Phone Photo Dump September 2014

My phone survived the dip into the washing machine!!! And the fix I found to backup my photos worked!!!  These are some fun pictures I found to share with you!  I'm so happy!

One day Bolton just couldn't stay awake any longer.  We weren't praying at the time of slumber, but he sure looks peaceful, doesn't he?  Coming upon sleeping kiddos is still one of my favorite things ever.

This kid couldn't find his church pants one Sunday, so we had to go with the next best thing.  Trust me, the jeans were a much better option than the basketball shorts/pants he wears 95% of the time.  He is just so dang cute.  His grandma is right, we've got a lot to worry about with this kid and the girls.

Bolton was sitting watching a Liken the Scriptures video on Sunday morning.  He was on our swilling desk chair with his feet up under his bum.  I guess he was holding onto his ankles and he just toppled off the chair and landed with a huge thud right on his forehead.  I was worried about him at first because it didn't swell right out, the next clue that we were in danger was that he wouldn't form any words for at least 10 minutes after the initial fall.  I would ask him questions, such as "How old are you?" and he would answer with his fingers, when I asked what my name was he wouldn't answer.  I finally got him to talk by bugging him (good thing I'm good at that)... "Why are you so sad, Bolton" over and over and finally he said, "Because I got hurt!"  Then at church he was cranky during Sacrament meeting (not that unusual) but primary he just sat there in his teacher's lap not active at all.  After church his teacher asked if he was OK because he didn't participate in class at all which is really, really unusual.  Also I noticed that after church the swelling of his head was not a firm goose egg but a mushy lump.  So I ended up taking him to the doctor (sometime that week) and he said that he definitely had a concussion, but that he seemed to be doing well and we didn't need to worry.  The behavioral changes can last up to 2 weeks, he said, so we were to keep an eye on him but not stress.

I was trying to get Ethan to pay attention to me one day, being rather obnoxious (and I wonder where the kids get it?).  I posted this picture to Instagram and got some attention from my friends, at least. :)

The dog continues to put up with way more than any dog should have to.  We continue to count our blessings at what a great dog we got.

Ethan introduced the kids to MC Hammer one evening.  I thought it was hilarious to see them all down here so enthralled in Hammer videos.  They have a fun dad.

Abraham is my an accident waiting to happen.  Seriously, he falls more than any of the other kids combined at this age!  I can't even remember what happened here... I think it was when he taking his bath and he stood up and fell and hit his face/head on the toilet.  I just can't keep up with him.  (As evidenced by today's accident, but you'll just have to wait for that story).

We have started playing soccer at the park on Fridays, a friend brought her son one day and ended up playing at the playground with the little ones.  She sent me this cute shot of Abraham.  Love his sweet smile.

During his nap time one day he climbed out of his bed (he sleeps in a play pen) and played in his room.  When I finally got him, this is how I found him.  He wasn't happy.  I guess he learned his lesson, he hasn't climbed out of bed since.

We are doing a play (you'll hear more about this soon) and I was making a prototype for hat for the flying monkeys.  I just love taking pictures of Bolton, he's so cute.

Levi loves the dog.  Its a good thing, we might not keep him otherwise... the dog, people, sheesh!  We have to keep Levi!

Aren't you glad that I figured out the photo problem on my phone?!  I hope you had as much fun as I did looking back on September!

Bolton's Prayer

I need to record more of the things the kids say.  Today's lunch prayer was perfect,

Heavenly Father, thank thee for this day.  Thank thee for this blessing.  Bless that Jesus will come on the earth again.  Bless that everyone will be happy.  Bless that no one will be mean.

Made my heart feel grateful to have such sweet kids that remind me to be more sincere and humble.

Kids' Portraits 2014 (except Jonas)

The time has come to replace the kids' portraits on our wall.  I like to take them myself, but sometimes its tricky.  Here are some that I got this year.  

Abraham was super busy (like always)!  But with Bolton's help we taught him to say "Cheese!" and all I had to do was ask him to do something and when he wouldn't do it, ask Bolton to do the same thing and Abe was very adamant that he do it.  Funny baby boy.

This boy is so photogenic.  And so happy.  Except when he's not.  He has always been my super sweet boy, but 4 hasn't agreed with him much.  I even get reports that he is the "hardest Sunbeam in" his class, but his teacher also confided that she probably loves him the most.  So he's still super sweet, its just doused with some sour every so often.

When I told her we were doing pictures she begged me to let her put on her favorite dress.  She is SO girly!  And simply beautiful.

Levi had the dog with him in most of his pictures.  He is such a loving kid with that dog.  And also, so photogenic.

Bryant's pictures were harder than ever before with the glasses... I can't decide which one I like or if I should just start from scratch.  What do you think?

Jonas was not ready to do photos and I haven't tried again, so I'll have to get his soon.  I sure am blessed to have such awesome kids.

School started, life got crazy, and we explored Mt. Diablo!

Oh my goodness!  I am beyond frustrated with my photo situation!  I have been trying for months to get the pictures from my phone onto the computer and I have failed in every attempt!  Then yesterday, Ethan called me as I was putting some laundry in the washer and when it was time to leave the laundry room I couldn't find it anywhere... ugh.  It was in the washer as it filled with water.  It doesn't look good.  And just to pour lemon juice in my paper cut of frustration, I found a solution to my photo problem today!  But I guess those photos are just gone.  Sad.

I do have a few pictures to share from the first day of school.  The kids were all so excited!  I got pictures of everyone, but only these gems found their way onto the computer.  Abe was trying with all his might to get into the van on his own.  Silly baby boy.

