A weekend of "First's"

On Wednesday night our family left for a weekend at Disneyland. Monty promised Tyler he would take him to Disneyland if he finished Harry Potter. (He's not quite done, but pretty close and we had to take advantage of the few days in a row Monty had off because that doesn't happen often.) The first day didn't start off so hot. First off my camera wouldn't work. Royal bummer! Then, Kory is finally 40 inches tall so he could go on Star Tours...however, when we got there he chickened out. Monty and I were so frustrated with him because he just wouldn't trust us that he was going to be okay and love it!! Finally after trying everything we just decided to not force the issue anymore. However, shortly after leaving Monty came back with Kyle crying. Kyle kept saying his stomach hurt and he felt like he was going to throw up. It was blazing hot so Monty just told the boys we were leaving. We left, went back to the hotel and hung out for a while.(By this time we knew Kyle was just being dramatic and wasn't sick). Then, while at dinner before going back to the park Kory said, "Yeah, I'll go on Star Tours. It will be fun." Hello?...what changed his mind I'll never know! We went back and HE LOVED IT!! ! We went on a few more rides and had a good night...well, except Kory cried before every ride asking over and over--"Is it scary?" He even screamed before Peter Pan which is like as non-scary as a ride comes!!
Friday Disneyland was awesome! Kory went on "Soaring over California" and loved it! He cried but did it and even got a "Honorary Citizen of Disneyland" pin.
Trey played with his stroller the entire time we waited. Then Tyler went with me on California Screamin'. I've always wanted to go, but couldn't because of being pregnant or the line was too long. However, on Friday the line was short, so he went with me. He was scared because he'd never done a loop...but he did great!! When we got off I asked him what he thought he said, "Well, I didn't throw up!" Then he went with Monty and they went on the first row!! MAJOR GUTS! He was not happy about it, but did it anyway. I was totally proud of him.
Poor Tyler, you can't even see him, but I swear...it was him! Fun father -son bonding!:)Kyle went on one new ride...a small roller coaster at California Adventure. He cried the whole time. He hated the drops and said he thought he was going to throw up. I was however proud of him because he did try something new. So all three of the boys tried something new!! Good job boys!

Kyle being crazy.
On the way home my van started making a very similar sound to the sound it made a few months ago. The check engine light went on and Monty and I just looked at each other with that look of...this is not happening. After about a minute Monty said, "Lets just drive this to a dealership and get a new van.(we knew there was no way the van was going to get us home as we were still a ways out) So, here is a picture of my new Honda Odyssey which I LOVE!!! It is so safe, so clean, so quiet, so awesome! Thanks Monty for taking such great care of us!;)

Circus

Saturday the boys and I went to the Circus here in Paso. The boys were so excited they were dressed by 7:15am and the circus didn't start till 2:00! At about 9:00 we did go watch them put up the tent and pet a few of the animals. One thing we learned was they use the elephants to help put up the tent. Never knew that! Afterward we went to Target to get some circus snacks for the kids. (my friends idea...we got them circus cookies, circus peanuts, popcorn, juice. They each had their own bag and loved it!!)

Me, Carolyn, Cameron, Kyle, Tyler, Kory, Trey and Betsy! Trey preferred Betsy that day! I didn't mind. He was better for her than he was for me...plus I'd been up with him the night before till 2:30am...I enjoyed the break!

Each of the boys enjoyed the circus. I sat by Kyle and he said, "This is more amazing than it is funny." Interesting observation!Kory watched in amazement!Trey enjoyed everything--when on Betsy's lap...on mine he just wanted to walk up and down the stairs!
Tyler loved the snacks!

Kyle's first loss!!

It finally happened--Kyle lost his first tooth! He wanted it to fall out on it's own, but it was so loose I was afraid he was going to swallow it. Anyway, I sat him down and pulled it out in half a second. When he saw me holding it he looked at me and then through his tears started laughing. He said, "I thought that was going to hurt, but it didn't." He hasn't stopped looking at his gap since(even for the picture I couldn't get him to look at me...he was looking at his reflection in the mirror). He still isn't ready to give it to the tooth fairy, but is hoping she'll come give him money anyway. I think her heart has softened and she just might show up! Congratulations Kyle!

ON TOP OF THE WORLD--or a bunk bed!

So, tonight after setting up the primary room for tomorrow, running to Target for some last minute supplies before Sunday, making dinner--cleaning up dinner, giving Trey a hair cut, giving two showers and two baths, and brushing 4 sets of teeth I thought the night had come to an end, until Kyle started crying over his loose tooth and I had to comfort him and Trey did the unthinkable!! He started climbing up the bunk bed ladder! At first it seemed like just a joke, but once he started...there was no stopping him!
To the top he climbed--all on his own!Think he was proud of himself?The boys asked if they could stay up on the bed for prayer and I allowed it. Tyler was offering the prayer while Trey talked, but...it was the first time he's ever said really said a sentence. As distinctly as possible he was saying, "Hi MOM!" When I opened my eyes he was waving! After the prayer I had to get a picture! I think tonight Trey thought he was on TOP OF THE WORLD!!
His achievement helped Kyle take his mind off his loose tooth. He is not wanting to part with it. He said he's going to miss it, so I told him he doesn't have to part with it. He can keep it forever for all I care! Tyler did the same thing with his first tooth. I think he's trying to cry his way into keeping his tooth and still getting money from the tooth fairy. The kids is no dumby!

