Boys will be boys

Russ had to work most of Labor Day, but we had to get some outdoors time in before fall fully set in, so on his one day off we headed up to Strawberry Reservoir.  We were supposed to meet my in-laws up there to go boating, but turns out we somehow missed them.  Not to be deterred we found a nice beach area with a picnic table and, really, boys don't need alot to be entertained.  They had plenty of fun . . .

Collecting rocks and throwing them off the dock:

Catching crawfish (and playing with them):

Playing in the water:

Catching other crawling things:

Playing with "spears":

And yes, I was actually there . . .

And then we said good bye to Russ for a few days.  We headed back to our nice warm home and hot shower and he headed further out into the hills for a week of hunting (and male bonding).

El Seis de Mayo

Yes, we celebrated a day late, but it was still fun.  Thanks to our friends for continuing a great new tradition!  This year was much warmer and much nicer.  Hooray for Mexico!

Service made easy

Martin Luther King Jr Day.  No School.  What to do? 

BYU hosts a community service day every year.  Perfect fun we can feel good about.  After hearing from the first black, female mayor in Utah and one of the BYU football players, 800+ people split to work on all different kinds of projects.  You can read more about it in this article (where we are even mentoned!).  Some people headed out into the community, but there were plenty of projects set up on campus to keep us busy.

We started off making cards for our soldiers serving abroad.  I didn't get any pictures, but Cody made a great American flag and Corbin made "Happy New Year" and "Happy Valentine's Day" cards.  Colton had fun tracing his hand for his "Thank you" cards.  It was a perfect project for any age!  (And as a side note, while we were sitting at this table, I met a family who is moving to Uganda in a few weeks.  I was so excited for them!)

Next, Grandma & Corbin worked on making dress up clothes for the Head Start Preschool. 

They ended up with a very cute tutu, which Corbin was kind enough to model for me.

While they worked on that, the little boys and I headed to a different room to make hand puppets to be sent around the world.  We made a penguin, a tiger, and a piggy.  Cody did a great job! 

Colton did help every now and then, but mostly kept busy with the all-you-can-eat donuts.  :)

We ended in another room where they were working on several other projects for different community groups.  It was a very successful day and we are so glad Grandma Jill was here to go with us! And I got some great ideas for our next summer of service!  We are so grateful for MLK and for this opportunity to serve!

I Have A Dream! by Corbin

Corbin brought this home from school.  I'm not sure what the preface to it was, or what they may have talked about (besides MLK, obviously), but I thought it was interesting, so here it is:

I have a dream that there will be no more wars.  And that no atomic bombs will land in our country.  And that a fire will not burn down my house.  I have a dream that one day doctors will hav a cure for everything.  I have a dream that people will stop smoking.  I have a dream that everyone in the world will be free.  I have a dream that the whole world won't flood.

We made it to midnight!

Our New Year's Eve Staycation... 

burgers and fries at Scaddy's and then off to the hotel for a night of fun!

First things first - swimming!

Then back up to the room for games, treats and just hanging out:

And before we knew it, it was time to ring in the new year!

We each shared our New Year's resolution with each other and the boys have not neglected to remind me of mine - "to be a nicer mommy."  :)

Russ had to work at the fire station on New Year's day, so he snuck out in the early hours of the morning and the boys and I slept until 9am!  That's a record for my boys!  We enjoyed the free continental breakfast and watching cartoons on all the numerous channels that we don't have at home.  About noon, we headed over to Jungle Jims and spent the next several hours riding rides, playing video games, eating pizza and climbing around the play area.  It was a blast!

Before we ended our day, of course we had to visit Russ at the station (check out this post).  The kids were out before I even got on the highway to head home.  It was a perfect getaway.

Happy New Year!

Why do we celebrate Labor Day?

I don't know, but it sure is fun!!

On Saturday: Payson Onion Days Children's Fest

On Monday:  BBQ at Grandma and Grandpa's . . .

we start with the hAyRidEs!

  sHuCkiNg the CoRn and FeEdInG the cOwS

Grandpa's "Door to AdvEnTuRe!"

CaTcHiNg CrAwDadS

And Colton wakes up from his nap and sees that everyone is...

RiDiNg HoRseS!  HOORAY! (And Corbin went for the first time without being led!  Way to go, bud!  And thank you Zyrtec!)

Oh, and we ate lots of yummy food, but I guess I was too hungry to take any pictures.  Just use your imagination.