Learning to Fight Fires

From the title, this post could be about something entirely different. Sure does feel like we have a lot of fires to fight around here . . .  but this is literal. One of the best things about teaching preschool myself is I can teach whatever I want! One of the topics I had last month was firefighters, which I had touched on in Kindergarten, but had never gotten deeply into. It turned out to be so fun for all of us (yes, including me). My boys played with the stuff we used for weeks. Josh was always pumped to come home from kindergarten and find new things. I took pictures here and there, but looking back I can think of so many moments I wish I had captured . . . the week after I taught about firefighters, another mom talked about fire safety and then we went to the fire station. If you are interested in my lesson plan, it's here. (Don't be thinking it's in fancy form.) In the mean time, it's a good memory for me, so here they are . . .

This was our full-out firefighter gear model. Don't worry, the hatchet was not a play toy. Nor is it sharp at all. We were cracking up at this picture because this kid does the best facial expressions. Oh, and after this demo all of the kids got a chance to dress up during "choosing time." The oxygen tank and mask were the most popular portion of the outfit.

This picture is so funny to me. Gary says it looks like Noah has had such a rough day fighting fires he just can't mess with getting his picture taken.

There's our happy fireman . . .

Andrew loved to wear the stuff, too, and it was SO cute because the coat goes down to his ankles. Wish I had a picture . . . Here he is dancing to "Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Firetruck." Ah, I just want to squeeze him all the time!

We had squirt bottles to fight the chalk fires on the sidewalk, and my kids spent a whole lot of time outside playing with them. Andrew hates to be wet, so when he does, the clothes come off.

We made this amazing firetruck in preschool, then when Josh came home he added a paper steering wheel inside. He was very focused on driving it.

Andrew gets to come on preschool field trips, too, and was facinated by the firetruck.

This was the best ever for the kids. Andrew wanted to do it twice, and they let him. The firefighters were all very cool about letting them touch stuff. I was worried at first, but they said, "If we haven't broken it, they probably can't."

Noah and Andrew were very proud to tell Josh about shaking the skeleton's hands.

Just Cute Boys, I Mean, Superhero/Champion/Ninja Guys

My boys love to dress up. The costumes you see below (chest piece with cape attached, easy slip on over the head) are some of the best (and cheapest) purchases we ever made. Yeah, it's going to be Halloween soon, and hopefully there will be full-out adorableness, but it's just fun to remember them casually running around as superheroes on any given day. It's just them. Background mess and all. :)

Andrew (batman) and his sidekick Cannon. These two are best buds. They seriously love eachother, and watching them play is very funny. They don't really talk but somehow play tons of amusing games.

I bought Halloween costumes for my kids before the school Halloween carnival. I was going to try to sew again, but Noah really wanted some costumes he saw in the store and I realized how foolish it was to think I would have time to make anything at this point. After I brought the costumes home, they wore them for two days straight. They loved the carnival, but just wearing the costumes was entertainment. So here's your Halloween preview - Josh is wearing Andrew's costume. Can't settle for just being one awesome thing . . .



Noah takes a chance to be the champion boxer.



Josh jumps in on the Ninja Turtle action. I love how Andrew will cheese it up for any picture. I also love how he gets all excited and huggy when he puts on cozy jammies. He saw this picture just now and said, "Football jammies!"

Braden's Special Day

My nephew Braden got baptized at the beginning of September. This was a huge deal for my kids, because Braden is one of their oldest cousins, so they haven't seen a lot yet. Josh was still excited about getting to see his cousin Ethan get baptized over two years ago. I, personally, had a fantastic experience. Braden was so excited he was glowing, and there was a beautiful peaceful feeling during the baptism. Thanks, Braden! Here are my professional-photo reminders of the day.

Lots of Braden's aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.

My boys were SO proud of Braden, so I wanted a picture of them with their cousin on his big day. Josh is following in his father's eye-closing footsteps.

Cute family - Cindy with Beckett, Nate with Sophie, Braden, and Tate.

