Grandma's House

Jeremy's grandma has been living in an assisted living center for the last couple of years. And Grandpa White died a few years ago. So the time has come to sell Grandma and Grandpa White's house. We went up last weekend for one final look around and to reflect on memories of the old house:

1. Grandma and Grandpa White coming out to the car to say good-bye and waving the sign for "I love you" as we drove away. (Jeremy's grandparents are deaf.)
   
2. Grandpa's all to powerful hugs that would just about knock the wind out of you.
3. Grandma giving her things to you if you complimented them. "If you like it, you can have it."
   
4. Grandma and all her many cacti.
5. Jeremy's family had many Christmas parties at the house. (I still marvel at how they all fit in that tiny house.) One year, Jeremy and his brother received Stomper Trucks for Christmas and spent the rest of the party playing with their trucks on the carpet.
6. The HUGE teletype that grandma and grandpa had for phone communications.
7. Grandpa teaching me signs that were naughty--he told me how to tell Grandma "You're crazy" but didn't tell me what it meant until after I had already shown the sign to grandma.

I feel privileged to have known and still know such wonderful people. They were great examples of hard work, love of the gospel and love of family. I know my family and I are better because of them. We love you Great Grandma and Grandpa White!

Summer Play Group

Josh has had a great summer playing with his friends. For one last hoorah, we took the kids to the Thanksgiving Point Children's Garden. The boys had a good time running around and playing and we also had a picnic lunch.

Joshua with his friends Dylan, Jared, and Kaden playing in the bear's den.

Kayden came along with us to Thanksgiving Point, he just wasn't as sure about playing in the bear's den.

They have a large Noah's Ark fountain in the children's garden that we let the kids play in at the end of the day. They were all soaked by the end (this picture was taken at the beginning). They were so wet their pants were falling off. Josh asked if we could go there again but next time wear swimming suits. I thought that was a good idea.

Joshua's friends Dylan and Jared in the fountain. Josh is in the background (wearing yellow).

It was a fun day! Josh is looking forward to school starting because all of his friends are in his class. He also is looking forward to more play group days. What a fun age to be.

Share a Smile Triathlon

This weekend was the Share a Smile Foundation's triathlon. All proceeds go to a charity dental clinic that is located in Provo, where Jeremy volunteers monthly. Jeremy participated in the triathlon with a couple of husbands of his office staff as a tag team.

Here they are at the beginning of the race. Jeremy (ran the 5K), Tyler (did the biking portion), Barbara's husband and Barbara (Jeremy's hygienist--they both did the whole triathlon themselves), and Brent (he did the swimming portion).

Jeremy getting ready to tag Tyler (on the bike) so he could start running the 5K.

Hooray! Jeremy finishing off the race.

EE!!

Kayden's vocabulary is broadening all the time. His latest, and most used word, is "ee". "Ee" comes most in handy when Kayden means:

1. treat
2. blankey (blanket)
3. belly
4. stinky (while pointing to his bum)
5. teeth
   
6. Aunt Caprice (it has the e sound in it)
7. again (I haven't figured that one out yet)

It's our guess as to what "ee" thing he wants or means at that moment. Sometimes he just walks around saying "ee" and then I really have no clue. I am loving his expanding vocabulary!

Jaxon's Karate Advancement

Jaxon tested for his senior yellow belt a couple of weeks ago, but had to wait to get his belt until after we returned from Florida. He did great during his belt test. He prompted the other student who was testing with him, answered all the questions, and performed his form very well. We are super proud!

Jaxon had to show his knowledge of self-defense.

Jaxon performing his form.

The changing of the belt ceremony. His instructor puts on his new belt....

....then they place his old belt on his head. Good job Jaxon!

First Day of School

Other than the fact that I almost forgot to take first day of school pictures, our morning went very smoothly. McKay started fourth grade today. His core teacher is Mrs. Durrant. His science/social studies and math teacher is Mr. Larson. He also has computers with Mr. Moffit. Kind of sounds like a lot of moving around to me! Jaxon started second grade today. His teacher is Mrs. Rhodes. He gets to stick with one teacher all day. Here's hoping for a great school year!

Pioneer Day 2009

So I am a little behind. I was busy. Then I was anxious to blog about Florida.
We loved the 24th of July (Pioneer Day). We had such a great time. Jeremy's brother and his wife (Weston and Jennise) and Jeremy's parents and brother Todd came over for a BBQ and some fireworks. My parents and a couple that they baptized while on their mission joined us just in time for our fireworks.

My niece, Olivia, and Josh getting their glow sticks put together while watching the fireworks.

Kayden loves fireworks.....and glow sticks.

Watching the fireworks are (from the left): Jennise holding Caleb, Weston, Grandma White, Grandma Haacke, Kayden, Aleice, Ky (the couple my parents taught and baptized on their mission), Todd, Grandpa Haacke, Grandpa White and Olivia and Josh are on the blanket.

Jaxon and McKay helped Jeremy put on a great fireworks show.

Fireworks graveyard. After all the fireworks had be lit off, this is what was left.

After the fireworks, we went in the backyard and played a little glow in the dark basketball. Below is what it looked like, but the picture turned out fuzzy, so I took another one (the above picture).

The ball glowed in the dark and then we put glow sticks around the hoop so you could see where to shoot the ball. It was a fun night!

*What did you do for Pioneer Day?
**Have you ever played glow in the dark basketball?