Put Him to Work!

         It was time for a small change after cleaning out Mark's room of all the toys and cleaning up the storage room and garage last weekend and thankfully I have a great husband who can be convinced every once in awhile to do things my way and be a bit inventive. 
        I've had bookshelves for years now and I've also had toddlers for years and those two do not mesh well.  The time spent putting books back on shelves after the toddler has had their fun is incalculable so I decided it's finally time to put up a shelf out of reach of little hands and Mark's room had the perfect spot for this shelf.
        Of course Greg was ready to just do a little shopping at IKEA or something and find a simple shelf that could quickly be installed but Greg doesn't run the finances and doesn't realize that really wasn't an option but I was willing to make do with pretty much any kind of shelf.  I was even ready to go so far as to dismantle our cheap bookshelf and reconfigure it some how to be hung up on the wall but after discussing it for a bit Greg realized he had another option, use the old wood fencing he's been stashing under the deck out back for who knows what.  Rustic shelf, sounds good to me!!  We were even so lucky to have an old nail gun and nails that worked in it so literally no money was spent to assemble this shelf and I couldn't be happier to have the books out of reach and now Mark has an even better spot for his desk in his room.

Here's my man prepping the boards.  (Really just brushing off all the dust, cobwebs and dirt.)

Lay them out and doing a little measuring.

Starting to nail it all together.

Here's the before of Mark's little "nook".

And this is how his room was before.  It's such a tiny room that this was really a great change.

And here's the shelf installed and stacked with most of our children's books.

And here's Mark's room with a little more space around his bed.

And the final look for the "nook".

   Also this week we've had a little fun.  McClane is really becoming quite a skilled little boy.  He's climbing up on everything and is even able to climb down too.  I found him climbing down from my bed today without any problems, not even a scared look of "where's the floor" on his face or anything.  Before we know it he'll be riding around on the wiggle cars.

    

     He's also had his first nap in his high chair.

    And then there was Father's and Son's this weekend.  It was half tent, half the back of the car for sleeping arrangements and Greg said it worked great.  He didn't love all the weapons that were brought and used around the campsite but after they ate dinner and got away from the "Shoot um up" area things weren't so bad.  He did not take McClane for some reason but just having him and Kayli home with me for the night was still a welcome break.

Ready to go and McClane luckily doesn't realize he's being left behind.

    So that about wraps up the week.  Next week my family is coming and I can't wait to see them.

Final Piano Recital

       Kayli and Mark just had a piano recital and this was Kayli's last official one.  She would have really liked to have skipped it if she could have but I insisted she do this one last performance before she takes a break from piano lessons and recitals.  This does not mean she's off the hook from playing piano altogether but I thought it was time to end the lessons so Isaac can start up since I can't really afford for three kids to have lessons all at once so now it'll just be Mark and Isaac taking lessons and Kayli will hopefully still practice daily to keep her skills fresh. 
      This really is a weird thing for me because I don't play the piano and never had lessons but I remember begging and pleading to have lessons and I've never met an adult who regrets taking piano lessons when they were young.  All I ever hear from adults is how they regret they quit piano and how they wish their parents would have forced them to keep going so I'll take my chances with my kids and keep forcing the issue.  Mark is one who I could easily let quit if I didn't have such a strong conviction about this because if anyone can argue and manipulate me to give in it's him but thankfully I'm still winning this argument for now.
    I'd post their videos but I'm not going to lie, Kayli did not do her best (She's a lot like her dad and the nerves really got to her.) and Mark did ok but I hate to show one and not the other so I'll just settle for the photo I took of both of them in front of the piano.

   Last weekend we spent a little time up in the canyon at Mutual Dell for a Garrett Family get together and I took a couple shots of Greg with Brock and McClane.

McClane was loving this "lift" from Dad and couldn't stop patting his head.

