Harrison's Happy Birthday and other Heavenly Occurences

Just before the end of summer, these four decided to ascend towards the heavens and hike the Y.  As you can tell from the red faces, it was a hot day and a a great workout.  We did a bit of hiking this summer, but not enough!  We think that every year.  

August 21 was a monumental occasion around the world-a solar eclipse.  We had 90% visibility of it and the view wowed us all!  

Our glasses were a bet sketchy, so we are just glad we had an awe inspiring experience and also kept our vision!  We decided to walk to the park to view it, so if anyone was bored, they could slide or run through the water and then run over for a quick peek through the solar glasses.  I loved the shadows on the ground.  

After we had time to stare into the heavens, we had to bring it back down to the more seedy of the earth-the pirates.  Harrison had requested a pirate party for his birthday, so we had a scurvy crew come over. 

Katelee and Brenna had worked for weeks assembling a pirate ship to hold all the mates.  Their labor of love was greatly appreciated.  Each pirate guest was assigned a pirate name, 

given a tattoo, a spy glass, chocolate coins and a cupcake.  They had cardboard swords to pop the bubbles we would blow which was tricky with eye patches on!

Here ARRRGH the swashbucklers: Cash Wardle, Sam Blackham, Brenna, Austin Staples, Harry, Katelee, Charlotte Burgoyne, Maddox Allred and Paxton Mortenson.  

The treasure hunt was a big success as well as pin the eye patch on the parrot.  We were thrilled Harrison loved it.  But, I do not feel bad that it will be another year before pirates board our ship again! 

Two days later was Mr Harrison's actual birthday.  This boy.  What to say about the new four year old, who still thinks he is a baby at times?  He loves me the most (he tells me that!) but, he always wants his dad to put him to bed.  I love when he tells me how much he loves me-he does it a lot.  He says, "Mom, I just love you so much.  I'm going to keep you forever and ever." He has a special place in his heart for weapons.  

He takes one nearly everywhere we go.  So, those were a couple of his gifts.  The other day in Costco, we were standing behind a gentleman and Harrison, rather loudly, told me to touch the man's butt in front of me.  I was trying to shush him and tell him that's not a nice thing to do or say; however, the command was repeated a few times, each time getting louder.  "Touch his butt!" Harrison would say.  I was embarrassed, but so glad he didn't have a plastic sword with him to reach out and tap that man's hiney.  I'm sure that male customer ran as fast as he could out the door and away from us!

Harrison has a new-ish found love for pirates.  We draw treasure maps and go on hunts for treasure constantly.  So, a treasure chest cake was perfect for him.  

We had gone out to lunch to McDonald's on his birthday and he pretty much eats none of the typical dinner cuisine, so Shannon and grandma joined us for a pancake dinner.  The birthday boy was pleased with that arrangement.  

Harrison is so great.  He still has quite a temper and it flares up in particular when being teased by an older brother.  But, he also will be found riding around on that brother's back laughing his head off a little while later.  Harry has the best laugh and sense of humor.  He gut chuckles a lot and gets the rest of us cracking up.  He loves to say the play Mario games with his siblings and is growing up with a heavy influence of our technological age.  This is apparent in his constant use of the word 'pause.'  He tells us to 'pause the game,' 'pause the prayer,' or 'pause the talking.'  It never gets old...until he starts screaming it because we aren't listening.  Ha!  

He is a VERY important person in our family and on his VIP day at school, we took a little picture.  His poster says he is four, his favorite animal is a lion, his favorite color is green, his favorite food is toast.  He has a pic of himself, our family, the zoo (which he declares is his favorite place).  He claims his favorite thing to do is work.  I have yet to see him ever work...just helping clean his room is a huge ordeal.  He must like watching other people work for him! If he could wish for something it would be a Mario game, so we have a pic of Mario and Luigi.  

Finally, when he grows up, Harrison says he wants to be a pirate or a Muppet.  He is very ambitious and we hope to be able to support him in his career goals!  Love this little buddy!!

Jammin in Jamaica

Dave's President's Club for ADP was in Jamaica this year.  As in most years, his journey to reach the President's Club status was a roller coaster ride.  We didn't know if we were definitely going until past the deadline this go around.  It was an emotional few weeks waiting.  Dave always puts in his best honest effort and by that and some divine intervention he made it!  It was a bit more of a juggle this year as we had kids who had stuff going on.  

We flew down to Arizona with the bottom 3 little people, leaving Grant in Utah with grandma so he could attend a scout backpacking trip.  When that wrapped up, he flew solo to AZ.  Katelee flew out from Arizona the next day to come home for an Activity Days camp.  We were very impressed with our kids stepping up and having the confidence to take on a flight sans parental figures.  Of course, they had support from fabulous family up to the gate and immediately after they deplaned.  But still, kudos to them. 

As for Dave and I, we started out with a pit stop to visit our favorite Georgians...

We got to spend an evening at dinner with Curt and Anna.  We loved seeing them for a few hours before we went tropic.  

