San Diego

 4th of July run at Ponto Beach- each year we have run some place different. Quite a bit different running on the sand rather than the pavement!

 And they are off....

 and this is how it ended- no suprises here! You can't keep kids and water separate- its a physical impossibility!

 what-u-looking at mom?

 zach started wanting to get in the water. Still no wet hair at this point in time- so still some work to do!

 He only wanted to get near a boogy board if it was firmly planted on the sand.

 Debating whether the pizza at Seaport village was a thumbs up or down

 Nothing like some serious cheese on your pizza!



Summer Fun

June we enjoyed being home, July we played. When we planned our summer we didn't intentionally plan to be gone for the whole month but that's what happened! No complaints, but we were all happy to have our own beds back. San Diego for the 4th, New York for awhile, then down to Texas for a Teuscher family reunion and a visit with my sister. The boys have gotten their own camera's so I will intersperse some of their photos in. I always enjoy seeing what they find photo worthy or see what they happen to capture.

March

We got home just in time to enjoy the end of spirit week at school, Friday was crazy hair day. Let's just say I will count my blessings that I don't have to do hair every day of the week, I think I might scream. Kudos to all you who do your daughters' hair- if we had girls they might be sporting the bobbed look their whole life. (Come to think of it, Jenny, do you think that's why we got the ubber-cool looking sugarbowl haircuts our whole young life ?:-)

 We also picked my mom up from the airport Friday as well.  My cousin, Andrew got married Saturday here in Mesa. I have a total of four cousins. Four. Two on each side. This wedding was a big deal. Friday evening we enjoyed having the Endsley, my mom's side of the family over for dinner.  It almost seemed surreal having everyone around my kitchen table, we were always at the ranch around Bill and Kath's kitchen table growing up. It was one of those times you think you are 20+ years younger, you revert back to being young again, not believing time has brought you where you are today. I was filled with very sweet thoughts/memories of growing up being with this side of the family. Each summer, when we were young, mom would load us up in the yellow chevy station wagon and drive us to Colorado to visit her side of the family. Sometimes my dad would come, sometimes he wouldn't. Some years we stayed for weeks, but as we got older the time shortened. Each of us would take a row in the station wagon- since there were three of us, each of us got a row. Joe generally got the back, his cocoon, and off we'd head across CA, NV, and UT. We'd get water from springs, build fence, watch branding, round-up cows....so I've digressed some here. Anyway, Andy, was getting married here of all places- fun for us!




Mom, Brandon, & Zach- the other boys went to opening day for their baseball teams

 


Andy and Andrea ( sorry family I didn't get a close up of them)

 


Virginia and Uncle Jack ( my mom's uncle)

 

Mom, Aunt Virginia, Aunt Kathy- my mom's two sisters

Uncle Bill and Aunt Kathy

Each year the school holds field day, where the kids play games for half the day. 5th and 6th grade are held later in the spring, so we just saw Matthew and Andrew. I had never been down to see field day, so we went down to check out the activities this year. They always have a few water games thrown in which helps make it even more fun.

Andrew turned 7 on the 23rd. Seven. He's been gleening ideas over the last few years from the other's birthdays. We played the best of the best games, in his opinion, with a myriad of clues thrown in to guess the next game. He chose: searching for pennies, guessing the hidden food in the bowls by touch ( the mashed bananas really grossed them out), throwing spears at balloons to pop them, sorting m&m's by color and then having to eat a certain number of them, among a few others. Andrew is a tough willed, determined child and can get quite intense. His mind thinks and works and spins way beyond a seven year old. He is loveable and loves to come snuggle during movies. He could be read to for hours and hours. We have been reading the Harry Potter books at night lately and just dies ( remember that intensity I already spoke about) when the book is shut. He builds the longest most elaborate lego ships, but has yet to master the need for structural stabilization, so a great majority break when you breath too hard.

He wanted an icecream cake with oreos.

His own Y hat, and a You Got Jimmered shirt rounded out his stash. He was so excited for the shirt, since we were in the throws of Jimmermania at the time!

Disneyland

We took our five year pilgremidge to the Happiest Place on Earth the end of Feb/March. I figure if we do this every five years or so, we are going to enjoy it without the throngs who decend upon it during Spring or Fall Break. Although we still managed to run into quite a few families we knew. (This is really just a bunch of pictures, so feel free to skip right through them!) We took great advantage of the fast passes and companion passes, rode all the rides to our fill, even got to stay on some rides and keep riding, had great weather and had no complaints, unless you were the one who rode with Zachary. He loved all the rides that went in circles- rockets, Zephyr (those types) and especially loved spinning on Buzz Lightyear. There was no hope in scoring any points when riding with him, except feeling slightly dizzy when getting off. The other three were roller-coaster-happy, so if you spent more time with them, instead of your head spining when trying to go to sleep, your body felt like it just kept moving.

