WONDERFUL WEEKEND

On Friday R took the boys to the Father and Sons campout. I think it was so cool that it fell on Fathers Day weekend this year. He planned to take them all but settled for the older 3, I wanted him to enjoy it and go back next year. Levi wasn't quite ready even though he thought he was and kept promising to behave if R took him. They had a great time and came back very dirty with lots of stories of roasting hot dogs and "giant marshmellows" and R's "awesome" dutch oven cobbler. My fave story was AJ's most important ( to him) accomplishment... He "pooped on the back of a log". R sent me a pic of the event but I decided against sharing it. I probably will print it out though because AJ's cheesy grin is priceless, I'll save it for future extortion needs. While they were gone I got to go to the temple. It was such a great experience and definitely refilled my spiritual well. Today was my first Sunday doing Presidency stuff since last week I still needed to teach my class. I felt like a fish out of water. I haven't been in senior primary since Levi was born and of course it's a completely different group of kids. I'm pretty pleased, I knew most of the kids by name or at least last name. I'm so grateful for this new opportunity and the blessings it has already brought to my family!!!!

WE LOVE CAMPING

Our ward campout was this weekend in Buckeye Hillls and it was so much fun, despite my horrendous headache! We are blessed to live in a GREAT ward and our activities are so much fun. Jake and Caleb decided that they each wanted to sleep in their own tents so I felt like an idiot with 3 rather large tents but oh well. Friday night Caleb's tent zipper wouldn't zip, big surprise since it was a play place throughout the afternoon for many of the boys attending. Anyhow after all that, he slept in the same tent as Jake. I was too afraid of a scorpion joining him through the ever so inviting open door. Many people slept under the stars but I confess, I'm not brave enough to do that. Jake and Caleb were put in charge of the fire, to their utter enjoyment, and they took their duty seriously, they kept it going strong and were devoted to it again in the morning. I came home smelling like smoke and incredibly dirty but as always we loved it and can't wait to go again!!!

More Spring Break Goodies

I know I'm a little behind... Last week was crazy busy and pretty fun. We hung out with Joe and Victoria and hopefully helped a little bit more than not on Wednesday. We FINALLY left for our camping trip on Thursday. I couldn't wait and the boys were just as excited as I was. Poor Ryan didn't get to sleep in on Thursday despite my best intentions since Caleb got past me and woke him up to get going. My favorite quote was Caleb on Thursday morning, keep in mind he and AJ were up at 5:45, yes that's pre dawn. We are laying on the couch as I tried unsuccessfully to get them to go back to sleep, and the sun starts to come up, Caleb says to me, "Mom is this the crack of dawn?" "yes," I say. "Then why aren't we leaving yet?" he says. And at that he and AJ are up and getting dressed, Jake and Levi followed soon after. Oh well, who could blame them. We made pretty good time despite going through Phoenix and hitting construction. The campground was beautiful and the weather cooperated, it was pretty cold at night but thanks to my BFF and her awesome husband we had plenty of firewood to keep us warm and toast our smores. Many memories to keep me laughing and smiling for a long time. Thanks to Mel and fam for coming on this adventure with us, as always, it was a blast for all of us. Thanks to Lyle for the Elk roast and fixins from the dutch oven, I'm not sure which was my fave, the cobblers or the dinner, seriously. We made it home on Saturday, after Caleb cried because he didn't want to leave, he is like his dad, "a toasted marshmellow (crusty on the outside and gooey on the inside). Now I'm peeling, proof to Ryan that sometimes, maybe only twice in 9 years, but sometimes I do burn. I did manage to get AJ's jeans clean, miracle of miracles, my tub on the other hand will be harder, I think we may have left some dirt in the forest but you wouldn't know it to look at the boys, their clothes and after baths, my tub. The kids are back to school and we are back to the grind but we'll go back and I can't wait!!! I can't get my pics to post but I'll try later.

SPRING BREAK START!!

Yesterday I took my boys, along with 2 friends and 8 other kiddos for an adventure. We got ALOT of funny looks as we walked down the street to the light rail stop but who cares what other people think. My husband thinks I'm crazy or glutton for punishment but he doesn't understand punishment until he is stuck in a house with 4 stir crazy and bored kids all day with all of them either picking fights for something to do OR getting into some other mischief OR complaining about being bored. This was a cakewalk compared to that and besides it was fun, mostly. So our adventure started out riding the light rail to the Heard Museum. We wandered the museum for awhile and then the light rail back to our trucks and then to a park for a picnic lunch. It was a perfect 75 degree sunny day with a slight breeze and almost no arguing the entire day. Who could ask for more? After that I exchanged Ryan's new CTR ring, I got the wrong size, then off to Dr. B for, you guessed it, two kids with ear infections and still more antibiotics and a referral to another ENT for more tubes for AJ, his third set. Levi won't be far behind if he follows the pattern set down by his brothers. Then to Dr Davis to get adjusted and then to Sams much to Ryan's dismay. He thinks I did too much already but the dogs need food you know?! Last to Fry's to drop off prescriptions. It was a very long day but all in all... After all of that, on the way home I asked the boys if they had a good day and still they all said yes. Above are some pics we took on the first half, the funner half, of our adventure. Today we did some visiting teaching but mostly, rested and packed for our camping trip. Have I mentioned that I CAN'T WAIT!!!! I think the boys are at least as excited as I am. Hopefully, Ryan will be able to get his homework done so that he can come up with us and not have to bring a second truck. What kind of teacher gives homework over spring break? They obviously don't understand the concept of a break and if anyone deserves one it's my husband. Anyway, so far I'm not doing too bad at keeping my resolution of making happy memories but the year is still young, I have to keep it up! Oh yeah, HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY.