4th of July

The parade.... it actually went pretty well. Kael didn't mind the sirens but he did not like the big rigs blowing their horns. When that kept happening we decided we had seen enough and left. Besides, we had seen the jets and isn't that the only reason for showing up at the Vernal 4th of July parade?

After the parade we left to head for Provo. We had tickets for the Stadium of Fire! Kael and I stayed at our motel for the night since I didn't know if all the sound, lights and booms would go over too well with him and I decided better safe than sorry. Besides, now I have a Stadium of Fire ticket for my scrap book right? We went to the top of the parking garage with mom and Chuck and watched the fireworks ourselves. It was great company and I am so thankful they came to join us! Thank you!! Of course my camera was in my car and every time I could have gotten a pic of them too it completely slipped my mind. I think I am getting way too old, I can't remember anything! Just know that mom and Chuck were there and we had a great time! Maybe I will actually remember the pic next time~ Kim and the boys really seemed to enjoy the Stadium of Fire and I think they were really glad they went.

We talked the Allred's into having dinner with us on the 3rd (before they left for their big trip, I think of you daily and I hope you are having the time of your lives!) so for tradition we had to light some fireworks. The whole purpose was to rid us of a box of firecrackers but we still have most of them left. Guess we have to do it again when you return!! Kiersten and Kiley had made it home from their week long soccer trip and they were able to join us for dinner. It was really fun and I enjoyed the family time~

Syree, Slade and Sabreya came to help us with a few fireworks. They are such great kids! I would have to guess that Kiley really likes this picture so maybe someone will think he has a really big growth spurt. (he is standing on the curb)

Smelly chocolate buckets

We found some buckets to use in our food storage, only problem is they needed cleaned. They were filled with different things but most of them had chocolate fondant. When we first got them, YUM they smelled so good. After the days kept going by (months) they began to lose the yummy smell. Our house looked like a true redneck home with buckets lying everywhere. Here is a pic of some of them after the goopy stuff had already been removed and were ready for power wash. (Keep in mind, there are still buckets laying all over the grass and we now have chocolate grass for Kael to play)

The boys job was to scoop out the "goop" left in the buckets. It was a mess and they had "goop" everywhere! (See our lovely chocolate covered grass?)

Now on to the power wash. I was so proud of Kim for enduring the sun and the heat! I think he rather enjoyed the continuous water shower to keep him cool too~ (bags on his legs to help keep his feet dry, remind me of the woolly boots they use in Star Wars, too cute) What a work out too as I can only imagine.

Lets build a box to try and help hold the buckets.....

The box must not have worked too great, he went back to using the shooting bench! I am very relieved the buckets are now done. Once we get the clean buckets out of the yard maybe our neighbors will not think we are quite so trashy! LOL After a 2nd straight day of washing buckets I am eager to see if Kim is walking today.... time will tell~

More news

Kael is growing out of a few things and we have not gotten our non food storage room put back together to be used yet so everything is just sitting around. It does not look like the cat minds at all. He enjoys Kael's chair stuffed away in the corner and you can find him there most times of day. I wonder if we will ever get it back? Thank heavens for removeable covers and washing machines! Maybe some time I will turn on the vibrating action and see how he likes that! It should be fun to watch for me anyway!

Kiersten and Kiley got to go with our stake youth to the new temple open house. They seemed to love their trip. Kiersten sent us this picture on his phone stating "The new house of the Lord" They were very thrilled to get to go in the celestial room and the sealing rooms. To quote them "It was awesome!" What a beautiful temple!

You may notice some changes to Kiersten's room. He was "secretly got" by some friends and they gave him a new entrance and a new messier room. I honestly did not think that it being messier was possible. (I will always have to keep in mind that it can be worse) I do not think that he really thought it was very funny that he had to clean it all up by himself and there were multiple people to cause the damage. After a few days of confetti being spread though the house by feet and animals enough was enough and he had to buckle down and get it taken care of. Thank you Kiersten and your room looks much better since you cleaned more than just their mess.

Wow, Summer already?

The first week of summer break has already come and gone... The boys had a pretty easy, relaxed week. Now it is over and college classes are starting and so is soccer practices at 6am. Should I tell them now that their job helping calendar will be available this week too? LOL Now that Kael is crawling I need their help keeping things a little cleaner. It is disgusting when he crawls across the floor and is covered with "crap" when he gets to the other side of the room. Since I am working full time and spend most of my evenings getting Kael down and finally to sleep, I need to recruit some help. They have been forewarned but hopefully they will adjust to the one small task I ask of them a day. Do they realize how easy they have it here? I think not!

These are the handsome boys today sporting their new haircuts.

Is it just me or are they starting to look a little more alike again???

Here are the boys leaving for their last day as FRESHMAN! Can you tell they were excited?