We tried to give the boys a real life lesson in budgeting. We gave them a budget and with that money they determined where we would stay, if we would walk or ride the ART, would we bring food in or buy food there. All in all they did a great job with their task, although we could used a greater variety in the hotel breakfast. But in their eyes- you don't need more variety if you get donuts every morning!

After Andrew finished fighting Darth Vader, the assistant told him to go use his light saber on the clone trooper. He did as he was told, (suprisingly!) and got a few laughs. I thought he came up with the idea on his own, and wondered what on earth he was doing!

Andrew trying his first roller coaster, he was so excited, but came off almost white and scared stiff. Much to his credit he decided to try it the next day, and fell in love with it. We were proud of him for trying something again, he was truly afraid of.

Andrew still a little shaken up.

 I was the only one who got soaked- I seemed to always get the "lucky" seat!

Eating lunch with the Taylors. I love Boudin bread. Love. Love. Love it. and here all the kids are feeding the seagulls with the left over bread- it about killed me. We were just missing the Bishop ( they actually came the next week). Bro Taylor is the other counselor with Brian.

For Dawn

Zach loves "Kluno"-we can't get him to say Pluto!

Enjoying the massive corn dogs.



Febuary

Suprised to see me pop up in your reader?

I have been doing a co-op preschool/joyschool, whatever you may call it, with Zachary and four other friends this past year. Initially, I wasn't going to do it, but then realized the dear one needed a regular outlet with children his own age AND more importantly to learn to be without his dear mamacita. Ay! He will finally go to the others homes without a struggle or a panic attack, so all things considered we have achieved our goals. We took the kids to Marley Farms one morning. They have a petting zoo with a variety of animals, rescued or abandoned- goats, llamas, deer, camel, pigs, kangaroos, a zonkey (zebra/donkey). We wondered who would want to try that combination of genes- a bored geneticist? The kids can feed all the animals, which they had a ball with.

The Zonkey

A little intimidating from a three year olds perspective!

Aunt Nelly came for a whirlwind two days- how excited we were to see her. We last saw her over three years ago ( far too long) She brought her mom to visit with some medical specialists here in Phoenix and lucky enough for us they stayed with us. I let the boys play hookey from school the morning before they flew home, so they could actually spend some time with her. She was inindated with favorite Wii games, football, baseball, and all things Lego- bless her patience; and tried to convince the boys that a move to Georgia would be a great idea!

Body World came to the AZ Science Center. I have always wanted to see it, Brian on the other hand has never wanted to see it. Good thing I've got Dawn. She and I took Brandon and Matthew to this this exhibit- it was incredible. Andrew so wanted to come, but it just is not for seven year olds. Even Matthew had enough about half way through. Before we went, we spent some time talking about the body and even got out my old Anatomy book. Of all the kids Andrew was the most interested and continually asked questions. I finally got to the point where I had to limit him to 5 questions a night, he could just keep going and going. Perhaps he'll be our doctor?

Why Character Counts

At first glance of the title, I'm assume you are thinking here comes a story about one of the kids standing up for something, showing great integrity or something of the likes. I wish I had one of those.


Many may be familiar with my preferences in children's toys- classic, can be used across the span of ages, durable, and I really dislike toys/games with Characters on them. For example: when we went to buy the game Memory years and years ago, I had a hard time finding the classic version. When I found it, the box even stated "Classic Memory" I didn't want one that had Toy Story on it, or Cars or what ever the movie du jour was then. I wanted classic, never go out of style Memory. So needless to say, for better or worse, you may be in my corner for toys, or you may think "what kind of parent are you?", you will find very few Characters floating around our house.

Except for underwear. Yes. Underwear. In this one instance, I whole heartedly, fully embrace Characters. In this one area Character Counts.

Zach and I had the ritual experience every mother and child has of first underwear shopping. He couldn't find anything he wanted, and I am thinking there has to be something here amid all these racks of underwear that is going to catch your eye. No there was nothing. Nothing was going to do. So, I picked him up and I grabbed a few packs just to have them, praying it wasn't going to make a difference who was on his bum. And then the scream, " Bobba!!"

Bobba??

Mom, I want Bobba and Jango. And there it was one package of Lego Star Wars. Didn't know they had forayed into the underwear business? Neither did I. But at that moment, praise to the marketing department at Lucas Filmworks and Lego. We will survive yet another round of potty training.

January

It may be the year of the Rabbit, but in our house it has started as the month of Zachary. Today, the last Sunday of the month he walked with Brian down to the Primary room, sat in a chair by himself and made it through the two hours without any incident. Contrast those scenes with some classic snapshots of the last month….the child loudly saying during the Sacrament Meeting closing prayer, “ I am NOT going to Primary…crying, crying loudly in Singing Time… keeping his little feet planted firmly on the ground in the chapel, not wanted to move them one inch because he knew where he was going… Yes, prayers are answered.

