Take Me Out To The Ball Game....

Another activity that has been taking up a big chunk of our evenings has been T-ball for Jack (and Pitching machine for Emily). He is still a little goofy in the outfield, but I have to remind myself how much progress we have made since last season (we were so excited by the end of last season that he learned to run to first base, and not after the ball he had just hit off the T). Here he is with the ball he actually caught in practice.

Jack's great swing!

Running to first base. He didn't even chase the ball first!!!

Sam's newest thing is running. Not to anywhere, or for anything, just running! I wish I had taken my camera on our Sunday walk around the neighborhood. He practically ran the entire way (a 1/2 mile loop). So while Jack's game was going, Sam ran back and forth to the trees.

Here's Emily, not wanting to miss out on this fun "game" Sam thought of. I wish it was this easy to entertain them at home.

Another Concrete Pour Survived, and a Snake!

The big accomplishment for last week was the big pour! There are a few things in married life that I feel " if you can get through this , you can get through anything". One of those things is pouring concrete with your perfectionist crew-boss, I mean husband. Blake and I have actually already passed this test of marriage up in Anchorage when we poured the foundation for our home-edition (Sara was their to witness that one!). It was not without words of frustration, but our marriage survived. This time it was a slab for the new shed/playhouse. Blake's dad came to help this time. I have to say it went really well!!! I don't know if we are just that much more "insynch" with one another at this point in our marriage, or more organized with the pour. Either way, a huge marital triumph!!!. This is a nice project to finally get done. While it doesn't look like much, it took a big chunk of time. Now we can plug along on the shed with whatever time Blake has in his busy schedule.On Saturday Blake really wanted to go on a 4 Wheeler ride. I on the other hand just wanted to stay home and get caught up on things around the house and with my new calling ( I am now the Music Chorister in Primary. I am really excited about it, mostly because I get to use Sara, and Emily as resources since they have both already had/have this calling). So Blake took Emily and Jack up to the south hills, and I stayed home with Sam. They had a really nice ride. The wildflowers are everywhere right now. They found an old cabin that Jack was sure belonged to Smokey the Bear! Oh yeah, and they stumbled upon a snake, sunning himself in the middle of the road. A SNAKE!!! Now I know why I didn't go! That would have been it for me. It was a bull snake, not a poisonous snake, but still a snake, and a good size one at that!

YIKES!!!

Dog Days of Summer are Finally Here!!!!

It's been awhile since I sat down and posted anything. So I thought I would try and catch up. Part of my problem is forgetting to bring the camera places. I am trying to be better. Anyway, about the pictures....this is Blake being so proud of himself for teaching Palo to "load" in the back of the 4 wheeler. We are finally getting used to having a dog again. including the "pooper-scoop" duty.
After "loading" Palo up, the kids helped "row" the canoe to the back of the yard. I thought this was so cute!!
A couple of weeks ago we took the kids (+ our nephew Garrett) to the Western Days parade here in town. We have only taken them to a handful of parades, so they thought this was the neatest thing ever!!! Of course I forgot the camera. The one thing I wished I could of gotten a picture of was Garrett "break dancing" every time any music went by. It was very entertaining, and he's actually pretty good. The other thing I am glad there is not a picture of is the Moss Greenhouse float. It's a local grower in the area that has Beautiful!! hanging baskets. Well, instead of candy, they were giving away HUGE hanging baskets of gorgeous flowers!!! So I get up, wave my hands, tell the kids to run out and say their mom needs flowers, etc... Over all, I made a huge fool of myself!!!! (I know...shocking!) They gave the flowers to another lady, and the parade moved on, and I turned to see my husband with this "Wow, You really wanted some flowers" look on his face, and I was so embarassed. Then the following week he went to Moss Greenhouse and actually purchased this Beautiful hanging basket for me. What a guy!!! His wife makes a fool of herself and he still buys her flowers! I love this man!!!!!!

For memorial day weekend we went up to the cabin and put up the rock behind the woodstove. Last year at this time we were doing the tongue and groove ceiling. I can't believe how far we have come in the last year. I also couldn't believe the difference in the weather. Last year, all the snow was gone, except in the higher elevations. but this year there were still piles of sn0w everywhere, and lots of mud. It rained most of the time we were there. But it is making for a great wildflower season. I could only fit so many photos in the last post, so I had to do another post the show you this one of the finished project. The boys and I were able to stay acouple extra days in Rexburg with Grandma, while Grandpa Kern did some research in Boise. It was much nicer weather then. We were able to work in the yard and go on a walk to the park. Now it's back to real life, the close of the school year, and the start of summer, and all the chaos that it brings. But we are excited for upcoming adventures.

