Sunday Morning

a trip to Boise

The day after school got out, I loaded up the car with three of my kids and drove to Boise.

Do you know how sad I was to leave my littlest boy behind? I almost couldn't do it. Except I knew I couldn't survive a road trip by myself with all four kids and a break would be good for me, but I love that sweet boy and worried about how he would do at home without me. Especially once he realized L, K, and K were gone, too. We drummed it up that he was getting "boy time" with daddy. And, what do you know, he did just fine all weekend. Kacin took this picture for him while on the road.

Once in Boise, we met up with our friends, the Richardson's, who moved there a few months ago. I never did get a picture with all of the kids together, but we played in her neighborhood for a little while before meeting up with my parents.

L insisted on bringing in her own stuff to the hotel.

We spent two nights with my parents swimming, eating, watching movies, shopping, and playing miniature golf.

This is how Layla golfed.

 Sometimes we convinced her not to use her hands.

But hands was her preferred method.

I broke my no wal-mart streak of over two years when we had to run in for two things.

On Sunday morning we said goodbye. I gave big hugs to Kyler who was heading back to Wyoming with my parents to spend a week with them. He was so excited to have a week with his grandparents.

Kacin, Layla and I got back in the car to drive home. Since it was Sunday, I had thought about finding a church along the way to go to sacrament meeting. While it varies from building to building, church services are usually held at 9am, 11am, and 1pm. The morning passed by and it just didn't come together to find a church.

It was 1pm and Layla was desperate for a break from her car seat. I told her we would find a park to play at. We approached Ellensburg and I looked to my right and saw a church building in the distance. I love how LDS church buildings look so similar so when I saw the brick building and white steeple, I was looking at something familiar.

We got off the freeway and I gave Layla the choice between church and the park. She chose church! I had to prepare her for no nursery and no Ava at this church though. And really possibly no church at all if there wasn't a ward that met there at that time. We found the building and pulled into the parking lot. And we changed right there in the car. I threw on a skirt and Kacin put his church clothes on (white shirt over his orange t-shirt!) and we went in.

We found out this ward met at 12:30 so were at the tail end of sacrament meeting. We sat in the foyer and I was so glad to be at church. I love that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the same no matter where you go. You always feel welcome. I was glad the building was so visible and inviting. I felt welcomed by some sweet members who noticed us in the foyer when they came out to quiet children or take them to the bathroom and introduced themselves. I felt the spirit as I sat in that foyer listening to the last speaker of the meeting and singing a closing hymn. I was grateful for the speaker's wisdom and testimony (I couldn't see him, but I pictured him as a wise old man as he spoke to us about comforting and loving others, about reacting to criticism, and testified of the truthfulness of this restored gospel).

We could've finished our long drive and never stopped and gotten home 30-45 min earlier and I probably wouldn't have noticed anything. But when I went to church I felt something so good. It was nourishing and refreshing for my soul and I knew the church building was a special place.  It's like a pineapple dole whip at Disneyland. I went to Disneyland for years and years without ever tasting one of those things and never knowing what I was missing. And then I tried one and I was in heaven! I can not go to Disneyland without partaking of that pineappley, smooth goodness. Just saying, going to church is just like anything else, you never know until you try it. :)

And so that concludes our first trip of the summer.

These Days

I have started researching some more safety products to keep our little guy in the car. I have a deep love for the people who invented locks on the windows and child locks on the doors and now I am looking for someone who has invented a net or shield to surround a rider in the car who often hits whoever is next to him, throws shoes and sippy cups, and blows snot all over his face and wipes it on windows and people within his reach. Sometimes he is a great little rider, and sometimes not so we all desperately wish for that shield. In the meantime, we have discovered Angel Guard car seat button covers that have helped to solve the problem of keeping his seatbelt on now that he has outgrown his carseat. That worked well for awhile until he learned he could reach over and unlock Layla's carseat. And then he discovered he could stretch out the seatbelt and climb under without unbuckling it. So we are back to looking for carseats with a harness for bigger children. (and before you start judging--yes we have tried talking about it, praising, consequences, redirecting, ignoring the behavior, etc.)

