What a FUN Day!

Max, Justin and I picked up the King boys and Jake Majors and went to Merrill Park. We had so much fun making up relay races, throwing rocks in the river, exploring new trails, and all the fun and crazy things boys love to do. These boys are good kids and so fun!


Then to Tyla Major's home in the evening for Science Wednesday. Justin taught the group about air pressure and how to make rockets for his VERY HOT rocket booster. It was a BIG HIT. The kids really love this! Justin still holds the record for the highest shot rocket.

Got Dirt?

Jacob's flower

We were driving by this island of tulips and I couldn't keep going. They were so brilliant and beautiful...we HAD to stop and enjoy them! Tulips are Jacob's flower. Whenever I see them, I am reminded of my sweet little baby. I love Spring the life and beauty that these flowers bring. I can't help but smile and feel so happy and blessed when surrounded by tulips!

What's new with Max

Vocab: Ma, cracker, bubble, googoo (Justin), many many sounds and screams when he really wants something

Signs: more, milk, bird, dog, sleep, cracker, grapes. He is quickly learning many more.

Pleasures: Watching birds (he LOVES birds), playing with stray dogs, playing in water, anything to do with any type of BALL, dancing to music, destroying the pantry, playing with Justin, Being held by Mom--although he really loves his Dad!

Favorite Foods: #1- DIRT!, yogurt, oatmeal, frozen blueberries, grapes, rice, potatoes, avocados, beans, crackers, anything he sees us eating.

Books: Jamberry, Barnyard Dance

Songs: The Bigmouth Frog (I sing this each night before bed, and he LOVES it!)

These Boys

Justin said to me, "Mom, Max just jazzes me up!" They were having so much fun with each other and laughing so hard. It was SO precious! Justin is singing The Itsy Bitsy Spider to Max in these pictures.

Daddios Debut

Geoff and his band, "The Daddios" had their debut tonight at our ward talent show. They played 4 songs, Wipeout (the Ventures), I Won't Back Down (Tom Petty), I'm a Believer (Smash Mouth), and That's What I Like About You (The Romantics).
Then the Kofoed's joined them for another 4 songs--2 Songs written by Kimberley Kofoed, You're Still the One (Shania Twain), and Leave the Pieces (The Wreckers). The Kofoed's are a family in our ward that have recently released a music CD "e11even"--they are an amazing family and talented singers!

Well, The Daddios were a HUGE hit! Everyone absolutely love them, and Geoff has loved being apart of the band.

Max was the biggest fan (right next to Justin and I)-- he bounced up and down on my lap to the beat of the music for the entire 8 songs- Amazing! As soon as they were done playing, he was done sitting!

At the end of every song, Justin stood up and yelled "Dad, way to go!" or "Daddy, that was Awesome!" He was so proud to have his daddy up there!

SUPER JUSTIN!

Chat at the dinner table:

Justin: Mom, do you have secrets?

Mom: I might.

Justin: Well! I have a secret. This weekend, I found out something I already knew!

Mom: Really?!

Justin: I know that super powers are real!

Mom: How's that?

Justin: I used my power to hold back the waves of the ocean.

Earlier as Geoff and I were looking through the pictures of Justin & Geoff in California, Geoff explained the picture below, that Justin spent a good 1/2 hour "holding back the waves".

Winnie the Pooh

After watching a Winnie-the-Pooh Song Video, Justin went to his drawing table and drew this. I was amazed. Maybe because I know what my Pooh picture would look like!

Emergency Preparedness--Now you're thinkin!

Tonight, after eating a small bowl of left over ice cream from Sister's Week, Justin told me that we should ALWAYS have ice cream in our freezer. I said, "You think?" He said, "In case there is a fire, we can throw the ice cream on it!"

Clever, clever child!

Justin left alone at lunch

I gave Justin some toothpicks to eat his fruit and veggies with at lunch. I went to get Max and when I came back, Justin had made several creations, I only managed to get a picture of this one--his car. He also made a motorcycle a truck and a sailboat. He's definitely got his daddy's creativity!

A few blocks, a few tinker toys & 3 dominos

Justin built this contraption...First you start the dominos a-topplin at the top of the very high track. The last domino then hits the train which pushes it down to fall off the track onto the clothespin, which then releases the yarn which is holding down the car, Wingo. As Wingo falls, the balance flips the tincker toy across the table into the toy bin. What an engineering marvel! Of course, he is still trying to get it to work just right. Stay tuned.

