Big Sister Close By

The most awesome thing has happened this last week! My big sister, Jamie moved just ten minutes away from me!!! All of my siblings have lived in Utah and I was the only one in Idaho until now. I never I thought any of my siblings would live by me. This is like a dream come true! 

It's been fun to see her several times the last week.  We went to a baseball game together with our families and it was just fun to be around them. We got to the game right when it was done raining, watched an hour or two of baseball and as we left it started to sprinkle and then when we were safe in out cars it down poured. I was amazed at how awesome it was that we didn't get wet.

Can't wait to have more adventures with my sister!

Kindergarten Kraziness

I can't believe Brigham is in kindergarten now!!! He was so excited! He woke up early and came upstairs already dressed with the biggest, cutest smile on his face. He even made his bed.

He said he was nervous to get on the bus, but as I watched him get on he stepped up on the bus confidently with a smile. 

I have felt really emotional with feelings of pride, grattitude, love, and the reality that my oldest is growing up! I have held the tears back so far, but who knows what will make the water works turn on because it could spill out any time.

I love my sweet Brigham and I am so proud if the cute little kindergartener he is!!!

I needed the rain

All week there have been thunder storms and rain showers. A garden party was cancelled, grain cutting post-poned, and kids having to play inside.

And I am so grateful for this rain!!! This rain meant for me that my husband who was supposed to be gone all week, was able to be home with us for a good amount if time. It meant that I was able to go on a date with him!!! It also meant that I could slow down and make it to the temple! 

It meant that Adam could stay home and nap because daddy was home; while I could take Brigham and Silas to a relief society meeting at an assisted living center where they could sing, "I am a Child of God" for some women whose hearts needed to hear children sing. 

It meant we received moisture that was needed in this dry snake river plains. 

We are truly blessed. Sometimes our blessings come unexpectedly packaged as little black rain clouds.

Family Time at Jensen's Grove

It was such a nice relaxing Saturday to be able to spend time with our little family at Jensen's grove. We played their 9 hole disc golf course and then we jumped in the water. 

Brigham had just finished his first swimming lessons and he has learned well how to go under the water and hold his breath. He swam everywhere with his life jacket on and even jumped from the dock so that he was totally immersed in the water before he came back up. Then he helped Dad make a track for our toy boat to travel down as they poured water into it sending it afloat.

Silas and Adam had fun running a little ways into the water and then back to the beach. Silas wanted to build sand castles and then squash them. Adam wanted to keep getting water and dumping it on my legs. We had a great time!

Later that day I got to go golfing with Doug, my father-in-law, and Shayla. That was enjoyable to me because it was more relaxed and no one was pushing us to hurry. I was able to get some better drives and chips. 

What a good day! I need to have more days like this one!

Trek and Hike

Last Thursday was Pioneer Day and we actually celebrated it here! I organized a one mile trek for the kids in our ward who wanted to join us. It was a success! We had we had 18 kids and five moms join us for our adventure. 

I found this book called, "Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked" and I used that to teach the kids along the way. We stopped to learn about how the pioneers used water and where they got their water as I handed them all water bottles. We learned that the children helped with chores and one chore was to gather berries, so I had he kids gather fruit snacks that I had laid out earlier. We learned about some pioneer games and toys and played a couple. I think they liked "hop, skip, jump" the best. Then they made the choice for the last little stretch if they wanted to take off their shoes and walk barefoot like the pioneers did. I think they really enjoyed it and learned a little too!

On Saturday, we went on a fun hike up to Aldous lake near Kilgore, Idaho. It was 1.3 mile one way. It was beautiful. Brigham walked the whole way, both ways (2.6 miles!) Silas walked about half the time, being carried by piggy back or in grandpa's arms. Adam got to ride the whole way on daddy's back in a nice child-carrying backpack. We tried to fish a little, but didn't try too hard to get anything. It was nice to have a picnic table up by the lake to eat our lunch. We are happy we joined grandma and grandpa bitter, aunt Sheryl, and Patricia for an enjoyable family outing!

What happens at home when daddy's at scout camp

We missed Daddy for three days while he was gone at scout camp and his golf tournaments. But, our fun and disasters went on as usual with a few differences though.

Brigham pretended he was the Dad the whole time, except for when he let Silas take over pretending for a little bit. 

Since Daddy wasn't around to wear his boots and gloves, Silas decided he needed to put them on. 

Maybe Silas and Adam think they can get away with being bigger rascals than usual with just mom around. Or maybe I shouldn't leave the room to talk on the phone when the milk and cereal are still on the table. As I finished my phone call I come to see Silas and Adam on the table with Cheerios scattered everywhere and milk running off the table. I think there was about half a gallon of milk flooding the floor! 

I was very very happy to have Daddy come home!!!! 

Evidences of All Boys

I know a lot of women who have all boys. We should start a club! My cousin-in -law called it the MOB ( Mom's of Boys). How many of you moms seen the same thing in your home?

1. I can never find the hose attachments to the vacuum because they are always stealing them to use for swords.

2. My house sounds like a lion's den. They are constantly roaring at each other and trying to do it louder than the other.

3. Potty words are apparently the most hilarious thing in the world. I can't believe how young they pick up on it too. Adam is not even two yet and he knows he gets the best laugh from his brothers if he just says "Pooooop!"

4. If I am on the ground I better have my guard up because it is wrestling time and I will be the next victim. Be prepared to be attacked from any angle!

5. My boys are constantly hungry or thirsty. If I am out and about and don't have some sort of sustanace in my purse I will hear whining and complaining the whole time. They seem to need something in their stomachs every five minutes. 

6. A pack of boys feed off of each other's energy. I am amazed that if one of them is gone, the house is so quiet and still. But for some reason if they are all together it becomes an incredible synergistic effect and the volume and craziness are multiplied by 100! If sugar is part of the equation then it is multiplied by 1000.

I do have to say that boys can be super sweet! When boys are sweet, they are really sweet because you know they are sincere. Silas tells me every night, "I wuv you, mom". Adam gives really good cuddles in the morning. Brigham likes to give hugs and I love it when he is in the mood to be helpful. Here are some recent pics.