Happy Pioneer Day

Well, our camera is unfortunately out of commission right now. We're hoping to get it fixed. We've had an eventful week, and I really wish we would have had a camera.

Last week Bob's parents came to visit. It was fun to see them. While they were here, Bob talked his Dad into helping him kill our old chickens. They weren't laying much anymore, and our new chickens are starting to, so it was time. Aliysa spent the morning crying in her room, and Jace went out to help, but unfortunately cut the top of his foot open with the axe when he went to hand the axe to Grandpa Lamoreaux. He went to Community Care for stitches and a tetanus shot. They were going to put in about 5 stitches, but Jace told them he wanted a good scar, so they told him they would space the stitches far apart and they only put in three. He went to church on crutches the next day, but then had a quick recovery so that he could enter the "greased pig contest" at our stake Pioneer Day celebration.

Tonight was the long-awaited stake activity. Nan and her kids are visiting, and got to go with us.

The "greased pig" turned out to be a 250 lb. pig that was in no mood to be chased by a bunch of kids. So they let the kids rope him instead, and get a box of candy for a prize.

There was a dinner, but unfortunately they ran out of food because there were so many people there. Spencer was too busy to eat at first anyway, one of his first stops was to get in line at the dunking pool, and get dunked right away. Then it was off to the fish pond where he, Jace, Brandon & Matthew all caught trout with their bare hands, then caught more for some little guys who couldn't do it themselves.

The girls and the little boys all enjoyed horse rides. Mallory even got brave enough to get on a horse.

Jace and Spencer decided to do the "mutton bustin". I had never seen this before, and it was quite an event. I always have thought of sheep as quiet, peaceful creatures, but, as I stood in line with my boys, I realized they have quite a wild side. I began to be worried that my boys were going to be thrown and trampled to death.

Most kids were thrown within a second. Spencer donned his helmet, got on a sheep, and wow! he held on for quite a while. The sheep tried to buck him off, and he ended up hanging off sideways while the sheep leaped and ran for its life. Quite exciting. He got a good cheer from everyone. This is a fitting activity for our little farming community. I found it interesting to watch everyone, our stake president and other prominent members included, enjoy sitting around watching these terrified kids hold on for their life. There's just something about it that makes you smile.

Jace got on a real large sheep, and it took off. He was holding on to it so tight, that he started choking it, and it stopped in its tracks. He had to turn and whap it on the backside to get it going again. He held on to it as it charged through the crowd of spectators, and finally threw him off.

Well, everyone his happy and tired. I think it was a successful evening.

Independence Day Celebrations

We had a great time with our many celebrations. Bob was again in charge of the "Celebration of Liberty" (celebrationofliberty.org) This kept him busy.

Here are some pictures of our children on the day of the children's parade.

Other festivities included:

"The Tribute" (a patriotic fireside with speakers, songs, and a re-enactment of Patrick Henry's speech. We got the the script from St. John's church in Virginia. Bob was George Washington in the re-enactment, and he did a wonderful job.)

The firework show on the fourth of July - It was a hit, with the only glitch being that the huge firework that was supposed to go off at the very end actually went off a couple of minutes after the show ended. Other than that, it was great. We spent the day at the lake where the firework show is held. The kids and I had a great time. One of Aliysa's best friends who lives in Utah was here, so Aliysa and her friends had a blast together. We all kept from getting sunburned, yeay!

Our niece, Megan. She was here visiting from North Carolina.

Zach & Andrew enduring the heat, waiting for the parade to begin. Luckily there were popsicles waiting at the end of the parade!

Jace and his friend, Eric Call

Mallory had just learned to ride a two-wheeler without training wheels, so she was still a little shaky when she had to go slow.

My oldest and youngest daughters. Aren't they cute? This picture makes me feel old. Aliysa looks so grown up!

Our cutie pie

Father's Day

So, our internet connection was down last week when I wanted to post for Father's Day. Here are some pictures.

We tried to spoil Bob. We gave him breakfast in bed (poached eggs over sauteed asparagus, mushrooms, & onions, with toast, grapes, and apple cider), fixed him a yummy salad for lunch, and then had a delicous Mexican meal for dinner. We had taken our 26 rolls of film (!) to get developed that week, so we gave the pictures to him in photo books, and spent time looking at them on Father's Day. There were years' worth of pictures, they were so fun to see! The kids gave Bob the biography of Henry Eyring (Henry B Eyring's father). Hopefully it was a great day for the best Dad & Husband in the whole world!

Zachary made a card for Bob at church. But....it didn't quite make it to Dad without a "tax" (notice the chocolate on Zach's face, and the remainders of a "kiss" for Dad.) Zach explained happily that he did save half for Bob.

Perhaps not quite half? Unless you count what is melted on the card.

Abby was full of smiles for Father's day

Recenly Aliysa and I both read a "Jeeves and Wooster" book (Right Ho! Jeeves). We were both laughing so hard about one part of the book where Bertie gets in the bath at his aunt's house, and notices a rubber duck. He starts playing with it. It is hilarious. We read it to Bob, and he didn't think it was that funny. He informed us that he would play with a rubber ducky in the bath if there was one. Of course this sent us into fits of laughter. So, for Father's Day, Aliysa gave Bob a rubber ducky of his own. We haven't been able to get him out of the bath since.

Lastly, here are some pictures of Bob's adorable children

We love you Dad!

A few catch up pictures

I'm way behind on blogging, because our internet was down for quite a while (that's my excuse, but I was behind before that happened. It just didn't help any.) So here are a few miscellaneous pictures.

Jace dressed Andrew up in his clothes.

