Caleb's Lego Entry

Caleb got his Lego magazine and found a contest inside for building a room for Jaba's castle. He read the requirements and went to work all by himself and this is what he came up with:

 

Its a restaurant. Complete with bar seating, tables, kitchen, and cook. Not to mention parking for speeders and Tauntauns.He had to use Lego Star Wars kits with accessories from other sets so he was pretty limited in what he could use but still did a great job. I love the chicken leg and cups!

 

He is so excited to mail his picture in tomorrow!

Primary Music

About a month ago I was released from the RS Presidency. It was a bittersweet day. But with John and I both in Presidencies for the last couple of years it got to be tough on our little family. So I got a new calling - one I NEVER thought I would want or get - I am the Primary Music Leader. It is a  lot of fun and I can tell in a couple of months I will love it! For right now it is super out of my comfort zone and nerve-wracking!

I don't really know how to lead music, I don't really have a great singing voice, and I cant read music at all! But I can play games and plan fun things and slowly I am not as terrified when I am up there. Today is my 5th week and we are having a cookie party today because the kids have worked so hard to learn the words to the program songs.

That is one thing that is important to me in this calling is to make sure the kiddos learn the words. The songs have such important messages and meaning and can be such a good tool later in life when choices get more complicated for them. That is how I think I will judge success for me as the chorister - the kids are having fun each week and enjoy singing time, and they learn the words and understand the messages.

It is certainly out of my comfort zone but I am getting really excited for our program! Its going to be really special!

Pool Safe!

I just want to document that this was the weekend that Beckham finally took his breaths when swimming! I'm SOOO exited for 3 pool safe kids!!!

Pioneer Day

Pioneer Day started out with a huge thunderstorm and beautiful rainbow!

Then we were off to the Pioneer Day float and parade.

Beckham spent most of the parade gathering candy but when we went by he came out with us and jumped on the float.

We went over to do the games and of course the minute we let them Davis and Caleb got in the line to get dunked. They went over and over!

We had a great time and came home right before the storm broke again. It cleared up just in time for us to have a big party and BBQ at our house that night!

Wolf!

The whole family got to enjoy a month of fun learning to finish off the requirements Caleb needed to get his wolf. This last week he got his award, as well as 1 gold and 1 silver arrow point.

I really do like the things the cub scout book teaches him and make us aware of that he is ready to learn. For example one of his requirements was to learn how to turn the gas and water off in our house. He looked like a little man following dad around and looking closely at the valves.

Well done bud!

After the awards they had a rocket derby. They had a lot of fun. Davis really wanted to put a rocket together and John helped him and he ended up with the highest rocket of the night!

Arches National Park

John had to go to Moab for some work, so we made it a weekend! He worked on Friday when we got there and the boys and I swam and watched a lot of cartoons, and swam more when Dad got back.

 
Then Saturday we spent the day in Arches. I figured we could do the 3 mile round trip hike with the boys to delicate arch but it wasn't easy!

We did it first so it would be cooler and then we were too tired to do anymore so we just drove around and looked.

One the way home we passed through Richfield and John had made a contact there that had apricot trees so we stopped to pick apricots. We stopped again in Cedar City for dinner and had a leisurely ride home. It was an awesome little trip with no DVD player! The boys actually did great. Sometimes I wonder if the DVD player on a trip makes things worse because they don't even try to play. This trip they had a ton of fun playing together in the back.

Since we have been back I have turned all the apricots into jam!

I don't like apricots but I loooove apricot jam!

Summertime

Wow I feel like I haven't had a second to catch my breath let alone take the time to write on my little blog here. We have been playing - HARD! Its been way fun and super busy, especially now that I'm trying to fit canning into our schedule. My house is a mess! I just keep telling myself that I wont have these summers forever! Most of our time has been spent at the lake. We will go for 6, 8, even 10 hours at a time! Often time we will just stay all evening and have John join us after work. We cliff jump, swim, chat, and fish. It really has been wonderful!

Downpour!

Its been so hot here! Like 110 degrees! So tonight we grabbed a pizza and headed to the splash pad for dinner!

By the time we were leaving the wind had picked up and the flag looked so beautiful!

And then the storm broke - it was a wild desert storm with rolling thunder and huge lightening. It was hot and muggy and so fun to play in the rain - until the lightening started and like a good Mom I made the boys come in the house!

Davis did his rain dance!