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".

GRRRR....Bear Lake 2009

So, we had another wonderful trip to Bear Lake!!! I am beginning to look forward to it ALMOST as much as Moab. Greg and Shell bring their boat (woohoo!!), we play at the beach and get raspberry shakes every night. What more could you want from a vacation?

Cole-baby in her Tinkerbell dress. The designated bird-sitter (ME) just so happened to be on vacation with Kristi, so Chewbacca had to come along. I'm glad he messed up this houses floor rather than mine. I love the way it looks like Cam is forcing Caleb's head into the ground. I need to find the picture of Cameron doing the same thing to Spencer when he was a baby.

Spencer and Mommy both holding Baby-Calebs.


MMMMM...hamburgers and raspberry shakes!!!! We were smart to go on Thursday night, the other nights were packed. I think Andy waited 45 min for his shakes on Saturday night.




Chad and Grampy playing "crack the egg" with Krispi!!! She's a tough one.



Life Saver!!!! The house Shell-bell rented for us had a great yard with a trampoline.

It also had a basketball hoop and a ton of outdoor kid toys that keep the kiddos occupied and happy. It was WONDERFUL.

Richele was easier to crack---perfect shot.

Spencer just having fun trying to grab his legs.

When we woke up Friday morning the sprinklers were running, so the boys asked to put on their swimming suits to jump in the water. Kept them occupied while breakfast was being cooked.

Our Friday beach day was PERFECT. Of course almost anything would have been better than last year (COLD and windy)!!

Alex and Grampy digging a hole.

Andy was serious this year,,,he brought a manly shovel. Nice goggles Spence.

Must stand in the hole after the hole is dug.

Cam standing in yet another hole.

Grammy and Grampy chillin in the shade.

Playing Frisbee in the water. That is Greg's boat (umm Shell's boat too) in the distance. All that way out and the water is still just up to the belly .

Alex, in time-out. Kristi instructed me not to talk to him,,,so I just took the picture and turned around---It felt mean not to say Something to the kid, but I fear Kristi.

Their own little hot tubs.

Spencer took a 2 hour nap. Caleb slept at the same time. Good thing, because while everybody was on the boat, Dad and I were able to break camp pretty darn quick. It was getting hot, we were tired and the kids were getting close to melt-down zone.

My boys still in their PJ's going on a bike ride.

What a face!!!

Saturday morning we swam at the same pool we went last year, even though Richele found out we weren't allowed. Oh well.

This was the favorite pool game from last year. So we recreated it this year. One person would throw the beach ball in the air, while one of the men would huck a child in the air, and the child would try to hit or kick the beach ball. Cameron did it TONS last year, but didn't last too long this time around (Daddy threw him wrong and Cam did a belly flop that didn't feel so good.)

Cam DID love his new snorkel. He was a maniac with it. He keeps talking about going to the ocean.

We did a ton of crafts to keep the kids occupied. They made visors. Shell is modeling Cole's because the little Tinkerbell was taking a nap.

We made homemade playdough, then built volcanoes. Thanks for the recipe and idea Tiffany.

The "unerupted" volcanoes.

While the volcanoes dried outside the kids painted ceramic bugs.

Chilling for a while after all the crafts.

Movie time.

While the kiddos watched a movie the big girls got to make cards.

Then it was on to homemade ice cream.

The great volcano eruption. OOOOHHH!! AAAAHHHH! It's a good thing young ones are so easily impressed.

Unfortunately my camera battery went dead after this picture.

I didn't get any pictures of Cam on the tube or Greg slaloming. And after the kids went to bed on Saturday night Greg, Mom, Dad, Kristi, Cole and I went back to the lake. We didn't get there until 8:00 pm. Oh it was pretty and quiet. I loved it. Kristi and Greg were brave enough to ski. I peed off the back of the boat---that was as close as I got to the water.

Sunday morning we got packed up and headed out. We all got car sick, and poor Spence threw-up. Good thing my boys are used to puking. Evanston way might be a better bet next year.

I sure hope we can do this trip every year---maybe someday we can bring wave-runners...yah, in Chad's dreams.