A little behind news. Did you know that Kiley is a daddy and that Kim is a grandpa?? Kiley had to keep his baby for his teen living class over the weekend during school. He was very glad when his baby was able to leave. I am just wondering where the "key" to Kael is at?? I think Kiley had it pretty easy. (although he is very good help with Kael so I will cut him some slack)

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How is it even possible to go from such a mess from self feeding to so incredibly handsome? Kael has decided that he is too old for baby food and will very rarely let me feed him baby food. He has to feed himself but there are only so many possibilities when you have no teeth. I am running out of options so he is not eating the same thing over and over. But boy does he love it.

Lots been going on

Wow the time sure flies by and the days go so fast. It seems like there is never a minute to just sit down and update my poor blog. I see all my great friends blogs and I am very inadequate compared to them. Oh well, I guess that is just my life.

I can not fathom that it is almost June! Oh my goodness. The boys have 4 days of school left and then they are out for the summer. THEY ARE OFFICIALLY SOPHOMORES. They are both driving and it is nice to have a chauffeur every time I want to go somewhere. They have both excelled in school again and completed their freshman honor society. Of course they are at that awkward frustrating time of teenage life. I hope and pray they both make it through and know their parents are here for them if they need to talk!

Kiersten received his 'U' for academic excellence with a 3.96 GPA. Congratulations Kiersten I am so proud of you! He is still drawing and I love to see what he creates. He is so amazingly talented and I love to see him grow and improve his talent.

Kiley received his 'U' for cross country and the coach is looking forward to him improving this year too. He is very outgoing and friendly to everyone and has a wonderful sense of humor. I am very proud of you too Kiley!

They are both looking for work this summer but the jobs are very sparse this year. Time will tell what they will find to do with themselves. They are both looking forward to a Dixie Soccer Camp the end of June. They have both also enrolled in concurrent enrollment and will be starting their associates degree. Their first class of choice, Psychology. They are really looking forward to it beginning. They will also be doing their drivers education online through the summer. They better get crackin'~

Kael continues to change and develop every single day. He is so active and constantly going somewhere and doing something. He is now crawling and pulling himself up and shimmying along the couch. He is nonstop action every second he is awake. I think the boys are getting tired of all the excitement with every little tiny new thing he does. I hope they understand it was the same for them when they were his age and we still enjoy watching them learn and grow too. Children are such an AMAZING gift, what a miracle to get to watch and enjoy. Kael still loves to be outside and will be happy and content for every walk you take him on. It is really the only time you can contain him and keep him still!

Kael got a bike from his grandparents and he loves to ride it. It is a guarenteed smile. He still has a while until he can do it himself but they just couldn't resist such a cute tricycle. Thank you again for thinking of us and sharing!

The Big Banana

Okay, it was really Bananas Park but to the boys it will always be known as "the big banana"

I decided it was time to get away for a day and spend some one on one time with Kiersten and Kiley. We have not done it for a long time and I always enjoy getting a chance to get in a little playing and talking with them. (Kim also had to work so that helped in deciding on the one on one time)

We got in a little shopping, eating, playing at the park, going to the bookstore (always a winner with the boys), and of course, Coldstone ice cream. The park included miniature golf, go-karts, laser tag and arcade (for us anyway) Kiersten was thrilled with his 20 minute laser tag run (since that is all he really wanted to do all day anyway)

We did bribe him to play golf with us and it turned out to be really fun (and he did enjoy driving the go-karts too) The course was great and some holes had spinners that decided your fate for playing that hole. We enjoyed putting behind our backs, putting with one hand, putting with our eyes closed, putting with the wrong end of our club (which Kiley interpreted as meaning he could do it like a pool stick) and someone had even built a little house just for Kiley (except they must have forgotten how to spell his name)

When all was said and done Kiersten was the winner with the least number of strokes! Good job Kiersten and THANK YOU for playing with us!
I was very tired due to a very late night the day before and we left to head for home quite late. Kiley was determined to help keep me awake (and in hopes he could maybe get in a little driving himself) so all the way over the mountain Kiley read my book to me. It was great!! I hope he decides to do that again sometime! (Kiersten was over the seat and ready for sleep the moment we headed for home as usual)

Today I decided I needed to get my car cleaned out (with the little extra push I needed thanks to a bowl of melted ice cream and very overdue dried on nacho cheese sauce but we will not mention who added BOTH of them to my car) so I also vacuumed out the truck. Here I was thinking it was Easter and in the truck I found a Christmas present to Kael from Grandma and Grandpa. (Kim was hiding presents from my baby~ haha) Well, it is better that he gets the present now than never right? It was very funny and I am glad I decided to clean out the vehicles.

To say the least I have really enjoyed my two days off from work. They were very well spent and I enjoyed all the time I was able to spend with my boys! I hope it also gave the boys something fun to say they did over spring break.

IT IS OFFICIAL (for one anyway)

I bet it is not long for the other to follow suit....... Kiley is a licensed permit driver! He just left with his dad for his first drive. I will have to let you know how it went and how he did.



Kiersten has been very good with Kael lately and Kael is obsessed with his hair. He is always playing in Kiersten's hair for some reason. It is hard to get a pic with his hand down!