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| A rare glimpse of Dax in his contacts. He didn't love them. |
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| Derek at his desk in Mrs. Ortega's Class |
Monday, July 22, 2013
First Day of School
Another First Day of School.
3 Very Cute Boys excited to start their day and new adventures
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Summer of '13
We have had a busy summer and the kids are headed back tomorrow- Monday.
As usual, our short 7-week summer was just the perfect amount of time off.
I signed the kids up for lots of activities and classes. I can't stand when they sit around doing nothing or are constantly playing video games. I signed them up for anything and everything I thought they would be interested in. I knew everything I signed them up for, I was also signing myself up because I had to drive them around and wait during their activity. It was totally worth it. They were busy and happy, and for the most part video games were limited.
Dax did a Claymation class where they made a short movie out of clay characters. He enjoyed it. He also went to Scout Camp for a week up at Camp Raymond. Same place as last year, up near Flagstaff. Once again had a great time. He is making a lot of progress in scouts and is on track for his Eagle within the year.
Derek did a sports camp, then a 2-week fast track swimming lessons. He wants to do the swim team, but he needed to get his strokes down. I took him the first time and he actually did better than I thought he would do. He knew his strokes better than I thought. The Butterfly was new, and when I saw the teacher showing him the butterfly with no arms, I thought "that looks hard with a lot of coordination". Derek continued to go every day, by the second week I looked up to watch and I thought "wow that kid is good...WOW that kid is Derek" I couldn't believe it, he was so smooth and fast in the water. I couldn't believe a kid could swim it that well. He looked like a true swimmer. When his teacher came out to talk to the parents about the progress, she was very impressed with Derek's Butterfly, she kept saying "did you see his butterfly" I was so proud of him. I hope this is something he will continue because I feel like he finally found something he can excel in. Derek told me it was his favorite stroke, and the teacher was kind of surprised because she said that is usually the hardest.
After lessons, one day as we were waiting for the kids to come out of the pool, one of the other moms came over to me and told me her daughter, Katie, had a crush on Derek. We both laughed and thought it was funny. She was a cute little blond 6 yr old. Derek needs a little more practice on his Breaststroke, then he can join the team. I really hope he continues, he made so much progress. I hope this is his "thing".
Trey did a sports camp as well. It was fun for him, mostly 4-year-olds running around the gym. He continued with preschool at Miss Angelas, but he is going to start PreK in a few weeks at a new school. Miss Angela has been great for all 3 of my boys, but I feel Trey is ready to move to the next level. He is excited to start a new school as well.
I think all 3 of the boy's favorite was "TNT" Trampoline and tumbling. We don't have a trampoline but all the kid's friends do. Of course what kid doesn't love a trampoline? I just thought it would be fun to know how to do flips etc.. Derek was excited from the beginning, but Dax wasn't so sure. I told them just for the summer, then as soon as school starts you can quit. They loved it and we will not be quitting. I did see flips from Dax and Derek (Trey is at a different level). I took the kids to Hamilton pool the other day and Dax did a flip off the diving board. The skills are coming together. Trey even went off the diving board, over and over. It was a fun time.
Overall, it was a great summer, aside from their activities we spent a lot of time in the pool. No trips except to Flagstaff a few times. Curtis is going to take Dax and Derek up to Yellowstone in a few weeks. Unfortunately, because we do go back to school so soon, they will have to miss about a week. More details on that to come.
I LOVE MY BOYS.
As usual, our short 7-week summer was just the perfect amount of time off.
I signed the kids up for lots of activities and classes. I can't stand when they sit around doing nothing or are constantly playing video games. I signed them up for anything and everything I thought they would be interested in. I knew everything I signed them up for, I was also signing myself up because I had to drive them around and wait during their activity. It was totally worth it. They were busy and happy, and for the most part video games were limited.
Dax did a Claymation class where they made a short movie out of clay characters. He enjoyed it. He also went to Scout Camp for a week up at Camp Raymond. Same place as last year, up near Flagstaff. Once again had a great time. He is making a lot of progress in scouts and is on track for his Eagle within the year.