Perry says his name perfectly now. You can ask "What's your name?" and as clear as can be and with a cute smile on his face he replies "Perry" with a beautiful "R" sound.

Layla and Perry love playing together. Layla grabs Perry's hand and leads him with a "come on, Perry". Perry likewise asks "where's A-ya?" when she's not around. These cuties are always with bags in hand and backpacks on backs. Which means they always have an assortment of toys with them and strewn about the house.

Sometimes Layla plays school, too.

But my favorite game is when they put me on the couch or into my bed and sing me lullaby, give me a kiss, and tell me it's sleep time. I don't mind that game one bit. :)

Kacin caught this guy on his head one day while at gymnastics.

 We went to a Frozen party at a friend's house.

Have I ever posted a picture of this sculpture before? Kacin made it years ago at school. We both can't remember what animal it was supposed to be. But I will never forget the day that Kacin decided it wasn't worthy of his shelf in his room and said it was the weirdest blob he'd ever made. I tried so hard to keep a straight face, but at the same time I totally meant it when I told him how much I loved his work and creativity and so it came to the shelf in my room. Since that day every time my eyes rest on it on my bookshelf I smile and chuckle and think of sweet, little Kacin. Aren't sculptures like this a perk of motherhood?

We are enjoying the slower pace of our first week of summer vacation. There has been a lot of reading and laying around, a lot of time at parks, a lot of playing with toys, and a lot of tv. We had a fun day with friends at the zoo, too.  

Last Days of School

Perry grew so much this school year! We were so glad that by the end of the year he loved going to school and getting on the bus and got so excited when we mentioned his teachers or anything about school. He loved teacher Diane and the four other teachers he worked with in the classroom and for pullout services.

I had my last day of preschool. We had a teddy bear picnic, a little program, and the presenting of certificates. It was a fun group of kids! I'm sure going to miss those little ones who are heading off to kindergarten in the fall. Some of them I have had the last two years. I'm looking forward to another year with some of these guys.

My 3rd grader and 4th grader each made it through another year just splendidly.

They were so ready for that last day of school.

Two days before the last day, these three boys put their minds together and planned out an end of the school year party for a few friends.

I would be lying through my teeth if I said that this planning session was smooth and productive and all warm fuzzies. 

 But it was a great opportunity for some learning on empathy and compromise and communication. 

And in the end they pulled it all together and threw a super fun party that went according to their plan.

There was gaga ball, xbox kinect sports, the Categories game, cookie ice cream sandwiches, Legos, and playing outside. 

Yay for summer!

a new home for the duck

We all referred to it as a duck, even though it is a goose.

The boys were dressed up and ready for their spring concert.

We stopped at a lake that had other geese living there.

Kacin said, "I feel like we are carrying a dead body."

It was time to let it be free.

We said our goodbyes.

We tried to find a place for it to be, then walked away.

In the car, we offered a prayer for the duck to find a family and a home with the other geese.

a Piano Recital and Spring Concert

On back to back nights, the boys performed in their school spring concert and in their piano recital.

It was another wonderful piano recital. The boys have been much more diligent about practicing (probably because I have actually been on them about it). They did a great job with their songs, a few mistakes but they stayed confident and recovered nicely. I'm just so proud of these boys. And grateful for their great, patient teacher.

We weren't sure if our entire family would make it to the spring concert. Let's just say it was a rough day for my P man. We thought for sure one of us would be in the car with him, but luckily we were able to sit in the balcony without anyone behind us for a few rows so Layla and Perry and a little friend sitting across from us were able to wonder up and down the stairs and try out all the chairs and so for the most part Eric and I actually got to watch the concert. The music teacher at the elementary school is amazing! She put together such a great concert. 

Kacin is in the 2nd row in the middle

Kacin is playing the xylophone in the front middle

Kyler is playing xylophone in the back right

One of the songs the 4th grade sang was "What does the Frog say?" Their school mascot is a frog. Kyler is on the left side, 2nd row next to boy in blue.

Such studs.