Roll Me, Mom!

This one is for my family. I told you about the big pipe we played with before Mark put it in the HUGE hole we dug. It was fun. I almost got inside once. All three of the boys had their turn at some point playing in the pipe. I laughed and told Mark we needed to buy one for each of them, but then remembered just how much a big ol' piece of pipe costs and decided the boys could find other ways to entertain themselves.

I had never rolled Aaron over more than once, so this time I was a little worried about how he was doing. My camera man didn't move with the action, but Aaron was able to maintain his stance the whole rotation. Love my farmer uniform - shorts and boots. They are pink leopard from Target.

Another school year

Summer was over before we knew. We had to drag ourselves out of our beds and make the walk up to the bus stop. This year the bus stops at the top of the lane, rather than down by Grandpa and Grandma Gull's. It takes us roughly five minutes to get there, faster if you know you're late or she's early...

First school picture taken on the porch at the new house.
Seemed a little surreal.

Ethan started 6th grade and is in the orchestra playing the violin. He surprised his mother completely with that request. He's quite excited! He just got his violin on Tuesday. He goes to the high school twice a week before school and then is bussed over to the elementary. Can't believe this is his last year in elementary. Next year I'll have a junior high kid. Not sure how I feel about that one!

Aaron stared 3rd grade and loves school, being with friends, and learning. He also loves that he is taller than his older brother. They certainly have their own style. And as they get older it is harder to not force my own style on them. They are who they are. And I love them for it. At least Ethan will pull down his socks a bit for me, you can see the slouch in the socks here.

No time like the present

Thought I better do some posting. Life has been passing me by.

Yesterday we took the boys up to the Brigham City Temple Open House. Of course the bus ride is always fun. Alex thought it was great. The two big boys wanted their school bus to be as cool as this bus was: reclining seats and a bathroom. While watching the video presentation prior to the tour, Aaron leaned over and said he was thinking about making a goal. I nodded, and he told me he wanted to make a goal to go to every temple. Maybe we'll just start with the ones here in Utah -- made my heart smile. I think he got the spirit of the temple even in that small moment. Elder Holland's comments made me reflect on how much Mark and the boys mean to me when he said heaven without his wife just wouldn't be heaven to him.

The temple was beautiful, and I'm so glad we took the opportunity to go and take the boys. We are also taking them to the dedication later this month. Ethan said he just wants to go inside the Salt Lake Temple, RIGHT NOW! I can't believe he has less than a year before he can.

The front of the temple was really crowded with people, so we went to the side and found this cute old man to take our picture. He was asking us to say the funniest things before taking our pictures, that I was laughing a bit too much and look like a mess. Well, that's me - laughing, double-chin and all.