Derek did a sports camp, then a 2-week fast track swimming lessons. He wants to do the swim team, but he needed to get his strokes down. I took him the first time and he actually did better than I thought he would do. He knew his strokes better than I thought. The Butterfly was new, and when I saw the teacher showing him the butterfly with no arms, I thought "that looks hard with a lot of coordination". Derek continued to go every day, by the second week I looked up to watch and I thought "wow that kid is good...WOW that kid is Derek" I couldn't believe it, he was so smooth and fast in the water. I couldn't believe a kid could swim it that well. He looked like a true swimmer. When his teacher came out to talk to the parents about the progress, she was very impressed with Derek's Butterfly, she kept saying "did you see his butterfly" I was so proud of him. I hope this is something he will continue because I feel like he finally found something he can excel in. Derek told me it was his favorite stroke, and the teacher was kind of surprised because she said that is usually the hardest.
After lessons, one day as we were waiting for the kids to come out of the pool, one of the other moms came over to me and told me her daughter, Katie, had a crush on Derek. We both laughed and thought it was funny. She was a cute little blond 6 yr old. Derek needs a little more practice on his Breaststroke, then he can join the team. I really hope he continues, he made so much progress. I hope this is his "thing".
Trey did a sports camp as well. It was fun for him, mostly 4-year-olds running around the gym. He continued with preschool at Miss Angelas, but he is going to start PreK in a few weeks at a new school. Miss Angela has been great for all 3 of my boys, but I feel Trey is ready to move to the next level. He is excited to start a new school as well.
I think all 3 of the boy's favorite was "TNT" Trampoline and tumbling. We don't have a trampoline but all the kid's friends do. Of course what kid doesn't love a trampoline? I just thought it would be fun to know how to do flips etc.. Derek was excited from the beginning, but Dax wasn't so sure. I told them just for the summer, then as soon as school starts you can quit. They loved it and we will not be quitting. I did see flips from Dax and Derek (Trey is at a different level). I took the kids to Hamilton pool the other day and Dax did a flip off the diving board. The skills are coming together. Trey even went off the diving board, over and over. It was a fun time.
Overall, it was a great summer, aside from their activities we spent a lot of time in the pool. No trips except to Flagstaff a few times. Curtis is going to take Dax and Derek up to Yellowstone in a few weeks. Unfortunately, because we do go back to school so soon, they will have to miss about a week. More details on that to come.
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| Trey at his sports camp |
I LOVE MY BOYS.
A Great Day!!
Friday was Dax's 13th Birthday. I think he enjoyed it. He is on the verge of many exciting things.
In the past week, he broke his glasses, and I convinced him to at least consider contact lenses. I think he is mature enough to take care of them, and when I made the switch I thought they were life-changing. I absolutely loved contacts from the first minute they went into my eye. He went for the exam and he went for it. Putting them in is still a little tricky for him, but as he wears them he is starting to realize how much nicer they are than glasses. He went to church today and many people said how nice he looked without glasses. He still doesn't quite have the skill of putting them in yet, he is getting better, but he doesn't have much choice. His new glasses won't be in for at least another week. School starts tomorrow and he can't see very well out of his old/old prescription.
His Birthday was great. He asked for a few games for his Nintendo 3-Ds, cash, and a pool party with his friends. Then he apologized for asking for things because he felt greedy. Not at all, I didn't think he asked for much, he is a great kid. We still gave him what WE wanted too... We gave him a few books about comedy, and also creating comic strips since he seems to have an interest. A Kindle e-reader( a little electronic gadget to download books etc.) some cash, and a small pool party with his friends.
He seemed quite happy with his gifts, he loves the Kindle (I totally went out on a limb with that, he has never shown any interest in one, I just thought he would like it), and he used the cash the get the games he wanted and he had a great time at his pool with friends Dallin Thomas, Brigham Andersen, Jordan Pyper, Matthew Layden (and little brothers Weston Thomas and Soren Andersen for Derek and Trey). We had pizza, donuts, and some snacks. Once again no gifts. Simple, easy, and fun. It just seems so weird to me to be having "teenage parties"
The other day while I was taking Dax to pick out his glasses he noticed the restaurant "Lolo's Chicken and Waffles" He loves waffles so he asked if we could go there for his birthday breakfast. I had heard of this place, and I have always wanted to try chicken and waffles. It sounds odd, but it is basically just southern food. I think it originated with the slaves eating whatever they had to eat. Anyway, Curtis couldn't fit it into his schedule to go with us on Friday, so we decided we go on Saturday for breakfast. Derek initially wasn't too excited about "chicken and waffles" but we were convinced he would like it. Lolo's didn't disappoint. I love breakfast any time of day, and who can resist fried chicken. I think my favorite was the cheese grits. Curtis has always talked about cheese grits from his mission in Florida. We have tried to re-create the southern version and it just wasn't true southern grits. Now I know what Curtis was raving about. I think those were my favorites. Derek loved his waffles. We will have to go back.
