Loveridge Family Reunion

Oh how I do look forward to our Loveridge Reunion every other year. And so much thanks to Reva Beth for the INCREDIBLE amount of work she puts into it every time!!!! We love the "science stuff" she does. This year we figured our blood type. A+ for me--didn't know that before AND Reva Beth is a pro at finger pricking. The boys and Chad weren't there for this--I wish they would have been,,,no way Spencer would have participated, but Cam would have---Chad's a maybe.

I guess Hannah doesn't like the sight of blood.

Treasure hunt in the shredded paper,,,always a fav for the kids.

Gettin' ready to look for the loot.

Lots of crafts!!!!

Bean bag toss.

And of course lots of jewelry!!! This is my aunt Carolyn,,,who is quite the jewelry maker in her own right! I think every woman up there ended up making a mother's/grandmother's necklace. We also did a bunch of scrabble and YW pendants and earrings. It was heaven for me---Chad really appreciated Carolyn telling him thanks for watching the boys so we could do our girly thing. Yah,,,he had the boys by himself for 4 hours Saturday morning. Then in the afternoon when we were getting ready to leave I stayed for another 3 hours making more for the late-comers while Chad took the boys home. So thanks to my wonderful hubby for not complaining or rolling his eyes even once (at least he didn't let me see/hear it).

Our bums got sore,,,but it sure was fun!!!

Grampy finally getting some breakfast.

The mighty pancake man.

mmmmm,,,hot chocolate.

Cooking some ham.

Cousin Tiffany sent these darling journals that we stitched together. The kids had a blast gluing stuff on the cover and filling out the inside...thanks and hope to see you next time around.

This is when we first got there,,,the boys were so excited to be camping.

Well Loveridges, it was so much fun and hopefully next time California schools won't start so early so the Cali cousins can come. Love you all and thanks a ton Reva Beth.

Boys, Boys, Boys!!

There are times I walk into my house and I think, "Wow, what is that smell??" Then I remember, "Oh, yah, It's just all the testosterone!!"

The boys were "helping" Chad with the new cabinet for the basement bathroom. I offered them crayons to draw on the box and they looked at me like I was crazy, and then as though they had one brain and one body they ran and got their hammers (real hammers mind you--with real metal and real wood, no plastic for my boys). AND with sometimes frightening force and gusto they beat the heck out of the cabinet box. Chad threatened them not to hit themselves, the cabinet or each other--which they didn't.

They really were pooped by the time the box was in shreds. And as long as nobody got hurt--all is well.

First Day of Kindergarten--and not a tear to be found!

Oh, what a blessed and happy day!!! Cameron started Kindergarten on Wednesday. And boy are we ALL ready for this big step.

We went to Grandma's early because he wanted to play with his cousins that are here from Washington. His cousins being here for 10 days has actually overshadowed school. He wants to make sure and get play time in before and after school---hey works for me.

Spencer was feeling a little left out. Good thing he starts pre-school next week. The school I had him registered with had some nit-wit moms that decided to do a joy school, just 1 week before school was supposed to start. They said, "it will be best for everyone." Yah, except my kid who doesn't have a school to go to now. Luckily I found a spot in a school that a couple of his friends from the neighborhood go to---only because I wanted afternoon. So, it will be great--carpooling is so nice.
I think it's kind of neat that Cam will be going to the same school that his Daddy went to and even better---Grandma literally lives right across the street!!!!! I'm sure if I search the archives of Grandma's photos we will find a picture of Daddy standing right where Cam is on his first day of Kindergarten all those years ago.

Again, Spencer wanted in on the action. There seemed to be a LOT more girls than boys,,,which is opposite to what we found in both years of pre-school.

Goofy Kid!!! This little guy is more than ready for this big step.

I should have had a picture of the entourage of family that walked Cameron to his classroom: Mommy, Grandma, Grammy, Aunt Lori, Tanner, Caden, Ayla, Kyler, Aunt Cindy. Every kid deserves that much love and support!!!! We do love our family!!

