Spring Break Wednesday

Today we took a road trip to Elephant Rocks. It's about an hour and 45 min. away, give or take. It was kinda spontaneous because we were heading out that direction anyway to get a tool for Jared to be able to finish the framing in the basement. When I woke up Kyle and told him where we get to go, he said, "But first we have to get the nail gun.". I thought it was so great how his sharp mind was so quick to remember the awesome tool Dad was going to get. He loves watching Dad work on the house.
The following photos are pretty random.  I'm trying to figure out how to blog again.  I can't keep up with the new and improved, I guess :)


the "Engine House" ruins

Inside the Engine House

All of 'em! Jace's friend, Tom, and Lance's friend, Isaac.  Bringing them made this road trip so much more fun.

Tadpoles

Tadpole fishing

 Then back home just in time for Lance's piano lesson, then a little basketball before hamburgers, showers and bed (except Jace, who went to basketball practice with Dad.  Someone was bummed about not having enough basketball time today, but they didn't take very long to crash once the head hit the pillow!  

Spring Break Tuesday.

Yup.  Just another boring day of NO SCHOOL!  I don't think it really matters what we do; just that the kids are having fun and feel that sense of freedom and togetherness.
We went on a bikeride to the "mini house."  A little shelter at the entrance of the subdivision that's probably more for show.  Kyle continues to improve his endurance.
Kyle had a friend over during the early afternoon, and Lance had a friend for the late afternoon and during their Tae Kwon Do class that they take together.  I have yet to get pics of that, hopefully Thursday I will.  Jace always has the kids on the block over for basketball.  He's pretty much been playing every spare minute that he has.  He's on his way to the NBA.  In fact, he's at church right now with Dad hopefully finishing up basketball practice.
Cami just goes with the flow.  She's getting to be quite a pro at dribbling the ball. 

Spring Break Monday

We did some boring stuff first so we could do the fun stuff.  After rooms were clean, we went on a short bikeride.  It is fun to only pull Cami behind me and watch Kyle working those muscles as we go up the hill.  He used to get frustrated (last week when we began bikeriding - long time ago!), but his endurance and focus seem to have improved a ton!  Hopefully mine will, too :)  Kyle has a friend a few streets over from us that have him over to play sometimes so Cami and I can sweat through some more hills and get a workout.

Later, we went... Fishing!

This is the first time I have ever taken all four kids fishing without Jared.  Our awesome neighbors, who have a son Jace's age, invited us, and the day was perfect for it.  86 degrees.

 Jace packed a bunch of cheddar cheese cubes and he caught 6 fish!  He reminisced about fishing at the cabin and using cheese as bait.  Look closer at the fish's belly.  It's yellow.  Maybe too much cheese.  I told Jace it was probably the same fish he was catching each time.

 Persistance...

 Pays off!

 I am so grateful to our neighbors.  We probably would have just done more boring stuff today! 

I didn't want to mess with bothering Jared at work to ask him about our fishing poles that are SOMEWHERE in the huge basement downstairs (that he's been finishing this week - I'll post pics!) so I just grabbed some wooden poles and asked Jace to grab some string and we were off!  You can tell Cami was really into this fishing thing with her red pole propped so she can use her hands for more important things like Goldfish Crackers.  We took a detour during a bathroom break to enjoy the playground. But the boys couldn't get enough of this!  We'll definitely visit Des Peres Park again.

Later, Lance and Kyle got to go to their first Tae Kwon Do class and got their white belts.  Earlier this month, Lance was invited to a birthday party at the Martial Arts Academy, and one of his party favors was 2 weeks of free classes!  Plus, they said his brothers can join him!  Everyday.  Monday thru Friday.  (Cami was fine, we just did cartwheels and handstands in the other room) 

They earned their red tape, by breaking wood with their hand. 

We got home, planted some Pea seeds, and Jared later cooked some Teriyaki Elk steaks. 

Family Night Activity:  Limbo - Lance's idea.  We wanted to do something with the "Sticks" (2x4's) that the kids helped Dad unload from the car for more basement work, thus Lance's brilliant activity idea.  We played the Limbo Rock and had a little limbo party downstairs.  I forgot how fun that is.  I remember doing that on roller skates.  I wanna get some roller skates and skate around our basement before it's finished.

  Tomorrow will probably be just boring stuff.  I don't know if I can top today's excitement.

Cami's THREE!

When I asked what kind of birthday party she wanted, she said, "Pink!"  So easy to please.  I can do pink, and have fun at the same time ;)

Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.  This is Cami's best friend, Kylie.  They adore one another.  It is so sweet to watch.  When Cami has her hair curled, she says it looks like Kylie's.  Kylie's family came  over to celebrate with us.  Her dad is also a resident, same year as Jared, in radiology.   And her brother goes to the same preschool that Kyle goes to.  Kylie gave Cami the dress up outfits, and they "had a ball" trying them on!

