Weeks of Summer: Part 6

 Earlier this month we went to Declo for the extended Stoker Reunion and the Fair/Rodeo.

Jeff took the boys to the rodeo and I stayed at the house to rest (because growing a human is hard work) and they all loved the cowboys, the crazy clowns, and the wild bucking bulls and surprisingly they all sat through the entire thing.

We got there on a Wednesday and the boys had the adventure of riding with Grandpa Stoker in his big blue truck, playing video games and eating several cans of Pringles.

Which means that Jeff and I got to drive all by ourselves! That hasn't happened in almost 9 years.

On Thursday Jeff was working in Burley so the boys and I joined cousins at the local pool after going to lunch and had a fun afternoon.

 Owen, Coltin, Kamden, & Vaughn

Look at those muscles!

 Addison & Ethan

 On Saturday we had breakfast at the park with Jeff's Grandparents and their 7 kids, a lot of cousins and a bunch of wild cowboys:

 Owen's horse was the only thing holding his shorts up during the barrel race:

 Ethan crashed near the finish line during the sack race:

 I didn't get any other pictures of the weekend but there was a softball game, dinner at the park, and a family slideshow of Grandpa & Grandma Stoker's life together so far. On Sunday we all went to Church before having brunch and heading home.

That Tuesday my niece Kelsey got married in Emmett and she had the 3 best-looking ring bearers in all of history:

 I mean, seriously, those are some handsome dudes. And see what a good job they did walking down the aisle? They were so nervous about everyone looking at them and when they found out they had to wear PINK ties they were NOT HAPPY.

But they all felt better when they found out Uncle Jeff was wearing a pink tie too and they walked that aisle like a boss.

(It didn't hurt that I had bribed them with a trip to the movies the next day to see Turbo)

 In order to see the movie they also had to smile big and be still for pictures, and they did a good job with that, too.

Kelsey looked gorgeous and the boys and I saw Turbo the next afternoon while eating old popcorn and I tried not to think that it was weird that a 50-something man was sitting in the front row all by himself?

I guess animated racing snails appeal to all ages. 

Anyhow, we are so happy for Cody and Kelsey and hope they enjoy their new life in Florida!

 Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the reception:

(notice the pink ties are no longer on)

 So we went to the movie on Wednesday, then on Thursday Ethan's friend from school came over and we spent most of the afternoon at the pool. On Friday Owen said he wanted to go to Lagoon for a picnic but we compromised and drove downtown to a park and had lunch before running errands. I have to say, errands are going to be much easier when they are in school!

Friday evening Jeff took the boys to the ward party at the city pool and I had the evening to myself. It was nice having a quiet house for a few hours and they had a great time swimming with their friends.

On Saturday we went to Emmett and met some friends at the park for lunch before going boating with my dad and niece, Emily.

The boys and I hung out on the beach, the water was too choppy to do much but Ethan went on the boat and road the tube for a bit but mostly we just played in the sand.

Ethan & Kamden were feeling adventurous so they swam out to touch the buoys and they thought that was pretty awesome.

 Of course, a day at the beach is hard work and works up an appetite so there were plenty of snack breaks:

 Then we went back to my parents' house and had a bbq with Ryan, Charly, & baby Everly, Shelly & Bryan, Stew, Kylie, & Miss Braylee, Emily, and Cody & Kelsey so we could all say good-bye before the newlyweds headed off on a new adventure in Florida.

Since the water was too rough for much, rides behind the lawn mower are just as fun:

Tomorrow is the last day of summer, school starts on Tuesday for Ethan & Kamden who will be in 3rd & 1st grade, and Owen starts Preschool on the 3rd.

We've had a wonderful summer and I'm sure in the coming months we'll be missing the long, lazy days and the warm, sunny weather, but we are all ready to get back into the routine of a school year.

Weeks of Summer: Part 5

 About a week after my last post

Owen turned 4!