Andrew and Madeline found something right up their alleys. Josh is currently proud that Andrew is on more chairs. :)

The toddler wagon - no shirts required. Despite their distrustful expressions for the camera, they were having a great time. This was obviously a post-baptism weekend activity.

We got to spend the entire weekend in Idaho, which I don't really remember much of because I was coming down with a sinus infection and was in a hardly-any-sleep horrible funk. I do remember we watched a football game and we like that. I also remember we played games, including The Match Game, and I wish I had a picture of my dad as host. But the best part was Braden's baptism. Glad I can still remember that.

Oh, yes, and this is not spiritual, but the after-baptism luncheon was something from a B-Movie called "Attack of the Hornets." (I have imagined this movie.) There were literally hundreds of hornets surrounding the food and all of the places in which people would attempt to eat. After a few stings we moved indoors. I write this because it was so nutty. Who would think that could even happen?

Poor Girl? Popping? More . . .

Little Girl in the Neighborhood: So, are you having a boy or a girl?
Me: a girl
Girl: Didn't you only have boys before?
Me: Yep, so it should be fun.
Girl: Not for the girl.

Josh, on nursing: I know how it works. You feed the baby on one of these, and then when the milk is gone, you switch to the other side, and then they just keep on getting refills.

We have a zebra mask and tail. We have a lion mask and tail. We have no third animal costume. Today this was an issue. Josh and Noah had the costumes on, and Andrew was crying because he really wanted one. Noah tried to comfort him by suggesting in his sweetest voice, "Andrew, you can be the baby that loves animals."

Lately, I have been told several times every time I go out that I look like I'm about to pop. Hmm. I know I look large, but I hate the imagery of popping, and would prefer people ask when I'm due and/or ask how I'm feeling. If you have experienced this, how do you feel about it? Don't know why I feel so wierd about it. Maybe because babies are cooler than popping?

Exactly one week ago some friends of mine in the neighborhood threw me a baby shower. I didn't take pictures, but it was wonderful. So much fun to eat and chat and everyone was so kind. Now I feel like I owe everyone, big time. I feel really, really lucky to live here. So many awesome women, all in one place!

While We're Still Warm . . .

I wanted to buy a huge watermelon on Saturday night for a group of football fans to munch on throughout the game. So, I went to the area in the store where there are always great big bins of them . . . and in the bins were pumpkins. NOOOO! I'm not ready for fall, we just got summer!

I wrote that two weeks ago, and though we are now into October, my feelings haven't changed. I have to say, I've realized this year that September may be the perfect month. I've always kind of looked past it due to its lack of much of note for our family, but it was awesome. Warm, but not too hot. Nice breezes, lovely to be out, lovely to be doing anything . . . Just a few warm-weather wrap-up pictures to keep me with nice thoughts . . .

Andrew is so hilarious, he always wants to put on costumes, hats, shoes, or anything - goggles, as shown here.

The kids loved the slip n slide this summer. This is Josh, but Noah had many a glorious run, too. Unfortunately I only have a still photo of Josh, though I have a billion videos of both of them. They REALLY wanted me to make videos of them, it was so funny.

Josh put Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head in a Little Tikes plane to fly to New York.

Working on their "collections." They find bugs and worms all over the place, and want somewhere to keep them. So I got out my bag of baby food containers, and they love it. They always want another one to start a new collection. I just love seeing them out exploring nature so much, it barely phases me when I find containers of dead worms in my kitchen.

Super Gare




 I had my 6th wedding anniversary coming up at the beginning of August, for which I fully expected to just go out to dinner. I mean, not just, I was expecting it to be awesome. But then I got a phone call from a certain hot man I know who had planned for my kids to be watched for a whole day. Woah! I was nervous at first to "not get anything done" that weekend (I know, it's a problem), but quickly relaxed and had a fantastic time just being with Gary. I enjoyed eating too much steak, talking with my man, wandering around stores (fancy ones, like TJ Maxx and Dick's Sporting Goods),

 . . . Finding a cave full of treasure . . .



 . . . playing cards by a camel . . .



 . . . miniature golfing in gorgeous, though windy, weather . . .