Boys new favorite!

Our boys are totally loving Alvin and the Chipmunks! Monty rented it a few weeks ago on 'on demand' and we all enjoyed it.(I didn't enjoy all the messes they make however, all I can think of is having to pick it all up!) Anyway, since then they've been asking and asking for us to rent it again. I decided to go ahead and get it from Netflix and they are downstairs right now laughing it up. Monty and I had to agree that those little chipmunks can rock it out. We like the music. I guess I'm a little excited partially because this is the first movie in a long time that hasn't consisted of guns, fighting, and people blowing up that they have enjoyed this much. Their other favorite movies include Transformers, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, oh...and the Letter Factory. I guess there is another none violent one in there!:)

Afternoon at the Park

Today was Monty's first day off in a week(he still had to go into work for about two hours, but he had most of the day off)so after school we took the boys to the park. It was such a fun time! Trey LOVE's balls, so he was in heaven!! Monty ended up turning the afternoon into a football camp for the boys! It was a total crack up to see the boys reactions. Tyler worked at it for quite a while doing 'five and outs' and 'five and curls'. After trying and trying for quite a while with no success and then getting hit in the head he wasn't having the greatest time.It was time for a dad pep talk. Monty told him, "This ball is yours!" Tyler then took a rest for a while. Kyle took his turn and missed a few times, but once Monty said, "Whoever catches the ball gets a milkshake!"... Kyle held on to the ball with all his might!! Yeah Kyle!Next was Kory...

He missed it a few times and just like Tyler needed a Kory pep talk!:)
Tyler decided to try again and success!!:)
Kory tried one more time and success too!!;)
We headed right for McDonald's and the boys enjoyed their well deserved reward!:) Thanks Dad for the fun!

Primary Olympics

Yesterday was our ward Primary Olympics! The boys had a great time and thankfully a friend of mine(thanks Betsy) took pictures of the entire event! The first event was a horse race! Funny, we have had these horses at our house for years and the boys never touch them...take them to an activity and you would have thought they were their favorite toy! Kory ran his little heart out in the Armies of Heleman 50 yard dash! I love how he is sticking his tongue out in this picture! I might also point out that he picked out his own outfit for the Olympics. He liked it because it was an athletic outfit and red, white, and blue!
One of the games was a balloon stomp! Kyle and Tyler said this one was their favorite! I was totally shocked because I remember a time when just the word balloon would make both of them cry because they had been traumatized by popped balloons! Obviously, they have grown out of that stage!At the end each of the kids got a Gold Metal. Now...I have to hand it to Trey--he was a total trooper through these entire Olympic games! It was SO HOT and he endured the heat like a true champion!(yes, that is sweat!)
Yes...I made the metals--all 30, I have several let over and let me tell you it was not fun throwing them away!

Thanks NIKE!

Before the boys started school(two weeks ago)we asked them how their shoes felt! They both said, "Fine". However, this morning Tyler said, "Mom, I think I need new shoes. My toes are all cramped up." I laughed and told him we'd look for a new pair after school. So, we started at Famous Footwear. 40 minutes later--no luck. He found something wrong with every single size 3.5 we found. Then we went to Target...again, there was something wrong with every single one...the top was too loose, the back slid up, the laces were too short...I mean seriously!!(meanwhile I'm trying to keep track for three other little boys who are running all over--Trey was being crazy and Kyle and Kory were loving it!) Finally we went to Kohl's and after trying on about 8 shoes and him finding something wrong with each one of them, smoke must have been coming out of my ears--and then it happened-- I saw a red and white running Nike! He put it on and smiled from ear to ear! After seeing the smile I told him. "Okay, if this one works after you walk I'm going to kiss it!" He asked me if I was serious and by this point I sure was! After walking for a while he was still smiling so...I kissed it as promised! We finally finished at 5:30--who knew a boy could take so long to pick out one pair of shoes. Tyler's a NIKE kid!

Swimming-- IT'S NO JOKE!!

Monty and I just joined the new gym in town. We've really been enjoying taking turns working out and encouraging each other to move a little bit more. We each have our own set of goals. My main goal is to be able to do a pull-up before I die! Anyway, the other night as I was leaving I saw this lady swimming and she looked so graceful!! It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, so today I put on my suit and set out for a swim. So, this pool is the length of an Olympic pool and what I didn't realize until today is that when you swim in an Olympic pool the wall gets farther and farther away the slower you swim! I swear--after my second lap I was so winded the only thing that kept me swimming was the thought of our four boys who need a mother, and Monty who needs wife! If it wasn't for them I probably would be laying on the bottom of that pool very happily right now! The most embarrassing part was that I was sharing a lane with this 85yr old lady who was schooling me! She was like Lightning McQueen! She had to have been part dolphin! Needless to say when I got out every muscle in my body was shaking and thanking me for stopping the madness. I don't know when I will swim again--all I know is next time I'll bring my boat!:)