Last year after his third birthday he said that for his next cake he wanted a Captain Hook cake but at the last minute he started saying he wanted a Fishy cake so that's what we did. It wasn't too cute, but it tasted good along with the homemade ice cream Grandma & Grandpa VanLeuven made.

He's been playing with his new PlayDough and cruising around the neighborhood on his new Plasma car.

 

The boys have been building lots of things with Legos and they are always so excited to see their newest cousin, Everly, any chance they get!

 All of the boys like to take pictures on my phone and I always find it filled up with random shots like these of Kamden sitting on the couch:

  Or about a million pictures of the million ears of corn we husked at my parents' house before freezing corn:

 At the end of July/first of August we went to Utah and spent 2 days at Lagoon and also visited the Hogle Zoo with my parents.

First stop, as usual, was Bulgy the Whale:

 

Jeff took Ethan on some rides while Kamden & Owen did a few on their own, Owen didn't like the Jeeps because of how fast they went around the corner.

Jeff & Ethan are in the first car on the roller coaster:

Owen & I watched while Jeff & the boys rode the Bat. Kamden didn't make it off the ride with his hat, but we got it back at the Lost & Found on our way out that night.

 Twirling on the TeaCups:

 These SpaceShips were Owen's 

FAVORITE

ride in the whole park. 

I have no idea how many times he rode them.

 The Merry-Go-Round is always a favorite:

 And of course anything with a gun is pretty awesome, no matter how annoying the noise it makes when you hold the trigger:

 

I have a picture of me riding these same boats when I was about Owen's age: 

Owen also really liked these planes and he even got in trouble for making the plane bounce too much.

 He probably drove these little cars at least 10 times. I'd say he's about ready for his license.

 

Can you spot Jeff, Grandpa, Kamden, & Ethan?

 Riding the Ski Lift:

 

Grandpa & Kamden on the LadyBug Drop.

Kamden and Jeff also went on the bigger version of this ride, The Rocket.

Kamden said he might go on it 

ONE more time, but he didn't like how it made his stomach go up into his neck. 

 Grammy & Owen went round & round on the DragonFly swings:

 While Grandpa & the boys went round & round & round & round & round & round & round

on the Dragon. It made me dizzy just watching them and the 2nd picture looks like Ethan is going to barf.

Hopping on the Fishy Ride:

 Jeff & Kamden are in the back 2 seats and Ethan is in the front bottom seat.

I was surprised the boys went on this, but they liked it. 
None of the rest of us had the stomach for it.

On our second day at Lagoon we did the water park in the morning and early afternoon.

I was too busy floating around the lazy river and doing water slides with the boys to take any pictures but we had lots of fun and it was a great way to cool off.

While we were in the water park Owen told me he would go on the blue roller coaster that we could see from the lazy river. So when we finished in the water park Jeff took Owen on the roller coaster. If you look closely you can see Owen in the 3rd car next to Jeff.

He does not look happy.

 See how he's crying as the ride comes to an end and they pass the fence?

 It was funny because he went on it several times last summer and he was only 2 then.

He didn't like it this time though.

 So we went back to the DragonFly swings and that seemed to cheer him up a bit.

 We also got some ice cream in Pioneer Village and that didn't hurt, either.

 Owen said he was done with rides for awhile so he waited with me while the others went on Rattle Snake rapids a few times. Owen and I had gone on it the first day at Lagoon and he wasn't a fan of that one, either.

Then we watched with Grandma & Grandpa while Jeff took Ethan & Kamden on the CliffHanger ride.

They went around & around & upside down & they all got soaked. Then they went on the Spider & a few bigger rides before we had dinner.

 We decided to break up our time at Lagoon with a day at the Hogle Zoo in between so we went there on Wednesday and I think that was the HOTTEST day of the week. But we stayed cool enough and so did the elephants:

Watching the Elephant Show:

All throughout the Zoo they had these lifesized sculptures of some of the animals made completely out of Legos!

