Summer So Far...

I was just thinking that we haven't done anything exciting so far this summer when I started looking at the pictures we have taken. I guess it hasn't been so bad! Now, if I can just get the kids to quit fighting, whining, tattle telling, and complaining:)

I will say that Dallen has had some very funny comments in spite of him being a real trial this summer! First, on Mother's Day he came downstairs and announced to EVERYONE, "It's a known fact that I am not wearing any underwear!". Don't know where that came from. It turns out he didn't want Jaxon to give him a "wedgie" so he eliminated the necessary article of clothing!

Next,Jaxon did not have any clean long pants to go the Sky Sox game in. It was rainy and a bit chilly so he really needed to wear pants. I told him to wear a pair of Dallen's. That was that. Later, Ethan was playing with one of Dallen's new Star Wars men. They started to fight over it and I pleaded with Dallen to just SHARE!!! Dallen took the man away from Ethan and ran to the other room. A few minutes later I hear Dallen bargaining with Ethan, "I'll let you play with this man for $5.00." I couldn't believe Dallen was asking for payment to play with his toys! I started to laugh and tell Dallen that he couldn't "charge" to play with his toys. Jaxon then pipes in and says, "Dallen made me pay him 5 pennies to wear his pants!!"I tell you what...that kid drives me CRAZY but is so darn hilarious at the same time!

Here's some pictures of our summer so far:


Dallen has 5 loose teeth. He was so excited to lose his first tooth! The tooth fairy brought him a dollar which he was very proud of! Jaxon is 8 and has not lost a single tooth yet. Since Dallen has 5 loose teeth I think Jaxon was feeling a little jealous. One day, while in time out, Jaxon comes out of his room screaming. He had fallen off his bed and knocked a tooth loose, really loose! It just so happens to be the same tooth Dallen lost! A few days later the tooth fell out. I jokingly told him he did it on purpose so Dallen wouldn't be the only one with a loose tooth! Jaxon wasn't so impressed with is dollar from the tooth fairy...


Megan has been crawling for about a month now. She has also been standing and getting into everything. She even had her first tumble down the stairs :( She fell down our basement stairs (which are not finished). Luckily she was not hurt AT ALL!! I am so surprised and grateful! It scared me to death!




Sure,this looks innocent enough. Look closer. Dallen and his friend have rigged Ethan's ankle in a rope so they can string Ethan up by the ankle on the monkey bars. Dallen's friend is pulling with all his might!


Dallen turned 6! I can't believe it!! He had his first "friend" party at ArtSports. He had a blast!


For the last 2 months John has been helping my parents totally redo their landscaping. The boys loved to help! It was great for Dallen because all the shoveling and digging was great therapy for Dallen! Not only did Dallen love getting dirty but he found a new friend. He loved this garter snake! He carried it around for quite a while before I made him let it go! At least it wasn't a spider. I can handle the snake.


BUSTED! See, I am getting really good at grabbing the camera BEFORE I scold! Ethan was "just thirsty".

Workin' Hard or Hardly Workin'?

John came home Friday with a short video to show me what a hard day at work he had. All work and no play, ha!! Apparently this sort of thing is fun for him...

Eggs Anyone?

It's taken me 8 years but I think I am finally letting some things go as a parent. Things that I would have previously freaked out about now roll off me like water. It's kind of liberating! I can now step back and be the parent I wanted to be...the one who could look at a situation and not get mad but grab the camera and have a good laugh before cleaning up the inevitable mess. Years ago my mom said, "Remember their age." Indeed remember their curious exploring age. I have quit trying to figure out what they were thinking and just enjoy their learning,even if it does take extra minutes or hours cleaning up after them. Of course, after the incident I do have to let them know what they did was probably not a good idea...but it sure was funny!

Ethan LOVES hard boiled eggs. We don't have any that are currently hard boiled. While I was taking a shower Ethan decided that a hard boiled egg would be a great snack. He got an egg out of the refrigerator, put it on a plate, and placed it in the microwave. As I was getting out of the shower I thought I heard a loud pop but dismissed it as the neighbors are doing some landscaping. Well...here's what I found when I went downstairs. Eggs anyone?

What is a Policeman

Before pressing play, go to the bottom of the page and pause the music.

Holes, Holes, Holes...

2 months ago I bought Jaxon and Dallen each 3 new pairs of jeans. Between the two of them all but 1 pair now have HUGE holes in the knees. I've been buying them at The Children's Place but I don't think I will anymore. I just added the jeans to the growing pile on their dresser which has 8+ pairs with holes, holes, holes! I am going to have to cut them off so they can use them as play shorts this summer :)

Who has jeans that are boy proof but does not make them look like they are visiting from 1972 or the jeans are so stiff they can't even move? I just want some jeans to last more than 2 months...am I asking too much? Maybe so...

This Month at the Loony Bin

Dinner is always a crazy time of the day. I've heard it called the bewitching hour! From dinner time on is so LOUD and crazy!!! Since John is usually home for the post-dinner routine it has been a little less stressful. We were cleaning up after dinner and Megan was still sitting in her seat. We hear Ethan laughing hysterically and then he says, "Look! Megan is Darth Vader"! Poor girl...with all her brothers Barbie doesn't have a chance...looks like Princess Leia may take precedence! ha!


