September part I

Trampoline - When I started hearing that my children wanted to play at other kids houses because they had a trampoline, I started thinking that we really need to just break down and get one.  I kept thinking that my backyard was too small to have one, but decided even though it takes up a huge chunk of the grassy area, it would be used for many things including to get the boys many wiggles out.  I started looking online for a used and new trampoline.  We ended up opting for a used once since it was hard to justify the price difference.  We found this one for $75 in Orem that was about 4 years old, but barely used.  It came with a cover for the springs, but started falling off immediately and breaking into pieces.  We went without one for a week until Carter had a pretty good mishap.  He was doing one of his many crazy moves which included doing a front wards flip when he ended up landing right on the springs with his mouth .  It knocked his top baby tooth out and made his bottom tooth loose.  There was also a huge blood blister on his lip.  Poor guy!  I felt so bad for him and decided at that time we needed to get a cover for the springs.  I later found out that the only reason Carter hit the springs was because he started the jump in the middle of the trampoline which caused him to land on the springs.  So after $70, we got a nice new mat to protect my very adventurous boys from hurting themselves:).  

Parker is my most daring child on the tramp.  He seems to have no fear and I have to sometimes turn my head when he jumps with the fear he will hurt his neck.  He does front flips, back flips and what my kids call "gainer" (a back flip where you actually go forwards).  It looks way cool.

We only had the tramp a couple of nights when Byron let them sleep on it.  Poor Bradley has a way too overprotective mom to let him also enjoy with the kids.  They all loved it and even had a mom that remembered to turn off the sprinklers that night:).  Camille, Parker, Carter, Tanner & Johnathan

 The kids spent every moment they could out on the tramp for about the first month.  They have so many different games they enjoy playing on it.  (Carter with white shirt and Parker with blue shirt).

 All of the kids got some alone time to show mom their cool tricks.

 Parker

 Carter

Johnathan

Tanner

Pocket knives - When I got the monthly newsletter saying that Carter & Parker would be carving soap for scouts, I got very nervous.  We have had way too many mishaps with knives when the boys were young.  Tanner and Johnathan both sliced their fingers pretty good when they first started using them.  So the thought of letting my 9 year olds each use them when I wasn't around to supervise made me very nervous.  Brother Boyle taught them the safety of knives and helped them.  Unfortunately both Carter & Parker needed to get a band aid at one time during the carving session.  Yes - that would be my boys - luckily it wasn't very deep, but still scary enough for me to know that they need to be 11 or 12 to use them again.  They had fun making some cool soap creations, though.  Carter carved a football and Parker carved a "Y."

Lagoon -Byron had his company party at Lagoon this year.  We had missed going for a couple of years and was so excited that they chose to have it here again.  We went from around 5-10 p.m., but were able to do everything we wanted to and some.  With Carter & Parker being so close in size to ride on the roller coasters, we really hoped this would be the year for them since it is always so hard with children pretty old and not being able to ride them.  We got to the first roller coaster and Carter was right on the mark and Parker right under.  Unfortunately poor Parker ended up sitting out as the older 4 were able to ride all of them.  Parker was a great sport as he went with Byron, Bradley and I to other rides.  I ended up getting Parker a Slurpee to help make him happy - sugar always helps, right?  We had a great time and enjoyed the fun rides.  For dinner, we got hamburgers and hot dogs thanks to NuSkin - it was delicious!  Their new ride, BomBora, was a really fun roller coaster that even Bradley could ride.  He was terrified, though, so never would ride it again until later that evening getting up enough courage to try it.

Carter (green shorts) & Parker (blue shorts)

Camille & Parker on the skyride.

Tanner, Johnathan & Parker on the "Music Express."

Byron let the kids play a game where you had 3 chances to knock down the plates.  Tanner ended up winning a cute penguin.

As the night was ending, Carter & I went on the white roller coaster.  I noticed as I went with Carter that the worker wasn't looking too closely at height.  As soon as we got off, I immediately got Parker to come with me on it.  Luckily he got on - maybe that wasn't the safest thing, but he was so close in height and so sad he couldn't ride the rides.  He loved it and had a huge smile on his face after we got off.

Tanner - Soccer games started and were every weekend somewhere in Lehi/SLC area.  He started getting really good at being defender (even though he preferred to be the forward).  He has made some great friends though soccer and can't get enough of it.

St. George with Chapples

We planned a fun get away with Scott and Heather Chapple in September.  They had just had baby Noah a few weeks previous so that cute little guy came along also.  We left Friday and came back on Saturday - a very quick trip, but so fun to get away for a weekend.  When we arrived, we checked into our hotel and then went to the Brigham Young house.  The upstairs air conditioning was broken, so it was really hard to stay up there too long.  There were times when I thought I would pass out so I was glad Byron came downstairs with me.  We also walked around the Temple grounds.  It was absolutely gorgeous - a nice man took our picture together.  We ate dinner at 25 Main and enjoyed some yummy food.  The highlight of the trip was going to see "Little Mermaid" at Tuacahn.  I went previously in June, but was so excited to go again with Byron.  From the time we purchased the tickets around June and going in September, they made changes where they didn't allow little babies into the theater any more.  Luckily we were able to convince them that it wasn't listed and they made an exception for us.  Noah did great through it all.  The play was really good.  I enjoyed watching it from a different perspective as we had a little higher seats.  After the play we were able to get pictures with the actors/actresses.  Heather & I got one with Scuttle - this guy was so awesome through out the performance and did an amazing job!  We headed back the following day.  It is always fun to get together with Scott & Heather.  Byron has such a close relationship with him and it is fun to see it when we get together.

