Off to Lake Powell

Yeah!  We are off to Lake Powell for 9 days as soon as we can get all packed (and a few parts for the boat trailer come in - it would be nice to have the brakes working on the trailer).  It should be a lot of fun but we have TONS to do before we can actually go - like pack clothes.  But, I wanted to sign off before we go.  We will be on a house boat but most likely will not have internet access. So, I will have lots to blog when we get back.  Have a great week!

Last Day of 1st Grade

I can't believe that Dallin is done with 1st grade.  It is a good thing that school is over - all his jeans are destroyed but I refuse to buy more right before summer.  He has loved 1st grade and learned so much.  He was so excited this morning to go to school that he got up all by himself, picked out his clothes, got dressed and even got himself breakfast.  He really is growing up!  And what a fabulous boy he is turning out to be.  He is sad to be leaving his friends for the summer but is excited to start 2nd grade in the Fall.

Matthew's 5th Birthday Invitation

Matthew's birthday isn't for 2 weeks (June 9th) but we are leaving on Thursday for Lake Powell and will be gone until 2 days before his birthday - so I had to get this done today. Luckily, even though my baby isn't taking a nap this afternoon I was able to get the invitation made and sent to Costco to get printed - tomorrow we will take it to a few of Matthew's friends.  One more thing I can check off my list!

Matthew's Pre-school Graduation

Two years ago I couldn't believe that Matthew was old enough to start pre-school.  Now I can't believe he is all done and ready to go to Kindergarten in the Fall.  He has loved pre-school with Ms. Suzee but he can't wait to go to school with Dallin.  It is true that kids grow up way to fast and that we need to enjoy where we are now and not just look forward to the future (even though not changing diapers anymore sounds great).  

How Tall Will They Be?

This is so much fun - I got this from my friend Jamie's blog and had to put it on mine.  This link will take you to a website that will calculate how tall (at least their guess with some formula) your child will be at age 18.  It is really simple - just plug in a few numbers and it predicts how tall they will be.  All I know is that we are in trouble.  It calculates that at 18, are boys are going to be very tall (I can only imagine our food bill):

Dallin - 6' 7"

Matthew - 6' 5"

Gavin - 6' 4"

It is a lot of fun so check it out and let me know how tall your kids will be!

Happy Birthday (yesterday) Gavin!

Gavin is such a fun little guy!  He walked around all last week saying he was having a birthday party and that "his" friends were coming over!  We invited 3 little friends over for his party on Thursday but one was sick so just 2 little girls came (and one of their sisters that is friends with Matthew).  We had to change plans a little due to weather (what a surprise).  Instead of letting the kids do most everything out back, including a "dino" dig for fun little toys in the sandbox, the kids dug for the toys in big bowls of rice (thanks for the idea Michelle T.)! Luckily, 3 year olds don't know the difference. And instead of having cake or cupcakes (which in my experience, kids don't eat real well), we had dinosaur shaped sugar cookies and mini ice cream cones.  Gavin had a great time!  He did get a cake on his birthday - I made him a dinosaur cake that I copied from my friend Rachel (mine wasn't as good but I tried).  Gavin liked his cake and had a great time opening and playing with his presents.  I love birthdays!

Gavisaurus is turning 3!!!!! (on Saturday)

Gavin is so excited!  Today is his birthday party!  He turns 3 on Saturday.  We took these invitations around last week to 3 of Gavin's friends and since then he thinks that every day is his birthday.  He is so cute about having his friends come over.  Too bad the weather, once again, is not cooperating.  It is rainy and cold.  So, I am going to have to figure out something else to do instead of our "dig" for dinosaur bones (and toys) in the sandbox in the backyard.  Luckily, they are 3 and won't care (I hope).  I will share more about his party after it happens (and I find time).  Oh, and I made this invitation in Photoshop Elements (my friend Kristin was wondering where I make some of my pages - but if you read my blog about Brecken's tubes, I do lots of stuff in a program called Memory Mixers).

Brecken Gets Tubes!!! (a week ago)

Brecken had surgery a week ago today.  I am just now posting this because Ed and I went to New York 2 days after his surgery and just got back late last night.  I had hoped to post something about his surgery before we left but it was a rough 2 days - and busy getting ready to go.  Luckily, my fabulous cousin Angela came up from AZ to watch my boys - but more about my trip after I recover a little.  I made these pages on the airplane yesterday (I use a really fun program called Memory Mixers - I will talk more about that another time - but I LOVE it).

Brecken's surgery went great.  The doctor said his right ear drum was already scarred - not affecting his hearing, but doctors will notice when they look into his ears and know that he had bad ear infections.  Now that it has been a week, he is getting back to being his happy self - eating a TON and sleeping again.  I am so happy to have our little guy back!

Happy Mother's Day!

