Valentine's Day

We took a bunch of pictures and got this one.

Love these boys and their Daddy!

Hanukkah

We found our Menorah and lit a calendar each night.

On the first night we ate latkes. They were super yummy to 3 of us.

We read the reason for Hanukkah and why 8 calendars are lit.

I thought the lit tree with the Menoral was really beautiful in this picture.

The Old Man

Sweetheart said he felt old this year on his birthday. 

He asked Hurricane how old is OLD.

Answer: 50

He is here with his favorite cake. 

The only change this year is 

the peanut butter cup are cut up instead of whole. 

Halloween

We were going to go for a Star Wars theme this year. 

The boys and I talked about our costumes as we were traveling over fall break.

 

The decision was made that Hurricane would be Yoda 

and Underfoot would be Luke Skywalker.

Then......we went to get the few details.

Hurricane found this horse at the thrift store, 

and he became a cowboy Sheriff with a horse.

This was my year because I was Princess Leia, 

and I had Han Solo by my side.

We got the blaster in the grocery store 

about an hour before trick or treating.

The boys went trick or treating with a neighbor.

We passed out candy together - Leia and Han.

When the boys were done, 

they were thrilled to pass out candy.

Grape Harvest

I wrote about our grapes in June.

I took pictures of the grapes before Sweetheart cut them off the vines.

He did it while we were at the Muppet Meet. 

He sent me a picture with his phone so I didn't remember about these.

Again with the download I did last week I found them.

Our yard has been incredibly blessed this year with produce.

We are grateful for the production that they have given.

I really liked to look up and see the grapes hanging there.

The clumps were full and heavy with deliciousness.

They covered the 4 foot by 4 foot table. 

As a family we cleaned, sorted, picked of the stem, and juiced them.

Hurricane was given the choice of beverage and chose our grape juice.

He asked for a cheers before we drank then took a little sip.

He said, "This is took rich to drink quickly."

He's an insightful boy.

Swim Banquet

We celebrated with the team for this summer's swim season.

Eegee's sandwiches and slushies were the main food 

with potluck contributions from everyone. 

We had announced our hope for adopting and got lots of warm hopeful hugs!

The boys were ecstatic to swim after the awards ceremony. 

They were awarded water bottles.

Hurricane was focused on getting in the pool and attempted to many times

before they were allowed.

He always had his bright happy smile!

Underfoot wasn't as sneaky about getting in the pool

and swam all over being very content.

Wolf Badge and Raingutter Ragatta

We came to Pack Meeting after a summer of swimming.

Underfoot was thrilled to be there.

Last month he was swimming in the Swim Championships.

The Raingutter Ragatta is where the boys make a boat

then blow the boat down the waterway.

He was excited to race against his den.

Siblings were invited to build a boat and participate.

Underfoot has been waiting and waiting and waiting

for his Wolf Badge.

He has asked the Cub Master when he would finally get it.

He smiled really big when it was awarded. 

Underfoot even jumped up and down.

Underfoot was also asked to conduct the flag ceremony.

He has a clear voice so we've been told.

Family Birthday

We celebrated our family birthday this weekend. 

Because it was a decade, we decide to go to fun place for supper.

 

The destination was The Melting Pot.

Hurricane said he liked only the first and last course of meal.

Cheese and Chocolate....

 

Underfoot was excited to cook raviolis, chicken, and salmon.

His skewer didn't hold the ravioli well. 

After super, we went to urgent care for an ear infection I've had.

Hurricane came in with me because he was concerned.

The receptionist talked to him and asked why he was so dressed up.

We explained that we celebrate a family birthday every year.

She didn't understand at first 

because she thought the birthday was for an individual. 

I explained that it was our anniversary,
and we have a family birthday party for the creation of our family.
She thought about it and replied,
"I got chills from that. Not many in 2015 think family is important."
When we left, she asked if she could share the idea.

Our children know they are a critical part in our family.
Our wedding day was the beginning of our family.
We want to celebrate by having a family birthday party!

*****

Family Birthday 2014

Family Birthday 2013

Family Birthday 2012

Family Birthday 2011

Swim Champions

The boys posed with their head coach.

