Baby Birds

A few years ago we had some Barn Swallows who made their nest on our light above the car in the garage. I didn't like all of the bird poop on my car so when they left I knocked down the nest and used Windex because that's what I was told to do. The next year they came back and flew around the light and noticed their  nest was gone but would not nest there. I was so happy! ...Until I found that they had made a NEW nest in a NEW location...the corner of our carport. I decided to leave it because at least it wasn't over my car and I was awed at how these two bird parents were so persistent in making a nest! Besides, it really is so fun to see the cute little baby birds! I still don't like all of the poop they leave behind when they leave their nest for another year. But I am again awed at how they know exactly where to come every year. I couldn't get very good pictures of them but these baby birds are only a few days old. At this stage they don't even make a sound, they just wait with their mouths open wide for their mommy and daddy to feed them. The kids love seeing the birds every year.

Bird Show

Today we went to the bird show at the Hutchings Museum in Lehi with "the boys." It has been a tradition since the kids were just little. We always see lots of cool birds and it's always 100 degrees outside! So we always go to Sonic afterwards for a slushie and then to Rotary Park near our house and drink our slushies and play with cousins. The kids really do look forward to it every year and make sure it is on the calendar! I didn't take pictures of us at the park with our slushies but we did get some pretty cool bird pictures. Olivia and Isaac "helped" me take them.

I really do love that we have such fun with our cousins, "the boys." I remember all of the fun I had with my cousins and we still talk about all of our good times whenever we see each other. I hope my children will cherish these moments and reminisce with each other when they are older.

Summer Time!

"Oh what do you do in the Summer Time when all the world is green?" Today is the Summer Solstice. It also happens to be the week of the Lehi Round-Up which is their city-wide celebration. Today was half price at the pool and so we took advantage of that and went. First of all, let's get to the temperature on this day...

Pretty hot! Emma and Nathan started a soccer camp today and had to be out in this heat for 4 1/2 hours!! I had to coach in it for 2! So, we deserved a day at the pool! 

Maddie and Nathan spent most of their time at the diving boards. There is a "low" diving board and a "high" one. Maddie would mostly just jump off, swim to the edge, and get back in line and she did this for the entire time we were there. 

Nathan has learned how to do front flips on the trampoline and decided to try it out on the diving board. He succeeded and was so proud of himself! He did it two more times. I got one on video but sadly did not get any actual pictures. After he checked that off his list he headed straight for the high dive for the first time. He told me he wasn't going to do a flip just a jump. He jumped beautifully and was so proud of himself! Again, I got video but not pictures. 

The other kids enjoyed swimming in the "deep part." Olivia and Isaac love that they can "swim" with their vests on. Emma was a big helper with them in the water and helped them swim and float. 

I heard, "Mommy, watch this!" about a hundred times today and one of them was Emma who wanted me to get a picture of her swimming under water.

Even though Isaac does like to swim in the deep end, his most favoritest place is what he calls the "hot tub," but it's really just a small little kiddie area. He wanted me to take a picture of him "swimming," which really consists of him walking on his hands...

It was only after he had swam around the entire perimeter of the pool and asked, "did you get it mom?" that I realized he wanted me to take a video of him swimming. Oops! Sorry! But I did get a video of him "diving" which is jumping off of the step. He also wanted me to get a picture of him going under the water.

Later that evening we packed a picnic of chicken salad sandwiches and chips and had our FHE at the pond. The kids wanted to go fishing but of course they had to do a little swimming before that. They spent a fair amount of time collecting clay to make a big ball of "poop." Why we had to do that is beyond me but they certainly enjoyed it. At one point Nate said, "Hey Emma, do you want to take a break from finding clay and just swim for a minute?" Emma replied, "Ya." Then Nathan said, as only Nathan would, "Ok and while you're swimming look for more clay!" They found plenty to make a nice sized ball of poop!

Don't mind the Jedi Master in the background, he just wants to go fishing! So off we went to the other side of the pond for some fishing. Only Emma, Nathan and Isaac wanted to fish. Maddie and Olivia were happy and content just swimming in the water and playing in the sand.

Even I took a turn and baited a hook and cast in a line...

Nate was the first one to catch a fish. Sadly it didn't survive and so we had to bring it home with us.

Very shortly after, Emma caught one! Hers did make it and happily went back into the water.

Meanwhile, Issac caught something as well, "Mom, will you take a picture of my sweet Moss Fish?"

Jason told him he caught a moss fish and he truly thought it was a real fish. He was so proud of it! But then he caught on when the other fish didn't look quite like his. He really wanted to catch a fish like the others. So we told him he had to be patient and wait for one to come...

And so he waited and finally his patience was rewarded with a fish! He wasn't quite sure he wanted to hold the line with it wiggling so much but he was ecstatic that he finally caught a fish today! His fish also survived and Zeke was a little sad that he didn't get to take it home.

I think the highlight of Nate's day was learning how to gut and clean his very own fish for the first time! He was so fascinated by it. Jason didn't have his knife in his bag for some reason so he used the pliers to cut it and then showed Nate how to dig right in!

Olivia said, "That was the most disgusting and awesome thing I have ever seen!" The kids were pretty "fascinated and grossed out but couldn't look away and wanted to throw up" and just plain enjoyed it all around! My son has taken another step into manhood! We will try and fry it up tomorrow and let every have a tasty morsel of Nate's fish. I've actually never cooked fish before so this will be a first for me as well!

