The last of summer...beginning of school

The adventures of raising a boy...

There is a little boy that lives upstairs from us.  He and Evan have a love/hate relationship.  It depends on how each of the boys are feeling whether they play nice together.  Usually Evan will just come inside if things aren't going well.  One particular day Evan had a mini screwdriver that he was "fixing" thing with outside.  He decided to "fix" a small tree that is in the lawn just outside our door.  Well, Owen didn't think that was a good idea and when Evan wouldn't stop Owen attacked him.  Below is a picture of the aftermath of Owen scratching Evan's face up.  When he wouldn't stop, Evan planted one right hook to the face and Owen went home crying with a bloody nose.  We don't think it was okay to punch, and don't encourage it from our children.  Evan took a lot, stayed as calm as possible and told him several times to get off.  There were even scratches behind both ears.  Enough is enough and Evan ended it.  We have had several talks with him about it not being okay to solve situations by physically fighting.  We've never had this problem before and hope to not have it again!!  Is this normal for little boys, or we just in for a ride with this kid?

 Adam loves to be read to, especially by Kehli.  He always picks the book "A Mother for Cocoa" and Kehli reads it over and over again.

 This one particular day Adam just couldn't get enough and when Kehli was done he got another book and went and found Brett to read to him.  The older kids are so good to Adam and he sure misses them while they are at school.  The first day Adam walked around looking for Bro (Brett) - knocking on closed doors and calling for him.  It was kind of sad!

 Kehli continued with her dance classes through the summer and got to dance at the fair.  She still gets nervous but does a great job and is so proud after it's over.  She has decided to drop the hip hop class so she can participate in Girls on Track, but will stay in the Jazz Funk class once a week.  We took the whole family to the fair that night and enjoyed a free dinner from Famous Dave's (thanks to AgriNorthwest sponsored tickets!).  We also had front row tickets to the rodeo which was lots of fun.  It was the best rodeo we have ever been to - the clown was entertaining and there was very little down time.  The MC's were great, music and sideshows were fun.  We will take the kids again next year.  Brett will never be in charge of the camera again though because I had to delete about 100 pictures.  I did keep a few of them though - like the one below of he and Evan being silly.

 Here are our first day of school 2012 pictures.  Brett's was actually taken on the third day of school.  He is taking zero hour weight lifting and my brain isn't quite working when we walk out of the door at 6:30 for school.  I wonder if I will ever get used to waking up at 5:50 every morning to make sure he gets breakfast and lunch and out the door on time.  No other kids will sign up for zero hour!!

Evan's first day was actually today because they stagger the Kindergartner's starting.  He was more than ready to go and it will be interesting talking to the teachers after school to see how things went.

August Activities...so far

We had been planning on camping at Mt. Ranier last weekend, but those reservations had to be cancelled two days before we were to leave.  Then things changed again (isn't life exciting?) and we ended going to Banks Lake, which is up by Grand Coulee Dam.  It was fun to take the kids to the laser light show at the dam because when we went up there during Spring Break it wasn't showing.  The kids had a blast and we had a great time getting to know some new people.

 Some of Brett's friends made this jump then pulled it out by a dock to jump off of. 

 They all had a great time until a park ranger came and told them that the fun was over and they needed to move it...RIGHT NOW.

 Adam having a great time on the boat with daddy.  He had a blast jumping off the dock.

Me cliff jumping from about 20 feet up.  The next jump was easier without the life jacket.  I was too chicken the first time to jump without it.  The next day Evan (our 5 year old) jumped from this spot.  I was shocked - no fear!

 Mark's turn

 Erin's third jump

 Brett jumping from another spot.  This one was about 30 feet high.  You can see another boy up on a rock to the right.  Two brave boys jumped from there - about 45 feet high.

Kehli, Erin & Kendall tubing with friends

 Adam in his boat "fort"

playing on the beach

Erin got her bottom braces on this afternoon.  She and Brett signed up for fall sports at school with practice starting next Monday.  Brett will run cross country and Erin joined the swim team.  They both pick up their class schedules tomorrow.  Crazy that I have two high schoolers this year!  School starts two weeks from today and I'm not sure how I feel about it.  The summer went by way too fast and I don't want the fun to end.  But the kids do great on a schedule and we haven't been as strict this summer as we have been in years past as far as bedtime, chores, etc.

