Paul's Birthday

I should have actually called this post Pioneer Day, because Paul worked all day, came home for dinner, and went back out and worked all evening. I am sure that this Birthday didn't make the all time greatest birthday list. Oh well, I did make he the most delicious cake. It is making me drool just thinking about it. We (meaning everyone except Paul) went to the Monroe Pioneer Day Parade and came home with a very full grocery sack full of candy, which will last us for five plus years (is candy part of food storage?). Then we went to the booths at the park, the boys all had a horse ride, and then we played the win yourself a frog game, and we came home with two very small frogs. Something I thought I would never do, allow pets. The frogs aren't so bad, but we have a toad now too. I think the toad smells, he might have to go. After a delicious birthday dinner and cake Paul went to work and we went to the country music concert that was before the fireworks. We had a great time! I hope Paul has a better birthday next year.

We took a picture of that car, just for Grandpa Washburn (It says "Dedicated to Grandpa Washburn").

Paul and Emily Go Backpacking

Isn't it wonderful to get away with your spouse for a few days! This was a great trip, Paul's parent's watched the boys while we went for a two day backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevadas. I believe it was Pyramid Peak that we climbed which is the highest peak in the Desolation Wilderness, for any of you that know what that means. It was a gorgeous hike, and we had a lot of talking time, and some relaxing time. It was wonderful, and on the way home we filled our hungry bellies with burgers, fries, and strawberry milk shakes from In N Out Burger.

Paul's Lost Coast Trip

Paul and his cousins Ryan and Jonathan had another one of their great adventures. This year they went to the Lost Cost in California. They backpacked a total of fifty miles in 5 days. They had an awesome time, nobody went hungry, and though they saw some wildlife they weren't threatened by any other than Paul being sprayed by a skunk. That happens to him once in a while.

Ragnar

I have been running regularly since I had Will. I have run some 1/2 marathons, 5Ks, and 10Ks, but never a relay race. Running the Ragnar Wasatch Back was more fun than I have ever had running a race. It was challenging, exhausting, and you were in a van full of stinky women, but what could be better. They came by to cheer me on or bring me some gum while I was running, and it was great, cheering your friends on during their race. I ran a total of 18 miles. Our team of 12 ran a total of 188 miles between Logan and Park City, UT. Our teams name was Makin' Bacon. We were all pigs.

First Grade Talent Show

Will played the drums for his talent. He was awesome. I love watching my kids do cool things. I can't help but gush with pride. He even has his tongue sticking out, Paul does that when he plays guitar. It must be genetic.

Will Lost His First Teeth

It is the very end of first grade and Will has be coveting other children and their spacious mouths due to missing teeth. He had two slightly loose teeth when he went to school in the morning, and when he got home they were hanging by a thread. I can just see him in class trying to write with one hand while furiously wiggling his teeth with the other. Sadly, for him, he still had no missing teeth when he got home.

We finally suggested he get a napkin and just yank on them. He went into the kitchen and came back victorious. Now he would see if the tooth fairy would really come. Well after Paul and I had a discussion over the proper tooth fairy guidelines, he went to seep with his little teeth in a zip loc baggie under the pillow.

Jake is Potty Trained

A week after we moved to Monroe, Paul say to me, "Since you don't have any friends, and you don't have anywhere to go, now would be a good time to Potty train Jacob." Although it was hard to hear that I didn't have any friends and I didn't have anywhere to go, I acknowledged the truth and decided it probably was a good time to potty train.

Now a month or so later I can say that it hasn't been too bad, but I probably wouldn't have said that a week ago when he thought it was funny to poop in his underwear right after I had just gotten finished helping him pee on the potty. Why not do it all at once? I would scream right now, but the frustration is gone, and now I can only think of him at the park today pulling his pants down walking towards the grass to "water it."

By the way he is reading a For the Strength of Youth pamphlet. That is good potty reading.

Our Trip to Arizona

For Spring Break we went down to Arizona to see Paul's Grandma Willyerd and cousins and aunts and uncles down there. We had a great time. On the way down we stopped at Canyon de Chey and The Petrified Forest. We went on some fun hikes, but were eager to see Grandma so we journeyed on. Grandma was a great hostess as usual and taught me how to make candy. Paul couldn't stop juicing her citrus and the boys loved her candy dish.

Carol also put together a cousins party after Emma's baptism. It was fun to stand around talking and we even attempted to play ultimate frisbee, but Nathan wasn't too excited about me running around and leaving him on his own. He wasn't the only crying baby, so the game was finally given up, although, I think we girls could have spanked them if we weren't hindered by crying children.

We went on a really pretty hike in the Arizona Desert where Jacob cut his knee, and told all of the hikers we passed, "I dot bwud." If you can't translate that, it was, I got blood. We ended our trip at a hotel in Richfield, Ut. looking for places to live. Hooray we found one.

Will's Birthday

We had lots of company on Will's birthday. Diane, Jimmy, Bentley, Grandma, and Grandpa Washburn were all here to celebrate with us. The day started with a pancake breakfast and ended with delicious cake. Since Will had a birthday party the next weekend after the company was gone, it was a pretty relaxing day.

