West Yellowstone - the quick trip

We made a quick trip up to West Yellowstone to be with Shayne's family.  It was a week long event - we just couldn't stay the full week.  Due to lack of cell service while in the park, we got Grandma to ourselves for a whole day - that was sweet!  Love our family!  Just wish everyone lived next door - that would be oh so nice.

We saw lots of bears on this first day in the park - but our favorite was seeing two bears wrestle (play).  The camera makes it look really far away - it was plenty far away to feel safe out of our car - but really - it wasn't this far.  I zoomed in a couple pics to give you an idea of what we saw - that really was spectacular.

Summer kick-start

I didn't take very good pics of this event - but Cole had been saving all of his homework this year for an end of year burning event.  We went with our neighbors and cooked our dinner and then burned the pile of homework.  Cole cracks us up!

I also hosted Cole's group for our neighborhood kid book club for the month of June.  We read a simplified version of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and I had a great conversation with 6 young boys about the book.  We then built small rafts out of popsicle sticks and created a river down our driveway with tin foil.  My boys can say I officially did something cool this summer.  We had a great time doing this!

Swim Team

Hunter has done the recreational swim team for the past 3 years in our community rec center.  And of course, he wanted to do it again this year.  One week before tryouts - we somehow convinced Cole to try out too.  It really wasn't because of anything Hunter or I said - it was simply doable because his best friend, Connor, was trying out.  Peer pressure can be a great thing.  I signed up Cole for a couple of swim lessons to help him learn Breast Stroke fast!  The tryout consisted of 25 yds of 3 different strokes - he didn't know the breast stroke yet.  So, he swam and swam and practiced and practiced - he really worked hard.  If you know Cole well, you'll know that doing anything physical is a stretch for him - he'd rather not be like his big brother.  At his tryout - he passed the backstroke, the freestyle but last minute decided to try the butterfly stroke (he knew that the breast stroke was not working for him).  He actually did really well, but had some flutter kicks in there and did not pass.  He practiced again and was able to re-try his tryout the next week (a kind coach) - still no pass.  BUT HE TRIED!!!  He never complained about the practice or the lessons - he really worked hard.  I know that when Cole puts his mind to something - he's a hard worker.  It was such a joy as a mom to see this quality shine through despite the turn-out.  Maybe he'll try again next year - maybe.  The nice thing is, he's sleeping in till 9 or 10 every morning this summer - and that would not have been possible with swim team practice!  But the best thing is knowing that when he wants to work hard, he really works hard.

End of school

Danny has officially graduated from Preschool.  I'm a little embarrassed by the pomp and circumstance, but Ms. Heather did a fantastic job of making every kid feel SUPER special and loved.  I'm so grateful Danny went to her preschool this year!  He got to announce what he wants to be when he grows up - "a policeman, because they have cool weapons".  He also reminded me several times before the big event that just because he said that, doesn't mean he has to be that - he can change his mind.  He told me that he really wants to be a daddy.

Danny with two of his best buddies.

Here is a pic of the last day of school for the two big boys - they've all grown a lot this year!  Now let the summer begin!

Are you feeling sleepy yet?

This was at church - all 3 big boys had a late night at the drive-in theater with Daddy the night before!

Danny is too big for naps, but nearly everyday if he stops for just 5 minutes during the late afternoon, this is what happens...

This was a different Sunday - he fell asleep sitting in his chair during Singing Time, I picked him up and set him on the floor and he slept another 45 minutes (with the singing and all other chaos still happening!)

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!