Governor Gary Herbert was there at the same time as us.  It was fun to see him in person and  how many people were interacting with him. (he is wearing the black shirt - I had to zoom in from quite a distance and it was dark).

August Random pictures

Puzzle - Aunt Nancy let each of the kids pick out a puzzle from her closet.  Johnathan was so excited to get home and put his together.  He was very diligent and finished it pretty fast with pretty much no help.  

Trafalga - We went to Trafalga quite a bit during the summer, but I didn't bring my camera very much.  This particular time I did and enjoyed getting my sweet children enjoying themselves.

Carter, Tanner & Parker

Johnathan & Bradley

Soccer - Tanner has been LOVING the soccer from the long practices and the games.  He also can't play it enough as he tries to round up his brothers every day to go outside and play with him.  He has endless energy and loves expelling it outside rather than in front of the TV.

First Day of School - This was a day I had been looking forward to for some time.  I love having my children home during the summer, but am always ready for school and some routine to come back into our lives:).  I don't think they were as excited to start.

This year was the first year with my children at 3 different schools with 3 different schedules.  It is pretty crazy as I try to keep them all straight.  Camille has to be to the High School at 7:45 a.m., then Sego Lily starts at 8:00 a.m., with the Junior High starting last at 8:15 a.m.   I guess the schedules all revolve around the buses since the same buses that take to the High School also take kids to the Junior High, etc. This schedule is a nightmare at times, though.  Pick up is also hard as I go and get Camille at 2:15 p.m.  Luckily Johnathan, Carter & Parker go on the bus.  Then I pick up Tanner every other day when he has his trumpet to drive him home around 2:45 p.m.   This year more than any other I am starting to feel like a taxi service:).  Byron thinks I am absolutely crazy and wants the kids to all walk.  I am a softy and don't really mind picking them up especially if they don't have anybody to walk home with.  The thought of something happening to one of my children to or from school is something I couldn't imagine being able to deal with.

Carter, Parker, Tanner & Johnathan

Bradley made his own sack lunch as he didn't want to be left out of all the excitement:).

They are off to the bus.

Cute Camille before heading out to school.

Arrow of Light -  Johnathan received his Arrow of Light on August 24th.  He received his the same day as Tad Jacobs.  Brother Scott Boyle did an amazing job!  It was pretty cool to see all of the hard work pay off as he got this awesome award.  Dad Beck was able to join us, which was really cool to have him there.

Preschool - Bradley is my first child to attend a preschool that we pay for.  Byron talked me into it for our last child.  He is attending the Peck's preschool with Ms. Heather and Ms. Denise.  His first day was on August 26th - a very long awaited day.  He is going with 12 kids from our neighborhood along with Eli Wilcox.  He goes every MWF at 9:30-11:30 a.m.  I love how it is just down the street.  I am excited to have time to myself to get things done without interruptions:).   After having 6 children and being married for 16 years, it is about time I get that break:).

Scouting - We have some pretty amazing scout leaders in our ward.  Tanner & Johnathan both had a camp out on the same weekend on Aug. 26-27th.  Tanner had his 20 mile hike while Johnathan had a backpacking camp out.  Byron ended up going with Johnathan for his first scout camp out.  I think after everything was in Johnathan's bag he about fell backwards:).  He was so excited to start this new part of his life.  Johnathan has always been a huge lover of scouting and has wanted to achieve everything he can.  He was one my only child to read the Wolf handbook a few times and pretty much knew it in and out.

Tanner had his long awaited 20 mile hike for the hiking merit badge.  He was actually pretty excited to go.  This boy loves anything outdoors and hiking is definitely one of them.  We don't do this very much with the family, so any chance he gets with scouts is something he looks forward to.  I don't think he actually knew what he was getting himself into as he left that day.  They went up American Fork Canyon for the hike.  He ended up coming home the following day looking like a dust storm had hit - he was filthy from head to toe.  The pictures just don't do justice.  He also was very tired.  His shoes and socks show evidence of what they had to endure.  Byron wasn't very sad to have missed this hike:).

Cutting - Up to this point, I had never seen Bradley really cut anything.  He loved to color, but when he would cut it wasn't very good or he wouldn't finish the project.  He brought home a paper from Sunbeams that he was told to cut out the different food items and glue them in the box.  I saw the project after Bradley finished and was completely amazed.  This little boy had mastered the scissors so quickly - I just couldn't believe that he had done this all by himself.  He was one excited little boy to show off his work.

Hogle Zoo - Becki Wilcox invited Bradley & I to go to Hogle Zoo with them on August 30th.  There was a cool dinosaur exhibit that was going to be leaving the next day, so we took the opportunity to go.  I had such a great time going with this cute family.  Eli and Taylee are adorable and were so fun to be with.  I did have the hardest time getting them to smile for me:).

As we were walking toward an exhibit, a worker carrying some ferrets let the kids look at them and touch them.  They loved this!

The dinosaurs actually moved and made noises - pretty life like.  Taylee was a little scared of a few of them.

Bradley - here he is with a cute craft he made in preschool.  He is loving it and asks each day if today is preschool.  He is making a lot of great friends.  Compared to last year at this time when he wouldn't go to Joy School without crying, we have made some huge adjustments.  I am so glad he has decided that leaving mom and going with others is actually a fun and enjoyable thing.  He is such a cutie!

Salsa - I made my first batch of salsa in quite a few years.  Thanks to my neighbor's awesome recipe - Lisa McArthur.  It is so easy and something my whole family loves.  Luckily Camille was given a small electric chopper for her birthday.  This made cutting up the jalapenos and peppers so easy!  I am excited to get more tomatoes next year to make some more.