I was in heaven with our hotel room.  We stayed at an all inclusive resort in Jamaica and our room was a swim up. We could just walk out of our sliding doors right to the patio and the lounge chairs in the water.  Heavenly.  

Our evenings were filled with events with fabulous food on the beach, tarot card reading, 

hotel "Michael Jackson" entertainment.  Wow.  that was special. There was a great Bob Marley cover artist at the awards dinner.  Dave was honored with his 8th President's Club.  He his awesome!

We spent our days relaxing in the water, sitting on the beach, running a 5k that was only 1.1 miles-that's the kind of 5k I am all about!  We got to go zip lining through the jungle, but we couldn't take our phone to take pictures.  The crazy tour guide had us rappelling straight down, which I had never done.  It was freaky fun.  And, super highlight for us was swimming with dolphins!! Dave says it was his favorite activity ever.  I can't get the photos to load to put on the blog, but his expression of love as the dolphin kisses his cheek says it all.  hahaha

We always look forward to going to the local branch or ward of the church where we visit.  Jamaica was no exception.  We had plans to attend the worship service, had it all researched where to go, when to leave and we had to get written approval before.  However, the morning we were to go, we got a phone call saying it was not going to work out.  ADP security, for our safety, wouldn't let us leave the hotel property.  We were disappointed, one of the people in our party in particular.  After some time, we got another phone call.  This time, the head of security told us that "God moves in mysterious ways," and that we were now being allowed to go.  We would have a security detail escort us and take the taxi service they arranged.  We were thrilled.  

We walked into the church property and were immediately welcomed and loved.  The people were passionate about the gospel, extremely humble and fun!  They taught with with power and sang with enthusiasm and I evaluated my worship as I attended.  My testimony was strengthened, particularly when a woman came up and asked me if I attended the temple and if I would take her name to the temple.  I have done that and thought of her many times.  

We were on a spiritual high coming back and then we got ready to watch a concert where people very well may have been high!  literally.  ADP hired Pitbull to throw a private concert.  

He is quite the showman!! It was crazy energy from the minute he came out.  We had a great time!!

The next morning, we went to the airport so we could spend a couple of days in Grand Cayman.  

Um...that water was unlike anything I had ever seen/felt before.  We got checked into our hotel and zipped right out to a tour at Stingray City.  I told Dave he should go by himself.  It freaked me out. But "somehow" he had already paid for both of us and couldn't get his money refunded.  So, I decided I would at least just ride on the boat.  Next thing I know I am in the water...AHHH...UGH...next thing I know, the stingrays are swirling all around me.  

 

Please note how I wouldn't even put my hands in, and then...

I was gently holding one of those slimy creatures.  

As we learned from his dolphin swim, Dave has an affinity for slick sea creatures, so they were taken with him immediately.  

The feeling was mutual.  

We had Marriott points that we saved up to stay at the Ritz Carlton.  Dave was digging it big time, I was almost overwhelmed with the fanciness.  It was eerie how staff I didn't recall every seeing or talking to were attending to my every need and addressing me by name.  They would turn down the beach chairs, bring us chocolates, drinks and see to every detail.  We both walked through the spa and I had a massage.  It was chic and swanky.  

We spent two lovely evenings going to dinner and enjoying the ocean.   Our childless trip flew by and we went back to collect our babies.  We missed them lots, but I wouldn't turn down another chance to go on a getaway alone with this guy, just sayin!

June was Bustin Out All Over...as well as July!

We were hoppin in June-we got back from our family vacation and it seemed like summer slammed us!  I was the camp director for our ward's girls camp, so last minute preparations and shopping took some time and I was off in the woods for 4 days!  Camp was a blast but I'm glad I don't have to plan another one anytime soon!  Grant went on a week long scout camp to Zions and Bryce Canyon.  He got some serious hiking in and did it all in record heat.  Record heat for southern Utah is no joke-114 degrees-no thank you.  But he absolutely loved it!!

We filled our time while he was away.  The younger two kids did swimming lessons.

This was Harrison's first year and he is not a natural born swimmer to say the least.  The teacher kept asking him to put his head/eyes in the water.  Harry would do it for one second and then pop up with a random bit of information he needed to pass along to his teacher.  Ex: "I had green poop today." "Jesus taught me how to cartwheel."  His teenage teacher did his best to direct Harrison back to the lessons at hand. Harrison did get dropped off the diving board a couple of times, so that required his head to go in the water.  Yay Harrison!  

Brenna did great and has done the high dive a few times on her on since her lessons.  

We went to Jungle Jim's while Grant was gone, knowing the itty bitty rides wouldn't be something he would cry about missing!  We do love the art festival as a family, so sadly he had to miss out on that.  

The instrument zoo was out again and the tuba 

was a favorite experiment for both girls.  

The kids love the crafts.  Thank heavens there were light sabers again, because Harrison was not happy with just the jellyfish project, even though it was plenty impressive.  

