Rocks

So the rock gathering continues. We probably did 8 wheelbarrows today. If we can do another 8 we should be done except around the fence (which the fence guys are supposed to do) and any more brought in when Richmond regrates/puts drainage in our yard.

We're getting so close to actually doing the work! I'm so excited. Three weeks of rock removal is about as much as any human can take.

As we drove around Orem Saturday "shopping" (Devlin for things we'd buy if we had moula), we passed a car dealership. It had big blow up suited figured bent over a ballon that said "Sale."

Let me say that just down the road is a business that sells all the gear a Mormon missionary needs and they have a very similarly clad blow up figure carrying a Book of Mormon.

I thought (and unfortunately uttered), "Scarificing Missionaries?" I was trying to figure out how that had anything to do with selling cars and wouldn't it offend the BYU-ites that own/live/breath Orem...

As Mark laughed hysterically, it came to me. It not be a missionary at all, but Brent Brown, the car dealer who will "bend over backward" to sell you a car.

With the big dog..er..train...Thomas

Thomas, Andrew, and Alex.

Alex, Andrew, and the giant ticket.

Alex making the peace sign, Andrew ignoring instructions.

Smiling twosome.

At this point Sean & Ryan didn't want to cooperate so they're not in these pictures.

Balloon Swords

Alex, Andrew, Seany, and RyGuy.

Same line up -- Andrew's sword was the only one to make it too the car. The others all popped. And we decided although Ry's not suppose to have one, it would suck to be the kid without and he hasn't shown anymore allergic symptoms.

Tats, stamping, and tee shirts

Alex chose the helicopter, Andrew the Thomas tat. Seany & RyGuy also chose Thomas those refulsed to have the hands photographed.

Andrew loved the stamps.

This tee shirt brought back Alex memories. Everybody remember how he could name every bit of the trains. Even he enjoyed reading this t-shirt.

Mini-horses

Ryan's smile stayed in place until he noticed a dirty hand from touching the horses.

See that RyGuy grin.

Even the back end in delightful!

"My orse!"

Andrew thought it was cool for a second.

Train table fun

Seany & RyGuy

Andrew & Alex

Seany

RyGuy

Getting to Heber Railroad

Andrew ready to go at home, making some kind of chuggering noise.

Ryan in front and Seany in the rear walking the tracks to the station -- they are tracks with no train they end at the corner and start at the entrance.

Alex's Lion Poem

Poetry Reading at Park View

Alex's 2nd grade first shared a poem adapted for their class.

Then they each shared a poem each that they wrote of the school year. Luckily Alex had been there for 2 poem writing sessions and had one good one to share.

I think my favorite was by a little girl. Theme "Let the blank..." (Give an animal or object human traits)

Let the dog wear painted nails
Let the dog jump on the tramp
Let the dog take a bubble bath
Let the dog sip hot chocoate
Let the dog sleep in my bed.

I think I liked it because one could allow a dog to do all those things.

Boston Legal

One of my favorite TV shows tells the story of a conservative and a liberal friendship. Last night, the conservative, Denny Crane (played by William Shatner) said something like the following.

The thing about your generation is that you don't know how personal it is
to my generation to be an American. You grew up in a time when
America was/is a superpower.

When my generation were kids, we went to bed at night with Hitler trying to
take over the world. America could end.

Its a point of view that is often forgotten when we rail against all that is wrong with this country we forget. No wonder our elders think we have no respect for America. The difference between enacting change (necessary change) and total disrespect can be a fine line. Its a bit of dialogue that I think will always stay with me.

And I think all you all should be watching Boston Legal all the time.

Baseball Game 1

Alex up at bat. He got a base hit and rounded the bases to home over the next few batters.

Alex's favorite position -- catcher. You always get to throw the ball.

FYI, he wanted #12, it was taken. So he picked #9 because on Mark's softball team, he's #99.

My injured bird...so sad....

Ryan lifting the injured limb.

Ryan expressing the pain in his scraped leg.

Ryan preparing to clean his own wound.

Ryan covering the pained leg.

Ryan said, "No Sea! NO! NO!" Ryan was thinking, "Sean your ruining my moment in the spotlight!"

Sean was thinking, "Oh, Mommy has the camera! Smile BIG!"

Cassie's Cause Walk-a-thon

Lap 8.

Determined in lap 10!

Seany & RyGuy helping the cause with muffins and pears!

Snack time -- Andrew, Seany, Ryan, and Alex.

Bowling - everyone's favorite activity

Alex did pretty well.

After the first couple innings/rounds (what does one call it), Andrew didn't use the little helper.

Seany needed help carrying his ball. We'd set it on the do-hicky and then he'd shove it down.

Ryan required no help of any kind. He resented our 'spotting' his carrying the ball.

The kid even won the game!

3 days in to our new house

And we cleared it out of all the crap-o-la we brought from Pear.

When you were 2, how were you at the dentist?

Ryan was all smiles.

Sean was totally relaxed.

Ryan let her put a foamy fluoride treatment in.

Seany let her brush in the fluoride.

RyGuy left a happy cavity free, toy collecting vet. FYI, Seany is also cavity free.

Fence free and rocky

Seany stayed close to home.

While, RyGuy went off on an adventure.

Ry came back dirty and unhappy about it.

Half the rocks we had moved out of the backyard. Double the piles and that's about what was taken out.

Packing up Pear

Yes, that's all in the front room.

We filled up this room too. I just never got a picture of it.

Papa Pat bought donuts for the chicklets on moving day. It took all 4 chicklets to polish off that giant thing some called a donut.