One Fine Day

This morning, I hadn't a clue what a fun day it would turn out to be. We did our regular morning chores, with the regular morning moans and groans about it. Then we headed off for swimming lessons for Jace and Lance. Yesterday was their first day, and they loved it. I wanted to get Kyle enrolled in the preschool class, but they wouldn't let me because he is not 3 yrs. old yet (Just 2 months shy!). They informed me of a "Mommy and Me" class that I could do, but I couldn't imagine how that would be possible with an infant in tow. So yesterday when we showed up, Kyle played in the water during his brother's swimming lessons. I sat close by with Cami, still in her carseat. Kyle was having a blast. Toward the end of the lesson, a man came over and asked me if Kyle was in a swimming lesson. Busted. I told him that I wanted to put him in the preschool class and all that. I don't mind paying to have him in a class. Long story short, the nice man said it would be alright for Kyle to join the preschool class the following day. So today, when he went to inform the preschool swim coach, she would have nothing to do with it, even though there were only 2 kids there, out of the four enrolled, and she had another teacher helping her! I felt so bad for Kyle. He didn't even throw a fit. He was just sad. Sweet Kyle. So by the end of that swim lesson, we ran home, I changed into my swimsuit, grabbed a few other necessities, and headed back to the pool for their Open Swim. The kids were ecstatic. Look at this face:

Prepare to Dive: Kyle did this every time he jumped in the water, like he is saluting the judges or ensuring good form for his dive. It was the cutest.

Laying out on the water or Superman?

So worth it.

Walking on water?

Or flying?

I have to catch Jace mid sentence to get a picture of him. He's dealt with a camera happy mom for NINE years!

Aaah....

I'm so grateful for happy babies! :)

Watching the pigeons eat and hoping they will come closer

And why wouldn't they? It IS a fantastic day after all!

Ah! I forgot how much I love being in the water! (Cami took a good nap in her carseat so I could play with the boys) I asked them if they would go for sitting by the diving boards and watching me, but it didn't work :) Someday...

Here Comes Trouble!

It was inevitable. I knew it was coming...

(July 31st)

...From the time she began crawling and climbing over everything at the cabin, including her brothers...

(Aug. 4)

(Today)

...but I didn't think it would be so soon. Today, while we were at my mom's, I walked back inside to find a proud Cami standing on her tippy toes and a tickled Jace at the sight of it.

Could she be any more pleased with herself?

Temple Square

We went to temple square this morning for a primary activity. Lance and Kyle loved it. (Jace was up the street visiting the Capital Building with the Cub Scouts)

Among their favorites was the place where the movie showed people making food really fast (it was played in fast forward of people in an assembly line making foods to give to those in need). Also among their favorites was the escalators. They don't get to the mall very often. However, their favorite place to visit was the Christus.

They loved it so much, we had to go back and see it again.

Hangin' out just outside the tabernacle. Lance enjoyed the music that he heard coming from inside. It was really cool for the boys to be so close to the temple that we drive by so often. I am so grateful for the opportunities that are open to us by living here.

In My Backyard...

Well, not really my backyard, but it used to be, when I lived here. We spent some time in the backyard at my parent's house, while my mom taught Jace piano lessons. It was a great day for photos! We had so much fun...

Sitting up is just so much fun!

I love this expression!

Lance and Kyle enjoying themselves on the other end of the yard...

But this is just so much fun!

These flowers were picked by her brothers... She must know how loved she is.

Ya Gotta

Jace and Lance are beginning to share a chore that used to only belong to Jace: Mopping the floor. (Jace's "favorite" chore-not really) I used to sweep it before he mopped, so now one of them sweeps while the other mops. Today, Lance chose to mop. So I asked Jace to do the sweeping, which he was very okay with. I came back when Jace's task was done and did a little inspection. After I swept up a good amount of debris, I called Jace to come observe what I found. I told him that next week, there will be sweeping lessons a couple times during the week.



So tonight at the dinner table, Jace had a complaint.



"I don't wanna have to have sweeping lessons and piano lessons on the same day."



Lance leaned toward Jace, one eyebrow up, and said in his low voice,

"But ya gotta."

My Baby Boy

Today at nap-time, Kyle and I were reading a book about babies falling asleep. When we finished, I hugged him and said, "Goodnight, my baby Kyle."

He retorted, "I am not a baby!"