    Also this last weekend Greg agreed to give the kids "Father's Blessings".  Now if you don't already know, Greg is not comfortable doing things like this and I was actually quite surprised when he didn't put up a fuss when I brought up the subject.  We had hoped to do them sooner in the week when the kids were actually starting school but it never worked out but Mark brought it up after we'd mentioned it so Greg knew he wasn't going to be let off the hook so after church we sat them all down and he gave them all, minus McClane a blessing.  I won't go into details but it was, without a doubt, one of the most spiritual moments our family has had to date and I don't think Kayli or Mark will soon forget the spirit they felt.  Mark even mentioned it afterwards how strong it was.  It was truly a testimony to me of how powerful the priesthood power is and how blessed we are to have access to it in our home.  It is also clear that priesthood blessings don't need eloquent speech or special phrases to access the spirit and I'm so grateful to a husband who is worthy to use this power.
     As for the rest of the week it's been pretty normal.  Today we've been busy moving and reorganizing a few things and of course this always leads to changes we're not prepared to do.  Right now it's obvious we need a different set up for the books in Mark's room but building shelves is not in the budget and really not on Greg's weekend agenda but I'm going to do my darnedest to convince him to do something with what material we have on hand even if it means disassembling the cheap bookshelves we're currently using and refurbish them into hanging shelves some how.  I hate all the wasted wall space we have in some of these rooms and especially in the garage but unfortunately I'm not a builder and don't know all that is required to hang shelves and such so I have to take Greg's word for it that my ideas won't work.  For now I'm happy to have a little more space in my storage room and to have all the toys in there so Mark's room won't be such a magnet for kids and messes.  I'm sure some day I'll miss having toys all through the house but at this moment I wish I could pack them all up and give them away but that dream will have to wait and then it won't be a dream but a sad event I'm sure.

YEAH FOR SCHOOL! NOT!!

   I have come to the conclusion that I'd almost rather go to school myself than send my kids. I'd only have to worry about one classroom, one teacher, one set of supplies and rules.  As it is, four kids, three in Elementary and one in Middle school is a bit overwhelming and frustrating but we survived our first week and the kids are happy over all with their teachers, classmates and everything in general.  (And I've got enough glue sticks and dry erase markers to last this year and maybe next.)
    Here's their "first day of school" photos.  I guess a good mom actually goes to the school to get photos but I'm not that dedicated.  I actually would have forgotten altogether if my sister hadn't reminded me.

 

Carter headed to 1st Grade.

Isaac starting 3rd grade.

Kayli's in 9th grade/first year of high school or last year of middle school, however you want to look at it.

And Mark's ruling the school as a sixth grader.

     We also had my baby sister, Marie and her darling little girl Lottie come visit this week.  We didn't see that much of them but enough to snap a few pictures.  I don't believe a photo does Lottie justice but she's still pretty dang cute in a photo.

Sorry it's blurry but I took like 10 pictures and there was too much movement but you can still see how cute both these two are.

She even let me do her hair each morning.

   I did get to go walking with my girlfriend a few days this week.  We've been walking early in the morning all summer but with school back in session the only time that works is after 9 a.m. and of course we now have to bring our smaller kids.  She only has one boy but I've got the two and pushing them in a stroller is no easy work out I have to say.  While we walk and visit Brock's been playing on the Iphone and taking photos so here's his view from the stroller.

    Mark passed his hunter safety course, both the shooting and written test.  He had to take the shooting test twice because he got a little trigger happy the first time and shot too quickly but the second time went much better and he passed with flying colors.   

This is the only photo we got of him at the shooting range.  He's scoping out his target to see how well he did before he's allowed to walk out and see it up close.

   Well that's pretty much it for the week.  I'm just glad we've survived and have quickly gotten back into our school routine.  I do love early bedtime!!

The End!