Kyle showing Cami how the baby fits in the carrier from Jared's parents.

Putting the crown on this baby from Beauty and the Beast.  Cami picked this out over the Christmas season while we were supposed to be picking out her toy she was to give Kyle.  She loved this. and insisted that we buy it.  Would have been easier to just buy it then and there.  I went back later and bought it (with the grandparent $$!).

Happy Birthday, Dad! Luv! Jared!!

29 and a half?  Right?  It's hard to keep count anymore, but that sounds about right.  He got home after a long day at work to kids waiting up past their bedtime to sing to him and watch him open presents.  He got a cool hunting shirt from my parents, something special from his parents that he got early and I can't remember what he said it was, cuz I'm an awesome wife that listens intently to her husband at all times.  He got some nice jeans from Cabela's from my grandparents, and an awesome, cool rug from Cabela's, for the elk room from all of us.  I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of it, will post later.  Jared was so exhausted he went to bed pretty soon after presents were opened and cake was eaten.  I love the pic of Jace singing his heart out to his Dad.  Ah, he loves him!

Lance's Birthday

It really was a lot of fun to make!

Lance's whole 1st Grade class was invited.  It's a great way to make friends at the beginning of the school year!

Watermelon Relay - We played this last year at Jace's party, and it was one of the games Lance wanted to be sure and play.

For that smile, that's why we do these crazy parties :)

 

Happy Birthday, Lance!  We love you SO MUCH!!!

Last

Kyle's Birthday

Happy Birthday, KYLE!

T Rex feet stilts.  Did you get to do this as a kid?  If not you have MISSED OUT!! (big food storage cans with twine tied to them)  I LOVED racing on these during field day at school!

Also, the boys are wearing their dinosaur masks we made.

I LOVE this one!

 Jace made the awesome, HUGE dinosaur decoration out of cardboard, paints, and an overhead projector I bought on Craigslist :)

Kyle pretending to be terrified

We had Kyle's bday party Friday, and it was dino-mite! Jace made an awesome dinosaur traced onto Cardboard, that we used for both a decoration and "Pin the tail on the T-Rex" (since we couldn't fit the big animal's tail onto our relatively tiny piece of cardboard! They had a T-Rex relay with stilts, or dinosaur feet. And Lance's game he headed, "Don't Crack the Dinosaur Egg", using a balloon that everyone had to keep in the air so that it wouldn't fall and "crack". Lance did a great job explaining the game to everyone. Cami blew out the candles the first time, for Kyle.
I made a yummy banana cake.  Here's the recipe - cuz Jared loved it and I may have to make it again someday. 'Cept the frosting. I bought Cream Cheese frosting ready made and added food coloring. So much easier and yummy enough!

What You Need

1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
1 cupBREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
3 eggs
1/4 cupoil
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cupbutter, softened
1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar
1 cup finely chopped PLANTERS Walnuts

HEAT oven to 350°F.
BEAT first 5 ingredients with mixer on low speed just until moistened, stopping frequently to scrape bottom and side of bowl. Beat on medium speed 2 min. Pour into greased and floured 13x9-inch pan.
BAKE 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.
BEAT cream cheese and butter with mixer until well blended. Gradually beat in sugar.
REMOVE cake from pan. Carefully cut cake crosswise in half using serrated knife. Place 1 cake half, top-side down, on plate; spread with some of the cream cheese frosting. Top with remaining cake half, top-side up. Spread top and sides with remaining frosting. Press nuts into sides. Keep refrigerated.

Braggin' Rights

Just a few things I'd like to keep record of :)

• Jared got awarded "Resident of the Month".  He works hard! Way to go, Dr. Martin!
• He's also going to be on the Oprah Winfrey Network sometime in October, on a Sat.  I received a phone call asking his job title.  He will be in an episode of "Sweetheart's Homecoming"  Episode 3.
• Jace scored in the top 1% in the nation on last year's MAPS tests. Way to Go, Jace! I told him not to let it go to his head. He's really becoming a teenager lately :) In a good way, of course.
• One night I played Paul Cardall's "Sacred Piano" music to help Lance fall asleep at bedtime.  When I checked on him a bit later, he told me that the music made him feel the Spirit.  I asked him how he knew it was the Spirit, and he said, "my eyes got kind of watery".  Awww!  
• Kyle is counting down the days until his 5th Birthday next month.  He is really getting excited for it.
• Jace scored in the top 1% in the nation on last year's MAPS tests. Way to Go, Jace! I told him not to let it go to his head. He's really becoming a teenager lately :) In a good way.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Sealed for time and all eternity in the Provo, UT Temple, 1975

Still smiling (er, laughing!) today!

  Congratulations, Mom and Dad!