Primary Activity Day-Trip to the Boise Temple

Saturday didn't go the way I had envisioned it for months. But what ever does. I kept getting phone calls saying that my helpers were cancelling. So we woke up Sat. morning, got the kids in their Church clothes, and drove to the temple. When we got there, there was one other little girl waiting. Shortly their after, my second councilor showed up, and the Bishop and his wife. Another family with two little girls showed up, so we started. We talked about the importance of Temples and memories that we had of the Boise Temple. We were just getting ready to go over to the Temple grounds, when three more families showed up. There had been a traffic jam on the freeway, making it difficult to get to Boise.
When we went over to the Temple grounds, we talked about the special qualities that the Boise Temple has (thanks Uncle Mark!!!-He works for the church in the Boise Temple, and he gave us information sheets for the temple).
I hope the children remember the importance of the Temple when they make decisions in their life. I know for me, being able to watch the temple being built when I was little, saving money for it to be built, being able to go to the open house, and seeing my parents going to the Temple often made a big impact on me and my desire to be able to go to the Temple at an early age.

Dates, Shopping, Geese, and Vet's Memorial

On Saturday, Ash had a Papa date to play catch and batting practice. She is getting better. So while Ash was having her Papa Date with Papa Dave, Brennen and I went shopping. I really wanted some new tanks from Old Navy to wear under my shirts, but by the time we made it there, they only had Bronco Orange left. So we looked around for something for Paul for his birthday (since everything in his closet is Bronco colors!!!!!!!!!!!). People always talk about their little girls being clothes horses, Brennen could give them a run for their money. He kept picking up things in his size (they were cute clothes)that he liked. He was carrying around about $100 worth of clothes. In the end I told him he could pick one item. He picked a vintage looking batman shirt. (He slept with it clutched in his arms, he insisted on taking into church with him, and then wanted to change into the second we got out of church.)
Paul wanted to go on an adventure Saturday afternoon, and the kids wanted to feed the ducks, because granilani had a bunch of bread that was stale. We took the kids to the park that has always been good for feeding ducks for the past 27 years, but there was not even one single duck there. Ash was furious. So we went to a Park in Boise. There were a ton of Canadian Geese. They rushed the kids when they figured out that they had food. This freaked Brenn. The Geese were rather friendly. I wish I would have had my camera (I need to train Paul better in this aspect).
The park that we were at, had just had its playground refurbished, and the kids had a blast playing on it.
Ash has been asking for a long time to go so Great-Papa Hallberg's grave site at the Veteran's Memorial, so we took a nice little drive in the "Mountains". Brennen kept telling Paul to turn right, so that we could go further up the mountain.
It was a gorgeous clear day, so we could see the whole valley from up on top of the Vet's Memorial by the Flag. You can pick out familiar landmarks to help orientate where you were. We were all tired and hungry after our little jaunt around town. So we got a bit to eat. Needless to say Brennen fell asleep, and wouldn't wake up. He slept for 3 hours, and then was up until about 4 am. He was then very grouch at church.

Last Day of School for Ash

Today was Ashlynn's last day of the 2008-09 school year at ILC.

Today's festivities included a talent show....
Ash hula hooped while reading a book...TO HERSELF!! It was so funny. At home she can start by herself without help. I told her she need to read the book aloud. She was adamant that she didn't have to.

There was also a school wide Olympics, and BBQ. A fun time was had by all.

I also had a DR's appointment today. My blood pressure was elevated, but everything else looks fine.

Boys Names

So there have been plenty of girls names suggested. Remember we don't know what we're having, so we need to have some boys names too.

I Want Hair Like Daddy

Yesterday, I was taking a shower, when Brennen brought me a "picture" (cut up paper) to look at. A few minutes later, he came back and said, "Look at me mom, I cut my hair."
"WhY Brennen?"
"I want hair like Daddy's!"
The hair is so short in 3 spots, its nearly bald. And with the strange uneven coloring of his hair it makes it look worse.
I texted Alexis to see when she could cut his hair, and she wasn't able to do it until this afternoon.
So he wore a hat everywhere we went!!! Needless to say, we talked about the "rules" of haircutting,only Ms. Alexis is allowed to cut his hair.
Thank you Alexis for doing what you could!

