It's a boy thing

OK so I am not exactly sure why I am making this post other than I guess as a mom of four boys I still am surprised at how attracted they are to dirt and most especially mud...lots and lots of mud. It rained here in Arizona last week (believe it or not) for a couple of days and saying as we are still in the process (a very slow processs) of getting our yard in it was nothing but a huge mud pit. As much as I love the rain I do not enjoy the aftermath of all the mud. So of course all my boys want to do is go and walk through it and stomp through it and throw things in it and ride their bikes through it and best of all get almost every pair of shoes they own stuck in it. I love the scream of "Mom...help I am stuck in the mud"! Of course I have said several times that would happen and asked them nicely if they could refrain from going in the mud so it wouldn't happen...to no avail. So the above pics are just a couple of the mud experience we just enjoyed. Finally I made the boys take everything they had either left in the mud or thrown in the mud out front and we hosed it all off, including themselves, all the while it was raining. (Can I mention how incredibly hard thick rocky mud is to hose off!) I was truly ready to lose my mind with the take over of mud in my house, on my floors in my laundry baskets...everywhere. I tried to be a good mom even letting them play in it for awhile hoping it would make me feel better about the whole thing...it didn't. For the first time I must say I was glad to see the sun appear so it could dry up all our mud. Now all that is left is the dried up mosh pit they created which will be a joy for Marc to try and level out for the landscaping since it will be hard as a rock by then. I just keep thinking... I love my boys I love my boys!!

Fathers and sons

Well we made it through another fathers and sons camp out. To say the boys had a great time is always an understatement. My boys love to camp anytime, but there is something special about camping with just dad (and a ton of other boys and their dads). Our ward went to a great place and there were quite a few who made the trek. I love listening to the stories when they get back...but the best are the stories you hear later on of what REALLY happened. I wanted to post a bunch of pics of their great adventure. There is nothing like getting boys out in nature and just letting them be boys...something dads are great at doing. It's no wonder they do not have mother/son camp outs...can you only imagine!

Here is our Brandon man...who always seems posed for pictures no matter where he is.

This is the only solo picture Marc got of Corbin...he seemed to allude the camera somehow. This is one of those OK Corbin stand on that tree stump over there and even though you are ready to fall off hold still.

This is "fire" man Trystan...every fathers and sons he has to find a stick and put it in the fire and pull it out and watch it burn. Good thing all his sticks so far have been long ones. I love his balancing act on the log at the left...Marc snapped the shot just as he was tumbling right off.

And finally our cheesy Ethan...there is no stopping him. He thinks he is one of the "BIG" boys. If you cannot tell in the bottom left pic he is on a tree branch that the boys sat and bounced on and unfortunately for Ethan his little legs were not long enough to actually bounce...he was lucky just to hang on for dear life. He was crashed out in the tent snug as a bug and slept in until 7:30 a.m...something my kids never do.

The fire always seems to call to my boys...comeeeeeeeeeeee toooooooooooo meeeeeeeeeeee

The boys caught some horny toads on their adventure (at least I think that is what they are called)...aren't they cute. This is definitely a step up from last year when they caught snakes. When the boys came home they asked if they could have some horny toads as pets...uhm...NO!

OK so I know this post is getting a bit out of hand but I do have to share what MY fathers and sons experience consisted of:

• Going to the temple and doing initiatories
• Seeing the Reflections of Christ exhibit at the temple (if you have not seen it you must go)
• Eating a homemade quesidilla for dinner with lots of cheese and salsa (on a whole wheat tortilla of course)
• Watching 2...yes count them 2 chick flicks (Return to Me and Hope Floats) until late into the night
• Eating my weight (ok well not that much) in Peanut M & M's and Twizzlers
• AND BEST OF ALL SLEEPING IN UNTIL 9:OO a.m. and even taking a short nap on Saturday before the boys returned home

I only get this chance once and year and this year I took full advantage of it!!!! I will say our WHOLE family loves fathers and sons!

Music Man

Brandon had his final orchestra concert for school and he did great. It was his first year playing an instrument and he really enjoyed it. For mom and dad it was one of those wait and see if he really is going to continue with this, but he says he loves playing the violin and wants to keep going. I was actually hoping he would play the cello, it being my personal favorite, but I guess he wants to be like his dad and play the violin. Anyway, the concert was great and they all were pretty in tune. There were no nails running across a chalkboard type sounds...very nice. Great job Brandon...keep up the good work!!!

