Memorial Day Weekend

Anton, Liz, Lilly and Claire came down for Memorial Day weekend.  The little boys weren't feeling their best from their tonsils, but other than that the weekend was really great.  We hiked in Leeds where the kids found some tadpoles that kept them entertained for a long time.  It was in the morning so it wasn't too hot yet and it was the perfect difficulty for the kids.  I have fun every time I do this one.  Just enough scenery, shade, and water!

Chambers got a little tired part way through and Uncle Anton gave in to give him a ride.

I tried not to think about how gross the water was they were playing in!

I don't have pictures but Anton, Truman, and I were also able to hike Red Mountain on Saturday while Jer stayed home and nursed his hurt toe and watched the kids.  I forgot how hard that one is.  It's a lot of elevation change in not much time.  We had done it over Thanksgiving a few years ago and I hadn't quite made it to the top because it was getting late and I was nervous about the heights.  This time was much better and it hardly bothered me.  Truman was a great hiking partner.  I love taking him because he never complains and just stays right with us.  It was beautiful at the top.  I'm so mad I didn't have my phone to take pictures!  You could see all of Ivins and a lot of St. George.  I was sure sore the next day, but was so glad we got to do it.

Saturday the boys went to a super hero movie and the girls all got pedicures.  It's been a while since I've had one and I sure needed it.  The girls were so funny because they couldn't help but giggle when she rubbed their toes.  My polish is starting to come off and I'm wondering if I can justify the money for another one!

Sunday night we had a Memorial Day barbecue at my parents house.  They kids played in the pool.  We grilled out and roasted marshmallows.  We love spending time with Anton and his family.

The next day we decided to head to Snow Canyon State Park since we hadn't been for a while.  Luckily most people were heading back from the Memorial Day weekend so it wasn't very busy.  It was a little hot, but after our picnic we had a great time hiking.

We started to the Lava tube trail that we hadn't done for a few years.  The last time we did it we saw a rattlesnake!

Tacy captured this awesome picture of Cardon dropping a rock from his hand.

We kept Cardon moving by telling him he could find rocks and put them in his pocket.  He moved a little slow but had such a great time.  Good thing he had 4 pockets.

At the end he wanted a picture of him with his rocks!

The little boys were starting to get tired and they needed their medicine so Jer headed back with them since his toe was bothering him anyway.

I kept hiking around with the kids and we looped around in an area we had never been before.  Although I couldn't get them to put their arm around each other for the picture they both had fun.  Truman seems in his element when we are out hiking and exploring and Tacy and I got a chance to just talk while he explored all the rocks.  I even got them to run with me for part of it.

Jer dropped us off on the way out of the park to ride scooters while he drove the car.  It was just starting to drizzle a little which was a nice break from the heat.

Snacks on the way home.

Messy hiking hair!  We fit a lot into the weekend and it sure made for a lot of memories.  I want to hike more this summer but we haven't done a lot because it's gotten so hot!

Last Day of School

Truman and Tacy had their last day of school on the day we took the boys to get their tonsils out.  Truman graduated from 5th grade and will move on to Lava Ridge Intermediate next year.  I think I'm more nervous about it than he is.  Truman had Mr. Hansen this year and it was fun for him to finally have a male teacher.  Truman really connected with him.  He did a lot of science and art which was great for Truman.  Mr. Hansen wrote him a note at the end of the year saying what a great kid he was and that he would do great things.  Truman is a great student and his teachers always enjoy having him in their class.  I'm so lucky to have kids that do so well in school.  

Tacy finished 3rd grade and had to say goodbye to both her teachers.  She especially loved her Chinese teacher this year.  They really bonded and she has been emailing her through the summer already.  She was truly sad to say goodbye.  I am so hopeful that she gets along with her teachers as well next year.  I think part of it is great teachers and I think part of it is that Tacy is likable and easy going.  She gets along with most anyone.  I love that about her.

Last day of of 5th and 3rd grade.  Pretend I made cute signs for them to hold!  At least I got a picture.

I got so bored being home with the boys and their tonsils that while they were watching multiple T.V. shows I got the urge to bake.  I made whole wheat banana muffins, chia seed pudding, hard boiled eggs, and protein bites.  I feel so good when I have some good snacks prepped for the week.

Bring on summer!

Man Buns

I forgot to post pictures of the boys and their man buns before they got their hair cut.  I was so sick of pushing Chambers' hair out of his eyes that I finally just pulled it up.  Jer was not excited about it, but I thought they looked pretty cute!  Luckily for Jer they didn't like it for long either.

Tonsils x2

The boys both had their tonsils removed the end of May.  They both had huge tonsils that actually touched in the back of their throat.  The doctor was worried about their breathing and ability to sleep.  We were told that doing it sooner was easier than doing it when they were older so we figured we would just get it over with.  After having gone through two little boys having their tonsils out, I might have waited until they were a little older if possible!  They were in pain and needed their medicine, but didn't understand that it would help so they wouldn't take it.  The motrin had to be taken with food but it was difficult convincing them, especially in the middle of the night that they had to eat a little something with it.  It seemed like if they were a bit older to understand more what was going on they would have been a little more cooperative.  When Tacy got hers out it seemed much more manageable.  And just after a few days when we felt like they were on the mend it got worse.  I guess that 's when the scabs come off.  They were getting up every 2-3 hours at night and Jer and I felt like we had a newborn again.  We were pretty exhausted for a few days.   Cardon especially was inconsolable sometimes and along with his stubborn personality it was pretty rough.  I would finally just hold the boys down when I could tell they wouldn't take their medicine and make them take it.  At least then I knew they would start to feel better.

The morning of their surgery we checked in and of course the boys were just fine not really understanding what they were in for.  They looked so cute in their cute jammies getting weighed measured and ready.  It all happened really fast once we got them back their and before I knew it they were ready to take Chambers back.  I wanted to get more pictures but it was pretty fast and chaotic with two of them.

Cardon practicing breathing in and out with the mask.  He was excited to see if he could blow the balloon bigger than Chambers that would be at the end of the mask when he went back.

Testing out flavors for the mask.

Chambers giving knuckles and hugs before he heads back.

Getting some teasing in with dad before he goes back.

Jer getting a little energy for the hours ahead.

Chambers woke up first and was just pretty mellow and tired.  He did pretty well.  I have not pictures of Cardon waking up because he was pretty out of control.  Jer and I could hear him in the waiting area when he was still in the recovery room.  They finally came to get Jer because they couldn't calm him down.  He came out pretty upset while I held him.  The nurse was trying to talk sense into him, give him ultimatums, and use love and logic.  It was actually pretty annoying.  We just wanted her to give us a little space and let us work through it.  We knew he wouldn't budge for her and it was actually kind of funny that he wouldn't let her get the best of him.  I think she was pretty surprised she couldn't reason with him.  Once he calmed down he guzzled an entire can of apple juice which gave us the ok to head home with two hurting boys.

The first couple of days weren't too terrible.  The boys didn't seem to be in tons of pain and were eating fairly well.  Loving all the popsicles and yogurt.  The worst of it hit at about a week after to 12 days.  They were alternating between Tylenol and Motrin every 3 hours around the clock at that point.  So glad to be done with all of it now and hoping they will breathe and sleep better now.  Every once in a while Chambers still says his throat hurts but were are happy to be healthy again.  No broken leg, no severed toe, and no tonsils.  I'm sure we are meeting our deductible this year and hoping we are done with injuries.  We are so excited to swim, hike, and play again as a family.  More posts on that to come.