Looks like we've got some improving to do on our Lego-building skills.

 

 Heading back to the Hotel with a new friend:

 We had such a great time, I love going and watching the boys just have fun as their eyes light up again and again as they run from ride to ride. I'm so glad my parents could go with us again this year, it really makes things easy for me when Grandpa & Grandma are so willing to go on the rides or let the boys drag them all over the park.

Especially when I've been feeling nauseous...

and not because of the rides...

but because of our little caboose that will be arriving in February 2014.

It's been fun to see the boys excitement over the baby, although they all informed me that they want a sister and every time Owen talks about the baby it's "Her" or "She". 

I guess we'll find out in a few weeks.

I was really sick for about 4 weeks but I'm doing much better now. 
Jeff has been so sweet, taking such good care of me.

I'm so thankful for him.

My awesome sister & niece Isabelle sent a card for me & Isabelle made one for the baby which I thought was so cute, she even included two pennies taped to the inside of the card.

 One weekend I took the boys each on their own date to get their school supplies and finish up their clothes shopping.

I'M SO EXCITED SCHOOL STARTS IN TWO WEEKS!!

We desperately need to get back into a routine and, although I'm NOT looking forward to having to get up earlier, it'll be nice to have some structure and routine again.

This is what our family calls

"Hugging it Out" 

 

When you fight you have to Hug it Out.

You have to stand there and hug while you tell each other what you like about the other person and say "I love you."

If you don't do it, you have to go out on the front lawn and do it where all the neighbors can see. Sometimes I pretend like I'm calling the neighbors to let them know the boys will be hugging on the front lawn, and that gets the Hug on.

There has been A LOT of this going on lately.

Kamden & I went on a breakfast date to KrispyKreme Doughnuts and shopped for school supplies and got him the essentials like undies, socks, etc.

Kamden has been so sweet about the baby, the other day after a long morning of grocery shopping we got home and he told me,

"You can lay on the couch 

and eat your taco, Mom. 

I'll bring in the groceries. 

Don't you worry about it."

And he's also been more aware of opening doors for me and once he said, 

"It's cause you're having a baby."

 Ethan & I had a lunch date and he requested Cafe Rio, which is always ok with me!

I can't believe this kid will be in THIRD grade! He wasn't looking forward to summer ending but after shopping he's a bit more excited for it. Which is good, because did I mention it is only 
TWO WEEKS AWAY?! 

 Owen & I had an afternoon date and he got to pick out a box of crackers, which is the only thing he needs to take to Preschool.

He picked out some new shirts and he is all set for it to start on September 3rd. He has been looking forward to it for more than a year and I'm sure he's going to love it.

I'm going to love having 2 afternoons a week to myself & I'm hoping to go in & help out in the boys' classes once a week.

 Owen also took his chore money to the store and picked out some new toys and we stopped at Sonic's Happy Hour for some drinks before going to see my niece's new apartment.

It was a fun/busy/crazy day but I love being able to spend one-on-one time with them.

 We went to see Planes last Saturday and thought it was really cute.

 Last night my brother Jeff & my dad came over for dinner & swimming. We haven't been to the pool much this summer but we've got about a month until it closes so there's still time I suppose. 

 Today I was going to clean the house, but instead we went to lunch & the zoo...

I'll take a day with these 3 over housework any day!

 The male lion was roaring so loud I thought it was fake at first but he sure had a lot to say before he settled down in the shade.

The boys rode the carousel:

 And got to touch a rubber boa that looked a lot like a giant earth worm:

 

 And Owen was thrilled that his favorite part of the zoo wasn't blocked off by the Giraffe encounter and he could go inside.

We call this "The Stinky Place" because it smells awful in there. There are several kinds of bats and I don't know what else, but I can only handle about a minute in there before I have to get out. Owen really does love it though...I have no idea why.

And that's what we've been up to lately!