I asked him if he's my boy, and that seemed to be alright with him. But he will always be my baby boy. Aah! They're growing too fast!

Mommy and Kyle on his birthday

When I Grow Up...

(Lance, after church in mid-June)

Oh, the endless possibilities!

In preschool last year, Lance's teacher asked me if he's really tidy at home because after helping clean up the toys, she found him lining up all the boxes of toys so they fit nicely. I had to tell her that, yes, he really is, and I don't know where he gets it from. (I'll just leave it that, you can ask my parents about my room while I lived there.)

Lance's favorite chore in the world is dusting the piano. He gets so excited when the dust has collected again. And so there it is. He doesn't want to be a policeman anymore. He says that when he grows up, he wants to be a piano cleaner. Today, I asked for help cleaning the kitchen before we went outside to play. I expected to have dishes cleared from the table, but he asked excitedly if he could sweep the floor. So I said, "No, you may not sweep the floor." J/K, how can you turn that down? When he was done, he showed me all the wonderful stuff that he had swept into the dustpan and was so pleased with himself. He said when he grows up, he wants to be a cleaner, a piano cleaner, and a sweeper.

Well, I'm glad one of us likes to clean.

Lance stands proudly by his accomplishment

6 Months!

I can hardly believe it myself! Look at this little 6-month-old beach baby. She enjoyed Bear Lake to its fullest! More pics to come.

Happy 9th Birthday, Jace!

Surrounded by his cousins (all boys!) as he reads his cards and opens presents

On top of the world. Before going to Bear Lake, I asked him what he would like to do for his birthday. He wanted a big shovel for digging in the sand and one extra hour at the beach. This beach bum's easy to please! We probably didn't even need to buy him a present! This is what he did all day; his cousins played with the water basketball hoop that he got.

Here is a moat that he dug. Pools, reservoirs, you name it, he dug it.

He also requested a Dutch oven Pineapple-Upside-Down Cake. Jared made two.

Let me share the highlight of today. Jace has wit. Here it comes out again, and I'm glad I have pictures to remember this by.

I forgot the candles and so we used wooden matches instead. I was kicking myself for forgetting and hoping he would be okay with this. Before lighting the candles, someone asked Jace how old he is now. He told them, "Two."

It was difficult to keep all 9 matches lit at the same time, and when we finished singing "Happy Birthday", he quickly blew out the only remaining 2 matches that were lit. Look at him above, trying to contain his laughter.

Then he quickly exclaimed, "I told you I turned TWO!"

So silly! I love my Jace so much who brings laughter into our home often. He is a joy to have. Happy Birthday, Jace!

Happy July 4th!

From us at Bear Lake!

Mission: Simultaneous Smiles

Accomplished!

Fishin' and S'mores...

It doesn't get much better than this! We escaped to the cabin for the weekend after Memorial Day.

Jared, Jace and Lance took a trip to Strawberry Reservoir. Lance got the First Bite! Jace caught the only fish of the day! Had to be luck, he was looking to earn his Fishing Belt Loop and you have to catch one to earn it!

Kyle went with them the first attempt, but there were many rocks and sticks to be thrown into the water, resulting in NO fish, but still a good time for the boys... until they got cold... and hungry. They came home and enjoyed hotdogs cooked on the fire and...

Mmmmm! Yummy S'mores!

What could be better than that? Cami's got an idea: She's contemplating..... Zzzzzzzzzz

Let's Make Music Together

One of our summer chores this year is to do a service for a sibling. Thank you for the idea, Sherrie! It has been a wonderful relationship builder for these guys. So the older sibling has to play whatever the younger sibling wants to play, as long as it is safe. I have also asked them to watch the other guys face and see if they can make them smile or laugh more. It has been a great tool for helping these super-energetic boys to calm down and think about the other guy... plus, the idea of just getting along is great, too.

These photos were taken a few weeks before we started this new chore idea, but it reminds me of what it's been like when the boys are purposefully playing together with a goal to have fun, together. Ah! Music to my ears!

5 Months

I wish time could stand still when we ask it to.

(L) Taken 3 days before her 5 months birthday. I love this age!

(R) Taken ON her 5 month's day. Gramma and Grampa Tilton came from CA to visit this last week and met Cami for the first time. We had a wonderful time together, as always. Here, Gramma and Cami are sharing one of those moments that I wish could stop time. Perhaps Cami will treasure photos of her being held by the Gramma she was named after.