*Warning: not everyone will care to read the following paragraph*

This morning I had a small procedure done on my bladder.  I had a sling put in to hold it up.  It's one of those things that people don't talk about.  Delivering babies naturally can push things around in your body that don't always go back.  It doesn't happen to all mommies, I guess I'm just lucky ;-).  I wish that there was a chapter in those "What to Expect..." books, but I guess if there were crazy pregnant ladies would be signing up for unnecessary C-sections.  If I could go back I wouldn't change my labor and deliveries - they were some of the best hours of my life.  I am just excited to be able to run more than a couple of miles at a time, jump on a trampoline, hike, go to evening Zumba class, and laugh without having to know where the nearest bathroom is.  Also to be able to sneeze without having to stop and cross my legs in the middle of the grocery store isle.  I'm so grateful for modern medicine and that the procedure is quick and easy.  I'm looking forward to being "normal" again in one short month.  Moms should not be embarrassed to talk about it because I'm learning that it is more common than I thought and it's not something that is unfixable.  Thanks Dr. Salisbury!!  Here's to a new start in September - cheers!

Is it August already!?

I was so worried that this summer would creep by being in this tiny apartment, but I was wrong.  The kids have almost 4 more weeks until school starts and our calendar is pretty full.  July was a fun month highlighted by the Child family reunion and a visit with my side of the family in Magna, Utah.

July 4 is always a great holiday.  I have such fond memories of every Independence Day celebrated with fried chicken, friends, games & fireworks at the University of MD.  Kehli was in the local parade this year with her dance studio and volunteered to carry the banner so she didn't have to dance the whole parade route.  Smart girl! That's her in the red shirt.

This year we went someplace new for fireworks and were not disappointed.  There is a man in the neighborhood where we used to live that puts on a show.  It lasted over 12 minutes.  It would have been longer but during the last few minutes 2 rows of fireworks were going off at one time.  We got in the van when it was over and got home by 10:45.  That was Mark's favorite part!  He never enjoys a huge crowd or waiting for hours to get home. 

The next weekend I got to go away on a girls weekend to Seattle with 4 other friends.  We had a blast shopping, shopping, eating & shopping.  Here we are eating our last meal in Seattle before heading back to real life.

We have been spending lots of time this summer swimming - either at the apartment pool or at the court club.  Erin has had a great time on the novice swim team and has been coming in 1st or 2nd place.

We have discovered that Adam is our little fish.  Last year he went from not liking the pool at all to running down the 0-depth and flopping in.  This year he will jump in ANYWHERE even if no one is there ready to catch him, even the 12 foot deep end.  He will hold his breath for 7-8 seconds at a time, look around under water, open his eyes and wave to you, and do back flips.  He screams and cries when it is time to leave for the day.  It is so fun to watch, but scary at the same time.  He has no fear.  I wonder when it's too early to start swim lessons.    It seems so early to learn strokes so I don't know what the instructor would do with him except play.  Maybe he's the next Michael Phelps!

We attended the Child Family reunion at Bear Lake in July.  We were all able to stay in one big house, complete with ping pong, theater room, pool table, indoor & outdoor slides, playroom with basketball court, in-floor trampoline, and swing set, and 9 bedrooms on 3 floors.  It was wonderful to be all together in one place.  We got to get raspberry milkshakes, go to the lake, hike and play.  We made many wonderful memories and the kids had a blast with all their cousins.

 Adam playing ping pong with me.

 Aunt Kristen, Ryan, Brett & Jacob playing ping pong

 Before our hike through Minnetonka Cave - 444 steps in, 444 steps out

 Our traditional visit from "Santa" for the Christmas gift exchange

 Everyone present except Taylor & Brock, who are serving missions and Nate, Mitchell & Blake.

 Granny & Papa with all the grand kids

 I love the look of happiness on Granny and Papa's face

family picture

After the reunion Mark went home because he had to go to work.  I took the kids and headed further south to Magna.  My parents were out on their annual trip to visit Grandma Bennett.  We swam, bowled, relaxed, visited cousins, ate at Leatherby's & Neilson's frozen custard, went swinging at Uncle Jeff's, visited the copper mine, and didn't get enough sleep!

 Leatherby's with Aunt Lindsay

 Kehli getting a pedicure from my cousin, Katie

 eating frozen custard with Amy at Neilson's

 Bowling - yes I beat Brett ;-)

 We went and saw the new Polar Bear exhibit at the zoo, as well as the monkeys, bears, elephants, reptiles, tigers, otters, sea lions, and more.

 with Grandma & Grandpa at the Copper Mine

 swimming with Jared & Addie at Deseret Peak Complex

 Daily card playing after the kids went to bed with Aunt Susan, my mom, Aunt Penny, Grandma Bennett, and Uncle Wayne

 Saying good bye - Brett was already in Provo for EFY and Evan was in the corner being a stinker

Until next time...