Grounded

Last week, Dallin got grounded for the first time - and boy was it a big one.  I wasn't home at the time but apparently, Dallin would not pick up his fork when his dad asked him to.  They were having a little power struggle (it might be interesting around here when Dallin is a teenager).  Ed asked Dallin if he wanted to get grounded and Dallin said he didn't care.  So Ed started grounding him from stuff, one at a time.  By the end of it, Dallin was grounded from:

• TV
• Computer
• Wii
• Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches (Dallin's FAVORITE)
• Chicken Nuggets
• All Pre-packaged Snacks

And it gets better.  Dallin was grounded from all of those things (and remember, it is summertime so no school) for:

ONE WEEK!!!!

I later tried to explain to Ed just how hard that was going to be on me since I was the one home all week.  He didn't seem to understand, but I am working on that.  Hopefully in the future, Dallin will not get grounded and just get jobs he doesn't like - because this past week, it felt like I was grounded too!  Luckily, Dallin was so careful to follow the rules - he even got un-grounded a few hours early.  I just hope that next time his dad asks him to pick up a fork (or do anything), he will listen!

Mini-Golf with Daddy

Every year, as part of the Xactware summer party, they have a family mini-golf tournament.  The 3 big boys all got to play this year - Gavin was so excited to finally get to go.  All the boys were excited to get to go "golfing" with their daddy.  Too bad Gavin was not feeling good that day - but there was no way I could tell him he couldn't go.  Luckily, it was a beautiful day (not too hot - rare since it was July).  We all had a lot of fun.  And just to show you how silly I am - I got halfway there and realized I forgot my camera.  So, I stopped and bought a disposable one just so I could blog/scrapbook it!  Yes, I am silly - but I am glad I did.

Learning to Crawl

This little guy is so cute and fun.  He is FINALLY trying to crawl.  He gets up on all 4, rocks back & forth, and goes BACKWARDS!  He loves playing with toys - that is what is motivating him to learn how to crawl - getting to his toys!

Dinosaur Museum

My good friend Carol and I took 6 of our 7 kids (I left Brecken at home with a babysitter) to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point on July 9.  We had a great time!  We really lucked out - it turned out that the week we went, they were having some kind of dinosaur birthday party complete with a giant dinosaur made out of balloons, face painting, and crafts.  The kids love the dinosaur museum (especially Gavin - he thinks he is a dinosaur half the time) but had even more fun this time.  It did help that we took them to McDonald's afterwards.  

Baseball Fun!

Dallin loved getting to play coach pitch baseball this summer.  He did great batting and playing out in the field.  He really had a lot of fun - especially since he had some friends on his team (Jackson, Alex).  My brother Scott and his 3 kids (Michael, Maddisyn, and Braxten) even got to come to one of Dallin's games.  Another time, Ed's brother's kids from Florida got to come (Morgan, Samantha, Jordan, Stuart, and Raeleigh).  I love getting to watch Dallin play sports - good thing because I have TONS of games to look forward to.

2 of our Favorite People - Big Gavin & Amanda

We love Big Gavin and Amanda.  They lived near us when they were dating and when they first got married (last February) - they came over all the time and we loved it.  We were so sad when they moved away (especially Matthew because Amanda was "my Manda").  But luckily, they do make it back to Utah once in a while and they always stop to see us - which makes us so happy.  So, earlier this month when they were in town, they came by.  Big Gavin even built a really cool fort with the boys - they loved it!

Volcano Time

For Dallin's birthday last month, one of his friends gave him a volcano kit.  What a great present! You get to build the volcano (pretty simple) and then 2-3 very long days later (after being asked about a million times if it was time to erupt the volcano) you get to make the volcano erupt.  Ed and the boys had a great time building it and erupting it!

***We have been out of town so I am a little behind in blogging - so hopefully this week I can play a little catch up from before our trip and from our trip (we went and saw my sister in Oregon and her new little baby).

9 Months Old Today!

I can't even believe it - my cute little baby is 9 months old today!  In some ways it seems like yesterday that he was born, but then in other ways it seems like forever ago (the first 7 months were really long and hard - even though I know many others who have harder times with their babies).  But, I must say that now, Brecken is a FABULOUS little guy.  For example, today my brother Scott & his wife (who are in town from NC) were over with their 3 cute kids and Brecken just sat on the floor for over an hour just playing with his toys.  He is starting to have a personality and be so much fun.  I just love this little guy!

DeGraffenried Family Reunion

Every year, around the 4th of July, Ed's Mom's family has a little reunion up Santaquinn Canyon in a campground called Tinney Flats.  Everyone just meets up there and we eat dinner and get caught up, a little bit, with everyone (and there are a lot of people).  This year, there were over 125 people.  Our boys love it because there is a little river right there that they can play in - but it is really cold so they don't get all the way in.  Next year I have to remember to bring 2 pairs of shoes for them - at least I did remember dry clothes.

Swimming Lessons - June 2008

Dallin and Matthew just finished their first session of swimming lessons for the summer.  For the past 4 years, we had gone to the Hadfield's - but they didn't do lessons this year - so I took the boys to Ivory Ridge Swim & Tennis Club for lessons.  The boys loved it there and it is really close.  I LOVE that I didn't have to walk up a HUGE hill like at the Hadfield's.  Plus, there are tons of lounge chairs for the moms and a kiddy pool (only 1 1/2 feet deep) that Gavin could play in - or as he thought, take lessons in.  Dallin was in level 3 and Matthew in level 1 (just to be safe).  After 2 days, they moved Matthew up to level 2 because he was doing so well (and he was the only kid in level 1 and level 2 only had 2 kids in it).  Dallin is getting so good.  He learned several different strokes.  And Matthew, he can actually swim now.  I love watching my kids learn and grow!

Duckie Lake

Last Saturday, the boys woke-up and asked their dad if they could go to "Duckie Lake" - one of their most favorite places to go with their dad.  Sometimes they take the canoe but that doesn't work as well now that there are 3 of them (3 boys plus dad).  They fish (usually without hooks but Ed got a license so they could really fish this time), feed the fish, play on the playground, go on little hikes, & have a fabulous time.  The boys love hanging out with their dad - and luckily for them, he is really good about taking them places and doing things with them.

Up on All 4!

What a happy day!  There is hope that one day my little Brecken will crawl!  Not that I am in any hurry for him to be crawling, but he hadn't shown ANY interest up until today.  Actually, he still has never even rolled from his tummy to his back.  He can roll from his back to his tummy - and he doesn't even get mad any more (at least not for awhile).  

It all started when he was sitting on the floor in front of his dinosaur toy playing with his other toys - this little guy LOVES playing with toys!  After a little bit I realized he was no longer sitting up but on his tummy and actually up on all four, and even rocking back and forth a little bit.  I love this age!  They are changing so quickly and discovering so many things.  It is so much fun to watch him turn into an animated little guy with some personality!