There's a First Time for Everything

So far in the month of June there have been a lot of firsts.  

 

The Changing of the Wreaths

For the first time in five years I finally have mantle decorations for all the seasons of the year so at the first of June I changed our spring décor to our patriotic décor.  I love having up the red, white and blue all summer long.  Do I love changing these wreaths throughout the year?  Actually I hate it.  We have such a huge mantle I don't know what else to put up there and the holiday decorations have been pretty cheap.  Someday I would like a really big picture to put up but am not sure of what and I don't even know where to start looking for one or who to go to and besides it's probably out of my budget so these wreaths will have to do for a couple/several more years.  Sigh.  

 

Summer Fun Begins!

June 7th marked the beginning of summer for the kids and this is our first real summer where we have 11 whole weeks off.  I am so excited.  I have been scouring the internet for ideas to do with the kids.  I have really been looking forward to this time to spend with them and teach the kids.  This time is precious.  For 9 months out of the year someone else is teaching them stuff I don't have a whole lot of control over and so for these couple weeks I get to teach them what I want them to know and create memories and just have fun all at the same time.  I really want to make the most of it.  The kids have a chore chart that includes cleaning, reading and learning workbooks.  I bought the workbooks several weeks before school was out and the kids have been dying to do them so on Friday a soon as they got home they asked to work in them.  Crazy kids.  Their chores take about 2 hours to do and then they are done for the day.  We're a week into it and it's going great!  I am really impressed.  They really like checking their chores off their list each day, who doesn't?  Sam is usually the first one done since he gets up at the crack of dawn. 

 

Friday when they got home from school they ran through their banner and the rest of the day went on like normal:  movie, pizza and bed and Conner was a little  disappointed that it didn't feel like summer vacation yet but then on Saturday we headed down to Seven Peaks and got there 30 minutes before they opened so we were one of the first ones through the gates and were the only ones in the wave pool. 

 After a long day in the water, Conner exclaimed, "Now this feels like summer vacation!"  Mikey was so tuckered out he crashed head first into the drink holder in the van ride home.

Taking One for the Team

Neil has been so busy with work and church the last couple weeks, we have hardly seen him.  He usually gets home after I go to bed and leaves before I get up.  I try to stay up but if Eliza is asleep I've got to lay down.  It hasn't been too bad though.  The kids have been really good as long as I keep them busy.  Yesterday they decided they were going to have a read-a-thon.  Conner and Sam literally read all day until dinner time.  They are both reading Harry Potter books.  Mikey is working on finishing the BOB books.  I made snacks and kept their drinks refilled.  I read a lawn care book.  With Neil being so busy he has no time for the yard and since I am so tired of our yard being the only WT one in the neighborhood I have taken it upon myself to try to keep up with it.  The first time I got the lawn mower out I had no idea how to start it or anything so Lilian came over and helped me.  She helped me a little too much and lowered the deck to the lowest setting.  I'm sure she was thinking we may never mow our yard again so she better get it as low as she could so it will last.  We have mostly weeds so I sprayed the weed and feed but I don't know if it's really helped.  I've mowed it three times now so even if doesn't look that great at least it's mowed.  Neil hates that I do it but it allows him to spend time with the kids instead of in the yard when he is home.  I have broken 2 sprinkler heads though.  I need to learn how to use the weed whacker but Neil doesn't want me using it since it's so heavy.  I think I'm going to have to have Lilian show me that one too. 

Trampoline

We bought a trampoline last Christmas and finally got around to putting it up when Ryan was visiting.  I have always wanted one and finally talked Neil into it.  He's real nervous about liability issues.  The kids have been on it every day since we put it up.  They love playing crack the egg and this spider game they made up.  They get so excited when Neil or I get on it with them.  They thinks it's pretty cool that I can crack all 4 eggs with just one jump. 