All in all, I'd say we had a great day celebrating the first day of Summer!

Happy Summer!

Father's Day

Father's Day this year was not fun! I was already having anxiety about it because I knew it was going to be a hard day missing my Dad.  The kids and I went to church and they did a great job singing their Father's Day songs. We left our ward a little early so we could make it to my Mom's ward on time. I didn't want her to be at church alone. So the kids were troopers and sat through another Sacrament meeting...and another primary! Turns out Grandma was staying for all 3 meetings! They were tired and hungry and a little ornery but they stuck out  to the end and I was very proud of them! Then we went to Grandma's and waited for the rest of the family to come for dinner. We were in charge and we decided to grill Huli Huli chicken. It was very tasty. Afterwards we watched the video we had made for my Dad's viewing and that was when it hit me hard that my Dad is gone and not coming back. I tried really hard not to lose it and sob and "ugly cry" in front of everyone. Then we had the grand idea to go to his grave. We listened to "Carry On My Wayward Son" again. You just can't help but rock out when you hear that song! We kind of started laughing and joking around and a few of my siblings were passing gas....you know...classic Dad! I left in good spirits...but cried all the way home. I know this sounds weird, but I can't wait for his headstone to be put in. I hate seeing this sad little marker.

The kids were entertaining themselves taking turn telling and listening to stories. 

Maddie took these pictures on the way home. It was a beautiful full moon!

Everybody already knows that this Father's Day was going to be a hard one...and it was. In fact the two days before it leading up to today have been hard. I love my Dad and I miss him so much! It hit me HARD that my Dad is not here. But I don't want to pay tribute to him today. I want to honor the man that is the father of my children. Today was a crappy day for him as well. He was so sick and had a high fever, body aches, sore throat and a really bad headache. He felt so sick that he actually took himself to the InstaCare of his own free will and choice! You know that man is sick when he suggests himself to go get checked out! So he spent the day sick in bed. But he truly is the best father.He takes better care of the kids than I do! His children just idolize him and want to constantly be near him, tell him every tiny detail about their day and what everybody said that day, dress like him, talk like him, share in everything he does. It does my Mommy heart proud to see my children simply adore their Dad! I know that there will come a time when they will have a Father's Day like mine, and they will struggle with it just as much as I am. Because it's hard to lose those people who fill your lives with so much JOY and teach you the true meaning of love. But I know that they will spend that day reminiscing about all the wonderful memories they made with their Dad and it will mean so much to them. It overwhelmed me today thinking of my Dad with all of my memories. I am so grateful my children have a father who tosses a ball with them, supports them in everything they do, will read to them and spend quality time with them. He is such a great example and I hope my sons will follow in his footsteps. I love you sweetheart! Happy Father's Day! (this was my facebook post for Father's Day)

Trafalga

Today we went to Trafalga for the first time this Summer. It's a fun little place that has a few rides, arcade games, a rockwall, miniature golf, laser tag and several other things. My littles love to ride on the airplanes and will usually go on them a few times in a row.

 Sometimesthe carousel is not working...but it was today! And it was a favorite. The kids went on it several times...then went on the pirate ship ride...then went back to the carousel for a few more rides.

 At first Nate said he didn't want to go...

But then changed his mind! They all had fun pretending like they were in the Kentucky Derby and all took turns winning or having a "nose finish" as Nate put it.

While the kids were on the carousel Maddie was on the boats...getting wet...of course! Even though it was overcast and a little chilly, it didn't stop her from being in the water.

 She got locked into a battle with a  kid and got stuck...

But then she pulled herself out of it and got her revenge!

The kids really like doing the Frog Hopper Ride but it wasn't up and running today. So Nathan and Emma decided to do the rockwall. Emma is afraid of heights and never really makes it up that far before she decides she's gone far enough. Well today, with a lot of cheering and encouragement from Mom, she made it up to the top! I was so proud of her. She kept looking back at me as she would get a little higher and I would tell her to keep going! She was so scared and a little shakey afterwards but so proud of herself as well. This is a huge thing for her to accomplish. She is very timid and shy but she pushed herself and conquered her fear of heights and overcame that small mountain in her life! She is ready to conquer more mountains now because she knows she can do it!

Nate had a spark in his eye and I thought he was just going to run up that wall...

But the next thing I know he's hanging by his rope and on his way down...

He even went to a different spot and tried it again. This time he got a little more than halfway up but just couldn't do it. When I asked him why he let go he said, "Well some of the rocks are so small and it makes my arms to tired to hang on." Seems pretty reasonable. He was a little jealous that his sister had made it to the top and he didn't. "Oh well," he shrugged, "I'm only seven. I still have a few years before I need to get to the top." And there's no doubt in my mind that he will!

After the conquering of the rockwall, we celebrated with an arcade card and played some games and won some tickets. Each one had a turn to "race on the driving one," play some skee ball, a few rounds of air hockey, a little bowling, and playing on the monster fish one where you win lots of tickets. The kids said that it was a pretty fun day today. I agree! I love watching my kids have fun and I love getting into the fun with them. We're only into the third week of Summer...wonder what else we're gonna do!