Sheetrock vs. Sidewalk Chalk...

When I suggested to Eli and Asher they should make some bike trails on the driveway with their sidewalk chalk, they thought it sounded pretty wonderful. While I was outside helping them, I told them that this is something we used to always do, but we used scraps of sheet rock because we didn't have sidewalk chalk. They both gave me a look like, "You are SO OLD!!!" But sidewalk chalk or pieces of sheet rock, creating bike trails with rest stops, places to get a drink, pump up your tires, and all the buildings in a city - a delightfully fun activity.

Crashing Dad's Overnight...

Scott may have been looking forward to a quiet overnight in Sacramento, but those plans were dashed when we showed up! We were able to get seats on his flight (in first class, no less) and the boys were quite thrilled it was Captain Dad up there in the flight deck.

Asher checks out the emergency procedures for the plane.

Heading out to the hotel shuttle.

There will be no quiet hotel room for Dad tonight!

Eli's favorite activity was the workout room.

                                                                                                                                          Asher was thrilled with the free snacks.

 The hotel was right across the street from Old Town Sacramento. There was a school, general store, and a restored Main Street. The highlight was definitely the train museum. It is the largest train museum in the country. 

Scott found a sign that he would like to place in our home
in a prominent location.

Homemade Water Slide

Eli and Asher used their creativity and made their own water slide on our hill. With a little dish soap, they slid on the tarp and beyond. I love when they create their own fun using their own creativity.

School Year 2013-2014...

I had so much anxiety last summer (2012) thinking about the boys being home all day, every day. Then it ended up being so much fun and we had such a great time, I had no reason to think Summer 2013 would be any different. I was wrong, terribly, terribly wrong. It was rough. It was long. There was so much fighting- especially between Oakley and Asher. They do have similar personalities, but one would think the 4 1/2 year age difference would mediate some of that, but NOPE. Those two are at each endlessly. Eli does his part to egg it on and stir the pot, so no one is innocent. Having August 26, 2013 roll around brought much joy and happiness, not just for Mom- but everyone. Thankfully, the boys all like school and were ready to get back. Almost twelve years later, Mom gets almost 7 hours to herself during the day. Such joy!

Oakley 11 years old, 6th grade - King of Elementary School

Eli 9 years old, 4th grade

Asher 6 years old, 1st grade - first year for all-day school

Oakley - Mrs. Decia Andersen's Class

Asher - Mrs. Esther Sivert's Class

Eli - Mrs. Amanda Pew Class

 The first day of school each year, all of the students gather on the front lawn for flag ceremony. We sing the National Anthem, recite the pledge, and a cannon is shot off. (I wonder how much the neighbors appreciate that.) Patriotism is the focus from the first moments.

 Last year I adapted an idea from Emily, who has a first day of school tea party with the girls. I make each of the boys a crown that states King of _______ Grade, depending what grade they are in that particular year. I get some sparkling cider that we drink from crystal goblets and some sweet treats and snacks. When the boys get home from school, we sit around the counter and discuss their first day of the new school year.

 

 Another tradition I started a couple of years ago was making each of the boys a candy bar poster with lots of words of encouragement for starting a new year and getting over all of the jitters and also reminding them they can do hard things and to do their best work always. (There will be no more first-day-of-school-traditions added to this family. Those two are enough!)

 

 At Parent Orientation, Scott left a note in Asher's desk for him. He was read it over and over again to his brothers and they all laughed and laughed. The note says, "Mom and Dad visited your class today. We like your desk. Your teacher is very nice. We wish we could come to 1st grade because it looks fun. There is only one problem...your desk is too small. 'Help, I'm stuck!' "

Flaming Gorge 2013...

As usual, we took a family trip the last week of summer break before we had to buckle down for the school schedule. We had such a great time at Flaming Gorge last time we went, we decided to try out another area of the lake. The boys wanted to spend all the time in the tube while Scott was begging them to try wakeboarding and skiing. Asher is the only one willing to try.

