Memorial Day Weekend

Our Memorial Day weekend was mostly relaxing.  David had a 4 day weekend (which was AWESOME!) but he had to spend most of it working on the bathroom downstairs.  He did an amazing job, of course, but I sure am glad that it is over with.  It's hard having him gone all week just to have him work on projects on his days off.  But I also know that it needs to be done.  And why pay for it when I know he can do it and the boys can help (and learn so many lessons while helping Daddy).  It's still hard though.  I REALLY appreciate and look forward to the break of the weekend...the toddler break.  You know, the day to day saving the life of an 18 month old.  I'll have to blog about our many adventures later.

 So I'll start with a picture where Ruger looks all innocent!  And with Levi in the back being a pro at making noises with grass.  We were on a hike at the North Ogden Divide Trailhead.  Daddy usually (while hiking) chews on wheat/tall grass or picking the fat pieces of grass, sticking it between his hand and blowing to make the loudest noise!  I haven't seen the boys pick up on the chewing thing yet but they are always all over that noise thing.

 David trying to get Ruger to blow.

 Hyrum was having a hard time getting his to make noise so Daddy was letting him use his.

 Daddy is the pro!  Levi's pretty darn good too, though.  

 It has rained so much during the last few months which has made for the mountains to be very green this Spring/Summer.  

On Memorial Day we did our tradition and found graves that were not decorated (children and Veterans).  Ruger went with us last year but he was so little that he couldn't really do much so it was cute watching him this year.

I may have had to "share" my husband a little more than I would have liked but it was still a good weekend.  I love my family very much.  I love our bond.  And I'm truly grateful that the Lord placed us all together in the way that He did.

Friendly Visits

I've said it before but a great benefit to living in Utah, when it comes to the Church, is that there are tons of ties here for my friends.  They may be coming for other reasons to this state but I will take what I can get.  I appreciate it very much that they make such an effort to stay close to us.  

 The Brennan Family brought us dinner one night and we just talked while the kids played.  With the past year being so "sickly" for us, the Brennan Family was one of the many friends that we had to turn down visiting last year.  The next day, David and I took Ruger to a Children's Museum and they happened to be there!   At one point, Becca asked where Levi was (he was at school).  I love that Levi made her feel comfortable and played with her even though she is a girl and much younger.

 The following week (Friday) the Brown Family came to have lunch with us.  As always, Ruger loved a little "too" much on his new friend.  

Lilly and Hyrum had age and love for Salt and Vinegar chips on their side as they quickly became friends.  I don't think they have seen each other since living in Oklahoma.  And I personally just needed for Marie to make me laugh.  And she didn't disappoint!

6th grade vs. teachers

 On the last day of school (yesterday) there was a baseball game between the 6th graders and the teachers.

 The tryouts were a few weeks ago and Brigham was one of the 6th graders selected to be a part of this game.

 He came home sore a few times because he really, really wanted to beat the teachers.

And they tried hard...but in the end the teachers won.  18-11

It was fun watching these boys get "out" their teachers and their reactions.  It was also fun listening to all the elementary kids yelling.  The younger ones seemed to vote for the teachers but as you went up in grades, they seemed to be yelling for the 6th graders.  

As I was watching Brigham on the field, I was thinking about how different he and Levi can be.  Last year Levi tried out for this team but didn't make it.  But he did get picked to go to the summer PAL camp.  Brigham wanted to go to PAL camp but wasn't picked but made it on the baseball team.  

They are very different from each other.  And that is great!

Fire Truck Fun

The boys were expecting a fire truck to come, on the second to last day of school, and hose them down but it really wasn't that warm outside.  I really thought they would cancel.  But as Levi was walking home from school he saw all the kids outside.  When he got to the house, we put Ruger in the stroller and hurried on up to the elementary school to see if we could get a few pictures.

 (Wyatt, Clayson, Brigham, Levi, and Hyurm)

 In the past when the fire trucks have come to the schools, the boys have gotten absolutely soaked.  This was the extent of Hyrum getting wet this year!

 I don't know if it was because they are getting older and that it really wasn't that warm outside but it didn't stop Levi from taking Ruger out there.

 Levi is such a good brother to Ruger!

Another Junior Higher

I really should get caught up on here first but I don't want to put off Brigham's graduation.  So other things will have to wait.

 Last night was Brigham's elementary school graduation.

 Next year, we will have 2 sons in Junior High.  Crazy.

 Here Brigham is with his best friend, Clayson.

 (Damian, Clayson, Brigham, and Eric)

The kids at their elementary graduated from the N.O.V.A. Principles program.  Most programs, around this age group, focuses on drugs.  But N.O.V.A. also includes things like making good choices, anger management, media and internet safety, bullying, and one of my favorites, accountability. 

We took a picture like this with Levi last year and like he usually does, Brigham has to put his own twist to it.  I have to admit, when I first looked at the pictures afterwards, I wasn't impressed.  It is hard to get a good picture with Brigham.  But now that I have slept (awwwww, what sleep can do for a person like me!), this picture just screams his personality.  And I guess that is what a picture should capture, right?

Mother/Son Luau

 On Friday, the elementary school put on a Mother/Son Luau.  

 When I first heard about it, I was surprised because it seems that a lot of parent/child get togethers involve mother/daughters or father/sons.  So this was a happy surprise for a mother with only sons!

 Before we went to the school, Hyrum and I went to the dollar store to buy stuff for the luau.  Hyrum was so incredibly cute about this all.  Besides him just being super excited about the luau, he was also very excited about dressing up for it.  When we got home, we went next door to one of our neighbors (and one of Hyrum's best friends) and asked if he would like to go with us since his mom wasn't living with him.

All week, Hyrum had been talking about this luau and how we would get to spend "you and me time."  At least once a week Hyrum asks me, "When are we going to get me and you time?"  He loves spending alone time with me and it melts my heart.  I don't know how long that will last but I try to soak it up now.

However, when we got to the school he danced one song with me and off he went with Jett to play with the beach balls.  It's all good though.  It was fun watching them.