Summer Skills

I got this idea from my sister-in-law. She read a book that taught skills your kids can acquire at certain ages and how important it is to teach them skills that can make them feel successful and self-sufficient. I haven't read her book yet, but am excited to do so. Her name is Merrilee Boyack and the book is called "The Parenting Breakthrough." (She also gave a talk at BYU called "Teaching Kids to Fly)


This is as far as I got without reading the book yet. I obviously put my own interpretation on it, but I am going to use this as a Family Night Lesson this next week to introduce it. I hope it goes over well and helps us get excited about learning new things and helps us realize our progression.

Water, Water, Water

Today I went with some friends to the neighborhood Splash Pool. It was so fun. The boys loved it. Sam liked it so much better this year. Once we got in it was like, "bye Mom." He was running around, diving in, stealing toys! :)
James had a different approach. He loved his floaty and LOVED that it let him walk around in the shallow water. He just hung out and watched all the kids play. I think the small splash pool was much more fun for him than the big pool was.
Sam got a little jealous of James lounging in the ring and had to have a turn. He just laid back in it sunbathing. It was so cute.
We are so happy it's finally summer!




Aren't these the cutest brothers you've ever seen?!

Happy Father's Day to the World's Greatest Dad!

It was about 2 1/2 years ago that Seth became a father and eventhough he wasn't sure he was up to the challenge he has surpassed all expectations I could have ever dreamed up for him(and trust me, I expect a lot!).
He is now a fun, excited, supportive, energetic, helpful, comforting father of two who would do anything for his boys. He loves to wake up early with them and play, take them for walks and to parks, go on daddy outings, set up armies for them to destroy, make their trains to round and round, wrestle, chase, hide, and watch the same shows over and over and over again with them. He supports them in all they want to do and gets excited when they learn something new he has taught them.
I am so lucky to have him as a husband...oh yeah, and the boys are lucky too!:)
Here are some of my favorite "father" shots of Seth.

Two's Company

We had a fun Friday night as we drove up to Logan for a family picnic with Seth's parents and sister. The kids had a blast. The park is so beautiful with huge, mature trees (something we don't see at our parks) and a beautiful stream running through it. This is where we took our family pictures a few weeks ago. It has quickly become Seth's favorite park.
The kids all wanted to swing and so we quickly sloved the problem! How cute are these cousins sharing swings. Sam is with Danny and James is with Tori. They were just giggling up a storm as we pushed them and pushed them and pushed them somemore. I have a feeling this will become a family tradition to stop at the park.

Sam's Breakfast

This is how we keep Sam happy when we go out to eat and have to wait so long for our food. Hey, whatever works. He thinks he's pretty special getting so many "treats" in such cool little containers.
Here's a close up in case you couldn't see it in the other picture. We're such bad parents! :)

I Love this Kid

James has to be one of the sweetest babies I've ever seen. (Okay, I know I am a little bias, but...) He wakes us so incredibly happy and ready for anything. Seth and I love the time we have with him in the early mornings before Sam gets up. He is so content, peaceful, and always waiting for attention, and when he gets it he is so bashful and cute. We are so grateful for our kids!

Butterflies

So Grandma M found the coolest Butterfly farm for the kids. We mailed in and got our catterpillars a little bit ago and last night we got Butterflies. It was so fun to watch the process. I think I was way more into it than Sam, but he seemed to finaly get interested when we saw an actual Butterfly.

Hockey Dad

Seth has been playing hockey again for the last year and a bit, but we aren't able to go to many of his games because they are so late, but tonight was a real treat. He had an early game, so for our Family Night Activity it was off to the ice rink. We love watching "Dad" play. He is always so good to come and say hi to the kids and they just giggle in delight.

Does this Kid Lead a Pampered Life or What?

A pillow?! Of course he shouldn't have to sit on that hard plastic seat. Grandma M's here to save the day! :)

"Nother Song?"

