Our River Spot

I'll be honest, there aren't a lot of places where we are allowed to sit by the bank of our river on our island, but we did find this special place and we have been frequenting it.  On this last trip, Eirik was excited to bring his spear that he made from a piece of bamboo, masking tape and a sharp thorn.  He was sure it would be easy to spear a fish.  It was not, but wouldn't you know, Paul was able to fashion a fishing pole out of things he found at our river spot and catch a fish in about 1 minute.  Paul.. always the hero! 

Doing whatever it is that boys do.

Just when we thought we were too busy...

Guess what Paul started this morning?  Ok, give up, you'll never guess.  It's too outrageous!

Seminary!  He started teaching early morning seminary!  Yeah, we thought he was too busy for anything else too.  He was asked right before sacrament meeting Sunday.  During sacrament he prayed about it and he told me that the Lord told him that if he did not accept the calling He would take away all that he has even his life!  In other words, Paul said he really had no choice.  To be honest, the bishop told me that the previous seminary teacher said she couldn't do it 2 weeks before it was supposed to start.  He was very concerned, and I think he brought it up with me on the sly during our meeting to see what my response would be.  I told him I would tell Paul they really needed a teacher and get his reaction, but that I felt he was too busy to be able to handle a calling like that.  He did not wait to hear any reaction from me, although I don't think it mattered, however I think the spirit told me that day that he would get this call and it would be a blessing to us.  As he prepared for his first lesson last night, he said to me, "you want to go get your scriptures?"  He told me later that I sort of giggled as I went up the stairs.  I think I actually did.  I don't think I have heard him say that in about... oh, 8 years.

Extreme Squirrel Zombie Motorcross

We have this great book called Sharks vs. Trains.  One one page the shark and train are playing Extreme Squirrel Zombie Motorcross videogame.  Joren asked me in all sincerity if we could get a cord and plug in Extreme Squirrel Zombie Motorcross to our Wii so we could play it.  When I told him that that would not work, he was extremely disappointed.

Toad's everywhere

He is so observant.  He can spot them anywhere and he loves to catch them.  He found a toad the other day and we played with it for hours. I asked him to set him loose in the pond.  Of course he did not want to and wanted to keep him in the terrarium.  I let him keep him but after a few days I told him the toad needed to be set loose so he could get some food and live.  A little while later Joren said, "mom, don't look in that drawer."   Guess what I found in that drawer!  He had put his toad in a ziplock bag and back in the ziplock bag box back in the drawer for safe keeping!  Ahh...  Well, he assured me after that that the toad had been let loose in the pond.  Today the boys found a different toad in the backyard.  Joren ran in the house in great excitement and told Eirik to wait outside.  Then he dove under our ottoman in the living room and extracted his, somehow still living toad from under a cup he had placed upside down there.  That means that for at least a day and a half that toad lived in my living room under a cup and I did not notice!  Imagine my surprise if I had found him!  They were thrilled to have two toads to play with and compare.  Joren even let his toad loose in the pond and somehow recaptured it a bit later.  I was most impressed that Eirik actually held the toad today.  He usually instructs Joren when and where and what to do with all the living creatures they find together; to which Joren always willingly obliges.  What a cute team.

Family Fun in the backyard

Thanks Jennie Whiting for most of these pictures!

Labor Day Rockets

Eirk covering his ears because he was terrified of the blast off.

Family Fun Labor Day Mini Reunion

Utah in August

Pure perfect joy.

Kindergarden Begins, First Day of Preschool and Quadraped Graduation

 It was a day of firsts.

Eirik
I took Eirik for his first day of Kindergarten.  I've been so excited for him because I think he will love it so much, but a few weeks ago I asked my friend Anona if she was excited for school to start and she said no.  She said, "they are such long days and I miss my kids.  I love having them home over the summer."  To that, I felt bad since I had been so eagerly awaiting this day.  I learned from her to savor, even more, the last few weeks I had with Eirik home every day with me.  Eirik was brave and confident going in and had a great time showing Mrs. Biro his journal he made over the summer, but when it was time for me to say goodbye, he got a little nervous.  It was kind of a hard break and he hugged me so hard he knocked me over on the ground.  Eventually he was ready for me to go.  I was anxious all day.  Would he like his teacher?  Would he like his classmates?  Would he like his lunch?  Would he cry?  I picked him up in the afternoon in the classroom.  Why was I the first to drop him off and the first to pick him up?  Am I overprotective?  I was too nervous to have him ride the bus the first day so I picked him up.  He was so excited and said, "Kindergarten rocks!"  At recess he was running laps with his class and one of the kids skinned his knee.  Eirik was in the lead and was about to win, but he thought about that kid who got hurt and Eirik said he left the race and put his arm on the kids back and told him it was going to be ok.  He walked with him and asked him if he wanted to play with him.  Eirik told me that he learned a lesson that it is better to help someone than to win.  He did not touch his fruits and vegies in his lunch, but I still could not be more proud of my all in black ninja warrior kindergartener.  Does he really have to go ALL day tomorrow too?  This is going to take some getting used to.

Eirik with friend Zach from Tae Kwon Do class

Joren

I took Joren to have his first meeting with Mrs. Tobias, his preschool teacher.  She is wonderful.  Eirik had her last year.  It was so fun to watch Joren act like a big boy.  He looked so grown up holding his pencil and writing little scribbles on the line for his name.  He told her, "I can't write J.O.R.E.N." And she told him whatever he wrote was great, so he made marks across the page.  At one point he said a sentence with the word "little" in it which he still says as yittle.  Mrs. Tobias and I looked at each other with the "that is too cute for words face" and we had a little moment enjoying his adorableness.  On the way home he said "I am going to high school.  I am going to graduate.  Don't I talk grown up mom?"
His ice making is getting out of hand. Now he is making it in plastic bags with twist ties.  There is ALWAYS water all over the floor in the kitchen and my dishes are everywhere.  I do believe this stage too will pass and I will remember his ice making days with fondness.

Teig

 Today Teig began to walk.  He has been taking steps and then falling into things until today, but today he decided he was ready and was cruising around the house.  Wow, he is not a crawler anymore.  Overnight, now he walks.  He was proud of himself and so excited.  His happy face is such a delight.  He is a great eater.  He was so happy to see his brothers again after being away for a few days.  He loves me and wants me in sight all the time.  I love him back!