A Special Piano Recital

This winter's piano recital was extra special because the boys each played a duet with Grandma Pam. They all played beautifully, including Grandma. :)

They also played on Christmas Eve and we went up to church to practice a few days before. They enjoyed being the only ones in the sanctuary, especially wearing their Santa hats. Then they went home to play Santa basketball.

Henry is 8

We have an eight year old in the family! Henry had a blast on his birthday and was super excited to get his very own robot. Lucky the Elf also turned the Christmas tree into a birthday tree. For his birthday dinner we went to Red Robin and he enjoyed the bottomless mandarin oranges and a yummy ice cream sundae.

He also had a blast at his friend birthday party. We went to Mercury Gymnastics and they got to run around, jump and play games for an hour before cake.

He requested a Pokeball chocolate cake and cheetos.

Henry and Porter! I think they have been to each other's birthday parties every year of their lives.

We also had a fun family party, complete with breakfast for dinner and chocolate peanut butter pie.

Jack made him a puppet theater and Aunt Regina and Uncle Will got him puppet stuff. It was a great birthday for sweet Henry!

Camp!

Both boys went to different camps this summer... first up was New Life for Jack. He, Ben and Sam had a a blast as usual. This year, Jack and Ben's cabin won the Cabin Challenge and got a 6-foot ice cream sundae as their reward. They loved their counselors and just love New Life. It is Jack's favorite week of the year and next year Henry will be old enough to go! Here are Jack and Ben on Sunday when we dropped them off. They were pumped because they got a good cabin and good bunks.

And here they are on Friday night after the testimony service that parents can attend. They are about to go eat their ice cream sundae and have a dance party.

And here they are at Saturday morning pick up. Jack bought Henry his own official New Life lanyard so he'll be ready for next year. They wear their name tag buttons on their lanyards all week. Their button is how they pay at the canteen. This year they added a second canteen by the creek and had Dr. Pepper Icees. Jack was a fan.

Three happy boys who are all about to fall asleep as soon as they get in the car.

Home at last, and almost asleep.

The next week Henry got to go Cub Scout Day Camp. Grandpa Glen went with him on Monday and Tuesday (the cool days!) and I went the last two days. It was soooooo hot! But Henry still had lots of fun with his friends.

Shooting BB guns. He got a bulls eye!

He also loved shooting bows and arrows, and also got a bulls eye at this station! Other highlights of the week included getting sprayed by the fire truck and making a bird feeder.

6 First Days of School

Ugh, Jack's last first day of elementary school has come and gone. Just for fun, or to make myself cry, I thought I'd go back and look at all of his first day (and some last day) of school pictures. Here we go! I can't handle the sweetness of his little kindergarten smile. Look how his backpack is hanging down so far. Such a baby.

And I can't think about it too much, but there are only 7, first days left.

Kindergarten

 1st Grade

 2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

First Day of 2nd and 5th Grade

School started last Wednesday, way too soon for the boys and for me. That 7 week summer goes by much too quickly for us. Despite our sadness, the day came when they had to wake more than an hour earlier than they are used to and actually get dressed.

Jack is in 5th grade this year with Mrs. Caywood and Ms. Welna. He grumbled about going back, but now that he's there he's just fine. They are going to get to do tons of awesome stuff this year. Their first field trip is Friday to the zoo to meet with orangutan experts here from somewhere in Africa and have a nature photography lesson.

Henry is in 2nd grade and was actually pretty excited to go back. He is not as seasoned and cynical yet as his big brother. And he's pumped to have Mrs. Torres and Mrs. Bogards. Jack had Mr. Torres and loved her. She's amazing and he's going to have a great year! He also has his first field trip this week and they are going to the Apple store on the Plaza.

I'm sure it will be another great year!

We had to make our traditional "night before school" dinner of spaghetti and chocolate cake.

Cousin Fun

Last weekend was packed with fun because we had some very special visitors... Aunt Lindsay, Uncle Anthony, Luke, Landon, Grandma Sue and Grandpa Bill were all here! The boys ran around and shot nerf guns, whispered secret battle plans to each other, discussed Pokemon cards very seriously and enjoyed some ice cream from Cody's. The bad news is that it was a short visit. The good news is we'll see everyone again in a just a few weeks at 4th of July!!

Spring Sports

We are finishing up spring sports this week. Henry's last regular season baseball game was last night and they won! I can't even tell where Henry is in this picture because they are all dabbing.

Jack's last flag football game is Saturday. He sure does love playing football, especially passing and running for touchdowns.

Jack Turned 10

I missed Jack's 10th birthday blog post. He had a super fun birthday with friends and family. Since we're already 3 months into his 10th year, I can report that 10 is treating him well. He loves Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, playing flag football, sno cones from Lilo's, sleeping in, swimming, playing piano, his brother, being home and playing games, playing with neighbors, nutella, the ocean, hiking, going to camp and so many more things. As he enters double digits, he continues to grow into a just wonderful (not so little anymore) little boy. When he makes his own breakfast or loads the dishwasher or rolls his eyes at me or plays tennis with me during Henry's baseball practice, I see flashes of the tween that he is -- not a little boy anymore. But, as of this morning at least, he still calls me mommy. Happy Birthday Jack!

He had a great party this year with lots of his friends. They laughed and ran around and played before enjoying Chick-fil-a, cheetos, gatorade and donuts. 

He had fun with family too. And took funny pictures with Grandma Pam and his new bb gun.