KINDERGARTEN

Ty was so excited for Kindergarten. Mainly, I think, because he was going to be in the same school as his cousins Abby and Lexi.
I didn't cry, (he goes to daycare 3 days a week so this is nothin' new). I did get choked up when, as it was time to walk into the classroom, he got a bit nervous. He asked if I could go with him. I really wanted to, because his little face looked sick. I was so happy he still let me give him a hug & kiss and was glad to have me there. However, after school I met him to make sure he was going to get on the right bus to the daycare (I took the day off). When I got there he yelled "No, Mom you said I could ride the bus." Not excited at all to see me, but he's never ridden a bus and that was what he looked forward to the most. I let him ride and followed the bus to pick him up. Today was the second day (Here it's Kindergarten Mon, Wed and every other Fri all day) on the way he said "Mom the next one is 1st grade, then how many "nexts" are there?" I told him at least 20 more years, but after the 13 he goes to college and doesn't live with Mom and Dad. He said he would still live with me in college -- I'll remind him as a teenager he said that. 13 years doesn't seem so far away!! I wish time would go slower. For now I just have to figure out what to do with Bryton while he's gone. She was so sad when he got out of the car today.

Summer (warning huge)

Bryton starting out the summer right by getting in trouble. Papa Red wasn't too happy with her.

Fourth of July weekend was awesome. Everyone came home and we had a blast from eating, to mountain biking, golfing, fishing and more eating. Thanks Mom for watching the rats. (Zach with his fish on the Teton. )

Everyone caught at least one fish, including me :-) Yay!!

The fish fighting. I didn't get a photo with it - because yes it freaks me out to touch them. To my credit I did try though. Zach took it off the hook and handed it to me but i dropped it in the water. (The rules to our family are catch-and-release anyway, thank goodness I hate any seafood).

Parade in Rexburg.

Trey and Kade started a water fight -- I think shortly after starting it they realized they wished they hadn't when the competition is much bigger and stronger.

Zach and Luke getting even with Kade - ---

-- calling in Judd to do the actual dirty work.

Apparently, Kade was really angry with the come back and took his frustration out on Papa Red.

Judd, being the oldest, always gets away without a scratch. So I knew if I tried to get him I was asking for it --- BUT it was so worth it. I hid behind some shrubs 'til he walked by and got him with the hose.

Then got soaked in return.

Don't let the smile fool you. I don't think Jim liked the way the activities were headed ;-) too bad!!

Bryn stayed dry the entire time. Well, 'til the fight was almost over and Luke got the guts to get her. Her face cracks me up. She was so mad she wouldn't even let Luke hug her an apology. (Luke we know you had to sleep on the couch)

Bryton getting ready for the fireworks to start. I've found something that she's afraid of. The first firework went off and she ran into the house. We all took our turn coaxing her out throughout the night trying to get her to enjoy them.

Her (not) trying the sparkler. (She's now off the binkie - thanks to her parents getting brave)

Ty on fire :-)

SPARKLERS!!!!!

So exciting

Last weekend we rented a Yurt and went camping with Cantwells. It was so fun. I can't wait to go again. This is up between Lowman and Idaho City and beautiful.

Our view

The campfire.

Helping the kids make the hot dogs.

The crew making fajitas for the adults. Nice faking Erik. I almost think we had you convinced you were having a fun time while camping.



Playing games, and the kids were supposed to be sleeping.



Then we took the kids to some hot springs. I loved it. I was a bit angry Zach hadn't told us about this place before. It would be a great day trip for anyone around the Treasure Valley.



Us in one of the hot pools. The river behind us was super cold!!









Zach, little Zach, Luke and Ty



Bryton watched little Zach jump to big Zach in the cold river and decided that was for her, too.

Zach warming her up in the hot spring after a frosty dip.

He loves me, he loves me not

So I got another note from Ty taped to my hallway wall (not the same hallway I found Bryton's stinky mess) it read;

ILUVMOMANDDADFORAWRSAWRSAWRSAWRS
(I love Mom and Dad for HOURS HOURS HOURS)

it took a long time for me to figure out the HOURS (AWRS) but if you sound it out phonetically it actually works :-)

I must have given him whatever he wanted on that day. He doesn't get something, he hates me -- he gets what he wants and he loves me. I can totally see me doing the same thing to my parents. I wonder if they thought it was as funny as I do??

