Yard Fun

This fall we have been able to put some of our yard in. We have the most important thing: GRASS! We have had a good time walking on it, playing on it and looking at it:

Isn't it wonderful? The house looks so much better with grass than rocks and weeds!

The backyard looking out onto the basketball court and the court's seating area.

Looking out to the trampoline and fire pit. It is so much prettier with grass!

The enormous sand pit that will one day have a play set. The kids have had a great time digging in the sand and having lots of room to play.

The waterfall looks so much more the prettier surrounded by green.

We decided to have Family Home Evening out by the fire pit one night. McKay gave a great lesson on the Book of Mormon and then we roasted marshmallows around the fire. We had a great time.

We then had fun jumping on the trampoline.....

....and climbing the apricot tree.......

......and jumping on the trampoline some more. Jeremy had a good bounce along with Kayden and Josh.

Even the neighbor kids love coming over--which we love too! We are looking forward to making many memories in our yard in the years to come.

Happy Birthday Jaxon!

I don't know where the time went. Yesterday, it seems, Jaxon was my sweet little baby and today he is 10! He is one great kid and a true blessing to our family. He watches over his brothers and is very sweet.
Jaxon had to wait all day before he could open any of his presents due to a busy family schedule. He was excited when the time finally came. I was excited when the UPS man came to our door in the nick of time delivering last minute gifts!

The traditional "Heavy, heavy hang over thy poor head...." Jaxon was very good to let his brothers give him a nice whack on the head. Jaxon also gave us some sweet wishes: a cruise to Hawaii, peace for a whole week, and a trip to Alaska.

Josh giving Jaxon a "bump" on the head.

Kayden's turn. (I love how Kayden has his hand in his pocket.)

Jaxon cashed in receiving a glow in the dark basketball, a Star Wars Lego set and Lego Rock Band. I can't wait to do some jammin' with the boys tomorrow singing songs the boys actually know (besides Eye of the Tiger).

Singing Happy Birthday.

Blowing out the candles and blocking Kayden with his hand. Jaxon wanted it to be a solo job. I hope he remembered to make a wish!

Happy Birthday Jaxon. I can't imagine our family without you. Thanks for all you do and your willingness to help and make others happy. Your family sure loves you!

Rivalry Week 2011

It is September, but it is rivalry week for BYU and University of Utah. Which means the pranks have begun. For a history of previous years pranks between Jeremy and his brother Weston, click here and then here.

It began last night when Jeremy and his other brother Jason drove out to Tooele to deck out Weston's car. Jeremy had some decals professionally made and then they applied them to Weston's car:

A front view. I love the big "Y" on the hood.

BEEP BEEP!

Who wouldn't be proud to drive this around?

He got the car on all sides.

Then they painted an outline of Swoop with the help of Tooele's Crime Scene Investigators.

Weston struck back today. We knew he must be up to something. We got a call from one of our friends in the neighborhood who has been informed of the traditional rivalry pranks. She said she would keep an eye out for me. Well, she gave me a call this afternoon on my cell phone saying she had just received the following flyer on her door:


Pretty funny stuff. So we hustled home and started collecting fliers from off our neighbors' doors. We have 80 of them accounted for.

Jeremy has received a couple of phone calls to RSVP--from Weston's friends no doubt. Go Cougars!

Photography By McKay

McKay took this beautiful photo of the sunset this summer. I thought it was breathtaking. Enjoy.

Another Tooth Gone

See that hole on the bottom row of Josh's teeth? He pulled out yet another tooth with the string tied to the door/tied to his tooth method. If you missed the video of when he did it the first time, click here. For some reason he will only do this at Grandma's house. Silly kid.

First Day of School

It was more that just the first day of school this year, it was a new school for my boys as well.

McKay started sixth grade this year with Mrs. Powers.

Jaxon started fourth grade with Mrs. Jones.

Joshua started first grade with Mrs. Bull.

Here are my boys on the first day of school in front of their new school.

And today was Kayden's first day of preschool. He was excited to go and had a great first day.

Let the homework wars begin!

Jax Got The Pox

No one gets the Chicken Pox anymore, am I right? And of course I vaccinated my children, so I thought we were in the clear. I knew Jaxon had been exposed to a child that had a case of the Chicken Pox (who was also vaccinated), but never did I think that he would come down with a case. Well I was wrong. Wednesday night Jaxon complained of a headache and then Thursday night when he got out of the shower he was covered in red dots. Poor guy. He had to miss school on Friday and stay in all weekend. Then Sunday was Fast Sunday. McKay had his first real fast (no food, no water for two meals). It was hard for him. So I asked McKay what he had fasted for. He told me he fasted for Jaxon's Chicken Pox. I thought to myself, "Really?" Oh me of little faith. Sunday night I checked Jaxon to see if he had any new Chicken Pox only to discover that all his Chicken Pox had scabbed over! I was amazed. We told Jaxon that he could thank his brother that his Chicken Pox had healed.

It took some convincing, but Jaxon let me take some pictures:

He had at least 20 or so Chicken Pox on his back....

...and at least that many on his front.

He had a bunch on his face, neck and scalp including some behind his ears. He had a mild case--thanks to that vaccine. Now we are playing the waiting game. We will know in about two weeks if anyone else in the house will get the Chicken Pox. If they do, we will put them on McKay's prayer roll!

Share A Smile Triathalon 2011

This was the 10th year for the Share A Smile Triathlon and Jeremy's fourth year and McKay's, Jaxon's and Josh's first year participating in the triathlon. The boys did the kids' triathlon and Jeremy relayed with Weston. Jeremy swam and ran and Weston did the bike portion.

Here they all are tattooed (with a permanent marker) with their numbers ready to go.

First the boys had to swim one lap in the pool. Here is McKay.

Jaxon swimming his little heart out.

Josh was doing just fine in the pool until he noticed that his brothers were way ahead of him. Dr. Vogel (head of the triathlon and a good friend of ours) helped him the rest of the way across the pool.

The next portion the boys had to ride one lap around the park. Here is Jaxon taking off on his bike.

McKay making his quick get away.

Josh departing, only we didn't know that his bike was in disrepair. His chain had fallen off his bike.

Here is Kayden watching the boys during the race. He brought his scooter along so that he could have some fun too.

Here is Josh coming to the running portion. We couldn't figure out why he took so long. He told us he had to push his bike with his feet. Poor guy!

Jaxon dropped his bike and ran! This was serious stuff!

McKay did the same.

McKay after he crossed the finish line. He said the race was too easy--and he was right. Much too easy for a 12 year old.

Josh didn't have very good luck on the race, just as he came to the finish line his shoe came flying off. He lost one of his tennis shoes so he had to run in his sandals.

Next was the BIG race. Here are the boys cheering on their dad in the pool.

Jeremy didn't do any prep work for the swim section of the race. But he made it--even though he felt pretty crappy when he got out of the pool.

Tagging Weston so Weston could take off to do the bike portion.

Midway through the race, Kayden got grumpy. He decided to sit at the curb and pout. I don't blame him. We had to get up before sunrise to get to the race on time.

McKay and Kayden helping Dad stretch out so he would be ready to run.

Weston coming in on his bike.

Jeremy crossing the finish line to complete the race. Whew! It was a great year and we all had a good time. One of these years perhaps I will join in on the fun.