The Indifference Starts Young...

Boys oblivion to girls start even younger than I realized. I took Eli to see a puppet show with the neighborhood play group. When the show was over and we were getting up to leave, Kaiya came up to Eli and said, "Eli, I'll see you at school." Eli just said, "Okay," and started to walk off. I asked Eli who that was and he said he didn't know. When I was talking to Kaiya's Mom later, she told me Kaiya just loves Eli and that she talks about him all of the time. Eli and Kaiya are in the same class at school and she told me Kaiya likes to check out the same book Eli had the week before when they go to library. So cute! So interesting that Kaiya is so interested in Eli and yet he doesn't even know her name.

When Scott took Eli to Math Night at the school, he said girls would come and tap Eli on the shoulder and want to talk to him. He said other students would seek him out to say hi, while Eli seemed pretty indifferent.

I guess I will be thankful for these days when Eli is a teenager and his feelings will change- and he will actually know the names of the girls in his class.

Kindergartener with a Crowded Calendar...

When I asked Oakley and Eli if they wanted to do swimming lessons in December, Oakley responded with an exuberant, Yes!" while Eli responded, "I've just got too much to do."

Oh the schedule and demands put upon a five-year-old...

Bye-Bye Diapers!

Is there anything cuter than a three-year-old bum in Tighty-Whities?

It has been wonderful to bid a final adieu to diapers! I have lugged my what feels like 25 pound box of diapers onto the belt at Costco. Asher did pick up the concept quite easily- it just had to be on his terms. Using the term "big boy" as often as I did, Asher then assumed since he was potty-trained, he was a big enough boy to go to school. He truly seemed heart-broken when I wouldn't let him get on the bus with Eli. He kept repeating, "I big boy! I poop in potty! I go on bus!!!" I'm not sure how big an incentive it was for him thinking he could ride the bus with Co Co if he was potty-trained- but whatever his motivation was, I'm glad it was there!

"So that's how it works..."



Asher demonstrates there is more than one way to sit on the toilet seat...

Halloween 2009...

Halloween seems to be getting to be a bigger event than Christmas! The week before Halloween, we had an activity four nights in a row- Wednesday was the Primary Party, Thursday was Pumpkinland, Friday was the school carnival (which I am still bugged about how much the tickets cost), and Saturday was the Annual Grandkids Party @ Grandpa and Grandma Fotheringham's. By the time the actual day rolled around, the costumes were well-worn!

Timeless Pumpkinland....it just never gets old.

Grandma's Anticipated-All-Year Halloween Party

A costume parade up to get Grandma Moore

Dinner always consists of jack-o-lantern pizza and witches brew.

Dad and Asher try out the witches brew.

It's a race to see who can turn Colt or Dad into a mummy first!

The mummy game always ends with a toilet paper fight.

Eli the Veterinarian is all ready for the school costume parade.

My friend Tiffany Swenson and her family were down visiting from Perry, Utah, and joined us for trick-or-treating. The neighborhood goes all-out setting up games and activities for the kids at different houses. My favorite is the Hunt's, where they have caramel apples! Eli talks about the Weaver's spook alley all year. The first year we went, he woke up that night crying-saying, "The phantom at the Wiener's house was getting me!" Last year he was so proud of himself because he went all the way through and wasn't scared. This year, he was scared to death and crying by the time we got to the end. I was even freaked out! But, no nightmares thank goodness, and he does call them the Weavers instead of the Wieners. I think it may be getting a bit competitive between the neighbors- it seems to be getting bigger and better every year! We are lucky to be the recipients of all their hard work.

Christmas should be a breeze after all the Halloween activities...

Let the Soda Flow...

For Fall Break, Eli and Oakley were going to visit Grandma Lee Ann in Idaho. Scott has recently found out that children at least five years old could fly unaccompanied as an employee dependent. We thought this would be the perfect time for Oakley and Eli to try flying solo. Although I was a bit nervous, I decided it would be okay because, 1. Scott could take them out to the plane and help them into their seats, 2. It's a short 45 minute flight, and 3. They would be together.

While we were driving in the car, I was talking to Oak and E about "the plan," Oak said he would just rather meet Grandma Lee Ann in Brigham City like we usually did. Eli then leaned over and whispered, "Oak, when that drink lady comes, we can order SODA with CAFFEINE!!!" He knew that being out of parental control would allow him access to he and Oakley's favorite contraband and he was delighted to share this knowledge with Oakley.

It did persuade Oakley to try out flying. This makes getting the boys up to Idaho a bit easier- and I am ALWAYS ready to send the boys up for a visit!

Taking a "Teaching Kids Responsibility" Sabbatical...