Later in the day Derek and Dax went over to the Thomas'. Dallin is creating another movie for them to film etc. They were there most of the day. While they were out Trey, Curtis, and I took our little Oreo dog for a walk. It was a bit hot and humid, and Oreo did struggle a bit. It was a good little time together. While we were out Trey picked up some 4 yr old "treasures" pine cones. He thought these were great. I told him only three because that is all he could carry home. He was telling us how great they were because they could be used as head scratchers, arm scratchers, etc. Then he decided to name them. We came up with the names "Picky, Itchy, and Tricky". He liked those clever names.
It was just a fun day as a family. I'm excited for the kids to start school tomorrow, not so much because I want them out of the house. Mostly because I think it is exciting to see them grow and mature and find themselves.
In the past week, he broke his glasses, and I convinced him to at least consider contact lenses. I think he is mature enough to take care of them, and when I made the switch I thought they were life-changing. I absolutely loved contacts from the first minute they went into my eye. He went for the exam and he went for it. Putting them in is still a little tricky for him, but as he wears them he is starting to realize how much nicer they are than glasses. He went to church today and many people said how nice he looked without glasses. He still doesn't quite have the skill of putting them in yet, he is getting better, but he doesn't have much choice. His new glasses won't be in for at least another week. School starts tomorrow and he can't see very well out of his old/old prescription.
His Birthday was great. He asked for a few games for his Nintendo 3-Ds, cash, and a pool party with his friends. Then he apologized for asking for things because he felt greedy. Not at all, I didn't think he asked for much, he is a great kid. We still gave him what WE wanted too... We gave him a few books about comedy, and also creating comic strips since he seems to have an interest. A Kindle e-reader( a little electronic gadget to download books etc.) some cash, and a small pool party with his friends.
He seemed quite happy with his gifts, he loves the Kindle (I totally went out on a limb with that, he has never shown any interest in one, I just thought he would like it), and he used the cash the get the games he wanted and he had a great time at his pool with friends Dallin Thomas, Brigham Andersen, Jordan Pyper, Matthew Layden (and little brothers Weston Thomas and Soren Andersen for Derek and Trey). We had pizza, donuts, and some snacks. Once again no gifts. Simple, easy, and fun. It just seems so weird to me to be having "teenage parties"
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| Happy #13 Birthday |
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| Looking pleased with his gifts |
The other day while I was taking Dax to pick out his glasses he noticed the restaurant "Lolo's Chicken and Waffles" He loves waffles so he asked if we could go there for his birthday breakfast. I had heard of this place, and I have always wanted to try chicken and waffles. It sounds odd, but it is basically just southern food. I think it originated with the slaves eating whatever they had to eat. Anyway, Curtis couldn't fit it into his schedule to go with us on Friday, so we decided we go on Saturday for breakfast. Derek initially wasn't too excited about "chicken and waffles" but we were convinced he would like it. Lolo's didn't disappoint. I love breakfast any time of day, and who can resist fried chicken. I think my favorite was the cheese grits. Curtis has always talked about cheese grits from his mission in Florida. We have tried to re-create the southern version and it just wasn't true southern grits. Now I know what Curtis was raving about. I think those were my favorites. Derek loved his waffles. We will have to go back.
Later in the day Derek and Dax went over to the Thomas'. Dallin is creating another movie for them to film etc. They were there most of the day. While they were out Trey, Curtis, and I took our little Oreo dog for a walk. It was a bit hot and humid, and Oreo did struggle a bit. It was a good little time together. While we were out Trey picked up some 4 yr old "treasures" pine cones. He thought these were great. I told him only three because that is all he could carry home. He was telling us how great they were because they could be used as head scratchers, arm scratchers, etc. Then he decided to name them. We came up with the names "Picky, Itchy, and Tricky". He liked those clever names.
It was just a fun day as a family. I'm excited for the kids to start school tomorrow, not so much because I want them out of the house. Mostly because I think it is exciting to see them grow and mature and find themselves.
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