Happy Birthday Cannon!!!

Oh yeah... that's what I'm talkin' about. Chocolate cake baby.

Well it's here. My youngest, and last, is One.
I say this on every birthday of every child and I'll say it again... WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?!
This boy is a treat. He decided to be different from the others
and make up his own fancy bum scoot to get around.
No crawling for this monkey. We call him Doc Oc.
It takes some mad skills to look like an Octopus when you only have two legs.

We love you Cannon! Happy Birthday!

Camping

Our Family's only escape over the past few years has been camping. Taking 6 kids anywhere has not been in the budget. Thanks to a friend of Todd's we have been given all access to a motorhome. Although sleeping 8 people can be a bit cramped at times, that thing has been a pleasure. Last week before leaving for Dinosaur Land in Vernal, Todds friend wanted to see him. We were concerned there was an issue with us taking the mo-ho. Much to our surprise he had purchased a newer, bigger, badder motorhome and was letting us take it. Okaaaaay... so who lets a family with 6 young kids trash their brand new mo-ho before using it themselves? My kids were in HEAVEN! Bunk beds, slide-outs, TV's, dvd players, shower, room to set up a pack-n-play for Cannon. This thing has everything.

This has been the greatest blessing for our family. My kids have become so close and have made tons of fun memories. Todd and I are even planning a little surprise over Thanksgiving. Can't wait! A few pictures of what we do to keep busy while camping (when we're just hanging out at the campsite, not swimming or visiting cool places.)

Mallory is modeling her nature bracelet and belt she made on our hike. I got this idea from a magazine years ago. We wrapped duct tape around our wrists sticky side out. Then the kids could stick all the cool things they found on it. They noticed so much more than they would have otherwise.

Brigham is contemplating the meaning of life (or something.)

I brought a bunch of google eyes and let the kids find things to put them on. We called them Camping Critters. Quin decided this was one of his favorite things to do.

The only thing more boring than fishing is pretend fishing, with sticks. Especially when the stream doesn't have any fish.

Smith's

My kids love riding their bikes to Smiths. It make them feel trusted and independent. Usually they just buy a drink and look around and the stuff they like. Brigham and Mallory also have bank accounts in the bank at the store. They love being able to deposit their allowance by themselves.

The other day they were bored and needed some exercise. So Brigham and Mallory decided to go to Smiths to look at the lego sets. My favorite part of their Smiths adventures is seeing what they bring home. Since we have a "you can spend your money on anything but candy" rule, they get a little creative. Brigham bought a disposable camera to use for scouts (he is the historian and it's his job to record activities.) My sweet girl put her arm around my waist and handed me something.

"What's this?" I asked."
"It's a Smith's card. You can put however much money you want on it."
"Wow. You really got this for me? Why?"
"I just wanted to." Mallory said with a big grin.
"You didn't need to spend your money on me. How much did you put on it?"
"43 cents."

My heart swelled. I didn't have the words to thank her. It was just the most precious act. Mallory notices when I'm frustrated or don't have enough hands to help everyone and steps in to help or gives me a hug. It immediately softens my heart and helps me to get through the trying moment with more tenderness.
I clicked this picture last May when Mallory was trying to do her homework and help with Cannon at the same time. She's already learning to multi-task!

More Firsts

This cute boy is my 4th child I've sent to kindergarten. Last week was pure TORTURE for him as the other kids got to go to school and he had to wait, and wait for his first day. Cole has been full of surprises over the past few months. Usually painfully shy he has started to come out of his shell and actually talk to people. Ironically he is our loudest child at home. We joke that Cole has no control over the volume of his voice. Everything he does; laugh, cry, play, talk, is LOUD.

On his first day of Kindergarten Cole changed his pants 4 times. He tried his shirt open with a t-shirt underneath, buttoned all the way up, buttoned half-way up, then unbuttoned again. This is the same boy who would grab any shirt and pant combo for pre-school often having at least one article of clothing inside-out or backward (or both). He finally admitted that he couldn't wear pants because it covered the z-strap on his new shoes. Only shorts would do. Ahhh. It's all so clear to me now.

The saddest part of the day was realizing how much Cole didn't need me anymore. He didn't want me to walk him to his class. Shoot, he didn't even want me to park the car. "Jus dwop me off. I know what to do." And that was it. All by himself he walked into the Kindergarten playground, without a look back.

These cute kids also started school.

Brigham is starting 5th grade and sooo excited to have a male teacher!

Mallory's in 3rd grade and Quin is in 1st. I love this picture them together.
They're best buds!!!

It's that time again!

