The Never Ending Game

 In Kendall's opinion, Football is the greatest sport of all time.  Actually, any sport involving a ball is. 

The boys can spend hours on end throwing a ball to each other, forming a perfect spiral, and running simple plays Justin taught them.

I love to sit back and watch and occasionally join a game.... or 2.

Two Little Fish

 

We have been loving the pool this summer! The boys see the water and instantly have gills.  

Water, sunscreen, towels, a few pool toys, friends, watermelon, and a picnic lunch insures hours of fun!

There is nothing as fun as having a squirt gun fight with dad!
....maybe having to pool to yourself?

The Texans'

(Niki and I after remembering that we wanted to take a picture, sweaty after working out in the wee hours of the morning...cheers!)
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My cousin, Niki was road trippin' this summer with her family and decided for the first time to come on through our neck of the woods.
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We were so excited to say the least!
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We all filled up on burritos and headed to one of our favorite retreats, Sterne Park.  The kids played, feed the ducks, and had foot races in the grass while all the adults talked 100mph and got caught up.  We enjoyed a beautiful sunset and soaked in the great company.
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All the cousins, (she had 4) played as if they saw each other everyday for the last 5 years.  A new club house was formed, tricks at the pool were taught, treats eaten, a movie watched, and a dance party full of hot new moves were witnessed.
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I'm hoping this will be a new tradition, wink-wink.

Out They Come...

I'm afraid this is just the beginning of Nathan's journey with his narrow little mouth.  He inherited his dads exact mouth!

He had his incisors pulled out by the dentist and to all of our surprise, they each had a full root. Nathan looked at them and said they were knitting needles for the fairies.

Nathan slipped a note under his pillow pleading with the tooth fairy to please, please let him keep these teeth.  To his surprise he woke up with both teeth under his pillow and 4 one dollar bills!  He must have been really brave.

Right Now, Life Is...

Right now, life is...

1. Swinging from trees and being barefoot in shorts enjoying shade in triple digit weather.

2. Reading chapter books during dad's lunch break, then giving recaps after each chapter.

3. Mammy and Papa filling in the gaps as I fight this illness and Justin works another job.

Right now, life is...

1. Waking up early, completing job charts just in time for Saturday morning cartoons.

2. Learning to work, helping Mammy refinish a dresser while listening to her stories.

3. Watching 17 miracles and feeling so thankful for the pioneers, then taking a Sunday nap.

Right now, life is...

1. Lots of park days and enjoying sandwich picnics with watermelon, cherries, and grapes.

2. Waiting for Justin to rescue us as we sit broken down on the side of the road and making Kendall think it was an adventure that the car was smoking like a dragon.

3. Reading books on hope, praying for hope, then going to Deseret Book and finding more books on hope.

Right now, life is...

1. Cherishing every waking moment with dad, playing catch and wrestling and getting in a few i pad games.

2. Scientific experiments.  Magic marbles and magic rocks.

3. Sitting in line at the free car wash making silly faces and listening to Kendall tell the "Teeny Tiny" story.

Right now, life is...

1. Fresh fruit and veggies, Wednesday at Sunflower and the Farmers Market.

2. Catching a cold and getting creative so you can still get a good nights rest.

3. Making your own peanut butter and banana toast.

Right now, life is...

1. Talking 100 mph at the kids soccer game, catching up and getting on the same page.

2. Lots of team Go Fish games going at the dinner table at all time of the day.

3. Taking naps twice a day and loving it when the little ones join me.

Right now, life is...

1.Getting beat during Blokus and Zingo games on the living room floor while its raining outside.

2. A rare Saturday off, living it up at the shooting range with a barbeque and buddies.

3. Waking up early and deciding that by the time you get to the door you are still just too tired to start the day.

Right now, life is...

1. Finding the right balance to increase blood volume, drinking gallons of Pedialyte and being so grateful for glimmers of hope and family.

2. Crashing blood pressure 71 over 50.  I never knew what a treat it was to get IV's and feel so much better.

3. Learning and growing and pressing forward.  Taking capsules of salt and being thankful for awesome people who have crossed my path.

Right now, life is...

1. Helping each other and pitching in weather it be yard work, doing the dishes, or finding sweet little notes around the house.

2. Morning walks and sun rises, conquering the hill of death, and morning devotionals with mom.

3. Occasional date nights and constant reminders of how much I love my guy and the endless pool of hope he pours out.

Summer Structure?

The boys have been asking me to make them job charts forever now.  I saw one that I loved here and wanted to make but didn't know how to use Photoshop...so they got a homemade one.

This is the first year that we have got a pool pass so I'm hoping to get all our jobs done in the morning and head over for a picnic and some water fun!

Date Night

Nathan's memory of our Friday Fam date night:

"Justin, Nathan, Kendall...walking at Park Meadows.  I remember going to the Apple store, mall, car store..Tesla.  I liked the cars. In the Apple store we played games on the i pads. I remember mom taking pictures.  I got to see a couple fish in the waterfall.  I made a wish with pennies. I wished we could be together forever. I remembered one time that I wished we could all be giants.  That was a crazy one!  Giggle, giggle!"

Weekday Tradition

We have a new car wash in our neighborhood and on Wednesdays...its free!

Kendall and I drop Nathan off at school and head over.  There is usually a line so while we wait Kendall, joins me in the front and we talk and take a weekly picture of the both of us and we wipe down the inside of the car.

We take turns telling stories and by the time our heads are spinning with adventures, its our turn.

Week after week, I never get sick of watching Kendall's face as we enter the tunnel of colored bubbles and pressured water.

Big Boy

A few weeks ago I got a phone call from the school.  A Mama bear and her cubs had been spotted down the street from the Elementary.  Yikes!

The school is nestled in the foothills and you never know what you will see from day to day.  We have seen snow white wolves (it may of been coyotes...I don't know the difference)  deer, elk, and snakes.

This huge Elk roams the neighborhood and is so tame.  I know he's totally wild but sometimes when he looks at you he seems so sweet.

Last Day

 

The last day of school this year was amazing. 

 A feeling of melancholy swept in and out of my heart all day long.  First grade is over for my oldest.  But much lies ahead...this is what I say to myself if I feel tears.

I'm so excited for my summer to start with a house full of boys!

When I picked up Nathan we ran over to McDonald's and got Cherry Berry Coolers to celebrate and headed to the Library to sign up for the summer reading program.

We got home and organized their closet and room and got it "summerized!"

Dinner and before we knew it, it was time for our first late night!

Nathan class all got their faced painted for a fun end of school treat!  I texted Justin a picture and he replied, "Oh Cool!  A Thunder cat!"