital and played his pieces flawlessly!  (Where is that picture?!) 


Jacob finished up his year with a great report card!


Jacob is enjoying gymnastics!  He is a natural.  With Jacob I don't know which thing to focus on.  He is so good at everything.  


Too weird to think that Jacob will be our only elementary school student next year.  Surreal.  

Focus on Jacob...

Sometimes I love my children so much that it hurts.  I love this boy.  I am so proud of him.  He works hard to do his best in anything he is doing.  Last week he performed in the Silver Mesa Elementary Christmas program.  He had a little solo part and despite the fact that there were some technical problems with his microphone he did great and was a real trooper.  

He sang a couple of lines from the song "When Santa Comes to Town" from the movie, Polar Express.  And he even smiled during the performance!  I wasn't so sure that he would ..but he did.  Way to go Jacob.  

Another exciting thing happened for Jacob this week.  He got to go to a Utah Jazz Game!  This provided some awesome one on one time together.  We rode the light rail train, enjoyed the sights and sounds of downtown Salt Lake, ate fun food and had a blast at the game!  

And the Jazz won!  It was a great game..so exciting to watch ....and people watching was as fun as the game..well, almost.  

But, the best thing of all was spending time with Jacob......  What a go get 'em boy!  Blessed...and so grateful. It was a great night.  

My Three LIttles...

Trying to cherish the days with these three....  I can see how quickly things change.  So every minute counts more than ever.  

Catch Up...First Day of School....

Hard to believe that it was time to start school again....

I think this will be the year we remember that we "slummed" our way into the first day of school.  Look at those clothes!  Who dresses those children?   I think I was a little distracted in getting Eric ready and off to college.  Plus these boys will do anything to get out of shopping for clothes!  And, I guess it worked!   Well, atleast they are darn cute!  So, maybe no one noticed that they look like little urchins...lost and forgotten by their mother.

4th Grade!  How can it be that this boy is starting 4th grade!  And he got the teacher he wanted..hoped for..Mrs. LeFevre!!!

Michael and his good friend Brandon.  They both made it into Mr. Cook's class...and this made them very happy!

Yes, they are the cool 6th grade boys..the top dogs..the big cheese..... 

And ...with some coaxing..this young man let me take his picture on his first day back as a JUINOR!!  Holy Cow!

And, well, I am sorry to report that the 9th grade boy was  too anxious to get to school early and therefore would not pose for a picture.  Jon will be the new boy on the block at Albion Middle after going to Churchill Jr High for the past two years. He decided he wanted to be with all of his friends ..and football team ...so he was one excited boy, anxious to get his foot in the door and make a great first impression.  I am happy to report that he went to school with just the right clothes, his hair combed just right, and ready to be the big man...  (He is fun  ..funny...to watch)  I know he will make it a great year!  And we are happy for him!

So, after school I tried to be a cool mom and have cookies and milk ready for them.  It will probably never happen again, but at least I was really cool one day this year.    

I love these boys and here's to a great year!  And now we are off and running into a great year!  

We Have Another Budding Pianist!

We attended Jacob's piano recital last week (June 3rd).  Yahoo!  What natural ability this boy has.....I think they call that TALENT.  I am thrilled...He has been playing the piano for a couple of years and he is doing great.  He played 3 recital pieces ...perfectly with such expression and exactness.  He holds his hands like a pro... and uses them with such flair..as if he was born knowing how...  We are proud of him and will be thrilled watching this talent grow.  Yipee!!!

That is one cute boy...

Really... I was busting my buttons with pride.  This is my one son that begged me to start him in piano at age 5 and even though he will complain sometimes and freak out when he is learning a new piece, I know that playing this instrument is in his blood.

His teacher is Cindy Hughes.  I swear this woman was foreordained to have a special impact in the life of my family.   She is so patient with my boys.  She has had a HUGE impact in the life of my oldest son Eric...

We all love and appreciate her.

We were so blessed to have Mom and Dad attend the recital with us..Did we luck out or what???

Pretty comfy, cozy seating for a piano recital...  I am so glad that they could be there with us.

 By the way, right before the piano recital they recieved their mission call to serve in the Washington DC Temple Visitors Center!!  It was a very exciting and wonderful night.  They were here with us and my brother opened that big white envelope at their home in Idaho and read their mission call over the phone.  The entire family (sans only two) were in conference call when the call was read aloud and we all cheered and cried at once!  It was one happy day!

It's Birthday Time!

Look Who Turned 9 today!

We love this wonderful boy...so lucky to be his Mom and Dad.

Since he was a baby he is a go-getter!  We called him the go go baby..because he was always ready for anything and excited to get in on whatever came his way.  He is a practically perfect student and is a good friend to others.  He and Michael are best buds and I hope that is how it will always be.  

For our birthdays, we always start out with a birthday breakfast.  Jacob chose waffles, cinnamon cream syrup, scrambled eggs, bacon and juice.  Mighty fine choice if you ask me!

For Jacob's birthday dinner he chose fried chicken and potatoe wedges.  He invited his good friend Keller to join us for his birthday celebration.  

At birthday dinners it is tradition that everyone say one or two things they appreciate or admire about the birthday person.  Some of those things were:  "I love Jacob's determination and drive to excel and do his  best."  "Jacob is fun to be around.  He makes me laugh."  "Jacob is competitive and into sports like me and I like that."  "I admire Jacob's tenacity.  He doesn't quit and works hard."    

Time to open presents.  That is a happy face!

One of our traditions is that everyone gives the birthday person a gift, small or large, but something they know will make the birthday person happy and feel loved.  This is a birthday gift and Jacob was so thrilled!  Brother gifts are the best.  Jonathan knew Jacob would be really excited to get this and he was right. 

This is the cool crocodile that Michael gave.

This is some silly stuff that made everyone laugh.  It is similar to a whoopy cushion. It is this goop that when squeezed it makes a disgusting noise...you get the picture.   Oh my......  I just hang my head .... (and giggle)  can't help it.  Everyone was busting a gut.

The Big Bro hanging out...

Jacob was so excited to get some Heelys!!!  

This was the present he had been waiting for..... ta dah... a scooter!!!  He has only been mentioning this to me about evey day for the past month.  What nine year old boy can live without a scooter?   He was pretty dang excited to get this... and immediately tried it out.

Yahoo!!  

Time to race around the circle.... and around and around...  

This time with his buddy Keller running beside him.  Could a birthday boy be happier?  

Cake !  This cake has become a favorite.  Everyone has asked for this cake since I first served it a year ago on Jacob's birthday.  It is an icecream sandwich cake.  It is easy to make and these boys just inhale it.  

Is that one happy boy or what?  I can't believe he is nine!!!  Slow down... whoa...  

We love you Jacob!  So glad you are our's.  

The three musketeers... Keller Wilhite, our next door neighbor and other brother, and Michael.  

Happy Birthday Jacob!  Wow wow wow!  And here's to another great year with adventures, a lot of growth and everything that is good.