Yesterday the class lists were posted at the school. As we all loaded into the car, the kids were both nervous and excited to find out who their teachers would be. Last year Mallory's teacher was a crabby patty. More like a double double crabby patty. I know she had health issues, but seriously, second graders do not deserve an ornery teacher. Especially when they are good students who try very hard to please their grumpy teacher. Two years ago Brigham's teacher wasn't the best. Let's just say she has been teaching for a looong while and is probably a little worn down. Not very patient, doesn't tolerate noise so well, and teaches pretty much out of the book. The best thing about her, according to Brigham, was her prosthetic eye.

So for the first time I requested teachers for all of my kids. Being a teacher myself once-upon-a- time, I am fine with strict teachers. Even a grumpy day every once in a while is understandable. But please, please, teachers... Change your attitude before you walk into the classroom to teach my kids. I am trusting them with you for SEVEN hours a day. If I wanted them to be with a Crabby Patty all day I would teach them myself!!

Needless to say ALL my kids ended up with the teachers I requested. Brigham and Mallory both have male teachers for the first time and are stoked. Quin and Cole both have teachers we love and have had before. I feel very blessed and EXCITED for them. This has always been my favorite time of year (mostly due to my love of new school supplies... mmm I can smell them now.)

A Tale of Hot and Horrible Days

Saturday: Upstairs air conditioner goes out. All the kids sleep/laugh/fight downstairs together.

Sunday: 90 degrees upstairs. Poor Haydyn and Cannon sweat their way through nap time.

Monday: Pay $550 to get air fixed. Whew. Todd leaves on business.

Tuesday: Electricity gets shut off. Don't ask. Spend most of the day without air... again. Realize once again that I would have made a horrible pioneer woman. Pay unspeakable amount of mula to power company.

Tuesday afternoon while electricity is off: Head to Walmart. My favorite. With 5 complaining kids. Leave one at home. Get last minute supplies for Quins birthday. Cannon starts wiggin' (crying, screaming, wanting to be held/ fed... you get the idea), Cole starts teasing, Haydyn starts screaming, both start running circles around my legs.

Sooooo ready to GET THE HECK OUTA HERE when my debit card doesn't go through. My other card doesn't go through. My checkbook is at home. My ice cream is melting. My kids are freaking out. I'm sweating. And annoyed (whats a stronger word for annoyed? Cause that's what I am.) I'd call Todd but he's out of town. I can't leave the groceries only to come back again with 5 or 6 kids. I can't just not get the stuff I need for Quin's birthday tomorrow. So what do I do?

I snap!

I do the unthinkable. I. Walk. Out. WITH my cart. Full of unpaid groceries. Load up the car. Drive home. Put the melting ice cream in the freezer. Feed Cannon. Grab my checkbook. Drive back to Walmart. Pay for the stolen goods. Drive home.

Tuesday night: Electricity on. Kids finally in bed. I'm still feeling warm. Realize main floor air conditioner is NOT blowing cold air. WHAT THE @#$%! Todd gets home at 2:30 AM. Tries to fix it. Doesn't.

Wednesday: A stroke of good luck. Todd had watched the repair man fix the first air conditioner. Believe it or not the second one has the SAME problem. Being the awesome fix-it man that he is, Todd finds the part he needs and repairs it himself. Total cost: $30. Total savings: $520. Now to celebrate Quin's birthday.

The End

June in review

Looking back, June wasn't half bad. We had NO plans. No trips. No swim lessons. No family things. Nothing. I was scared. I tried to come up with a few crafty-like things to help, but those didn't last too long. It was a big shock to go from busy school days to long lazy summer days. Take a look at how we kept (semi) busy.

Brig and buddies making cool things with water and sand.

Sprinkler time!

Thanksgiving point with cousins.
Much to our surprise they played FOREVER in the little farm room.

Have you ever seen a llama shavin'? That was an eye opener!

This little lady always comes up with something creative to do. She spent two days painting and re-painting all the kids faces. Then she sent out flyers and opened her own face painting booth. Always trying to make a buck!

Also, this cute boy lost his second tooth...


And this cute boy got his first two teeth. (Look close!)


One of our favorites crafties was "Hot Rocks." Stick rocks in the oven on a baking sheet at 350 for about 15 minutes. Then, using crayons with wrappers peeled off, "draw" on them. The wax melts onto the rocks. It's hard to find an activity that kids from ages 2 through 10 all enjoy. But this was it!
We also made sweeeet Indiana Jones Whips out of duct tape for Brig and Quin. Maybe someday I'll get pics of those. Nothing like making a dangerous weapon for your kids to play with!