June 2014

Ian graduated! They had a 5th grade graduation, and he did it, finished elementary school. I can't believe middle school is here already! Ian is ready, though.

We started our library's summer reading program. The boys like to take turns reading to Ellie, which is great for me, since she wants to read the same book, Pooh's Easter Egg Hunt, every single day. But, she pretty much has it memorized now, so she's starting to read it to us!

The first time Ellie has drawn on herself. This may not seem like any big deal, but for a girl who has had some sensory issues with her hands, not wanting them to get wet, dirty, or even wanting someone to hold her hand, it's a pretty big deal. She also wants to hold my hand a lot more. I used to just have to hold her arm.

Happy Father's Day! And, happy birthday to Daddy! We love him!

I love Ellie's ringlets!

One morning I came out to the living room and this is how I found Caleb. It was only about 7am, he said he got up at 5am and came out to read. Apparently, that's a little too early for him :).

May 2014

The baby geese and ducks at the pond near our house. It's so fun to see them each spring. Then they grow up so fast! We had grandparents here visiting and took them to the pond.

Ian had a "People Fair" at school, as kind of an end of elementary school project. They researched a person they were interested in, wrote a paper, created a power point presentation, and then presented it to a group of all the 5th grade students and parents (only a few parents, they were assigned times so there wasn't a huge group of adults). Ian chose Meriwether Lewis. He also had to dress the part. He do SO well! He gave his presentation without even seeming nervous at all. Way to go, Ian!

Ellie got sick :(. She put herself to sleep a few times over the few days she was sick. Thankfully she recovered without having too much difficulty. I'm so thankful she's never had to go the doctor when she's been sick. Each time, I prepare myself to have to take her in for dehydration, but we've been so blessed (and usually she receives a priesthood blessing) that she's been able to keep hydrated through her illnesses.

There was a free fishing day at the reservoir near our house. So John decided to take the boys. There was equipment for them to use, and they ran into some kind campers who let them fish near their site, and who cleaned the fish for them! They each caught one or two. They brought them home and fried them up for lunch.

Lots of reading going on. Ellie's moved on to chapter books already :).

Ian's second overnight boy scout campout!! He was so excited. Daddy went with him the first time, but couldn't this time, as he was taking Levi to visit John's brother, for his niece's wedding reception. So Ian went and had a great time! Levi had fun with just Daddy, and Caleb enjoyed being the only boy home for a while. He said he wanted a break from Levi. But, it didn't take long before he was moping around, wondering when Levi was coming home, because "Ian doesn't want to play what I want, but I know Levi would." As much as he says he gets annoyed with Levi, he loves him so much. They're best buds. And Ellie? She was confused as to where everyone was most of the weekend.

April 2014

Levi and Caleb are in their last Cloverbud (4-H) year. They went when they were 5, 6, and now 7. Next year they'll be too old. But it's been a lot of fun for them. This year one project they did was sew their own felt pirate hats. They did a great job!

We were getting out swim suits to see if they still fit. Ellie was so excited to wear hers :).

Ian's project....can you tell what it is?

Happy Easter!

Ian is trying to play a typing game, where you have a race car that races dependent on your typing speed/accuracy. Ellie was being helpful.

August 2, 2014

Caleb and Levi both made the choice to be baptized, after turning 8. We went to a family reunion for Daddy's family and held the baptism there. There was a room full of people, all of whom are related to Caleb and Levi. It was pretty neat. We're so proud of both of them for choosing to be obedient and getting baptized into the restored Church. One cool story, the Grandpa who lives there has not been well, and had been in a care center. Levi prayed that he would get better so he could come to his baptism. And, he did. He came home from the care center just a few days before and was able to make it. A prayer answered! I know they made the right decision, and that the gospel is true and will bring them lasting happiness if they do their best to keep the commandments. We're so grateful for everyone who came and participated with them, helping give talks, provide music, and conduct the service (their uncle is the Bishop), as well as those who traveled to be there.

Another fun story about the day. We were joining their uncle's stake baptism day. They hold separate baptisms for each child, but all on the same day. Our time was 5pm, and they'd been going each hour since 8am. We got there as they were finishing the previous service, and when they all came out of the room and saw us, they said that they thought they were the last baptism and they had drained the font! The font that takes 2 hours to fill, the font that nobody had a key to open the place that controls the faucet. But boy, did it ever get filled! Several people from that previous baptism pitched right in and ladies were filling pitchers in the kitchen and wheeling them to the font on a cart. Men grabbed the huge garbage cans (that were clean!) and used the janitor's closet to fill them and then dump them in the font. One man went home and got a hose and hooked it up to the outside faucet. About then they got the faucet thing open, and turned that on, as well. By the time they had it full enough to baptize Caleb and Levi (being small comes in handy sometimes), we didn't even have all our family there yet! It got filled in about 45 minutes. It was amazing. So many people we don't even know that we're so thankful to for their help. Actually, most of us just stood around not knowing what to do, they were all helping so much. One lady pointed out, "this is the gospel in action." John thought we should have just baptized them in the garbage cans, it may have worked! But, we didn't. It all worked out, and their uncle said what a shame it was to have to drain all that water when we were done!

March 2014

Ellie's "meal." She gets out toys and says they are crackers. She does put them in her mouth, so that's a good thing.

Ian is a Boy Scout! All ready for his first meeting! This month he went to his last Cub Scout meeting and was awarded his last Cub Scout awards. He earned his Webelos badge and his Arrow of Light. It was a lot of work, and he did it!

Funny story from the end of that pack meeting, it was the Blue and Gold Banquet and they had decorated with some helium balloons. One of the little brothers of a scout lost his balloon as we were cleaning up. And of course, it went to the peak of the vaulted gym ceiling. So, like a true scout (okay, he actually got volunteered to do it since he was the tallest, yet lightest boy there) he sat on our bishop's shoulders (he's something like 6.5' tall), who was standing on a table, and Ian used a broom to catch the balloon. And he did it! The boy was so happy. Then we were walking out, and Levi let go of his balloon.....we didn't save it. Sorry, Levi!

Ellie's first block building!

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Ellie was a little tired one day....she hasn't taken naps for months, but I guess some days you can spin yourself to sleep.

Ellie is starting to like helping in the kitchen.

Caleb's volcano eruption!

March was the science fair. Caleb did research on volcanoes, Levi found how how plants grow best, and Ian did a project with batteries. Ian's last science fair!