My little monkey

Let's ignore the fact that this tree is a Shaking Aspen (not very strong) and also in a neighbor's yard with "No Trespassing" signs everywhere.  And BTW, I wasn't there to see this.  Another neighbor saw him and took the pix while trying to coax him back to the ground.  I need to go find good climbing trees for this kiddo!

NINE!

Can you believe he turned 9 years old?  I can't.  This year (being an odd-year birthday) he got to choose a date place to go with Mommy/Daddy.  He chose a movie (The Amazing Spiderman) and dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  He was super excited to sit on the saddle and order his favorite RIBS.  It was a fun night for the 3 of us!

His birthday actually fell on mother's day this year.  Every year on Mother's day, Shayne tells the boys they have to be my slave for a day.  How else to celebrate their mom?  The quote of the year from Cole - 

"What are planning to do for your birthday this year Cole?"

"As LITTLE as possible!" 

He considered himself exempt from being my slave - since it was his birthday.

Here he's doing the push-up challenge.  This is new this year - a dollar per push-up on your birthday.  He did manage 11 this year.  We're in trouble when Hunter's birthday rolls around (he's already prepping)!

Beloved Legos - lots and lots of Legos.

Nana & Papa gave Cole a "make-up" kit for doing gross effects - ie a big black eye.  The next day,  Cole had a good bruiser.   It looked real!  The following morning, he crashed on his bike on the way to school.  When he went to the office for a bandage for his hand, the secretary was more concerned about his black eye.  Can you imagine her surprise when he said - "Oh no, that's just make-up!"  That made me laugh!

All about Cole:

Favorite Movie: The Lego Movie

Favorite thing to do: Play with friends and mix potions

Best Friend: Connor

When he grows up he'll be a scientist

If he could do anything in the world he would be the world's smartest scientist and figure out cures for ALL diseases

His favorite part about turning 9: closer to turning 12 to get the Priesthood

Taking care of twins...

I took Skyler for a week-long visit to help out La-La with her brand new TWINS!  Skye and Julia are 3 months apart - so almost like twins!  These cousins were super cute together - when they played, they played great.  When they got tired of each other...  well, we knew it.

Look at the greenery - the trees!!! This isn't even a block from La-La's home.  I was so captivated by the beauty of Georgia.  Soooooo, gorgeous, green, lush, and it smelled sooooo good!

In between the power-struggles and the little outings, this is what we were REALLY doing.  It was work - but it wasn't my "normal" work - so it was a break for me!

 Meet Elise and Mack, they were almost the size of my smallest newborn at 1 month here...  So TINY!  I bet I can't hold them both in one arm next time I see them... ;-(

Of course, we had to get in a Golf-Cart ride - love this ride and & love this town!!!

We had a movie night - watched Shrek and invited a bunch of friends over.  Greg loves to PARTY!

He fried up some goodies in his new fryer - it was a fry fest! 

This is what happens when Daddy has a hose and two kids are out in the backyard playing...

I did manage to get in a few family pics their family (& the two cuzin's together)

(the GQ shot)

On the airplane ride home he FINALLY took a power-nap.  It was over-due and much appreciated.  Overall, Skyler was a great traveler and I wish I could just hop on a plane and go again.  We live too far apart from our loved ones!

Easter eggcitement!

We started the morning with a scavenger hunt at our house... Shayne had the boys going through the trees, the house, and finally the bar-b-que!

We had Easter dinner with Grandma and Grandpa.  Gotta love those olives...

 Danny borrowed my camera and snapped a few pics - he did great!

Great-Grandma

After the food, came the mad-dashing and scavenging.  But no stepping on Grandpa's flowers!

Grandma had made a huge puzzle of Easter scriptures - all color coded (eggs) and everyone had one to do.  The kids were very attentive and worked hard to figure it out.  

Well, some were working hard...  (notice James in the background and of course, the helmet-head)

Then they got to do ANOTHER egg hunt - yup - spoiled rotten.  This one was at a field and the eggs had more than just candy...

Another pic by Danny. 

Ready, spring BREAK!

We kicked off our Spring Break in style - we went to Zion's National Park for 4 days of hiking and exploring.  We went with our BFF's Kristy and Chris and their family. 

All a boy needs is water and rocks to throw in it...  they probably could have done this all day.

Skyler is a mama's boy - I think I should enjoy it while it lasts.

Skyler thought he was just as big as everyone else.  He got REALLY mad every time we put him in the pack.  Sorry big guy, your pace just isn't quite fast enough despite your ambitions.

Danny thought he could carry Skyler to help out...

We sat by a river and just played in the sand, threw rocks, and relaxed.  Honestly - it was sooooo wonderful to just enjoy where we were for the moment!

I love this pic because it shows how Skyler was constantly watching Em - he loved being by her side!

Every night after dinner, we would go to the local school playground and just play.  Skyler invented a game of "follow me" and Max obliged and played it over and over and over again -- Run, spin, fall to the ground - repeat.  

What Kristy and I did the whole time...  lovin' our cameras!

Chris, Sarah, Shayne, and Hunter hiked Angel's Landing while the rest of us did a low-key easy hike/walk.  I'm so proud of Hunter for doing this big hike!

Look behind them, that big long ridge - HE DID THAT!!!

  

Oooh, I'm so tempted to post all the silly-faced pics I have!!  But here's just one...

taking a break...

The "lot" of us!

Loved this vacation and loved being with Chris and Kristy - I hope we have another adventure together soon!!!