Even in the co-op preschool I do with him he has let me go out to the car to eat my yogurt for half the time. Baby, baby steps have made for a few large strides the last few weeks.

Potty Training is the other milestone we have started work on. I remember how much I dislike this aspect of child rearing. At least with the other boys there was always a younger sibling around that we had to be home for naps or other such “scheduled” events. We are accustomed to being free spirits now, we can go and do things, errands, airplane watching, park playing, whatever it is, whenever we want. So to be home all week has been a little stifling on our systems. He’s done great and actually, when all is said and done may have been my easiest one yet. It pays to be patient and wait.

Brian and I were talking the other night about Zachary. At times we focus so much on specific behaviors to improve, we don’t notice others which are rapidly growing and developing on their own. For instance, Zachary can conduct a Family Home Evening, by himself, and knows the specific order our family does things in and what to say. He has started praying independently and can make accurate statements in his prayers about events that are going on, people who are visiting or use appropriate language. Of course, we have plenty of random and off the wall statements, but it is fun to watch these aspects of his little persona develop.

My friend Laurel told us about Kids Rock, which her kids have participated in Denver. PF Changs Rock N Roll Marathons have started a program to encourage exercise, health and wellness in children. They encourage the kids to run 25.2 miles prior to race day, on race day they run the last 1 mile to complete their marathon. They run their race on the actual course, with all the fanfare and excitement of the marathon. The boys had a great experience and are all ready to race next year. We timed them the week prior to the race and they were running from 9:30 Brandon to 10:00¬ –Andrew. Race day they all ran 1 minute less than their best so all ran sub 9minute miles. We were proud of their efforts and seeing something through the end- a long term achieved goal.

January also brings Pinewood Derby. Matthew’s entry was “Streak” a low profile thin silver…well…streak. Matthew had a great time building his car this year, which he did by himself. He really got into working on his car and spent quite a bit of time sanding his car down to smooth silkyness, he has the patience to work small details and enjoy the process of building. All the boys in the pack had a fun morning, the atmosphere in the gym was like night and day with our previous ward. (Our previous ward had some serious derby families) Fun. Friendly. Genuine enthusiasm. Matthew’s car streaked down the track to fastest in the Pack. In typical Matthew fashion his response when called up was a smile and two nods of the head.

My SIL, Dawnelle, sent us some National Geographic Puzzles for Christmas. During New Years I sat down to start the one of Mt. Everest. What a bugger of a puzzle!!! Dawn, not to be confused with Dawnelle, got sucked in to it on a Saturday night when she was supposed to be home preparing her RS Lesson for the following morning. We kept chiding her to somehow tie the puzzle into her lesson. She asked Andrew what she should teach the sisters- his response- just teach them how to build a puzzle.” Wise beyond his years. Wouldn’t we all love to know exactly how to build this puzzle of life? I spent most of the month, on and off working on the puzzle, and did finally finish it, with no picture to prove its completion. Dawn beautifully tied in the puzzle to her lesson, and I thought about it over and over as I was trying to put these little pieces together. These are my thoughts of how putting together a puzzle relates to life. We know what we are supposed to do to be happy= we know how the edge pieces go together. Knowing is pretty easy compared to doing. Putting (doing) the middle is the tough part. You try a piece, and it doesn’t work, you try another, and another and another…Finally you find one that does. But it takes effort, thinking, and a certain stamina. Take for example, reading scriptures with your kids… you try one way, and then another, then a different time, and then a different room, a different way of laying on the floor, a different lighting in the room (you get the idea)…finally you find the way that works for you. For us its 6:40 in the morning- Brandon is ready to get picked up for orchestra at 7:00 and the other three come down in their jammies. But you don’t give up just because you can’t find the right piece. It’s there, you just have to try something new. I had a love/hate relationship with the puzzle- I was compelled to finish it, but it would drive me nuts because it was so ridiculously hard. As in life....I am compelled to be good mother and wife, but some days it is ridiculously hard!!

Brian went to the Tostitos Bowl with a few guys from the ward - we looked for him in the nosebleed seats but couldn’t ever find them.

We celebrated Brian’s birthday, somehow with the whirlwind of January it came up on us faster than we expected. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime’s two day shipping which 90% of the time is overnight for us, due to their warehouse somewhere in the Phoenix valley. It’s saved my hide a few times. He’s a good man and I am a lucky woman to have him around. I appreciate his sacrifice and dedication to all that he carries on his shoulders and always with a bit of humor ( in true Brian fashion).