Fiesta Days!!! I feel so south-of-the-border.

Kris, Shell, and I met at the Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Carnival. We just thought we would let the kids play at the playground and walk around a bit. Of course we got suckered into buying a bunch of tickets. But it was worth it, the kiddos had such a good time. After the tickets were all gone we were lucky enough to find some shade for lunch (it was a stinking hot day). We bummed the shops and Samantha and Cameron each won a goldfish. All in all a great day.

Spence, Mantha, and Cole loved the boat ride,,,the water cooled things down a bit. Well actually Cole didn't love it when she got sprayed with water and she never figured out there was a steering wheel.
Kristi took Cam and Alex on the Ferris Wheel. Cam and Kristi loved it, but Alex wasn't quite as sure about it all.

Lovin' the boat.

I've Taught Him Well!!!

Chad just told me this story--it's a good one! He and Grandpa took the boys to Carl's Jr. tonight for dinner since I was still at work (the boys love Tuesday nights--they know it's almost a guarantee that they get to eat out). On the way, Cameron asked Grandpa if he wears a helmet when he rides his bike. To which Grandpa answered, "yes".

(Cameron has noticed that he is one of the very few kids in our neighborhood who has to wear a helmet. I told him that the other parents are stupid and irresponsible--one of the few times he has hear me say stupid. Although I am waiting for him to tell one of them, "my mommy says you are stupid and irresponsible!"---they may be hard words, but that's how strongly I feel about it.)

ANYWAY!!
So then Cameron asked Grandpa if Grandma wears a helmet when she rides her bike.
Grandpa replies, "no."
Cameron asks, "why?"
Grandpa, "because she's a girl."
Cameron, "oh yah, she's a girl, she can do whatever she wants."

I have done my job!!!!! His future wife can thank me now!!!!

FRUSTRATION

We don't have a large house, but what IS large in our house is the amount of CRAP we have accumulated. Between my craft stuff, Chad's outdoor stuff and the Boy's toys we are absolutely overloaded with......STUFF. I am editing my language for this post. Chad is working on finishing the basement, so of course, the massive amount of .....stuff can just be spread a little thinner.

I helped the boys clean their rooms, the family room and living room this afternoon and I kept a Reams bag by my side, to secretly throw things out. Cameron caught sight of it and of course cried like I was going to take away his most prized possessions. He knew I was mad enough, he stopped crying and let me do my thing. When we got to the toys in the basement, I came across the Little People Garage that is massive in size, but has provided a much smaller amount of entertainment the last couple of years. I put it in the DI pile---but lo and behold, they played with that stinking thing for an hour---and had the best time. GGGGGGRRRRRR!!!!! It's still in the DI pile.

When we move the boys downstairs I will be banishing all 3 men from my house while I purge toys!! Chad is every bit as bad as the 3 and 5 year olds on wanting to keep things FOREVER.

33 and 5

My little ones lately have been obsessed with ages. They want to know how old everyone is--when Grammy said that she was 55 on her last Birthday, Cameron's response was, "oooh, you're going to die soon". Cameron is constantly making sure that he will ALWAYS be the oldest of his Loveridge cousins (it's as if he is afraid Samantha will magically gain a year on him). He is less concerned with being the oldest Hall cousin--but he knows that one is out of reach since Andrew is almost as tall as his mommy.

Spencer is a monkey-see-monkey-do kinda kid--so he also asks how old Chad and I are. He likes to remind everyone in the van on any given errand that Mommy is 33, Daddy is 33, Cam is 5 and Spencer is 3.

He has taken it so far, that the bathrooms have been lovingly nicknamed "33 bathroom" and "5 bathroom". When I asked him, I was correct in my assumption that the 33 was mommy's and 5 was Cameron's. Our nighttime routine consists of Spencer announcing to everyone that he will be peeing in the 33 bathroom (it is his preferred bathroom after all). If he really has to go, and is afraid he won't make it to 33, he announces, "I just go pee in the 5 bathroom".