Peyton's Birthday

Peyton is officially 3???  I want to know how this happened...
We had a fabulous birthday bash for her at Creekside and invited a few of her little friends.

It was a wonderful day.  I did go a little cake crazy, but in my defense, she is my only girl and I am crazy in love with her.

Young Eagles

Each year in the fall we look forward to the Young Eagles program.  Independence airport sponsors free flights for kids 8-17.  We have sneaked Marcus in to this point.  He is finally legal!  We really look forward to this day.  The kids love it. So does mommy...  Matt's new life plan includes becoming a pilot.  They both want to make sure their financial planning includes owning a plane. There is talk of a co-ownership.  Love it, except for the fact that now Matt wants a plane as his first vehicle.  He is doing an online training course to get his pilot's license.  Kinda cool. Maybe this will be motivation for keeping the grades up.

preschool

Peyton was so excited to start preschool this year. She loves her Teacher Kristi. (so do I) We are loving it. She came home singing fun songs and wanted to play school with mommy all day and kept asking me to teach her a song. We sang and sang while we canned...

Family Birthday

 

This was a special Sunday!  Everyone came for an impromptu birthday party for the Peyt and it turned into an amazing family reunion (minus Gan and Heather & kids ;..-(  ...)  We just loved hanging out at Mom and Dad's and eating and chatting.  For my kids this is what the vacation is all about.  The COUSINS! and the Grandparents.

Grandpa took the boys out for a fun day on the boat.  He got Matt up on skis.  That was thrilling, but he got Marcus out on the tube... Albeit quite slowly.  We joked that we could drop a line in the water and troll, but he loved it.   I feel so blessed to have this wonderful man as my dad, but equal to that is my kids get to have him as their Grandpa.  We LOVE you Frosty!

Lagoon

We love Lagoon!  It is our favorite amusement park.  Yes we enjoy Disney, but Lagoon is so great!  I remember feeling the same way when I was a kid.  It has the major thrill rides minus the crazy lines and hordes of people.

We had a blast and it was stress free because we left the not quite three year old at home in Idaho with the Grandma!

Horseman

While we were in Idaho Matt ask his Grandma to help him with his Horsemanship Merit Badge. She arranged for the Horseman Counselor to meet with him while we were there and she really worked and prepared him to meet with Ron May. He loved it. He always enjoys riding the horses but it was really fun for him to learn new things about horses he hadn't before. He also had to sadle and bridle the horse himself (usually Grandma and Grandpa take care of that part.)
He really studied and passed. He was really proud of himself.

Mid Valley Golf League

Marcus Loves Golf.
He was invited to participate in a little Jr. League and he happily accepted. His first round wasn't the best but he is looking forward to future opportunities to compete. It is really fun for him to play with kids around his age and play tee to green, (We usually have him pick up to speed the pace of play.)
He had some amazing holes and some not so amazing holes. The round took 3 hours. Aie Yie Yie! Exercise in patients for the parental folk.

Camp Pioneer

Matt left at 4:45 for Camp Pioneer. He humored his mother by pretending to be sad to leave. (Nice Acting Sarcastic Boy.) I have to say that I am not super happy that he is growing up so quickly, but I am thrilled with the fine young man he has become. I really like him. He is getting the honor and respect and loyalty parts of this great Scouting program. He is really excited to finish working on Merit Badges to get his Eagle Scout Award. It really helps that Craig is now one of his leaders. Even though Craig went on the scout camp last year as a parent it is different somehow. I think the fact that Craig is hands on in the Deacon's Quorum and working closely with the scout master who is also an Eagle Scout is really helping Matt catch the fire and love of Scouting. Right now the number of leaders in the quorum is equal to the number of boys including their former Scout Master who is now the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric and still super involved because his boys are in the quorum... I don't know for sure, but I am thrilled. He has always had great leaders so it's not that... I really have a firm belief that boys need close contact with their dads to succeed in endeavors of life. I know my boys are happier when Daddy is around.
I have a dear friend who has to do it alone and she is amazing. I certainly wouldn't want to offend anyone and I am rambling and I don't mean to I am just reflective today and feeling especially grateful to my own Mom and Dad for being the fabulous role models they are.
I Love You Pinchie and Frosty. I know my brothers feel the same also. Craig and I have been talking a lot about growing up the way that we each did. We feel blessed beyond words for our experiences and memories and the overwhelming feelings of unconditional love we were both blessed with. I really hope that my own children grow to know that they are loved above all else. I know that we have really high expectations of them... "Because I have been given much" is one of my all time favorite hymns. So... There it is... Soap Box of the month over.

Matt loved the rifle merit badge... He is really looking forward to shooting with his grandpa this summer, He passed that one on the last day... whew! He got 4 in all at camp including Lifesaving, Wilderness survival and Envirnonmental Science. And Grandma Ruthie has arranged for him to get his Horsemanship while we are in Idaho too. G'Pa Frosty is looking into the Watersports Merit Badge too that he will hopefully help with as well as fishing.
He just completed his Swiming and Music...
Add this to the other four he had and he is getting really close... He just might get to drive when he is 15 afterall!

Pioneer Photos

Matt at the various Merit Badge stations.
He loved a scary story that his dad shared on the first night about Three finger Jack. Craig made up the story about a guy and the peaks you can't see (because of the overwhelming brightness and Craig's cell phone not being the greatest camera ever) behind Matt in the photo at the bottom is called Three finger Jack. It is funny because by the end of camp the story had spread and Craig was reminding them that it was all made up... SO Funny!!! I think Matt got the most mileage out of the story in scaring his own Camp mates during the week. Needless to say it was incredible, he had the time of his life!

Cub Scout Camp

Camp Nee Deep is little boy heaven! I had fun Making Water Bottles with the Boy's names on them and little foamie hats for Camp...
My sweet Marcus is all boy when it comes to shootin' stuff... He is one of the most sensitive boys I know and then, you put a gun or bow in his hand. BOOM! Must Destroy stuff. I love it. I have never allowed guns in the home (including the water variety) and last year for Christmas my dad gave Matt a BB Gun. I was fine with it. And Matt is quite respectful, always asking before getting the BB Gun out and puts it up where the little kids can't and won't go.
Marcus is excited to now qualify to shoot the big brother's gun. He is so excited to get his wolf patch. He has done almost all the requirements. He will have it done by the time he goes back to school. He really looks up to his older brother who will be an Eagle Scout within the next year. He loves Matt's Cub Scout shirt which is covered in awards and segments for participation in Den and Pack Activities.
We have such a great group of boys in the Cub Den. I love my boys. They come from families who are teaching respect and kindness and responsibility (with a few exceptions. :-)) This was evident to me at Camp as I watched them interact with other boys. I really love the Scouting program.
Nee Deep was fun for Peyton as well. They had a Critter Coral for siblings 3-6. They made an exception for her since she will be three soon and she is fully potty trained. She loved Katie Johnson, the little 10 year old helper.

Swim Team Highlights

I am so glad that my boys love to swim. We are blessed to be part of this amazing club and We just love it there. Marcus has just really taken off this year and he placed high in the valley swim league. He won two heat ribbons and placed 4th in the butterfly and 5th in the IM!
Matt is always a rock star in the pool, but continues to improve his times. I am in awe!