Happy Easter!


Megan's March/April Milestones

Sitting up all by herself!Note...NO BOW!! That is for those of you who make fun of me for putting big bows on her poor bald head (John)!



Baby Food! Green beans are yummy!


Mommy of the Year
Last but no least for the month of April I get "The Mommy of the Year" award. Yes, because I am so observant and in tune with the needs of my children...or thought I was...It's no secret Dallen has been a challenge for me. Figuring out his behavior from the time he was 18-months old has been a challenge. Now that we know about his sensory issues I am so glad to know how he ticks!

Yesterday in therapy (OT) we were doing food therapy. He was learning what foods he can eat to either alert or calm his system. In the process of therapy he had to lick peanut butter off of a thick pretzel. Come to find out Dallen is unable to lick. Yes...he can't LICK (who knew that is apparently important). He uses his hands to move the pretzel back and forth to get the peanut butter off. Then, when peanut butter is placed on his upper lip he is unable to use only his tongue to get it off. He gets frustrated and wipes it off with his finger or uses his bottom lip. The OT thought this was very interesting and called in a speech therapist to "take a look". She had him do various exercises and asked about his letter sounds. His "L's" sound like a "W", he has trouble with "R" and there are a couple of others that I was unaware of. Apparently his tongue is "thrusting" and is very weak. When she found out he would be 6 in June she said, "He definitely needs to be evaluated by a speech therapist". She also told me that with motor oral therapy she probably could break his thumb sucking!!! Props to her if she can do it because I am at a loss! Anyway, the speech thing is not anything major but how did I not notice?? What if I had only had the insight to get him in when he was 2? I knew he wasn't talking. I just thought it was because Jaxon talked for him. I even knew he wasn't talking well at 3. What did I do? I sent him to preschool thinking being around kids would make him talk more. When I think of the help I could have given him earlier he would have had a much better experience in preschool and even church. Maybe he wouldn't have had as many other issues at 4 and 5 because we would have already identified the problem. I know I can't "woulda, coulda, shoulda" and say "what if" because he is getting assistance now. I am learning so much and he is getting so much better...I just feel a little bit like I let him down early on. So, here's to the Mommy of the Year!

So, enough pity party. I will say this week two very unexpected things took place. For no reason John brought home a dozen pink roses for me. He called the boys out to his car before he came in and had them each bring a rose in to me then, John brought in the rest.THEN, Friday after work John came home at 6:30 to find me and the kids just sitting on the couch playing Wii. I was feeling really tired from my lovely sinus infection. John just went to the kitchen and made dinner. The evidence is below!


When I saw the apron I couldn't resist taking a picture! ha ha! Who does he think he is? A fireman?? ha ha.

Spring Break in Moab

Last week was spring break. John was lucky enough to get 2 weeks off from work so we headed to Moab with 4 other families. We had a great time even if it was a little colder that we thought it would be. I must say; however, that I was a little out of my comfort zone! This was definately a "boys" vacation!! Since I do have boys I will have to become a little less chicken! Yes, I am a chicken!! I don't mind watching my children ride motorcycles or do other crazy things but when I am the driver or passenger...I fear for my life! What can I say? I have NEVER driven a dirt bike, four wheeler, etc. In fact, until I met John I had never been on a motorcycle! Before we had kids we rode to Yellowstone on his street bike. Then, when I was pregnant with Jaxon we rode to Sturgis. I had a blast and loved going on motorcycle trips! I am thinking that riding a dirt bike or four wheeler (even a Jeep!)off or up steep inclines whether in rock or sand dunes is totally different! I will admit to being chicken!

Now, I did end up having a great time and hopefully will overcome by irrational fears! ha! After seeing Jen ride her motorcycle it gave me new inspiration! I told John that I want to be riding something...I have not decided on 2 or 4 wheels yet...but if my boys are going to do it, I may as well join them!! (eventually)!

Here are some pictures of the trip. Monday we went for a hike through a beautiful canon and then went to Goblin Valley. Tuesday each family rented a Jeep which ended up being really fun after I initially peed my pants! ha! We went on a trail called "Hell's Revenge"...need I say more? After Hell's Revenge we rode on another trail that eventually had us riding through the water. Fun!! Wednesday we went to some sand dunes. The boys were having a blast!! Jaxon tried to ride his motorcycle but the sand was way too soft and deep for his little 50 so he stuck with the little 4-wheelers. Little 4-wheelers may be our next investment! They also really loved riding in the Johnson's Razor, on John's motorcycle, and the bigger 4-wheelers. After some convincing, I took the Fleming's 4-wheeler out where I proceeded to dump poor Dallen right off the back! That's what happens when you don't know what you are doing! ha ha! Thursday we headed home...in the blizzard!! Friday John had to literally chisel away the ice and snow from the motorcycles to get them unlocked and off the back of the car! What an adventure!



Dallen's monster tumbleweed!






Jaxon jumping from "goblin" to "goblin" at Goblin Valley




This is where I almost peed my pants! Notice either side of the Jeep...






Here ya go, Shelley...Megan came with us of course. Here she is taking a break from the Jeep at lunch time! She was so patient and really didn't complain about anything!





Beautiful!


Tamzen, you are my hero!






Ethan's philosophy...when ya gotta go, ya gotta go!










Welcome Home!!