And this big guy rules the roost at the elementary!  He is in 6th grade this year!  He has WAY more homework than he ever has.  He doesn't ever complain about it, though.  He works on it as soon as he gets in the car on the way home and gets it done without me even asking.  Its quite a gift.

Jonas started 4th grade.  He seems to really, really like his teacher.  There are a few students in his class that he has a hard time with and comes home complaining/crying about the way they talk to him/treat him.  I'm trying to let him sort it out on his own.  He's got to learn how to cope with all sorts of people to be successful, though I give him lots of support and ideas for how to deal with it.  He has a new best friend who moved into the ward this summer and as luck would have it O is in his school class!  He talks about him all the time and is always wanting to play.  Makes me happy that he has such a good friend.  Homework is much more of an ordeal with Jonas than with Bryant.  Usually he does it fine, but every once in a while he doesn't do it until bedtime and one time he told me it was done but it wasn't.  He got in big trouble for that.  I told him he can't have his after school snack until after his homework is done from now until the end of 2014.  Boy, do I know how to hit him where it hurts.

Levi started 3rd grade.  He comes home from school happy almost every day (which is great).  He is learning a lot.  He does homework about half the time without being badgered.  He tells me that a LOT of girls like him (like like him, like him).  His two best friends are in different classes than him, but he gets to play with them (and Jonas) at recess every day.  

Eliza started 1st grade and she LOVES it.  She is doing really well, though her teacher sent a note that she is a slow worker... I literally said aloud, "Tell me about it!"  That girl doesn't know how to move quickly unless she's sprinting.  Good thing I love her so darn much.  The whole getting ready for school routine is a joke some mornings.  I don't know how many times I've gone out to the van when everyone is already loaded up and asked her if she has shoes on and she's quietly replied, "no." What she expects to happen once she's at school I have no idea... but she's new at this and will hopefully figure it all out soon.  She has a hard time staying on target, getting distracted very easily.  We have a lot of distractions around here, as you can imagine.

So, school started.  Its been a good year so far.  Perfect attendance!  And I started letting the kids walk after school to meet me at the car wash, so I get about 20 extra minutes at home to let Abe sleep or feed him something if he wakes up in time.  They love it and I don't have to get Bolton out of the van and walk in to the school if he happens to fall asleep on the way to the school (2-3 times a week).  Win-win-win.  

A friend of mine shared a picture on Instagram of a place called Rock City at Mt. Diablo and it looked like a perfect adventure for this family of ours.  So, on Aug. 30 we hit the road to Mt. Diablo. The drive there was nice... until we got to the actual mountain.  Well, that's not fair, it was really nice there too, it was just crazy how many bikes we had to share the winding road with.  I had to close my eyes I was so glad that Ethan was driving and not me.  I don't think I'll dare go with out just for that reason.

But we will definitely be going again!  It was such a great adventure.  And a 100% perfect location to let our kids explore.  The all loved it, even the baby got in on the rock climbing.

These wind caves were exceptionally cool.  Who doesn't want to sit in a little rock pocket?

 
The kids were all ready to move in.  It reminded me of all the rocks we'd climb in Duchesne, though less lizards were seen at Mt. Diablo.

After Rock City we drove up to the top of Mt. Diablo.  There is a little visitor's center and a great panoramic view.  Ethan captured this beauty.

I texted my brother that he needs to come see us again so we can take them here, but the invitation is open to all of you as well!  Its lots of fun!

Blackbeard the Pirate

I have been wanting to get these pictures posted for ages, but for some reason my phone just wouldn't back these photos up to my google account.  I've been fighting with the automatic back up for months... anyway, I finally emailed myself these pictures so I could put them here and move on with the rest of our August, September, and now October!  My goodness time is zooming by!!!

The last week of summer vacation my kids got to participate in the Missoula Children's Theatre production of Blackbeard the Pirate.  They had a lot of fun!!!  It was a pretty large cast!

Can you spy Eliza and Bryant? From the audience it was difficult to pick my kids out at first.  Luckily Eliza had recognizable shoes so I spotted her pretty quickly I don't think I would have been able to otherwise.  Eliza is a parrot and Bryant is a crab.

Can you find Levi and Jonas in this one?  I'll give you a hint, Levi is a sailor and Jonas is a crab.

Eliza was so funny!  The parrots all had to say the same things most of the time, but Eliza was chosen to be the one to say something different at the end.  First they all said, "I want a cracker" one right after another and then at the end of the line Eliza said, "I want an English Muffin!"  The next time they were onstage they each took a turn saying "I want a sandwich!" and she said, "I still want an English Muffin!"  She got some good laughs from the audience.  I was so proud of her for doing her best to say it loud enough.  It was hard to say loudly because she was using the funniest little voice.  She was the cutest parrot!

The crabs had a little more to say, but I don't remember anything they said at this point.  The boys commented about having so many lines!  (Maybe 7... and some of them one word).  But the biggest thing of note for them was how hot they were in those costumes!  My favorite part with the crabs was when they walked off stage making their crabby sound in the tune of the Star Wars theme music.

Levi got to be a sailor with some of his favorite friends.  That was a rowdy bunch of little boys, I'm sure!  I totally didn't recognize him at first with his mustache and goatee, but he looks awesome!

It was such a fun experience for them.  They had rehearsal from 9-2:30 Tues, Wed, Thur and then on Friday morning and they performed on Friday afternoon.  So, they didn't get too much experience on what doing an actual play is like, but they got a taste of the fun of performing for an audience.  I was so glad that Ethan got to come see it as well.  It was such a fun experience for the whole family!