It's exhausting teaching kids responsibility. After an incident at the Scofield Cabin this summer, I decided our kids were severely lacking in their work ethic. Scott asked Eli and Oakley to simply hold open a garbage sack while he raked all of the leaves into it. There were a lot of leaves and it was taking a long time, but to listen to them complain about how hard it was and how they were tired and how it was taking too long- I determined they were going to learn to work!
I later had a job chart set up and told them they were each going to do a job a day and that they would also be earning allowance. They have been really been wanting a Wii gaming system, so I told them they could save their allowance for one. I've been amazed at the transformation. It is a HUGE pain to have kids to jobs. I have to help them and I usually have to go back later and do it myself the right way. So it's taking twice as long! But the boys have been really good about getting their daily job done. Very little grumbling and I think their skills are getting a bit better. I made a chart for them to track how much allowance they have earned and how close they were to getting a Wii.

After an entire summer of working, they have now earned enough money to buy a Wii. We will be making that purchase soon, just in time for the temperature to take a major dive. It will be great to have some new indoor entertainment for them.
But I'm exhausted from helping to teach responsibility. I'm going to shirk one of my responsibilities as a parent and take a sabbatical from daily jobs for a while... until they're ready to earn Christmas money.

Big Boy Bed = No Sleep for Parents...

Being forced to let Asher sleep in a regular bed has had dire consequences- most notably NOT NAPPING!!! He's at my bedside multiple times a night, so I am exhausted anyway. While in his crib, he took a 3 hour nap. Since he can so easily get out of bed now, he does. He does not nap! He went from a 3 hour nap to NOTHING! I wonder if he was plotting all summer. Could he read my mind? Did he know how I was almost giddy with the thought of Eli being in school from 12:30-3:30, the same time he usually napped? Three hours to myself! I could hardly wait. Almost to the day school started, Asher had to be in a bed instead of a crib. I've tried every intervention I know. Finally I told him he had to stay in his room for "Quiet Time." He didn't have to nap, he could look at books and play with toys. Well, he did everything but that. He completely destroyed his room instead! The first time was a huge mess, but didn't take too long to get everything back into the closet and drawers. The second time, in addition to throwing everything from the drawers and closet he could reach, he also emptied an entire bottle of baby powder all over everything. This about put me in the fetal position in the corner. This kid is killing me!
I'm now looking into a preschool for him in the afternoon. I need a break from the Tasmanian Devil. Will all of this seem funny someday? I'm thinking when he has a son of his own who makes a path of destruction everywhere he goes, I'll get a good laugh of my own finally.

We're Baaaaaaaaaaack...

A couple of weeks ago I finally got my blog printed in a book- hurray! I live in constant fear of some computer disaster and that I will have lost all of my blog before having it in printed form. After having completed this all-too-time-consuming project, I discovered it was not any easier through Live Journal as through Blogger. Since Blogger is free, I'm moving back!I know, I like to make things difficult- but I really think we're sticking with Blogger from here on out...

The Baby Turns THREE!!!...

Asher Maurice Beeson celebrated his Third Birthday with a family party. Grandma Lee Ann came down in the morning. She took the boys to Chuck E. Cheeses with Scott while I got things ready for the party.

Our first use of the giant cupcake pan

Look at all of the loot...

Lake Powell Adventures...

This is why I love Lake Powell...

We spent a week in Lake Powell filled with boating, fishing, and relaxing! Grandpa and Grandma Fotheringham, Uncle Kelly and Aunt Julie, and our family were along for the adventure.

Legos were the in-camp entertainment.

The daily schedule usually involved boating for a while and then finding a beach to spend the afternoon at. We would eat, play on the beach, and swim.

Aunt Julie playing catch with the boys.

Julie and Oakley were the LOOKOUT for rocks and other debris that could damage the boat while we were boating in the narrow canyons.

All this fun is exhausting for Asher...

...and Eli.



Bathing- Lake Powell style. Jump in the water with a bar of soap and scrub up!

Feeding the ducks.

Asher is a great navigator for Scott.

Hanging out in a cave.

Scott took any chance he could to try and catch a fish.

The striped bass were yummy.

Aunt Julie taught Asher and Eli all kinds of fun tricks with bologna.

Grandpa teaches the boys the right technique for making the biggest splash.

Swimming!

Asher takes a snooze with Grandpa.

We got hit by a quick, hard hitting storm while we were out boating. The waves were higher than the side of the boat and it was really tough trying to get the boat out of the water. When we returned back to camp, the tent had a lot of broken poles and anything left out of the trailer was blown all over and covered in sand. We were just glad we were all safe.

Oakley helps sweep up sand- using a method all his own!

The rainbow after the storm.

A fabulously fun trip! Can't wait to get back...