Mom shows the boy how wakeboarding is done.

Lunch on the boat.

The campground had a unique speed limit. Don't even think of going 5 3/4!

We forgot a lighter- so we made our own! Lighting a stick on fire from the stove to light the grill was great entertainment for the boys, because they're hillbillies at heart.

The trip was pretty fun, I'm always happy to be out in the boat, but the boys didn't seem to appreciate all the work Scott and I were putting into this trip and they would not stop fighting. We ended up coming home a day earlier than we planned. When  it stopped being fun and the fighting wouldn't stop, we headed home. I just don't know if they realized their responsibility for their behavior and they need to improve it if they want us to take them on any other trips.

Run in Rhythm...

Jeremy's employer and the office that performed Scott's second ablation, the CARMA Center, sponsored a 5k run that Jeremy, Emily, Colt, Melissa, and I participated in. Emily and Melissa hadn't run in a race before, so this was their first event. They were impressive! Melissa just had Cooper two months ago! Emily hadn't run a whole mile straight until a month before. So those two had a lot to be proud of. I, on the other hand, hadn't been running much, using the 90-100 degree weather as an excuse, so I was slower than usual. But we all crossed the finish line and are looking for the next race to enter...

Backyard Camping...

A favorite form of camping of mine- the kind with the tent set up in our own backyard. I tuck the Happy Campers into their sleeping bags and then go settle into my own comfortable bed inside my own house.

Southern Virginia University...

Austin is off to college! He will be attending Southern Virginia University and will be on their football team. Go Knights! We will miss you, Austin, but are excited for your new adventure.

The Checklist...

I don't remember Oakley complaining of a headache ever before. So when I went to pick him up from Grandma's and he was lying on the couch moaning and rolling his head back and forth saying his head was "killing him," I was a bit worried. He isn't one to fake sickness to get out of things, like coming home and starting in on Saturday chores, he just tells me he doesn't want to do something and throws a huge tantrum about it. I gave him a dose of ibuprofen but now he was in such excruciating pain, he was crying and saying his head hurt so bad, he couldn't open his eyes. I switched into Scared Mom mode, I'd never seen him in such pain.

His brothers were standing in the room, wide eyed, and very concerned- they hadn't seen Oakley in this state either. While deciding what to do next, I hear Asher starting asking Oakley a bunch of questions that he was reading off of the laptop computer screen. Questions like, "Oakley, can you raise up both arms above your head?" "Do you have any numbness in your face?" After a few more, I realized Asher had Googled "headache" and the search had brought up symptoms of a stroke. He was going through the checklist because he was obviously very concerned for his brother. This same brother who he seems to be arguing worth 80% of the time they're in the same room. It was a redeeming moment in their relationship. When it comes down to brass tacks, they do love one another. I needed to see that for the sake of my Mother Heart, there really is love between the endlessly quarreling siblings.

Oakley did finally get some relief from his headache and I received renewed hope that the boys do have  love for another behind all of the arguing.

Palisade Fun...

The Annual Palisade Family Reunion had a lot of the usual activity - swimming, catching minnows, golfing, eating at the hamburger joint in Ephraim, sudden rain storms that nearly blow tents away, crafts, kayaking, and the cousins entertaining each other. Some things that were new this year is the kids took a group golf lesson and actually played on the course instead of just hitting at the driving range, the jukebox at the hamburger joint was broken- so no dance party, and a walking geocache hunt with a GPS.

See the green way down there across the ravine?

Going for par...

...and I made it!

Cousins Group Golf Lesson

Rock Pets!

Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree

Jeremy and Emily needed to leave a day early. That next day with 4 less kids (3 of which are girls that are crying on a very regular basis) it was much quieter around camp. Eli, Grandma, and I were at the picnic table playing cards. A little girl at the campsite next to us started to cry and Eli said, "Well, at least they're here to make us feel at home." Yep, we're glad we had a crying neighbor to help us miss the girl cousins less.