Today So Far

So today in the mists of trying to potty train Bryton (actually cleaning up the accidents), paying a bill online that I thought I'd paid already and was going to be late, finding my wallet and answering a phone call from Zach, I yelled at Ty because he thought he needed to have a book read to him "right now" and was yelling at me to do so. He disappeared long enough for me to get the bill paid only to return with a pink sticky note that read like this:

MOMESSTOOPED
ANDBOSEYANDMEEN
TOTYANDNOTVERENIYS

Broken up into separate words;
MOM ES STOOPED AND BOSEY AND MEEN TO TY AND NOT VERE NIYS

I thought it was pretty good seeing as he hasn't started school yet and as I was reading the note and laughing I heard Bryton coming up the stairs saying "mess a mommy, a mess" sure enough she'd had another accident only this time with "poop". It was all down her legs, on my hallway wall and a soft mushy pile on my carpet in the living room.
Bryton in the tub, gloves, stain remover, disinfectant and scrubber put to work. Then Bryton back in a diaper. I guess I'll just wait 'til Ty is in school so I can follow her around like a hawk when we try this again. HELP!!

June

Fishing at Little Camas. (I know Bryton's too old for the binkie - but try raising her she was scaring the fish!)

DAD'S DAY

My brave little one at the waterpark. Bryton absolutely loves the water!!

In the wave pool

Bryton is on the far right going down all by herself!!!

We even got Zach a pass this year and by a miracle got him in the water.

Bryton after her ride


......and my not-so-brave one. If you look close (mind you this is in the kiddie area) Ty is reaching for my hand to hold.

May

TRIP TO KC

Our summer fun began with a trip to Kansas City. Zach's buddy from Dental School was getting married there and we took the opportunity to also visit Bryn and Luke because that's where they are both attending Med School.

This is us in front of the RLDS (Community of Christ) temple. We are standing on the lawn of where the LDS church will eventually build a temple.

Apparently the only thing to do in KC is to EAT (which I like to do) - but eat BBQ, and I'm not the biggest fan of BBQ. Bryn, Luke and Zach are. So we started off with lunch at Oklahoma Joe's as soon as we landed. I actually did like that place. It was odd though. The "restaurant" was in a Sinclair station. The next day, was a trip to Arthur Bryant's. This place, I guess, is supposed to be famous. We waited in a line that was out the door and down the street about another 20 yards. I wasn't a fan at all - but McCain, Palin, Danny Glover, Jimmy Carter and a bunch of other famous people are. The restaurant had all sorts of pictures of famous people eating there on their wall.
Yes, Luke is a HUGE fan as you can see. I don't think I've seen anyone more giddy about food. Except maybe me, when the next day I had had enough BBQ and made Bryn take me to PANERA!!! I have been craving it since we left OHIO. I wish they had one here in Idaho.
Me trying to enjoy my soggy Wonder Bread sandwich, and Bryn and Zach savoring every bite. Gag me!!!

Zach and I at Bryn and Luke's Med School. Had I known it was like this I would have gone to Med School instead!!! :-) That arcade game had all the old games . . . pac man and BURGER TIME, my favorites! We did get to see where Bryn and Luke have called home for the past 3 years. It was fun and they got to show off some of their knowledge in the manipulation room.
That's the best about a D.O. school. Can't wait 'til you two are finished. I'll be visiting ya every day with my back issues.

Luke popping Zach's back.

And Bryn's turn finding a knot in my neck.

The last day, was by far the best. SHOPPING! There is a little town outside of KC where a lady from Taiwan has a cute little store. She makes the jewelry and her sister, back in Taiwan, makes the clothes. The store is called Pacific Breeze and my favorite are her bracelets. I have gotten a bunch, and also have had tons of people ask me to get them some!

Me, Bryn and Elsa, in her store.

Us with all our goodies

Zach waiting for us (for four hours) to get done shopping there.

TY'S BIRTHDAY

Ty's birthday is end of May, and he helped me make these beach cupcakes for his class. They were fun! We got the idea off kraftfoods.com in the kids section.

If anyone knows Ty, you know he has a weird obsession for balloons. It started when he was 1 1/2 years old and has continued. So, I gave him flat balloons for his birthday, which he didn't think was so fun until.....

He opened his next present and found...

a helium tank. (He actually got the same present when he was 2, but doesn't remember it)

Bryton, not really enjoying the excitement.

TRIP TO UTAH & TREY

We got to go to Utah to see Erin Hale. A bunch of the Ohio girls (most of whom are now in Utah) got together at Liberty Park (and yep, Melissa it is where they filmed Savannah Smiles. Go rent the movie. It's cute). Sorry, I didn't get any pics except this one of Ty and Bryton. (If any of you took some could you please send them to me?)

On our last night there would you expect anything other from my nephew Trey than trouble? He fell climbing up rocks in his backyard broke his teeth, and split his lip. So, he got to enjoy a 5 hour trip to the dentist. I brought him back with me to Idaho Sunday, and that evening we got to treat some broken teeth. I love to do this kind of dentistry.
Before


After (obviously)

Our backyard -- just thought I'd add this. About the only thing I love about living where I do is the sunsets out our front door, but Monday I also got to see my first FULL rainbow out our back door.