 

This is the Place Park

We have never been to This is the Place Park in Salt Lake before so I took advantage of their free day.  It's an old pioneer village.  We got there at 9:30 and had planned on leaving at 12:30 but the Gambles showed up and the kids were having so much together we ended up shutting the park down at 5:00.  I wasn't so sure if the kids would like an educational outing that much but they loved it, especially the black smith shop.  I couldn't get them out of there.  They stood in the front and would ask question after question.  Mikey asked how hot the fire got and the answer was 3000 degrees  Farenheit and then Conner asked how hot that was in Celcius.  I think the guy thought he was being a smart alec but if he only knew my son, he was serious.  They went to the shop at least four different times.   They were mesmerized by the fire and the fact you could bend metal.

 









 

 Our first stop was the printers shop and the kids got to help make a copy of the Deseret News. 

 The kids first pony rides. 

 At the petting zoo.

 Conner telling the goat some jokes.

 This was a little black smith stop where the kids were actually able to hammer the hot metal.

 Ironing their laundry.

 Conner trying to walk on stilts.  Now this was hard.

 Sam plowing the field.

 Lucy washing some clothes.

 Playing ring toss.

 Mikey beating the rugs.  I told him to pretend the rug was one of his brothers.  Thus the facial expression.

 The cousins eating their free ice cream.  I stopped counting how many ice cream cones they ate that day.

 Eliza was such a trooper that day.  All the roads were gravel so every time she fell asleep she was awaken by the shaking stroller.  She was only able to get 10-15 minute cat naps throughout the long day but she was never fussy.  She slept the whole next day however. 

Tweetle Dee

 Tweetle Dumb

 One of their favorite activities was panning for gold, probably because they got wet, muddy and filthy.  The day did end in tragedy because as soon as we got home I made them all take off their clothes and take baths and I threw everything in the washer.  Well Sam forgot to empty his pockets which contained 23 Pokémon cards, his fools gold and other rocks.  All those cards were ruined as well as the laundry.  It took 4 rinses to get rid of all the little bits of paper.  Sam was devastated and cried himself to sleep.  He is such a sensitive little soul.

 Relaxing in the hammock.

 The mini train ride.

 Best Buds!

 Look at those happy faces!

 

Eliza is 2 Months!

At her 2 month appointment she weighed 12 pounds 5 ounces.  She is getting way too big.  I can't believe how fast the time has flown. I guess we are having fun.   Before I know it she'll be a year old and walking.  When she got her shots for the first time she cried so hard and her face turned as red as a tomato.  A trainee gave her the shots and was so slow.  It was like torture watching her scream bloody murder. 

 

Eliza is an absolute doll and such a good baby.  She sleeps well at night and only wakes up once.  She is such a stiff baby and not very cuddly to Neil's dismay.  She takes after her mama in that regard.  She likes to be held facing out so she can see what's going on.  She'll only take being cuddled against your chest for a sec before she starts fussing.  She also will fuss if one of her siblings tries to hold her.  She knows it's not mom or dad and lets us know.  She is starting to drool a lot so her neck is always wet which is pretty gross.  She's pretty easy going and does well being on the go even when she doesn't get many good naps.  She's eating a ton lately, like every two hours during the day so she is probably going to hit another growth spurt.  The only nick name we have for her as of yet is Little "E".  That's what she gets called most of the time by us.  I'm just a little nervous with a nick name like that she'll grow up to be a wrapper.  Just kidding but it's a perfect rapper name.  We are just enjoying her so much.  It's the first time we haven't had another baby/toddler around when a new baby joins the family and it makes all the difference.  We can really just enjoy her in all her cuteness and glory.  There's no one else needing our help every second of the day except her.  All the other kids are pretty independent, even Lucy.  She can make her own breakfast and lunch, even if she makes a mess it means I can get a little extra sleep so I'm not so tired and irritable.  Having a fifth child hasn't been a very big adjustment because she is so good and we're starting to get into a routine.  I seriously just love her and she has dark hair!







Doesn't this dress just scream Eliza.  Grandma Hibbert gave it to her and it is one of my favorites.

 

You will either find Eliza like this

Sweet and Smiley

or like this

 She loves putting her fist in her mouth and the kids think it's the funniest thing and will just bust a gut.  Could she be getting teeth this early?