Father & Son Campout

This summer there was a Father and Son Campout. Jeremy can hardly wait until both the boys are big enough for these kind of adventures, but he had a blast with Tucker.

Tucker loves fishing!  And now he loves sleeping in sleeping bag in tent too!

PreSchool Graduation!

Our Maeli is officially done with Preschool!  This is her walking in.  They had her in the back row, so it was hard to get photos during the ceremony.  She did have to stop the entire show so she could go potty, which encouraged another 6 kids to also need to go potty.  She's such a good leader!

Getting her certificate from Miss Jean...when asked by Mr. M what she wanted to be when she grows up, she said "A Princess."

Big pink flowers from the men in her life.  Tucker was so excited to give Maeli her flowers!

We are so proud of you sweet girl!  Good job!

Five!

Birthday Dinner-Pizza Bread.  You see, Miss Maeli doesn't like ANYTHING on her pizza.  We got her one of the pizza kits from Papa Murphy's so she could make it just the way she likes it.  The rest of us got to eat "whatever yucky stuff on it" we wanted.  She thought it was super fun to make her own dinner.

She was spoiled by grandmas and grandpas and us.  Her favorite though is the Sleeping Beauty and Phillip Barbies from Grandma Terry.  Of course, first thing she does is have them kiss!

For dessert- "The most chocolatiest cake in the whole world!"  The boys and I spent the morning trying to think of what chocolate things we could add to the chocolate cake with chocolate ganache, chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles.  They sure had fun making the cake for Maeli.


Miss Maeli is five, I can hardly believe where the time had gone.  She is such a caring girl when she wants to be.  There is a lot of drama and she is still SO NOT A MORNING person.  But sometimes she is so loving a gentle with her brothers.  She responds quickly and calmly whenever someone is truly injured.  She would be a great ER doctor of nurse.  She loves "girl" time with mom, and really loves dates with her Daddy.  A lot of the time she wants to "just get rid of these boys!"  but who can blame her, the boys love Maeli and want to spend every moment with her.  Her and Tucker have a special bond right now as the "big kids" and play very well together as long as they're both fed and have had enough sleep.  You delight Miss Mae!  If it wasn't for you I'd be all alone with these boys and they'd be making me crazy.  You are so funny and so nice to talk to.  Your imagination is so sweet and love telling stories (usually silly ones with crazy happenings).  I love when we get to have our special time together and I hope you love being 5!

Babies!

Oh how this boy loves babies!  He's just like his Daddy.  Here he very carefully arranged them so all the babies would be on his lap, and he's singing "I'm trying to Be Like Jesus" which happens to be his favorite bedtime song.

A Trip, as told from Maeli's Seat...9 photos of 115

Oregon

The kids and I headed off to Oregon to help take care of Grandma Terry--who fell down the stars and broke one ankle and sprained the other really badly.  Turns out we weren't really very helpful, luckily my in-laws live very close to my parents and took the kids a lot so that I could actually get some things done for my mom. 

We did have some fun in Grandpa's hot tub though

And I got my mom's upstairs bathroom amazingly clean...of course, she can't go upstairs for quite some time, but I'm super proud of her tile!

While we were there my Great-Grandma Opal died.  She was 101, so although it wasn't really a surprise, it was kind of sudden, which I guess is good.  Jeremy was out in Oregon helping his Dad with some projects, so we were both able to go to the funeral.  Because Grandma was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and therefore was to be burried in clothing one would wear in the Temple; I was given the honor of helping to dress her for burial.  It was an interesting experience, and although I'm not sure what I expected, it was nothing like I anticipated.  I'm greatful that I had the chance to say good bye in such a humble way.  There was a mix up with some of the clothing that had been selected, so Grandma Opal was burried in my Temple Dress, in exchange I kept the little suitcase that she had used to carry her temple clothes in.  I feel like in addition to being family, that she and I are linked in a special eternal way now.  She was a great lady, full of fun and life and even in her last years she was able to remember pretty much everything that was going on with everyone.  We gave our daughter the name of Maeli Opal because of my Grandma Opal and the kind and gentle woman that she was.  I look forward to the day when the two of them will get to really know each other. 

I also stole her desk before anyone else could claim it!

Odds and Ends

My "Better After" Chair I redid for my mom--we call it the "a little too happy" chair,  and I totally LOVE IT!

The kids and I had a living room camp out while Jeremy was at a Scout Training over-nighter.  They really liked watching the fireplace as we went to sleep.

Maeli has been passing all her pre-school knowledge on to Tucker.  Here they're practicing sitting in your chair during story time.  Tucker might need to go potty...

My sweet husband finished the ribbon holder he started for me at Christmas.  I showed him one that I wanted off etsy and told me what it would cost to make one compared to what they were selling it for.  I think mine turned out even cuter and I love the paper on the back panel. 

Big Day!

All set for Kindergarten Registration!

Two!

My Baby turned two! Here's a bit about Riker:
He loves Lightening McQueen with a passion!  If he knew what it was, he'd a tattoo of him across his chest, but this will do for know.  Also, he still hates pants.  

He loves Maeli, not quite as much as McQueen, but she's very high on the list!

All Super heroes are "Batman" and all Batmans are "to the rescue" (as in Buzz Lightyear to the rescue) He loves super heroes because Tucker loves super heroes and Riker wants to do, be, say, and love whatever his brother does.

We were in Oregon for his birthday, so he actually got to have a party with cousins and everything!  He loved the attention.

He got a ton of new cars...AWESOME!

He is fearless, especially if his brother will do it, Riker will be right behind!

He is my most destructive child.  He's not just bust, he actually destroys as he goes.  He loves pulling things off of shelves and throwing things, dumping things, and jumping off of things.  Shown here, first he pulled out some shoes, then he climbed on top of the shoe thing so he could jump off.  Luckily, the coats thwarted his efforts long enough for me to save him from a broken neck. 

His favorite thing in the whole world:  Daddy!  We call him at work daily so Riker can say "Hi Daddy!  Six.  Love you.  Bye Daddy"

What to do when Dad gets out the Nerf Guns...

 Take cover in any way shape or form....Riker prefers to hide in a tub with a basket on top to protect his head...brilliant boy!