Abby is getting cuter every day. Jace takes such cute pictures of her. We have new kittens at our home. Actually this is an older picture of one of them. They are bigger and cuter now. Anyone want one? Free to a good home. Teri, should we tell Bonnie?

Our kids and some of their friends did some sand sculptures.

Mallory, your tummy is getting a little big!
Aliysa's friend Nicole. (Notice the arms folded behind her head)

Summer is so much fun!

Swim lessons

We went to Green Canyon for swim lessons from May 27 - 31. The children have two lessons per day (1 hr. each), then can swim during free time. They get a lot of swimming in! Jace, Courtney, Spencer, and Mallory took lessons. Aliysa was going to, but her rib hurt too much during the first lesson. (We think she cracked a rib or two during a bike crash a couple of weeks earlier.)

We go up with a bunch of homeschool families, and we all camp there for the week. It is great fun. The kids all play capture the flag outside non-stop when they are done swimming. I don't know how they keep going and going all day. Just the swimming alone would wear me out. They definitely sleep well, until we pull them out of bed for their 8am lesson.

The weather was pretty cold this year, which made it not as fun (not as much socializing, we would all just run to our tents or campers.) Luckily the last couple of days were warmer. The pool is inside, so the weather doesn't affect us there.

Spencer and his teacher. He was a fish! Quite fearless and ready to try anything.

Mallory and her teacher. She cried during most of her lessons, but she finally decided to cheer up and pass her skills test the last day.

Spencer showing off his treats that he earned

Jace doing some sort of backstroke.

Courtney

Jace thinking through his strategy for the next "capture the flag" game.

Mallory, and another red-head, Cosette

All tuckered out at the end of the day, too tired to wait for a bed in the motorhome.

Andrew's Antics, goat attacks, and bike crashes

I walked in the kitchen and found Andrew helping himself to a little snack (like father, like son):

Um...Hi Mom!

A couple of cute pictures I took of him recently in our yard

Our week: Bob has been working hard at school, and then coming home and working hard on putting in our new bathroom & laundry room upstairs. He has gotten a lot done! The bathroom is usable now, Bob got the tub, toilet, and sink hooked up at about midnight last night. The boys were excited to have their own bathroom to shower in this morning!

Aliysa just had her end of the year party to sign yearbooks, roast hot dogs, and play games with her friends from our Charlotte Mason Collaborative School. She, Jace, and Courtney had their piano recital yesterday, and they did well. Aliysa had some especially difficult pieces that she really had to work hard on. They are beautiful.

Jace has had a couple more really "great" crashes on his mountain bike lately. Aliysa has too, in fact, she may have cracked a rib a couple of weeks ago.

Bob, Dan, Dave, and The Spencer (Jess's soon to be husband, this week in fact-yeay!) have been working to make a super mountain bike course in our yard. Bob injured his foot and leg in a mountain bike crash the other day. I wanted him to get an x-ray, but he just kept hobbling around until he realized that if it was broken, it might keep him from playing football this fall. Since he wants to play on a BYU-I team, he finally went into the health center. Thankfully, it is not broken. And I still think he is tough, even though he got an x-ray. Our Spencer also has been working toward getting 100 good bike wrecks because Uncle Dan told him and Jace that they have to get 100 to be in "the club". (Thanks Uncle Dan!)

Tasha broke her neck yesterday on her mountain bike, but she is doing great now. Ha ha. (Really, I have no need for any adrenaline rush that could involve injury. I'm content just watching, cheering, taking pictures, and applying band-aids.)

Courtney is happy because Bob just purchased a violin from a student up on campus. She has been giving herself lessons from a beginning violin book Bob bought. He also bought a trumpet and trombone from another student, so our home has been full of... "music" this week. In fact, yesterday the kids and their friends had a "band": trumpet, trombone, violin, guitar, and piano. ALL AT ONCE. It was amazing! Tasha is contemplating a purchase of a nice set of earplugs. :)

Mallory is still being my little helper all the time. She also has fun riding her bike.

Zach and Andrew continue to be double trouble, and a lot of fun. They are either best of friends, or worst of enemies, and it can change in a split second's time. Andrew loves being outside now. He has two things he says when he wakes up each morning: "I want to go outside!" or "I want FOOD!"

The other day he was outside eating a piece of toast, and the goat (who had gotten off her rope) decided she wanted it. She went after it, and Mallory, Zachary and Andrew started screaming at the top of their lungs. I ran to help them. A tree service man who had just stopped by our home to see if we wanted his service, was just leaving and I think he was, well, rather unnerved to say the least. When he arrived, he was met by two dogs barking furiously at him, and a goat on the front porch. He weakly handed me a paper with his logo & phone number, then quickly left amidst the screams, and me chasing the goat away (in a very dignified, manner, I'm sure.) Ah, such is life around here. Andrew now calls the goat "the mean Me hee hee", and if he can see her, he won't go out.

Abby is getting bigger every day. She smiles a lot and sleeps more now. It is fun to see her grow and change. She has brought a wonderful spirit to her home, as babies always do.

Mother's Day

This week, I've been looking through our old pictures, and I decided to post some of my favorites, that show what we as mothers do for our children.

What might our children say about us?

She encouraged me in life's adventures...

She counseled me to choose good friends

She helped me develop my fashion sense

She put up with all my pets...

She helped me love to learn

She taught me to work hard...

But never bite off more than I can chew...

She encouraged me to "fly"

And to develop my talents She taught me to love people despite their quirks...

She loved me when I was feeling beautiful...

...and on my "bad hair days", too.

Yes, mothers are there to love you in good weather...

...and bad

To love us from when we are young...until we are old...

To help us through the storms of life...

And to support us in everything we do.

“Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother’s image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child’s mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world.”

--David O. McKay (Gospel Ideals, p. 452.)