What a wonderful few days it has been - fun Mother's Day program in Dallin's class, a picnic with Matthew at preschool (moved indoors due to the lovely weather here in Utah these days), 3 huge bunches of flowers from Costco, a beautiful bracelet from Matthew, a binder full of Dallin's "best" work from school, pictures my little boys drew for me, sleeping in, breakfast in bed, taking a nap on a Sunday afternoon - what a wonderful Mother's Day!  Ed did a great job!  I just wish my mom lived closer so I could have spent at least part of the day with her.  Someday!

Trap for Bad Guys

I think the boys have been watching way too much Scooby Doo! Saturday night Matthew told me he was going to set a trap so that if bad guys tried to get into our house, they couldn't. So, this is what he came up with (see above picture).  I'm not sure how well you can see it but he took some cheap kite string and tied it to the blinds, across the front door, and to the base of the clock next to the door.  What a cute little guy Matthew is!  I'm sure his plan will work!

Rough Days!

My sweet little Brecken is having such a hard time with all these ear infections (and so is mommy).  I thought I was doing well with 4 kids but not any more (and I probably never was doing great but I felt like I was sort of getting the hang of it).  Now, most of my time is holding a sad little boy that doesn't understand why he is hurting so much - so my house is falling a part (all part of the fun of being a mom).  Luckily, we only have to make it until Tuesday and then things will be much better (I hope).

Gotta Love Gavin!

Yesterday, for some reason Matthew said that I was cool (I did not put him up to that).  The cute part was when Gavin said,

"No, Mom not cool.  She awesome!"

I love my little guys!  It is nice to be liked!

This picture of Gavin is after he worked so hard the other day and put this puzzle together all by himself!  I am very impressed (but, then again, I am a little bias) - he is only 2 (but almost 3).

Brecken Visits the ENT

Yeah!  I took Brecken to the ENT (ears, nose, throat doctor) today (we know her very well - 5 surgeries).  And, yes, he is getting tubes!!!!  Both of his ears are infected - I don't know if this counts as his 6th ear infection or if the last one just never went away - so he is on another round of antibiotics until his surgery.  We are lucky - he gets tubes next Tuesday, May 13!!!  The doctor said that the infection (or whatever it is) is starting to dry on his ear drum and will leave an ugly scar (but who sees an ear drum?) - so he really needs tubes.  I can't wait!  I am so done with ear infections and a poor little sick baby.  He is still a pretty good baby but he is crying more, not eating well, and not sleeping nearly as well as those few days when his ears aren't infected.  Of course, it doesn't help that he is getting his third tooth!

Ed Graduated . . . For the Third Time!

What a GREAT day!  On Friday, May 3, Ed graduated from the University of Utah (that hurts to say - we are definitely BYU fans in our house).  This time, he got his Executive MBA.  I say this time (for those who don't know) because he graduated from BYU back in 1998 in music and computer science with a minor in physics.  And he got his Juris Doctor in 2006 from Concord Law School (and then passed the California Bar on his first try - just for fun).  I am so glad he is done with school - it has been a LONG 6 years.  But Ed loves school so it was worth it.  It will be nice to have him around more.

Graduation day was a fun, and eventful day - besides Ed graduating.  The night before, Dallin had woken up crying because his ear hurt.  After some Motrin and a little TV, he went back to sleep and seemed fine in the morning.  So, since he was feeling fine, we went to Kangaroo Zoo as planned (the boys earned enough "We-bucks" to go).  It is a really fun place with the HUGE blow up toys (www.kangaroozoo.net).  While there, Matthew hit his face on Ed's foot and chipped two of his teeth - he needs to go to the dentist this week, what fun.  After Kangaroo Zoo, on the way home, Dallin started to cry because of his ear.  So, I called the doctor and took him there.  The doctor said his right ear, the one that really hurt, was infected and had a HUGE bulge in it - that is why it hurt so much.  The doctor said his ear hadn't burst yet, but probably would.  He also said the left ear was also infected.  We got some medicine into Dallin and thought he was doing great.  Then on our way out the door to go to graduation, Dallin said something was coming out of his ear.  I didn't believe him until I saw stuff coming out of his ear.  And, stuff is still coming out over 2 days later.  So, when Brecken goes to the doctor tomorrow to see about getting tubes, Dallin is going to come with us so the doctor can make sure he is okay (he had a fever again tonight).  It might really be a long week. 

Is that snow? I thought it was May!

Yes, that is snow.  And yes, it is May 1.  This has been the LONGEST winter ever.  We have had a few really nice days - but they have all ended too quickly.  This morning we woke-up to almost an inch of snow (bottom left 2 pictures in the collage).  Then the sun came out long enough to melt the snow.  And then, it started to snow again (top left).  I asked Gavin what he saw outside and he sadly replied, "Winter" - it is hard to tell but Gavin is standing, looking out the window watching it snow.  I think we are all a little tired of winter - it is great in January and February, but not May.