Silence...

I had to post these pics just for fun. This was one day this last week were Trystan and Ethan both crashed on the couch and took a nap together. Of course Trystan is long past taking naps regularly, but the stars aligned right that day and they both conked out. It was bliss I must admit for me as my house was totally silent during the day, which never happens, as I had two at school and two completely crashed out. I had time just to sit and do what I wanted and enjoy the peace that can truly come when boys are sleeping. They say that children look most angelic while they are asleep...I suppose from the noise standpoint that is true. Anyway, I just thought this was too funny not to share.

Have to love Trystan's sleeping companion of choice...his piggy bank.

My Mother's Day concert

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Well I hope all of you moms had a wonderful Mother's Day, I know I sure did. I just had to post this little concert that my boys put on for me on Mother's Day. It was the cutest thing and Marc and I just laughed forever. They worked hard on it and did a great job. It is amazing what a little PVC pipe can do for ya. Like your parents always said...do not worry about buying them expensive toys or other things they would much rather have the stuff just laying around the house. I must say I truly felt like the queen of my castle! Thanks to ALL my boys (dad included) for giving me such a great day.

Corbin's/Brandon's big finish

Well last week I got to go and see some of the things Brandon and Corbin have worked on this year in school. It is so fun to see how much your kids do in a years time and how much they can learn. It is hard for me to believe Brandon will be in 5th grade next year...I can remember when he started kindergarden. Corbin's class had their little awards ceremony and he scored! He seemed pleased with his accomplishments this year, although he is not one to jump up and down about stuff like that. It was fun hanging with my boys. We love you Brandon and Corbin and are so proud of all the hard work you put in this year!!!!

This is Corbin with one of his awards and with his teacher Mrs. Rogers.

This is Brandon showing me long division on the test tubes. Can I just say I got totally confused (although I never let him know that)...math was never my strong point. I love Montessori for all the fun ways they get to learn the basics. Maybe if I had this kind of stuff when I was in school I may have done better in math. Anyway, it was fun watching him and I am so glad at least he knew what he was doing.

I have to admit I am very glad for this school year to end. The boys have worked hard (and so has their mom) and we are all ready for a break. Not that I am excited for triple digit temps and 4 boys couped up in a house all day...but hey at least we will not have homework right. We plan on getting out as much as we can this summer, I am sure we will be visiting those of you with pools, otherwise mom may not be around to enjoy the next school year.

Trystan's big week

Well this has been a busy week for Trystan...lots of exciting things happening. It started off with him loosing his first tooth! Yes it has finally happened after him wanting it for so long. His older brothers have lost several and he was so looking forward to the tooth fairy visiting him. The funny thing is that he would not pull the tooth out for days. It was literally hanging out of his mouth and he would not pull it out, nor would he let any of us do it. Every time he talked it would stick out and it got to the point I wanted to pull it out while he was asleep. But he finally took the plunge after much coaxing from his brothers and he got it out!!!! YIPPEE! And that very night the tooth fairy came...with inflation the way it is today she is going to have to start saving for the future. But the story does not stop there...just today Trystan decided to pull his other front tooth out. This tooth actually has the new tooth already coming in behind it so we were excited he moved on this one a bit quicker. He is certainly proud of himself and we are glad to not have dangling teeth to look at any more.

Trystan also finished preschool this week and had his big graduation. It is always fun to see your kids grow and accomplish new things. It is still hard to believe he will be heading off to kindergarden next year. Even with having two others who have already hit that milestone it still makes me a bit sad to see them go and be out of the home for most of the day. I love hanging out with my kids, but am excited for their future and all their new experiences. Trystan is excited to finally get to go to school with his brothers and be a real "big boy".



And finally Trystan got to go visit the firestation for his last day of preschool. It is always fun to go and "hang out" with the firemen and get to see them get all dressed up. Trystan kind of looks like a midget standing on the fire truck and compared to the tall fireman. We had lots of fun and it was a great way to end his school year.

So there is Trystan's big week in review. We were happy for all the accomplishments he had this week and for the smiles he brought. We love you Trystan, thanks for letting us join in on all your fun!!!!