Memorial Day Weekend

This is Jack as Indiana Jones. Grandpa Kern had just bought the Indiana Jones trilogy before we came up. Jack has been dying to see an Indiana Jones movie since he has seen the commercials and his face on every box of cereal, crackers, etc. So he watched 2 of the 3 while we were there, and from then on he was "Indiana Jone's" He even borrowed one of grandpa K's hats. He told me what he wanted for his birthday (which changes daily if not hourly), an Indiana Jones outfit. But not a real whip, just a pretend whip. I don't know about that one.

When Jack wasn't being "Indiana Jones" he loved being helper to his Dad, Grandpa Kern, and Grandpa Manwaring.Grandpa Manwaring came with us to help with the rock installation, but he was also a huge help taking kids on 4 wheeler rides, wildflower picking, and wagon rides!

Grandma Kern had a great idea to turn the empty boxes into cars. We used paper plates for wheels and steering wheels. the kids decorated them. We even made keys for them. Then we put them on Grandpa Kern's new wagon and had a parade past Grandma's window to show them off. Emily's car had glitter and a trunk.

Sam is the one that decided we needed keys for them if they were going to "work". He was fun to just watch. He would get so lost in the game of the cars.

Of course Jack had to make a "spaceship" instead of a car.

Accomplishments

Jack had his Preschool graduation this last week. He has had the most wonderful teacher the past 2 years! As excited as it will be to see him start kindergarten, he (and I) will miss "Teacher Kim" so much. She has sparked an excitement for learning in Jack that I hope will remain with him through out his education. One example of this was when we were up at the cabin and driving on "Red Rock Rd." I asked why they thought it was called that and Jack piped up "because of the iron oxide"! Yeah, we know, what a smart kid. Sam is excited he gets to go next year.

Emily had her Piano Recital right before we left for the cabin this weekend. She did a wonderful job. She kept saying how nervous she was, but it didn't show. It helped that she had the song down pat for the last 3 weeks. I can't believe how far she has come in the last year. She has grown up so much this past year. I took about 12 pictures and this was the best one of the bunch. Oh well.
Just so that Sam doesn't feel left out of the event news I will share a funny story. The picture has nothing to do with the story, but the face fits the crime. A couple of Sundays ago Grandpa Manwaring brought a chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting over for dessert. We all enjoyed a piece, and I left the rest on the counter. Later, the boys were having their usual hard time settling down in bed. Blake and I were in the office going over calender, and the up coming week (aka: Companionship Inventory). Sam yells out that he needs a drink, so we call back to him to run and get a drink and get back in bed. A few minutes later Blake gets up to go check on the boys and I hear Blake laughing and saying "Go show your Mother". Blake had found Sam in the farthest corner of his bottom bunk with 4 fingers in his mouth. On closer inspection he realized that his entire face was COVERED in chocolate. Sam played dumb at first, but would not take his fingers out of his mouth. I think he thought if he kept them in his mouth he was hiding the only incriminating evidence. I tried really hard to keep a straight face and explain that it was wrong to take the cake without asking while I washed the chocolate off. You would think I would be smart enough to move the cake. But I didn't, and the next morning after breakfast, I noticed the cake had been completely demolished with little fingers. I questioned Sam, since everyone else was at school. He swore up and down it wasn't him. And he didn't have any evidence this time. It was only after I found the 10 dish clothes and towels stashed in every drawer, cupboard, and pantry in the kitchen COVERED in chocolate that the truth came out. Good thing he's so darn cute! Lesson learned: Don't leave tempting chocolate cake on the counter!!!!!! (the picture is from Emily's school carnival. Sam saw other kids with painted mustaches, and had to have his own.)

Fun Times in Utah

Blake had some training for work in Utah, so I pulled the kids out of school and we tagged along. It was a great excuse to go hang out with my sisters Sara and Emily. We got to stay with Emily and Chad and see her new house. We all went to the Hogle Zoo in SLC on Monday. It was a beautiful day, and the kids had tons of fun. The next day we stayed in Ogden and went to the Dinosaur Park. Both Jack and Emily have been studying dinosaurs in school, so it eased the guilt of pulling them out of school to consider this outing "educational". Both Emily and Kennedy did not like the robotic dinosaurs at all, and weren't big fans of the dinosaur bones either. So we sped thru this part rather quickly, We did get to watch some real paleontologists (sp?) at work though. Then we went out side. Again, it was a really nice day. They had huge replicas of dinosaurs everywhere. The kids had lots of fun running around. I thought it was well done. Park like, but in a pre-historic kind of way. And there were lots of things for the kids to climb on, so I wasn't constantly saying "Don't touch that!" like most trips to the museum. On the way home, Emily introduced me to a new treat. "Zeppe's Custard and Italian Sodas". It was so yummy and refreshing. I don't think I will be able to pass thru Ogden with out stopping there now (after I stop and pick up Emily of course)!