Good thing Grant was home for Dave's birthday-he hit the big 3-8 this year!  He doesn't look a day over 30...well, his face doesn't.  The bald spot in the back of his head, well, that's revealing his age.  Ha! 

We welcomed in the month of our independence with visitors. We saw Adam and Lizzy for a day or two and then Brandon and Malia brought Jack and Gwen through as they were on their way to Washington.  We were happy to spend some time with them.  We went to see a movie on the 4th

and then met up with Paige, Jason, Porter, Grandma and Shannon at the park for fireworks.  We have the best fireworks in our city.  We loved playing games with family and friends while we danced to the Beatles Tribute Band.  It is not my favorite to sit outside and melt but I do it happily on days like that! 

Being the youngest has its perks in that you get later bedtimes than the other siblings ever got at that age.  Harrison goes to bed so late, but he is so sleep deprived in the summer, it is crazy town.  He does not like it when we laugh at him, if he is not trying to be funny.  Combine that with lack of rest and it gets scary.  He was so sweet the other day and came up to me to talk. He prefaces his conversations 90% of the time with, "I need to tell you something."  He said those introductory words and then looked at me and said, "I just love you so much."  It was so adorable, I smiled and did a little giggle.  This happy smirk resulted in a scream/tantrum saying not to laugh and me feeling horrible that I turned his declarations of love into an epic meltdown.  

He has been loving summer and I love this age.  Harrison and I were at the zoo before school was out and he was in heaven.  He laughed at the animals, but he also had to point out some landscaping to me.  He pointed to the grass and laughingly said, "that is ridiculous.  That is a ridiculous hole."  Smooth sod is what he looks for.  

We've spent lots of time with friends...

seeing Seussical, playing inside and outside, jumping on the tramp and creating many plays.  It is the summer of script writing and rehearsals for the girls.  

We've gone to the pool to swim, hit up the Riverton City Rodeo where our kids made out like bandits during the cash cow.  One of the kids was stepped on by the calf (one guess as to who is most likely to be injured.  Yep, that girl!), we drove up to the Hill Air Force Base Museum with neighbors.

We went to the float preview, participated in the face painting and balloon shapes with Paige, Jason, Porter and Shannon.

Grace was here for a few days so we got to have her sleep over and work at the food pantry with us.  Our stake had a great primary activity where the kids learned about book of Mormon stories.  

The gym had been turned into Jerusalem with booths and the hallway was lined with an iron rod.  The youth were there in the morning when their youth conference started. It was genius to use it for the primary as well.  

Here the little people are learning about burying their weapons of war.  Man do I wish that lesson translated over to our house.  I will say summer is rough on the contention level here.  So. much. fighting.  But, it is good to see the love on other days as they listen to a book on CD together, jump on the trampoline, etc  One of these days it will seem like the good outnumbers the bad.  One of these days...

There was a whole lot of love going around a couple of weeks ago at Rachel and Toren's wedding.  We loved being able to be a part of their special day.  

We got everyone out on the dance floor, I even made the pre-teen fella give me a spin out there.  He secretly loved it, I am sure.  

We served lunch at Primary Children's Hospital-something we all look forward to every year.  We recognized some faces from our Beauty and the Beast play and while it was sad to see them up their and know their little baby was having a hard time, we hope we gave them a little love in the form of chocolate rice krispie treats! The only pictures I got were these:

Lovely.  Thank you boys-the tabs on the little man's hiney are courtesy of Grant. 

Yesterday, we took the kids to the Jigglefest at Thanksgiving Point.  We had recieed an email about this jello throwing party.  In theory, it sounded super fun.  In reality, it was...for the kids.  I was kind of grossed out.  

It scared Harrison.  He hid behind my leg even before the jello throwing began.  As they counted down, we had an eye on the baby pools full of gelatin, and he just knew it was going to get ugly.  

So, he stayed right by my side.  I got some great video of the kids running over and really it was a ton of  jigglers flying through the air, stickiness jiggling all over.  People were crazy.  I had anticipated doing it with the kids.  But, I totally started dry heaving even just picking up jello chunks out of the grass for Harry to toss.  The kids, of course, couldn't let Dave go unscathed. 

They were completely covered.  Brenna is holding her mouth open because it and her eyes felt like they were stuck from the jello.  After the food fight, the sprinklers turned on and everyone washed off.   

It was a pretty fun event, from afar!  I was laughing...and then gagging.  

We are pushing through summer like champs.  We are loving the late nights, movies, playtime and relaxing schedule.

I am trying to enjoy it all and not wait for 'tomorrows.'  I don't want to plan for things to be more fun or to be better when such and such happens.  I want to make today great.  This is a lesson I learned from the little guy when I told him I needed to start choosing healthy foods...then, I said, tomorrow.  Who wanted to start today?!  Ha!  Harrison replied, ever so wisely with, "Mom, it is tomorrow."  It is yesterday's tomorrow,right?  So, seize the day-seize the summer!