Sport's 4th Birthday!

No five days are longer than those between Colt's birthday and Sport's.  Sport was absolutely dying.  The day came at last, and I believe it was worth the wait.  We spent the morning picking apples and then went to the Lyman pool for the afternoon.  I think that's called karma.  I vaguely remember spending 10 birthdays in a row in the Blackfoot pool.  Sport loved it so much he puked a little in the pool.  Also familiar.

Sport and his Dora and Diego birthday cupcakes.

Sport loves packing things in his backpack which recently ripped out.  Perfect timing.  He got a new backpack and a letter and number electronic game.  

Sis and Sport immediately began fighting over the new toys.

Random, but Interesting

I found these little gems just now and even though they won't be in the correct chronological order, I'll set my OCD self aside for now in order to include them as a part of our family history.

For General Conference this fall, we made a giant bingo board and the kids worked together to fill in the squares.  I don't know if it really helped them have a more spiritual experience, but I liked hearing them calling out things like, "Hurry, he just said 'church'!  Where is our church picture?!"

One late afternoon, Sport was standing at the back window when he started shouting about a raccoon.  We all ignored him (a skill Brandan and I have mastered, we learned the art of ignoring from our kids) because we assumed he was referring to the wild Siamese cats in the back field.  He kept it up and we finally caved in time to see a big, fat raccoon wander through the back yard.  After reading Where the Red Fern Grows this summer, naturally, the boys decided to give him chase and managed to corner him behind the neighbor's shed.  Don't worry.  Brandan and I yelled at them to stop from the safety of our bedroom window. 

Dash is suppose to read at least 15 minutes a day and Colt needs read to at least 10 minutes a day.  I've worked out the arrangement pictured above. Some might call this lazy parenting.  I just call it smart.

Moose (I know, again)

I remember when we first moved to Upton, I actually interrupted someone mid-sentence to point out some nearby deer.  They weren't at all impressed, with me or the deer.  I couldn't understand their reaction until we had lived there a few years and seen enough deer to be good and sick of them.  Well, now we live in Mountain View and we still see a lot of deer, but we haven't lived here long enough to think the moose unexceptional.  So, we our buddy, Bull, showed up again this fall, we were happy to snap his (pretty sure its a her, but habit, you know) picture.

Bull by the tramp

Bull making a mad dash after Spitty and Sis yelled at her from the back porch.

  

Colt's 6th Birthday!

Colt had a pretty great 6th birthday, I think it may have even lived up to all the hype in his head.

Colt's birthday treats for his class.  Colt is no stranger to Pinterest.  He looked up and picked out these Halloween dirt cups himself.

The coveted birthday headgear.

Colt and his animal birthday cake.  After a dinner of Colt's favorite, alfredo noodles and garlic bread, we shared birthday cake with our friends and neighbors, the Linfords.

Colt wants to be an "animal scientist" when he grows up (think Brady Barr, Steve Irwin, Jeff Corwin), so he got lots of animal books, and a new season of Dangerous Encounters with Brady Barr to watch.  In addition, he also got a remote control helicopter.

Flying the 'copter.  Its hard to spot, but it's hovering in front of the couch.

Pumpkins & Fish (but not for dinner)

Colt's Kindergarten class has a monthly Community Field Trip.  I've been able to go on the last two and have been a major hit with my assigned buddies.  This month we went to the pumpkin patch outside of town.  

Colt really liked the photo ops.

Colt and the pumpkin he picked out.  He has big plans for a pie.

Franken-Colt

The patch.

 In the middle of the month, we made a quick weekend trip to Idaho to celebrate Great-Grandma Minnie's 100th birthday.  While we were there, we also celebrated Colt and Sport's birthdays with little parties with the Claysons and the Madsens.  After the party at the Madsens, Brandan and Uncle Tyler and 7 small children trooped out into the dark to do some fishing in the canal.

Success! Four big trout.

Happenings

Daniel Tiger came to visit the library story time and Sport worked up the nerve to give him and his giant head a hug.  Sis was buried in my legs while I took this picture.  I didn't blame her.

This picture serves dual functions.  Colt is wearing his rainbow outfit which ended 8 days of wearing a specific color to Kindergarten.  It was fun!  Also, behind Colt is the name train Sport did during our "preschool".

The boys built a fort on the bottom bunk and moved in for the day.  They hauled in all the necessities, like a computer and lots of snacks. 

One Sunday afternoon, while Brandan and I were contemplating the solemnities of eternity (napping), the kids set up a restaurant for us, complete with "candlelight".  They gave us menus and served our dinner with minimal spills.  And I only had to share a few bites of my salad with Sport the waiter. 

The menu from the Kids Cafe had two meal options, a PB&J sandwich with an apple, or a salad and cheese stick.  There were also two dessert options, a Poptart or chocolate chips.  Fancy!

The weather was beautiful for the Homecoming Parade this year.  And the boys knew right how to work the system.  Why bother with gathering candy off the ground when you can reach right into the sack of one of the parade participants who happens to be a close relative?

Sissy is also a quick learner.

Sport and Sissy admiring the tarantulas at the Spider Story hour at the library.  I kept my distance like anyone sane would do. 

So Dash is a Cub Scout now.  I can't believe this day is here.  We had our first pack meeting earlier this month and I only threw a small fit while trying (and failing) to sew on his patches.

Brandan's Birthday

As has become tradition, the children woke Brand up before dawn the morning of his birthday...which happened to be a Sunday this year...his only morning off.  Good thing they're so cute.

Brandan and his pile of presents.  Oh and the kids.

Sport gave Brandan some bags of his favorite treats (and by "his", I mean Sport's).

Colt recently checked out a book from the library full of wood projects for kids.  (kids with parents who can help them with wood projects)  So, he picked out the materials to make a rope ladder with his Dad.

Always the practical giver, Sis picked out a new bike tire for Daddy's bike.

Dash spent weeks hand-sewing a Colin Kaepernick jersey.  He did a fabulous job.

Birthday cinnamon roll cake and candles!