     Well it's over, summer vacation is only three more sleeps and then back to school and the typical craziness of homework and drama.  All the kids found out who their teachers are yesterday and we're familiar with Mark and Carter's but aren't sure about Isaac's but I'm sure all will be fine. 
      We did do some fun stuff this week and I've got a few photos to prove it.  There was a quick trip to the Splash Pad for Isaac, Carter and Brock, then a little fun at Pack Meeting and then a neighborhood play where Mark, Isaac and Carter all had parts.  Mark and Carter were pirates and Isaac was the green sea monster and I must say he did quite well with all his lines and was pretty darn cute despite the hideous make-up that was plastered on him.  I wasn't a big supporter of the play, I'm sorry to say, but there were  plenty of other mom's willing to help with costumes and make-up and so I'm really not complaining just putting out the disclaimer that I had no part in this whole play thing.
     There was also another trip to the fun pool in Lindon but all I have is one video of Isaac on the "Flow Rider" that may or may not download.  There are pictures on the camera but honestly I'm just too lazy to go get the card from the camera so maybe those will make it on a future post.

I had to put this picture up because I love the "Sea Mama's" costume, she was so darling.

Carter's in the middle shouting his one line, "Hip hooray".

 And I almost forgot to mention that Isaac and Carter watched "Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun" with me the other night and as a result they had to practice some dance moves and got pretty into it.

How could you not finish with a "Lift"!  Seriously how hilarious is this!?

  

Ok people, wish me luck on back to school chaos!

A Little Fun!

    We've had a little fun this week but it's basically been another slow week with fantastic weather and healthy and happy kids.
     Kayli and Mark did get to go to Lagoon with their Uncle Josh and Aunt Camille and while they were having a day of fun we had a chance to take the other kids to a fun swimming pool in Lindon for an hour and they had a blast.

     This morning we had the Alpine Day's parade which was the shortest parade in history but still always fun and we never say no to free candy and we got a small amount to enjoy.

      Tad and Megan came down from Idaho this weekend and are staying at our place and I can't believe how their three boys have grown.  Baby Cole is nearly the same size as McClane but five months younger.  The kid is a solid "Chub of Love" and super sweet.  Tonight we'll have dinner together and hopefully enjoy the fireworks show put on by the city too.

This is baby Shae who came to visit this week.  Could she be any cuter!?  She is also a "Chub of Love".

Greg, McClane and Brock after some fun in the pool.

Brock after swimming.  This boy LOVES the water!!

Carter had a blast as well at the pool.

And so did Isaac and he would have liked to try the wave machine but the line was a bit too long.

And here is Cole and McClane.  Cole is enjoying a "bit" of McClane.

It's hard to appreciate in a picture just how solid little Cole is.

What a cutie!

Here's cousin Austin and Isaac waiting for more candy to come their way at the parade.

And here's Brock eating what candy he collects.

Megan and Tad came over for the parade this morning too with their cute boys.

  Only one more full week left before school starts!  Wish us luck!!

Photos!

Here are the snapshots I mentioned.  I was doing the previous post from my phone and pulling up photos wasn't as easy as the typing part so excuse the double post but enjoy the cute photos of my baby boy!!  (Oh, and Greg too.)

I know it's blurry but he was so cute eating the bubbles and had bubbles all over his face.

He loves the bath!!

He also loves rides on the Ruckus.

August already?!

It can't be August yet, I'm not ready! Maybe sending the kids back to school won't be so bad but I'm definitely not ready for homework, preparing lunches every day or cooler weather. I'm also not happy to see the days getting shorter. I am however looking forward to Alpine days coming up next week and to maybe some stricter scheduling once school does start in just two short weeks.
We have had a pretty fun week. Not a whole lot has happened which is actually a good thing for the most part. I did take a few snapshots of McClane who is busier then ever but still the best baby.
The rest of the kids are doing just fine. Isaac is officially done with karate and I don't feel the least bit bad and neither does Isaac. Hopefully Isaac will get to begin piano lessons soon but we'll see if our current teacher can fit him into her schedule.
And now on to another week of our lazy summer.