First day of School

Kade had his first day of 1st grade. He was super excited to start school!! He was picked, through lottery, to attend the new Charter School Doral Academy. We have been extremely grateful that he was accepted. The staff and teachers have been amazing. I really like the fact the students have to wear uniforms. When Kade wakes up in the morning he know exactly what to wear.

With his new glasses.

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It was impossible to get a good picture of all of them.

A week later Kyle started Preschool with Sister Street AKA Ms. Brieann. When we went to Old Navy he picked this outfit out. He was super excited to finally be able to wear it. He is doing a great job so far. No big complaints and he is learning. That is all that matters!!

We hope this school year is great!!

Summer Time

Our summer seemed to be more busy than when school is actually in. It might be because we are always trying to do something so that the boys don't tell me they are bored. We went to splash pads a lot, Pump It Up almost every week, the Children's Museum, and the Rio Pool. We spent our entire summer waiting to go on a trip up to Boise and McCall only to find out Eric had to go to China. We were still going to go, but we decided that four kids in a car without Eric would just not be a good idea. Too bad we didn't know sooner! We could have planned trips up to Utah or somewhere else. Here are the boys having fun at various activities we did do during the summer.

 

Town Square Splash Pad

Regardless of who was with us we would always play and them get ice cream. I know the boys loved that part.

 

In these pictures they are sitting on the hole where the water comes up. They wanted to see if they could stop the water from coming up. But they couldn't, so they would jump up screaming and start running around.

 



We thought Cam would like getting in the water so we had Kade take him. He, however, did not like doing that.

 

 

On One occasion when Grandma and Uncle Ryan was with we decided to go see Monsters University. The theatre had a display of Turbo. We thought it was really neat because daddy had just went to the Turbo premiere in Hong Kong. He brought them back a bunch of Turbo stuff and a stuffed Nemo.

Stages

I have read and heard about how 2 year old kids are really hard. The "Terrible 2's". Well, in our family it more like the terrible 3 to 4 years. When Kyle was 3 and 4 he was very messy and destructive. I thought it was part of his personality, however, from the last few months I have realized it is just a "phase". Kyle will be 5 in December. Recently I have noticed that he is not as "crazy" or messy or destructive. He is even starting to be more helpful. Sometimes he will start to help the first time I ask him. On one occasion, I especially want to remember, was him helping at the church. We were leaving after Activity Days was all over. I had a box of all the items I had brought for the activity. I had Cam with me. I started to wonder how I was going to get everything out to the car. I saw Kyle pushing the box to the door. I thought he would just leave it there. I went to look for the girl I was giving a ride home to. When I came back outside I noticed Kyle had pushed the box all the way to our car. I was so grateful and impressed. One that he pushed the box all the way out there and also that he did this without even being asked.

As a parent I think my boys are going to be one way or the other and have this type of personality. However, I have learned from Kyle that I am totally wrong. For example when Kyle was little I thought he was going to be the really out going, talkative, maybe even a little disobedient. However, he continually surprises me with what he does. His preschool teacher always wondered why I was so concerned about him, obviously she hasn't seen him at home. However, when at preschool she described him as being "very well behaved" and hardly said a word. My jaw dropped when she said that. I also thought he was going to be the sporty one. Wrong again. He would much rather sit on the sideline and cheer his brothers on. Basically I have learned that I should never believe the boys are going to be this way or that way. Another example is with Kade. I thought he was going to be the very studious, shy one. Last year he did really well in kindergarten, but he is starting to not be so shy. Maybe soccer does help. With all of this I am constantly reminded that my job, as a mom, is to help them and guide them to become the man that our Heavenly Father wants and needs them to be. They will constantly be changing and surprising me with what they do. I am grateful that, so far, the things I have heard back about the boys is good. I am also grateful they know and are comfortable enough to know our home is a place where they can relax and just be themselves. Hopefully they will always know that our home is where they are constantly loved, regardless of what they do. I hope they will always feel safe and loved while here. Hopefully they will always forgive me for the mistakes I make. I might be older, but I am still learning how to become a better person and a better mom.  

 

Now I need all the help I can get to make sure Connor stays alive during this terrible 3, early 4 stage. At least I might have a little break before Cam starts doing a bunch of weird, disgusting, destructive, and messy things. But who knows? He might start a little bit earlier. We will see!!

4th of July-Parade, swimming and fireworks!

Happy 4th of July!!!

As usual we woke up to get to the parade to make sure we got a good seat. On our way we stopped to pick up Erica and mom. For being 9:00 in the morning it was super hot. Cam did not like the heat. He was better last year when he was a couple months old then he did this year.

 

 

Attempting to get a picture before the parade starts.

 

 

 

Pictures of the boys. They are anxiously waiting for the parade to start.

 

Watching the parade.

 

I like this picture of Connor watching Star War characters walk by.

 



 

A little bit of what we saw in the parade.

 

 

Wizard of Oz

 

 

After the parade we went to McDonalds. We had some lunch and a yummy fudge sundae. We then took everyone home. The boys had a nap or rested until we went over to Grandmas house to go swimming.

 

We always have a great time swimming. The boys really like it. Attempting to get pictures before they start swimming. Can you tell they are super excited for swimming and fireworks.

 

 

Swimming. Kade and Kyle are starting to be really good swimmers, as long as their life jackets are on.

 

These are videos, but for some reason they don't want to play. I will figure it out.

 

 

 



 

Little Cam loves to swim. As soon as he sees the water he starts to scream. He won't stop until he is in the water. He really likes to sit in his turtle.

 

He does not like it when Connor pushes him though.

 

All the boys were really excited when daddy got there. Cute picture of Cam and Eric before they go swimming.

 

 

We had a yummy dinner as usual. Everyone was completely full, especially after eating my moms delicious cookies. When we were done eating we pulled out the lawn chairs and watched the fireworks. We started when it still a little light outside, but by the time we were done it was dark. There was a lot of people in the neighborhood letting off illegal fireworks. They were fun to watch.

 

 

This was Cam's first time actually seeing fireworks. I am sure he was asleep last year. Here are pictures of his face when the first firework went off.

 

 

Cam knows how to watch fireworks in style! He is sitting in his turtle :)

 

 

 

Sparklers!



 

 After fireworks we went back in the house to have cake and ice cream. We also watched a movie, but soon left because everyone was getting tired. Thanks to everyone that celebrated the 4th of July with us!! It was really fun and we look forward to next year :) We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4th!