When I sing Sam usually starts screaming and says, "no" and shakes his head. He's even gone to the extreme of trying to cover my mouth. Now I know I don't have the best voice in the world, but come on kid, I don't sound that bad!
I was always so sad, especially since he will be in Primary soon and me being the music chorister, I just pictured him running up and trying to get me to stop. I had always imagined before having kids how nice it would be to be able to sing them to sleep. I had let that vision die after realizing how much he didn't like my singing, until this last week.
Sam was having a hard time going to bed so I layed by him and aksed, "Do you want Mom to sing a song?" He didn't say anything so I started singing. There was no screaming in protest, no little hand trying to cover my mouth. I was so happy inside.
When I finished my song I just laid there by him and he tilted his little, tired head up and said, "nother song?" My heart melted and I sand about 50 more Primary songs to him. He drifted into a sound sleep and I was so happy.
This little pattern has gone on for a few nights now and I just love my special time with him now.

Rain

One of Sam and my favorite things to do is to watch the rain. We have had so many huge rain storms lately that it's been a real treat for us. I've been able to run in the rain lately and love it. (Who knew that the words "run" and "love" would ever be in the same sentence!) There's something so refreshing about the rain and how the earth is after it. It reminds me of the Primary song about how we want to be clean after baptism like the earth is after the rain. I've never heard a better description of it before!

The Result

Well, it only took about a week and as you can see Seth and Sam are having the time of their lives. It is so cute to see Sam so into something just because he likes it, not because we introduced him to it.
We'll ask Sam to do something or if he wants to go somewhere and he just gives us the, "nope." He is quite content to just stay with his trains and go around and around and around and around.
If we go anywhere he has to take a few trains with him. And as you can see, there is no going to bed without them. Hey, whatever works! And trust me, he know every single one he has. There's no fooling this kid. He is just like his dad, it's so cute.

Our Aquarium

We decided to get season passes to the Aquarium here and have loved it. When we're going to go we ask Sam if he wants to go see the sharks. He then has "Shark Terets" for the next 20 minutes until we get there. It is so cute.
It was especially fun to watch James get so into the fish this time. He was glued. He is growing up so fast! Those little minds are so fun to watch. You can tell there is so much going on in there.
The sharks were especially active today and would swim right in front of Sam and freak him out. He would just giggle with so much excitement he'd almost fall over everytime!
I love when we get to go do things as a family. I love spending time with the 3 men in my life. I love watching how much Seth loves it too. I don't think there's anything we wouldn't do for our boys. I am so grateful that I have an Eternal Family thanks to the Restored Gospel and the Priesthood. I can't imagine ever having to part with them. What a comfort to know that I never have to. I am so blessed!

My Sister, My Friend

I have the best sister in the world. She is my best friend. She comes up frequently with her kids to play with me and my boys. It's never just come and play though for her, she always ends up picking up my house, cleaning something, or doing my dishes. She's so great.
But the greatest thing about her is that she is just someone to be "me" with. We are just two wacky peas in a pod. She's always up for anything. I can call her anytime for anything! She's inspired me to be more stylish, lose weight, and do more. I love her so much!

What did I DO?!

I had no idea what I had started when I let Sam finally get a Thomas the Train at Toys 'r Us on Saturday. He is way into trains and we finally got a Thomas DVD for him (which he never stops watching). So I thought, Okay, let's just get him a Thomas, he has other cheap wood trains he can just add to the back.


Well, as you can see, he loved it. We'd ask him if he wanted to go on a walk, or go to the store, or whatever else we'd ask, and he'd just shake his head and say, "nope." He was not going to leave his train. He woke up from his nap and we didn't even get so much as a "hi". It was straight to the train for more hours of circle after circle.
Well we all know how cleaver those toy companies are. They include a mini-brochure of all the wonderful things you can get to go along with the one you have. Sam sat admiring it and that was all it took for his dad, the push-over.


The look...this is so dangerous. I know that look. I used to use that look on my parents. Why didn't it work like this?


Of course you can get them all! Super dad is here with his magic laptop and ebay.


Oooo! Somebody dared to out bid me. I'll show them.


Don't worry Sam, Daddy won't lose again. This one's mine!


Yes!


What was I thinking? One little train. Just one...yeah right. Anyone who's been at our house knows we are the classic collectors who can't just have one.