Tball time

We thought we would try Tball this spring. The boys really haven't been "in" to any sports, yet. We've tried soccer with Jeffrey when he was a little younger, thinking it would be great exercise. He did not like it at all, too much running. Ethan wasn't old enough then. When we moved here, we tried a wrestling camp. No go. They didn't understand why the other kids were trying to hurt them. Understandable, because we are always saying "hands off your brother. Don't touch each other. Don't hurt each other." So, they did not like that at all, too physical. Ethan cried because the little boy he was partnered with," fell him to the ground." Anyway, I don't want them to think they can just give up and quit if something is a little hard. So, when Tball came around, they seemed interested, and so we signed them up. We told them there would be no dropping out, no quitting, we were going to stick with it and see how it goes. Well, so far, they have done really well. I think the atmosphere here is perfect. It was so competitive in Texas, that they really didn't "learn" the game, they were just expected to know what to do. A lot of yelling, frustration and parental pressure. Here, it is just for fun. More laid back, noone gets laughed at when they miss the ball. It's really cute to watch, and maybe we found something they can finish and be good at. We don't require them to be masters at it and be competitive, but just enjoy something. Fingers crossed they will at least enjoy it!

Breaking ground

Well, they started digging the whole for our house yesterday! Kind of a weird feeling, it still kind of feels like we're on vacation here. There is mixed feelings involved with this. I guess one is that this is the end. But, I have grown to like the laid back feel here. Everyone you see at church, you see at school. You drive down the road, and just about every house is someone in your ward. Everyone at the stores say hi like you're lifelong friends. The guy at the post office, knows our names. And I love the schools. Again, a small, laid back but very academic atmosphere. I have been very happy with that! I still miss Texas, and the great people there, but I don't miss being so blasted hot! There are a lot of positives, here, and it's ok now. The kids are adjusting, and having lots of opportunities to do things. Just a weird feeling, generally. (The hole is actually bigger today. We can just see the tops of the diggers now!)

The great worm hunt

I was telling the kids the other day of how as kids, we would play in the dirt and sand down by the lake behind our house. We would stay out all day pretty much. I was telling them of how many worms we would dip up and give to the chickens. Jeffrey said, "worms live in dirt? How do they breathe?" Ok.. Time out. Time for a little science lesson. What fun we had digging up worms and finding them. "There's one! There's one!" How funny. They loved it. They did feed them to Grandpa's chickens, which provided hours of entertainment!! It is fun to see them outside much more, and learning to explore. How I must have taken for granted the opportunities our childhood place provided. Endless hours of outside fun, swimming, motorcycling, running through the woods, playing in the sand, catching frogs, and worms and little fish in the lake. I am glad to be here where they can have space to play and chances to see and do things that make memories.

Sick boy

Our little Dallin was so sick this past weekend. He was so croupey, and feverish and just all around miserable. It was no sleep night, because he couldn't breathe, so we were in the bathroom with the shower on, and then we'd take him outside in the cold air. We did some breathing treatments, and some medicine. He is pretty much over it now, just a little bit of a cough still. Oh man, that croupe cough is the worse! It is just a horrible sound to hear at 3 in the morning!!

Halee's field trip

Halee's 2nd group went to the zoo and park in Idaho Falls. It was a pretty fun little place. It had a decent sized zoo, and then a theme park as well. Eric took them as I had to my sister in law's to switch cars for our upcoming trip.

Jeffrey field trip

We had a fun field trip day yesterday with Jeffrey's 1st grade. We were gone from 8 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. We visited a few fun things in Jackson Hole. The first place we went, (upper left picture) was a fish hatchery. We all walked on the little bridges that over look the fish. I was amazed that all these 1st graders were able to walk across a metal bridge that was the width of your foot across!!
Then, we went down the road to the National Museum of Wildlife Art. That was a really neat place because all of their sculptures and paintings and activities were about wild animals. At the end, they could dress up in animal skins and put on an impromptu play. They enjoyed that. Jeffrey chose to be a bald eagle. He really enjoyed looking at the pictures and sculptures, and actually surprised me at how much he understood. The next picture was at the fish hatchery on the buck-n-rail fence where a herd of buffalo were there. The last stop was a hot springs. There were little tropical looking fish in there that you could wade in and try to catch. We couldn't catch them, but a few kids did. We were quited pooped on the bus ride home! We lucked out with super great weather.

My little Ethan

This little Ethan is awesome. He has learned to read, and has just soaked up all the learning I can hand him. He reminds me of Halee and how quickly they pick things up. I used an online program called Headsprout when I was running my preschool. When we moved, I purchased the rights, and Ethan has just blossomed. He wants to do an "episode" every day and does about 5-6 episodes at a sitting. I have been very impressed with the program and how it's laid out. It is a very successful one, and he is reading the little books that come with the program and the books that I print off the website. He really does love it, and it becoming quite the reader. Way to go Ethan!

The chickens

Grandpa's little chicks are growing into chickens. They are venturing out into their little yard. It's fun to watch them,and the boys love sitting and watching them. The dog loves watching them too! =) Pictured here on the left, is Dallin (2) and Jeffrey (6) and the dog Abby. To the right is Jeffrey and the dog Abby still watching.

Spring has finally sprung!!

The weather has been so beautiful here!!! Most of the snow on the ground has melted, except in the mountains, so the boys have loved being outside. We were able to move the slide to play, and Ethan's favorite rock pile was uncovered. We even found some balls that were lost under the snow!! There are some green sprigs of grass coming through, and it's great to be outside.