Our backyard campout

Last weekend we had our very own fire, small-sized, for our backyard. There were marshmallows roasted to perfection. I read on the blanket and handed out the food. Jason, Eli and Wy chopped wood, built the fire and did the roasting. Grant ate marshmallows, graham crackers and M&Ms- his hands got so sticky, when he reached into the bag to grab more, he couldn't get all the M&Ms off. He later washed up in the kiddie pool.
When it was time for bed Eli and Daddy stayed in the tent, waiting with the BB gun for the cat that comes into our yard. Hmmmm....
But, truly it was one of our best camp outs ever, especially considering no gas money was spent, I didn't have to pack up the car, and I got to sleep in my own bed!

my new digital scrapbook layouts

Above is all my boys at 1 yr old. I wanted to see the resemblances.
I will update later with real info, but here is what I've been doing lately.

This is the same tire swing I used when I was little. It was in my Grandma's backyard and when she moved I got it. My dad is still the best pusher in the land. ( Boy do I wish my derrière still fit in a space that small.) Eli spends time on the swing almost everyday now. He even has been known to take the phone outside to talk with his friends while swinging. Ahhh... the life.
Grant is quite the man. I don't know how a baby can seem wise, but I swear he knows a heck of a lot more than he shows. I just love his new birthday outfit from his Granny (and Grampy), too.
Finally when had our first game. The boys are playing on the same team and after two weeks of being rained out they played. Eli didn't give me much of a photo opportunity because he'd hit the first pitch every time. 

Wyatt takes this game seriously and you can tell how much he loves by looking at his face.

LOVE THIS

Honestly, this touches my soul.

Create

I hope you like it too.

CHINESE!!!!

There are times when I have chosen a course for my children, not knowing where it will lead or why. 

Last week I went to a meeting for the first Chinese language immersion classes in our district that will produce a fluent speaker by the time they enter Jr. high. I couldn't be more excited for my kids. Eli, because he went to Draper (not our local school) last year, got in  and Wyatt will have priority next year. They will spend half the day speaking only Chinese and half in English. They will do this until they finish elementary school and more will be offered in Jr. high and high school.

There have been many times lately where I have fell my kids have no competing chance in this global world, and I have so wanted something like this to come along. I feel its an answer to prayers. Hooray for Gov. Hunstman who has provided the initial funding. CHINESE!!!!

So, I have a confession....maybe more of a pet peeve I must share. 

I really don't like it when people, and I probably don't mean you, think they are so smart. You know, the people... they just act like when their kids do things they are geniuses, and they (as smart adults) should get paid to breathe? And the fact that they are even talking to you is a favor to you, because truly they could have a much more intelligent conversation with someone else?

I don't know why, but I just had to share....

Onto other things...

We have been trying to play our way into spring- or maybe trying to convince spring to come. The boys got tennis rackets for Christmas so the past two days we have been "tennissing" as Wyatt calls it. Not to be confused with Tennessee-ing.

The other life theme we have been discussing with the kids lately, is that even adults make mistakes, sometimes lie, let people down, say mean things, etc. EXCEPT, when adults do it, they usually get into a lot more trouble. So while you are a kid, you should learn generally to be a good person, so you don't loose your family, your job or end up in jail. Ahhh... if we'd only learn.

staying the course

My baby is getting so big. He is going everywhere, but still needs to keep me in view to be happy. Our family is trying to tweak a few everyday life things, just trying to be a little kinder, get a little more sleep, eat a little better, keep the house a little cleaner and just plain stay out of trouble.