Summer Time

Well it's been a crazy little while: between injuries, illnesses, school, and now summer break.  Brigham is still plugging away at his Master's Degree and we are scrounging to get it paid off as quickly as possible, especially as fast as the interest is accruing.  I just finished downloading a bunch of pictures, clear back from January and possibly even our Christmas pictures...I haven't been able to do much because my computer totally crashed...Luckily I backed up all my pictures literally days before it happened...still need to fix it so I can get everything else off of it but at least I have pictures now.  We have had a busy summer already.  We are still working on the back yard...we just got a trampoline set up, we have a couple other toys waiting to be set up...the boys have been camping twice, been to the pool, slip and slide...and trying to get the 7 peaks and the "bouncy place" again within the next couple of weeks.  We want to hit the lake sometime this summer and are getting ready for a trip to California to see some family.  We are still trying to figure out the vehicle for that, Brigham's car needs to last a few years and the truck is a gas hog.  We thought we would have a van by now but we were under budget, then we found one and he undersold us at the last minute (still frustrated) I've been struggling a little lately as well.   but I think we are headed in the right direction and we are enjoying ourselves amid our bursts of chaos.  I look at my boys and can't believe how much they are changing before my eyes.  I love those little guys so much...especially when they are buddies.  I sometimes get caught up in the stresses of life but I am so thankful that I get to be a stay at home mom and enjoy watching them grow and develop...they each offer so much to our little family!  I still have a few pictures to add but I'm pretty much caught up...again :-)

Giant Slip and Slide

 Our ward rented the slip and slide at Peteetneet for a couple of hours.  Brigham and Zeke were having a blast, Gabe didn't like it too much because every time he went down someone else hit him at the bottom, I wasn't too keen on my swimsuit going so far up...Brigham knocked out a few people at the bottom...he definitely went the furthest down.

                                           How cute that he stops to say I love you!

 Too self conscious to post pictures of me going down, but this one wasn't too bad.

 Zeke got a water sled to ride down on...he also got a lot more water this way...splash!

 I was standing half way up and nobody was going so I told Gabe he could go...I set him down and he said no, but I pushed him anyway...of course someone hit him again at the bottom...This was the look I got from him after...he stomped up to me with his grump face and said..."I said No!"

 Brigham racing against a few guys...the girls did this a few times too...Brigham went right after them and took them out...plowed them over at the bottom.

                                       Let's stop for an icecream break...no arguments there.

                                Here is a still shot from Zeke on Brigham's back/water sled

                              Wore Gabe out again, he fell asleep right after bath and dinner.

                                       Malachi came home and did this...I think he wants a bath!

                        Brigham got to be a sled again....They made it all the way to the end!

Father and Sons Weekend

 Brigham took the older 2 boys camping overnight for the Father and Sons.  (Malachi and I went to dinner, played at the park, visited one of my sisters, watched a movie, and had a ton of fun!) The boys went on a couple of different hikes, they found a shady spot...and some water...they like to throw 'boats' in the water and watch them drive or rescue other boats :-)

 As soon as they got back from the father and sons they were asking to go to the pool.  We decided to go, but didn't take a camera.  Zeke got brave enough to jump off the wall himself, with no life jacket.  Gabe was even more adventurous roaming the water this time than Zeke (with a life jacket) and Malachi also loved it...his favorite is jumping off the wall.  This is what happened as soon as we got home...Malachi fell asleep on the way home, Gabe was out before 5 minutes, and Zeke fell asleep after about 10 minutes...I think we wore them out!

First campout of 2013

We did the Memorial Day campout with Uncle Paul again this year.  We all enjoyed ourselves

                                              The boys going off to explore together!

 It may have been a mistake to let Malachi on a 4 wheeler (Zeke and Gabe have already been on one and both love it)  Malachi is seriously obsessed already.  I could barely get him off the whole time.

                                           Proof we were all there!

                             Zeke loves Uncle Paul....and no, not just because he has fun toys.

 Malachi had a rough day...first fell off the swing and got a goose egg and a few littlek nicks, then Zeke bumped his chair over and Malachi fell off onto a rock...causing this bleeding, then Malachi was walking and tripped to get a few more knicks into his forehead...this kid needs a helmet.  The next day Zeke got a similar cut on the side of his head playing at a water park with Jacob, but I didn't get a picture...almost identical except for placement.

                                           Playing games with aunt Karen.

 The boys sleeping so peacefully.  I couldn't believe Gabe actually slept on the top bunk (I had to pad the edge cause it made me nervous...he likes to roll)  Malachi threw a fit for about 45 minutes when it was time for bed because he wanted to go up on the top too...man that kid is stubborn!

                              A pretty view on the 4 wheeler trail...there is a river down there.

Zeke's Preschool Graduation

 Zeke's preschool graduation.  They sang some cute songs with rhymes, colors, friends.  Zeke knew all the words and did really well.

 Unfortunately during this song, the girl next to him did her part at the wrong time...Zeke spent the whole time (during his part) telling her it wasn't her turn, then realized he missed his turn and had a melt down.  He cried pretty much the rest of the graduation...stopped a couple times but then said I'm just too sad...it was a rough day.

 After it was over his brothers just wanted to make him feel better.

 Diploma...and puffy eyes.

There's my happy little graduate!