 . . . winning the front 9, but losing overall to this guy . . .

 . . . me and Gare, no kids . . .

The last 6 years have gone by fast, but A LOT has happened. It's so good to get back to just us, just for a little bit. Awesome anniversary, Gary!

Then, near the end of August, Gary did his second triathlon. We woke up early to go cheer him on, and when we pulled up to the race, Josh said, "Hey, I thought Dad said this was supposed to be in a triangle." I taught them what it really was, and they chanted, "Swim, bike, run, swim, bike, run," for days.

Early morning fans watching the swim.

Look how fast he transitioned to the bike . . .

Mission complete! Josh was SO proud of  his dad he went running up to him immediately. Why do the jammies look a little more awkward a couple of hours later?

They made the swim 100 meters longer this year, but Gary still shaved 4 minutes off of his time from last year. He swears he's never doing it again without a road bike, so look for tons of time to come off next year. Hoping to join him . . . yes, I'm probably a fool, but it is so fun. We had fun driving around to cheer Gary on at different places, carrying our box of Cheerios around in our pajamas. Gary's triumphant finish line picture never happened because someone's chubby blonde toddler was running in front of the finishers (oops!), but he was sprinting, and we were proud.

Just a few ways Gary was amazing in August . . .

Knock, Knock

Josh has been very into knock-knock jokes. Josh and Noah, and even Andrew, like to tell them constantly, and laugh. Most of them make a ton of sense. (Spiderman. Spiderman who? Apple pie! Hahahaha!) However, seems that Josh is catching on sometimes. I like this one he made up.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Baby.
Baby who?
Baby, baby, baby, oh, I was like baby, baby, baby, oh .. . .(he'll sing for quite a while sometimes.)

He also does one with Fire, and Fire burning on the dance floor. Not bad for a 5 year old just entering the world of joke-crafting. Which is why it is awesome that Noah made the following joke up today, and they both think it's the most hilarious thing EVER.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Head.
Head who?
He-ead (he sings it to a different tune every time.)

Are you rolling on the floor laughing? This is the one Andrew tells, by the way.

Tale of 3 Doctors (We'll Have Chub to Kiss . . . )

I had an ultrasound yesterday to make sure I didn't have placenta previa because things were a little close at 20 weeks. That's not a problem at all now, phew. However, the neonatologist was concerned about the size of the baby. Seems that she's measuring about two weeks ahead of average, and if delivered yesterday would have been about 5 lbs. 4 oz. (at 32.5 weeks). After making sure I passed my glucose test, she asked about my other babies. When I told her Andrew was 9 lbs. 5 oz. at 39.2 weeks, she said, "It seems like you're on that same trajectory. Okay, well, I have no problems with this ultrasound, good luck!" I can't complain about a healthy baby, but, wow. I was actually already feeling it, but there's always hope for a petite little thing. Oh, well, I do love snuggling chub . . .

Andrew's legs are getting un-bowed! I thought they were improving, so it was great for the orthopedist to confirm it. She is still pretty sure they will self-correct. Good to hear. He jumps and climbs and does everything he should and more, so it hasn't slowed him down. Positive news there.

As for negative news, my eyes are more dry than ever. I've been trying to get back into wearing contacts for a couple of years now (I don't like glasses very much, but due to dry-eye, it's what I have to do). However, this time when I visited the opthamologist, he didn't even present contacts as an option. He said I need to do more eye drops just to save my eyes from scarring. Yipes. I have no business living in the desert. Oh, well, remember the Cambodian missionaries that desperately needed eye correction but never got any until they got to the MTC? Yeah, I'm lucky to have glasses. And eyesight! (And yes, I have tried everything. Duct plugs, Restasis, fish and flax oil . . . gotta buy a whole-house humidifier next. Another day.)