Amy Thompson has a gentle manner.

She is positive, encouraging, and hopeful.

The team won the league championship.

We even joined the team at Peter Piper Pizza.

The boys were excited to go and were surprised their Mom took them.

Swim Preliminaries

We swam all season.

We debated if we would swim in the Preliminaries.

After the Muppet Meet, 

the boys decided they didn't since the day was so hot.

Hurricane

Backstroke 41st Place 50:72 Seconds

Freestyle 42nd Place 43:61 Seconds 

They decided they wanted to swim.

We thought we would go to pack meeting.

Pack meeting was a swim party.

The boys decided they wanted to participate in the swim meet.

Last Swim of the Day

Underfoot

Backstroke 29th Place 35:52 Seconds

Breaststroke 16th Place 39:35 Seconds

Freestyle 39th Place 37:42 Seconds

Freestyle Relay 2:8:16 Minutes:Seconds

We celebrated by going to the Cheesecake Factory.

They learned that Macaroni and Cheese isn't always good.

They've decided to try other food.

We even took Sweetheart a slice at work.

Hurricane Backstroke

Underfoot Breaststroke

Collection

He wanted to complete his Wolf Badge. He started on the old Cub Scout Program. Underfoot needed to make a collection. He picked to make a display for his National Park and Monument Junior Ranger badges and patches. The requirements states you need to share your collections with someone. He called to show his Kirky and Jilli via FaceTime. They were with 2 Sister Missionaries. Underfoot shared with the missionaries.

Now he's sharing with you!

Coach Jacob

This is Coach Jacob.

He has asked the boys 

about their towels for the last 2 years.

We asked him his favorite color

and made him his own monster.

He was very gracious in receiving it.

Sparklers

The 4th of July is complete with sparklers.

Jilli loves sparklers. She keeps them on hand for lots of things - any celebration!

We bought some to share with the family.

The boys loves to write their names, pretend to have swords, 

and starting the sparklers themselves.

Underfoot posed for many shots. 

This one is his Obi Wan Kenobi.

This one is his dance move.

He doesn't know about Saturday Night Fever yet.

He looks pretty awesome!

Hurricane has proven how he likes to light sparklers.

He was the first one in line.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Muppet Meet

The swim league was are in hosts a Muppet swim meet.

All the littles 8 years old and under are invited to participate in it.

 

Both boys signed up.

It was a Saturday event from 6:00 am to an unknown time.

This meet ended before 1:00 pm.

The heat winners are awarded a ring pop.

This is his first heat win this season.

He was enjoying himself so much

I think he smiled for the camera when he swam.

They swam backstroke and freestyle.

Underfoot didn't have a recorded breast stroke time yet.

He was a little bummed he didn't race that stroke.

A Mom on the team bought chupas for the each person who swam.

He decided to wait until he finished swimming to eat his.

This is where he stored it so no one would eat it or lose it.

Friends Revisited

Before we left Las Vegas, 

we revisited our friends.

The children played and played and played and played......

They didn't really want to stop for the picture but did.

Sweetness and Underfoot read books, debated, resolved, and created more fun.

K-man and Hurricane disappeared except when the above children found them.

They did their boy activities of trains, planning, and playing.

Doodle didn't want to take a nap while we were there.

He did everything in his power to stay awake.

And this girl joined the adult group and the children's group.

She came to the rescue during debates and listened as the adult talked.

What a thrill to be with friends!

We are grateful for the love we feel from them!

Surprise!

Hurricane has been planning a birthday party for about 6 months.

He has written many invitations himself.

I surprised him by letting him pick some friends

to get ice cream at Dairy Queen.

They were happy to come.

One of the boys lost his tooth

while we were there.

Birthday

You've had a birthday!

Shout HURRAY!

We want to sing to you today!

One year older and wiser too!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

He asked for chocolate cake for his birthday.

Underfoot went to Cub Day Camp.

Sweetheart went with Underfoot for the day.

We woke up in the morning,

and Hurricane FINALLY got to open his present.

 

Underfoot bought with his own money a present.

Hurricane was thrilled.

The night before Sweetheart and I blew up balloons.

We put them in the room for him to wake up to in the morning.