Little bit of country

On Wednesday, we took a little break from city life and went to visit our country friends Cade and Julie. The boys went straight for the tire swing.

 

 

They loved taking the dog food out of the bowl and feeding him themselves.

 

Ethan and Cade playing on the swingset...

 

and four wheeling.

 

Before getting on the plane at the airport.

 

Big Cade had put a runway on his property since we visited last so they came by to say hi before going back up.

 

Trevor got a turn to fly!

 

Brent stood underneath Big Cade and Trevor to get pictures as they flew right over his head! He said it was hard to force himself to stand there with a plane so close, even though he trusted Cade because they earned aviation degrees together and flew for the same airline once upon a time.

 

Cute, happy boys in the backseat.

 

Julie and I got to go too! I hadn't been up for years. It was so fun to see how beautiful it was where they live.

 

Carson insisted that he get the first ride on the ATV out to go shooting.

 

Brent insisted I shoot his shotgun that he got himself for Christmas without my blessing. (Not a gun fan, sorry gun lovers.)

 

Big Cade and little Cade.

 

Trevor shooting his dad's shotgun...

 

and Big Cade's gun.

 

Big Cade teaching Ethan to shoot...

 

and Ethan doing it by himself.

 

Last but not least even Carson had a turn.

 

On the drive back everyone piled on the ATV. Carson was NOT happy he had to ride back in the Tahoe.

 

Ethan loved holding this duck. Julie told him to hold it like a baby and he immediately understood seeing as he loves to hold little babies.

 

We were pretty tired by the time we left from playing so much. Thanks for all the fun Cade and Julie!

Goodbye homework! Hello Summer!

Yesterday was the last day of school. Budget cuts ended the year early. I'm not sure who is happier about not having homework for a few months, ME or the boys. 2nd graders don't do a Principals list for straight A's, instead they have a Teacher's List. Ethan made it on the Teacher's list with straight A's and was really proud!

 

Brent and I wanted to reward Trevor and Ethan for their good grades and Cade's hard work at learning to write his ABC's. (Cade had a hard time holding his pencil correctly and won't write letters unless they are PERFECT so this was a BIG deal!)
So, we got them a surprise and Brent hid it in the backyard so they had to go searching for it.

 

Can you say excited when they spotted one on top of the fence?

 

 

After they found them all around the yard they did a quick group pose before opening their presents. Cade's new thing is making faces instead of smiling. Of course we had to get Carson one too so their wouldn't be any fighting over whose turn it was.

 

It didn't take long for Brent to get in on the backyard shootout. What dad could resist that?

 

 

SUMMER HERE I COME!!!!!! Now, if we could just get some warm weather?

Trevor's week

Trevor made Principal's list this week for Straight A's again. Kudos to him for working so hard and making his mom's life so easy when it comes to his schooling. He is so focused and SO deserves this award.

 

Here he is with the rest of the 3rd grade Principal's list group.

 

Pinewood Derby time!!!! He wanted a Ferrari red sports car this year. Brent played with the weights and used them in the design of the car. The award he got was the "best use of weights." We had a good laugh at that award!

 

 

The pinewood derby as you can imagine was TORTURE for a 2 year old to watch and NOT be able to touch ANY of the cars! Carson was THRILLED to finally be able to hold the car at the end.

 

Ethan's week

Second grade had a fun field day to celebrate the year coming to a close. I was able to go and help with it. They had face painting, playing with chalk, an obstacle course, and other games.

 

This water relay was fun to watch. Ethan's faces crack me up!

 

 

Ethan was in the school play The Wizard of Oz. They have been practicing since January so it was fun to finally be able to go see it! He was a "main munchkin" and they walked out before the play to sit down in front of the stage.

 

 

It is hard to see him here, but he was smiling at Carson as they were singing. He had a few lines he had to say and did a great job!

 

At the end they introduced everyone by name and he waved proudly at accomplishing being in his first play! He can't wait until next year.

 

He was able to keep his socks that he wore for his costume. I'm wishing I signed up to be in the play just for these! Aren't these the coolest socks ever???

 

Stake Father/Son Camput

Brent took the boys to the stake father/son campout last weekend. I was surprised he wanted to take all four boys. I should have done something fun for myself, but I chose to clean out and organize closets and summer clothes instead. It was a nice break to be by myself and feel productive. Maybe next year I will party!

They had fun getting a second dinner since they had left over food from a service project the week before.

 

When you bring 4 sons to a campout you end up with one of the bigger tents at the campsite. He said people teased him about how big his tent was until they realized how many kids he brought.

 

Doing smores and dinner together. (Brent didn't actually get pictures with himself and the boys, just the boys with other dads from the ward. Note to self. Remind Brent to take pictures WITH your kids not just OF your kids next year.)

 

 

They all said they had fun and loved sleeping in the tent all together. They came back with seriously stinky campfire smell in their clothes. For only being gone 18 hours I shouldn't have to wash all their clothes twice to get the smell out!

Finally-A garden-sort of

I know. I should have done this forever ago, but there always seemed to be a reason we couldn't start a garden whether it was our yard not getting sun or our yard not being big enough or sharing our yard in VA with deer. So, for FHE last week we finally started one! Blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, and squash. The boys are SO excited to grow their own food. Especially the blueberries. I'm excited I finally accomplished this even if it is a small start to make sure I know what I am doing before going all out. Everyone wants to water and take care of the garden. So fun!

Boys and dirt! Everyone packing it in before planting.

 

 

Carson kept saying "I DO IT!" so he could plant the strawberries.

 

 

All done planting! This look Carson is giving Brent is so funny wondering what his dad is doing trying to get him to look at the camera.