Too Big to Sleep on the Teacher's Desk

Remember when I taught kindergarten and I had a baby named Baby Josh, and he got so tired he slept on my desk? Josh told me today that he has a really big name now, and it's "kindergartener." It's an emotional topic for me. Sometimes, anyway. I am excited to see him excited, and cannot believe how adorable he is walking around with his big superhero backpack. I want him to grow up and do new things and be happy and successful. But he's my buddy. And I'm now officially done with the 5 years of tiny boy where he was mine all the time, and I could hug him whenever, and he would know I love him, and he would be my right-hand man, and I knew he was learning good things, and was safe. And I can't see anymore because of all of this water in my eyes. Oh, Joshy . . . So, how did we get here? Long story, let's start with finishing up preschool in the spring.

Josh got the preschool award for the Most Humorous. I was going to re-take this picture, but I thought it went with the award. We think Josh is pretty amusing, so it was fun to see others picking up on his personality.

Cute little preschool group. Chloe, Chase, Ben, Josh, Kael, Mia, Ian. Cooper was gone.

Shortly after our neighborhood preschool ended, a month long kindergarten preview started at the school. I knew the teacher was amazing, and he really thought he should go to school the second he turned 5, so off he went. It was a good decision, he had a total blast. If I could get video to upload I would show off him singing, his flag of our country song he learned. Too adorable, and I really appreciate his teacher for teaching them a song about God and our country. I cried when he sang it, of course.

The first day of summer preschool at the elementary school. He was SO excited, and he had so much fun, it was ridiculous.

The first day of summer preschool was hard for Noah. He wanted to go somewhere, too, not be left without his playmate! So, I took Noah and Andrew to feed the ducks. It was perfect. Simple - beautiful day, lovely lake, adorable children, and some ducks. The funniest was the next day when Josh said, "I get to go to school today, Noah," and Noah replied, "Well, I'll just be feeding ducks."

These guys were so cute, and so excited to feed the ducks. I loved seeing Noah try so hard to look after Andrew.

Noah was hilarious, he tried very hard to equitably give each duck some bread.

Andrew had to hang on the bridge just like Noah. He was in love with the ducks, and actually said "duckies" for the first time. He would laugh and point and attempt to toss his little bits of bread.

Yet another way to feed the ducks.

We had a fantastic morning feeding the ducks, but the entire time I missed Josh. I didn't expect to feel it so much, but I really did. Even as I looked at adorable pudgy fingers poking through the bridge to show me the ducks, I was happy, but there was a little piece of my happy that was now at school. I watched the clock the entire time, and couldn't believe 3.5 hours could be so long. The feeling was hard to shake, but it went away after a few days. We got used to our new routine, and it sure helped that he was loving it. Plus, it wasn't the real thing . . .

I knew I would have a hard time with the real thing. But, life hit. It was my turn to teach preschool on the first day of kindergarten, so I was crazy busy and Gary actually brought him. No time to think about it. After Gary dropped him off I asked how it went. "Did you cry?" I asked. "It didn't even cross my mind," Gary chuckled. So then I started crying thinking about Josh now in school. But not for more than a second, preschool was coming fast. Since then we have had preschool, doctors appointments, and a holiday, so I actually haven't thought about Josh's absence as much as I thought. We've hardly noticed, actually. Then last night Josh snuggled up to me and said, "Just for one day can I stay home with you?" Oh, man, wasn't thinking about it, but now I am. He will get used to it. So will I. It's life. It's exciting! But it is good to have moments like these when I realize that I shouldn't wish time away, as I have definitely been guilty of. Which is why I had to write it down. Caring enough to write it down is a good thing. So is being a kindergarten mom. New adventures . . .

Josh's first day of kindergarten. This photo was the best I could do because he was determined to do some type of gang pose. He's still adorable, all excited for kindergarten.

Sorry to Noah that this post is so much about Josh. I'm actually really excited to have more time to focus on Noah. He has been talking for months about preschool, so life is pretty good now. He really wanted to go camping for preschool, but I was going to teach about the five senses. Then I thought, why not teach the five senses through a camping theme? It's been really fun. Noah is such a little sponge, and it's great to see him get into all of the activities we do. He does them again after all the kids have left, and talks about things he's learned. He is really looking forward to when he gets to go to someone else's house for preschool, but he has to deal with me for one more week.

