June

June brought the end of the school year and the beginning of a long fun-filled summer.  We have planned a schedule to help us stay UN-bored.  Make it Mondays, Take a Trip Tuesday, Wet Wednesdays, Think about it Thursday, Fun Friend Friday.  So far, we have made a pvc bike rack, a pvc sprinkler/kid carwash, and pvc marshmallow shooters.  On our trips, we have tested out two different parks, gone to a Bee's baseball game, and the dollar store.  We've hit Seven Peaks (water place) and had massive wet time in our back yard.  Each Thursday we visit the Library (which results in hours of reading afterward) and have looked up information about greek mythology and geodes.  Fridays are always fun and we have had many friends over to play.  It is keeping us busy and engaged.  Every Saturday we have something big to do as well.  We've had soccer games, Scott ran a triathlon, Father's and Son's camping trip (details later), a ward breakfast, a yard sale, and more (see below).  Whew!

Our first Saturday was a birthday party.  Weston chose to do a small group of friends from the old neighborhood: Griffin Henrie, Jack Crawford, Brock Welch, and Jacob Twitchell.  They went to Nickelcade and spent two hours playing arcade games.  They ate pizza and had treats.  It was so simple for me to do--all I had to do was drive them there and sit and watch.  And they really had a good time.  They have all been good friends for a long time and Weston really misses them.  It was fun to see them together and having such a good time.  Weston chose to not ask for presents, but they still brought him candy and money.  He was okay with that...  We took him out to The Cheesecake Factory for his birthday dinner because he is always asking about it.  He enjoyed it, and could barely finish his cheesecake.  I helped him out a bit...  He got an ipod (Scott's old ipod) with lots of fun songs on it, a lego toy, a wii game and a soccer ball.  Omi made him the most awesome puff cover--Utah Utes!  He loves the ipod and since it has all of Scott's favorite songs on it, he has really started to like 80's music.  He also listens to Les Mis all the time.  His grandpa took him to see it for his birthday and he loves the music. 

Aidan chose a rock party (of course).  It really was fun--they panned for gold, opened geodes, dug out obsidian or quartz, and painted rock pets.  Everybody went home with several fun rocks and had a marvelous time.  Aidan loved planning it, putting it on, and participating in it.  For their treat, I put candy chocolate rocks in the bottom of a clear plastic cup, then put some brownie on that, and hid a gummy worm amongst it all.  I would have put green frosting on that, but he doesn't like frosting. He also doesn't like cake, so I made a brownie for him for our family party.  I sprinkled the chocolate rocks all over the brownie and then made "geodes".  I took giant marshmallow and ripped them in half and then sprinkled the inside with silver sprinkles.  I then dipped the outside in melted chocolate. They really looked cool.  One of them I ripped in half, but not completely, sprinkled the inside, and then closed it and dipped the entire thing in chocolate.  I stuck all these geodes on the cake and then after we sang to him and blew out candles, I had him "open" the geode!  It was so cool!  He got a lego toy and a really cool, very expensive rock/mineral from Mexico--Santa Eula Calcite.  He also got a suit and scriptures for his upcoming baptism.  We were able to go to yet another rock show and has the funnest summer riding his bike.  He hadn't quite learned how to ride confidently without his training wheels, but then he began scouts and their first activity was a bike ride!  He got all padded up and then took off.  And he hasn't stopped pedaling since!  He is a natural, it just took some pressure...

The boys had a marvelous time on their Father's and Son's camping trip.  They went up on Friday afternoon and set up.  They had tin foil dinner, rode 4 wheelers, went rock hunting, watched other people shoot guns (ha ha), went fishing (all the boys caught fish!), and ate smores.  Sounds fun to me.  Elise and I chose to have a girls weekend.  I told her we were going to do girl things and asked her, "What kind of treat do you want?"  She answered, "Pink."  Then we were going shopping and I said, "What do you want to buy?"  She answered, "Pink."  Hmmmm...  a bit of a pattern here.  We had such a good time.  We ate pink treats and shopped for pink things.  We did our hair and our nails, shopped and also worked in the house...  But still, what a great weekend! 

Although Weston and Aidan finished school at the beginning of June, Brennan didn't finished until near the end.  He had a few really fun days--Pet day, a picnic, and his graduation program.  His program was darling.  They sang lots of songs, showed things they had learned through the year, and "graduated" with honors!  He has been so lucky at school; he attended with so many of his friends: Lincoln Christensen, Kinsey Call, Adam Hamilton, and cousin JJ. He loved preschool, but is so excited for kindergarten.  He hasn't stopped asking when he gets to go (once he turned 5, once 2013 began, countless times in between, and once he finished preschool.  He is counting down the days!   

Weston and Aidan both began piano lessons.  Aidan has a teacher that is pretty intense.  He has begun a 10 year program that prepares him to be able to start a music degree once he graduates from High School.  It will be a lot of work, but he is able to do it and up to it.  Weston's teacher is a sweet girl who is perfect for him, she will be patient and helpful for him.  He is pretty motivated to practice--I have told him that he can't play soccer unless he does piano.  We haven't had as much fighting as before...  Aidan also did a piano camp where he learned about composers and classical music.  It was really fun for him!

The boys also went to scout camp.  Both their first time.  They both loved it and they both earned lots of awards and belt loops, etc.  Weston has moved on to Webelos and Aidan is so excited to begin as a Wolf.

Father's day was nice for Scott.  The kids are so fun about special days.  We have a "tree" that gets put up each special day (it is a tree drawn on a piece of paper that is taped to the wall) and all the gifts are put "under" it.  He loved his special day, mostly because he got to spend time with his kids!  Scott completed his 5th triathlon.  He is an animal!  He has been doing an intense training program.  He has two more triathlons coming up as well.  I have been jazzercising... not as intense, but I have lots of other things going on as well.  I did a yard sale and got rid of a bunch of stuff.  Felt freeing.  I also had my birthday--Scott took me shopping for new capris and went out to eat.  It was a fun day.   Loving this fun summer with the kids!