Will wanted an army birthday, so we had an ARMY birthday party, complete with shooting airsoft guns. They really enjoyed that, but I couldn't load them fast enough, and one kid couldn't cock the gun by himself. Jake should have been shot several times, because he kept running in front of them as the were shooting, but miraculously he was spared. Some of the games that I had planned were going to be water games, and it has not been the warmest spring. So I was surprised when they wanted to throw wet sponge balls at eachother anyways. They had a good time, and Will felt special.

New Job

In March Paul got a new job as a sergeant for the DWR. He supervises 5 officers in south-central Utah. We were told we could live in Sevier County. The biggest town in the county is Richfield. After a stressful time trying to sell our house and find a place to live in our new area we found a rental house in the small town of Monroe- just south of Richfield. The move went well and Paul is enjoying his new responsibilites. The convience of having a Wal-mart and Home Depot close is great!

80's Dance Party

I happen to really like to dance. In a spazzy sort of way, so I thought that I would invite a bunch of friends and we would dance together. Like old times when you went to school dances and all of the girls danced together in circles and all of the boys just stood around talking. The only difference was, I just didn't invite any boys, and we had a really good time. There was one requirement you had to come to the party looking like you just stepped out of the 80's. I was really impressed with how well everyone did. We even had a mullet and a head gear.

Nate's Birthday, yeah Dec. 30 2009.

O.k., so I realize that it has been a long time since I have posted anything and it is now May, and his birthday was DEC. 30th.  I can't really skip it though and just catch back up where I am at.  So here it is.  Nate had a pirate birthday party this past year.  We said things like "Down the Hatch", and "Scurvy Dog", and of course lots of "AARGH."  He thinks it is cool that pirates don't take showers, and that they have green teeth.  They had a pretend pirate ship, and played with foam swords.  Of course the TREASURE hunt, and the pirate ship cake.  They had a really great time.

He turned four and in another few months he will be five.  

Christmas and Sledding

After our trip to Puerto Rico we headed home and had a very relaxing wonderful Christmas. Christmas morning did start bright and early though. I thought we still had a few more years before our kids woke us up at 5:45, but no, Will woke up with pent up excitement, and woke up the rest of his brothers. The picture shows Will ready to go, and Nate and Jake still half asleep. The boys got what they asked for from Santa, had a great time opening presents, but then they were ready for sledding. The small picture of Will is him on my snowboard that he loves to ride. It has gotten more use in this last week than it has in years. It was nice to be home for Christmas.

Thanksgiving

The Koller Family (Paul's Sister) came down from Idaho for Thanksgiving. We went camping a couple of days before with them. It was quite cold, but we all survived and had a good time. We took our awesome camp trailer, but they were in a tent with almost every blanket in our house on top of them. When I went outside the camper in the morning the Thermometer read 6 degrees.

We went on a hike with them in Butler wash and saw some awesome Indian ruins.

Paul's parents got to Monticello the night before Thanksgiving and were here for a few days. I guess I lost all of the photos we took after they got here to a camera that we can't get to work. We had a great time. Paul and his dad went on an overnight backpacking trip after Thanksgiving. They had a fun time and are planning another trip in May.

Jake's Birthday (11/20)

Jake turned two in November, and he is a such a big boy. He wanted a bat cake, so a bat cake he got. I think it turned out pretty cute too. He loved opening presents. I kind of forgot to get him something when I was at Walmart, so I decided to wrap up all of the boys toys that I had confiscated from Will and Nate for not cleaning their room. The plan was the boys could earn a toy back everyday their room was clean, but they quickly forgot about the toys, and not too much later, I did too. So it turned out really well, I had a lot of toys for Jake's birthday. As he opened the presents, Will and Nate would comment, "Cool Jake, I used to have a toy like that." I laughed and said, "You Did? Whatever happened to that toy." I later told them that they were the boys toys, and they didn't care a bit that I gave them to Jake. Maybe next year I won't buy Christmas presents either.

Halloween (I realize that was a long time ago)

If I am going to pretend to be a blogger, I felt like I needed to go back in time and hit a few highlights. How could I not post pictures of my cute kids on Halloween? We went up to my parents house for Halloween again this year and trick or treated with all of the cousins. My kids had a blast, but I don't think Will will let us miss the Monticello Elementary Halloween Carnival again next year. Paul instituted a candy tax on all of the kids, and confiscated all of the full size candy bars, which there were quite a few. I guess it is a pretty good trick or treating neighborhood.

Puerto Rico

Paul and I have now been married for 10 years. We went to Puerto Rico to celebrate. For part of our trip we were there with Paul's parents and brother Brandon. For those of you who haven't been there it is highly recommended.

Some Trip highlights were snorkeling, the rain forest, Old San Juan, Bioluminescent Bay (where I got stung badly by a jellyfish), tostones and mufongo (awesome plantain treats), and time alone without kids (AWESOME).