Noah's first day of preschool. Since it was at our house he had no need for shoes or a backpack, but he did don this Spanish wineskin for the photo. We did camping as our theme, and this was one of the props, so he immediately put it to use.

Josh came home and immediately started playing in the tent we'd set up for preschool. He actually wrote several field journal pages, whereas the preschoolers didn't do any, so it was perfect. Somebody did it!

What was Andrew doing? Forging onward in his journey to be a real 2 year old by the time he gets there. Here is is covered in grape jelly. The photo in no way shows the true coverage, or the state of the kitchen, but I had to capture what he is learning these days, if imperfectly.

Wedding Snippets (a.k.a. Another Event Where the Christmas Sweatsuit Would Have Impressed Kristen)



Remember when I was babysitting when I was 11, and I came home to find out that my mom had a baby? Cindy and I were so excited we did Toyota jumps down the stairs. So, I did what any girl would do, I put on my black Christmas sweatsuit (jingle bells attached), so I would look really nice the first time I met her. (If I ever get ahold of that picture, I will need to post it here. I look GOOD.) Then when she was two or three she liked to climb and play, on people even, so I called her my monkey. So I gave her a stuffed monkey for Christmas and she loved it to pieces until it was literally in pieces years later, and she was officially my monkey. But really officially her name is Kristen, and really offiically she got MARRIED.

I know for sure this is true, because I was there in the Logan temple in the very room, and shed some tears because it was so awesome and she was so happy. And also Shane was so happy too. He's the boy involved in this. Kristen's friends asked me afterward how it was. I said it was really nice. They said people always say that. They are right, they always do. But it really was true! President Kimball said, "Any of you would go around the world for the sealing ordinance if you knew its importance, if you realized how great it is." (Read more here.) (Or get a little background on the topic here.) I love being in the temple and feeling the closeness of heaven on earth, and having a moment to really feel what's important. And seeing Kristen happy. I don't have a whole chronicle of the event with my little camera, just what a mom like me would take in a hurry, but it's proof, anyway, right?

I told the kids to go touch the temple so I could take their picture. They did it, and then kept looking in the door to try to see Kristen. I told them they wouldn't see Kristen, but seconds later, there she was making faces through the door at them. They were SO excited.

Here they are, all married . . . with children. The kids LOVE these guys, so had to be the first to get a photo opportunity. Andrew was totally upset about life until Shane picked him up.

It's our little family in front of the temple. Couldn't get an all-smiling picture, but what do you do?

May be odd to take a picture of Josh eating, but I thought it was so cute how much he loved the food. He got seconds of pork tenderloin. Who knew he was so fancy? (Yes, his hand is in his mouth. :) )

Gary may hate me for posting this picture. But it's too funny! Andrew was really enjoying himself, and this was the "perfect" moment to capture.

I did not take a picture of Noah while eating. I told him to smile and he struck this as his pose. I also love Andrew cheesing it up in the background because I had the camera out.

Andrew became a dancin' machine this weekend. His moves at the wedding were some of the most entertaining.

Posting a lot of pictures of my kids dancing . . . but how do I choose? They were having a blast. The favorite move was swing under mom's legs, which I did a few more times than my body wanted to. But they loved it.

Josh is king of inventing unique maneuvers.

Andrew with my gorgeous sister Hannah.

This was the highlight for Noah, by FAR. He didn't want to go near Kristen for a while because it seems he was so smitten by her beauty in her wedding dress. He told me the only girl he would dance with was grandma. Finally near the end he worked up the courage to have me ask Kristen to dance with him, and that's what he talked about constantly afterwards. He loved when, "Kristen was a princess, and he got to dance with her in her dress." Incidentally, when he was playing with Mrs. Potato Head last week, he had her marry Shane.

Tate and Noah get their moment.

And finally, these funny babies. Katie couldn't find Lily at all, but I kept seeing Andrew run behind a wall, stay there for a minute, and then peek back into the main room. Turns out this fireplace was behind the wall, and they were playing back there. His pose cracks me up.