1st Day of Preschool

Brock just started preschool (can you believe it), and he loves it. He had to make a face that looked like him to take on his first day. We helped out with the hair, but other than that, he did it all on his own.

Our Garden

Our garden this year was on steriods. No really, we would pick 20 or so cherry tomatoes at a time. And we had so many regular tomatoes, we could not keep up with them, your welcome neighbors. We also had bell peppers (yellow, purple and green), chilli peppers, cucumbers, herbs and corn. And what did we do with all our veggies, we learned how to can. We made homemade salsa, and a lot of it!

Utah "Beach"

We had lots of fun playing at the Utah "beach" in Herriman. The boys spent hours there swimming and playing in the sand. I realized what a pain sand is when it comes to changing diapers, eating and packing up to go home. But, other than that, we always had a great time.

Water! Water!

I think our boys really our fish. They LOVE the water. Pool, sprinklers, puddles, rain, they love it all. The boys (including Tyler) had a great time cooling off on those hot, hot days in the pool and sprinklers!

Our Las Vegas Trip

Our family took a trip earlier this summer to Las Vagas, well it was work for Tyler, play for me and the boys. Brock, Ethan, and I spent all day playing in the swimming pool and site seeing. As you can tell we wore them out. It was fun to also be able to see Collin and Diedre and their boys.

Fishing!!

This was our first of a few fishing trips we have been on this year. We took the boys to one of those stocked community ponds. I think that pond had been a bit fished out, because we only caught one fish, but it was enough to make the boys day. They loved it!! I think it took a bit out of Ethan, he was a bit tired afterwards.

Oquirrh Temple Open House

Our family went to the Oquirrh Temple open house. It was so awesome to be able to take the boys to show and teach them the importance of the temple. Brock and Ethan loved it, they both know the song "I love to see the Temple", so that was sung almost the entire way through.

Ethan's first day of Nursery

I know these are pretty much the same picture, but I love each one. You see Brock turned three in March, so he is still in Nursery for another year. He was so excited to have Ethan come to class with him. I think the pictures say it all, Ethan looking at me like you are leaving me where and for how long?? And the second one Brock is taking his hand to help Ethan through his big day. They are such little buddies (most of the time)!!!

Our Little Family!

I just love my boys, the big one and the little ones. They make me smile everyday. I am so greatful to have them a part of my life. I have been so blessed!

I am glad it is summer for more than one reason...

I am so glad it is summer and warm weather now. We had a rough go with Brock's asthma a few times this winter/spring, and Ethan was out for the count a few times as well. All is better now that we are all warm, okay hot and playing out in the sun!!

Graduation

Brock and I were involved in a neighborhood preschool this year (since he will still have 2 years of real preschool before kindergarten). He had so much fun. He is now graduated, and moving on to Mrs. Jodi's Preschool which he is so excited to start in September.

Spring Time (I know it is summer, but I am catching up)

I know the first picture is pretty bad, but I love it. The boys helping daddy with their lawn mowers. Brock and Ethan both LOVE helping Tyler out in the yard, to the point were the other night after dinner we asked Brock what he wanted to do, and he said "I need to go out and do some yard work with my shovel". And as you can see, Ethan loves the water. If there is a hose on he will find and and be soaking wet in seconds.

Brock's Spring Soccer

Brock started on his first soccer team this last spring, and as he would say he was "lucky #7". He loved it. There were times of course were I would see him sitting or laying on the ground picking the grass or finding a cool rock or just sitting back on our side line blanket finding the after game treats. Tyler enjoyed being his coach. And he had a great time playing on the same team as his little buddy Zander.

Questions and the memories of memories...

The precious memories of a young child

During a recent breakfast, Brock and I were sitting at the kitchen table, eating our cereal. I recently had purchased a new book from the LDS Distribution Center that had all sorts of pictures about prophets, apostles, baptism, blessing, marriage, temples, etc. As we ate breakfast we thumbed through the pictures of this book. Brock would continually ask, “what is that”, “why”, “who is that”, etc. We conversed back and forth for about 10 minutes, as I was gleaming with love for my son who wanted to know the purpose of life and the reasons why I know the individuals located in the pictures. While turning through the pictures we came to a picture of prophets of old giving a man a blessing. I indicated to Brock that this was a blessing that occurs when you are sick or need help from Jesus. Brock took a small pause and looked at me and said, “that is like when you had a blessing from Craig and Merrill.” I told Brock that this was the same and how lucky we are to receive blessings.

It is amazing and interesting to think that Brock, at just over 3 years old, has noticed, understood, and made the linkage between the prophets of old giving a blessing and his dad getting a blessing but a few months earlier. How impressionable children are. We must be diligent in our teaching of our children as they are watching and yearning for an understanding of all things. Be careful and explain all truths to children, so their path of understanding starts at a young age.

Ethan's little personality really is something else. As you can tell in these pictures, only Jenny can keep the wraps on him. Perhaps it is the sunglasses that turn him into a natural disaster at times. Perhaps it is the adorable smile that gets you to look away for one second and then...BAM! Kaboom!...there goes something valuable. Either way, it is exciting to have two boys with two very different personalities. Jenny is an amazing mom, as she has the patience required to instill in each of our boys trust, love, and compassion for each other...albeit very small doses at times. Warmer weather makes things fun, as we can get out in the yard and play together! Ready...set...hike...watch out mom, here come all the boys to tackle you! Wahoo!