Rejuvenating Mud Bath anyone?

This is my Little Man covered in mud.
Paul would have freaked if he had been home. He doesn't like messes, and he certainly doesn't like it when Brennen does normal little boy things. His mother assures me he was among the worst little trouble makers when he was Brenn's age (A little story about filling the inside of his dad's car completely with water comes to mind!!). As long as he hasn't ruined anything, and its an easy clean up, I don't mind.
The kids like to take dirt from the backyards flower beds, and make dirt "sculptures" (Brennen's word of the week) on the back patio. Ash was trying to sweep it off last I heard, and then we had water involved-I don't know who's brainchild that was. End result a great big muddy mess.
The fun part for me was I got to hose him down. Ash thought this would be great fun too, but I didn't want her to get mean about it.
So chalk another memory up to Brennen's inquisitive adventures!!!

Brennen- the new Kirsten

When Kirsten was little, it was not uncommon for her to wake up and roam around the house. Well, Brennen does the same. Yesterday afternoon, Paul and Brennen took a Sunday drive (The kids take turns going on rides with daddy, especially if their not getting along at the time of the suggestion-just to isolate them from one another.). Of course, Brennen fell asleep in the car by the time they returned home. When Brennen falls asleep he needs a good 2 to 3 hours or he is a complete bear, so we didn't wake him up. Needless to say he wasn't tired when the rest of us were(He does stay in his room though.). He woke us up at 1 am, by turning on the hall and downstairs lights, because he was hungry and thirsty. I haven't been sleeping well during this pregnancy, so if I'm awoken in the night, it usually takes me hours to fall back asleep; especially if one of the kids is awake or sick. Brenn finally fell asleep around 2:30am and was awake at 8; His usual time to get up in the morning.

Brennen has also been making up funny little jokes. Here are a few he was telling me this morning...

Q-Why did the cat cross the Road?
A-Because the chicken was following him?

Q-Why did the Firetruck go down the Road?
A-Because the steering wheel and brakes weren't working.

Schools out for Summer... At least for mommy and granilani

I was so ready for this summer vacation. Although it seems so surreal. No big event to culminate the end, to what seemed like a very long school year.
Ash isn't out until the 18th, so the boys and I will have the mornings together. Paul's going to work some overtime the next couple of weeks, so he'll be gone all afternoon until his normal time.
Baseball season is over. Ash is bummed, but want to move on to the next activity. It's been a year since her first broken arm, and the tan line of skin that hasn't seen the sun in a year is hilarious. Two more weeks and then the objects with wheel and trampoline restriction is removed. I'm going to need to find some arm pad protectors somewhere, and a Priesthood blessing wouldn't hurt.
Ash and her school mates had their end of year concert on Friday the 5th (Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad).It was patriotic themed, and very good. Ash is quit a bit smaller then the majority of her class, so she was out front and center, but from the back of the Bee Hive (their auditorium)I could only see the top of her head.

Brenn amazed the "girls" at school with his fly catching abilities on the last day of school. They didn't believe he actually had done it, until he transfer ed it to one of their hands. Brennen became enamoured with one of the teachers down the hall towards the end of the year, Lilliana; much to the sergrin of his earlier favorite Ms. Tracy. Lilliana thinks that he is just the cutest, funniest, inventive little boy. She had prep during 7th hour, which is the time Paul would drop him off. He would always have things to show her, and he would con her out of a box, string, or such; and then give her instructions on how to make his latest invention.

Last night we had a huge storm roll through. It was supposed to miss us entirely, but we had an awesome lightning show with some tremendous thunder. It rolled in about 10:30. Brennen had come into our room and was lying on our bed when the thunder started. This thunder was ear splintering and shook the house. Brennen fell asleep with his hands plugging his ears. I wish I would have gotten a picture.

Of course I have a bazillion pictures to upload, and a computer that won't comply.

Love to All
Lara