Dinner with the Missionaries

We've got some fabulous missionaries serving in our area right now. We love inviting them to our home for dinner. Justin proudly shared with them that he has earned $40 for mission so far (By the time he is old enough to serve a mission, and at the rate that food prices are going up, it may buy him lunch!). After dinner, they had a Book of Mormon show down with Justin. All I can say is... these missionaries are GOOD, because they managed to tie the game. Justin usually smears us! It's so fun to watch Justin come out of his shell. He is so charming.

It's hard to believe that in 13 short years, Justin will be wearing that tag. We are still planning on serving his mission together, and he just informed me that he wants to go to Idaho!!!

Night time flossing

You may think Justin is at the Dentist's office here. But make no mistake, he is home in bed reading a book while Geoff flosses his teeth. It's so hard for him to put a book down!!! I wonder if Geoff would do that for me while I read????

All together again!

It is so good to all be together after an entire week of being apart... Geoff and Justin in California for Grandmommy's funeral, and me and Max here for sister's week. The boys returned home around 3pm. The day was perfect for a kite, so we went across the street and relaxed a bit. Even though I had a fabulous time with my sisters, there's nothing like having my family all together, happy and safe. Life doesn't get better than this!

Day 6 - The Long Drive Home

Day 5 - The Howard's and Cabella's

Day 4 - Monterey Bay Aquarium

Justin making detailed notes!

2008 Princess Academy

This Year, Max and I hosted our annual Sister's week here in Idaho.
Last Year for Sisters Week, we had Boot Camp.
Our theme this year was "Princess Academy". Here is the sum up of a very memorable 4 days together...Wed Night... I Picked Char up from airport at 10pm. The rest of the princesses arrived an hour later. All were introduced to their sleeping quarters, but no one slept! Everyone put on their new PINK pajamas (since the color this year is PINK). As it usually goes, we stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking, laughing, and laughing some more.

Thursday...
Each morning Jolynn lead our devotional and talked about "Protecting Our Castles." This is the notebook she gave to each of us to take notes and make our plans!
Paula Vanderhorst came to our home and taught us the basics of quilting.
We began the lofty project of making a "sisters" rag quilt. Paula was AWESOME, and we all loved learning this new technique, and especially loved being able to work on the project together. It's amazing what gets done with 7 pair of helpful hands, especially my sisters who are all incredibly creative. Mind you we also had 4 pairs of little mischievous hands undoing a lot of what we did...but it was fun.
The biggest set back was when my sewing machine EXPLODED! Char was sewing when the machine shot a spark and began smoking like a steam engine. She jumped away from the possessed machine, but it didn't stop sewing...it kept going and going and going. Finally, we unplugged it and prayed the smoke wouldn't set off the alarms and awake our sleeping children. It was pretty smoky! We had a big laugh of that episode. Paula graciously lent us her machine so we could continue the project. Thank you Paula!!!!

The quilt isn't finished yet (I still need to cut the hems into rag strips), but here are some pictures of our masterpiece.
Book Review:
That evening we had our book review for Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. I've read this book twice now, and was amazed at the many insights from my sisters--it's an amazing book with a great message... A perfect kick off for our week.

Char who was in charge of the Book review made us linder stones with the word "listen" embossed on it and gave each of us a ceramic Miri flower that she made before coming. It was a inspirational evening.

The Miri flower -
the flower that conquers the rock and climbs to face the sun!

Friday
Carrie shared her ideas about making a TREASURE BOX for posterity. After losing a special friend to cancer this year, she felt impressed to preserve personal treasures. She had some great ideas, and to get us each started she made us a personalized treasure box. They were ALL adorable, but I only have pictures of mine...

A special journal to write about experiences, favorites, goals, top 100 wishes, etc.

A special card to write a love note (why we love them, and how they are special to us) to each member of our family (husband & children).

a Photo book to put our favorite photos, memories, etc.

Then we were off to the Cheesecake Factory for Dinner. Yum! This is my favorite place to eat. Aside from chasing Max all over, trying to keep his food in close proximity, and cleaning the many food disasters, we had a great night out.

Saturday
Finsih Quilt (Carrie, Jo and I stayed up until 2:30am sewing, and we finished!) , Games by Larin. Movie Enchanted.

Sunday
Morning Fireside by Charlotte Howard, Princesses in our Castle--"It's hard being princess, but someday I'll be Queen!" Charlotte is one of my favorite people in the world. She shared some great insights from the scriptures about "becoming princesses" and preparing for the many blessings the Lord has instore for us. It was a special morning.