Catch Up....Callings, Friends, Party, Potty Time, 88th B-day Parties, Family Outing, Swimming Lessons,& talks, oh we can't forget Olivia 21 Months!

Okay here goes the big "catch up"....

8*3*08
August 3 was a good day for all of my boys, Carson was put in as Marcus' Primary Teacher. Since we moved here two years ago they have never had enough kids Marcus' age to have his own age group in their own Primary class. I think when we first moved here there was Marcus and one other boy and now there is between 6-9 kids that are CTR 6. Carson was excited to be in primary with the boys, so I think that it will be a good thing. Alec all year long has sat with Marcus through sharing time and singing time and then goes into his class, so now he really likes it because he gets to sit by his dad. So this past Sunday was Carson's offical teaching day and I think over all it went really well.

8*5*08

During the day we had so much fun visiting with friends, some that we see lots and some that I haven't visited with for 3 years! Yes it is true we went to the pool again and we had a wonderful time. It was a little cloudy so it was a little bit cooler, but us moms got it all figured out.... The big kids played in the water as usual, they didn't mind one bit that it was a little chilly and the little kids just sat in the shallow and played and then us moms just sat on the chairs and visited! We had a fun time thinking back to the good old days, who wouldn't have agood laugh at the first cell phone ever! (for those of you that remember Tiffani Scott's cell phone, just take a moment to have a little chuckle at how big that thing was but how cool we all thought she was!)

Marcus, Jaron, Alec, and Jandie

Olivia, Landon, and Maddison

Olivia and Maddalyn

Then that night we had a our Ward Summer party, the theme was the County Fair! It really was a lot of fun, the kids had a blast. There was horse carriage rides and even a little train ride for the kids. One of the local ice barn places here in town is owned by one of our ward members so we even got free ice barns! As we were eating dinner I told Marcus he could go get a ice barn when he was done eating dinner and he said, "but mom I don't have any money!" I told him it was free and his jaw just dropped. The kids had a wonderful time running around with all the kids, I don't even know how many times they rode on the train and horse carriage. They also had a pie eating contest that Marcus so badly wanted to do and then it came time to do it and he got a little to shy, but Whitney sure did a good job!

8*8*08

I know that this day was such a big day for weddings and births, but in our house it was a very big day as well.... Olivia pooped on the potty! After she got out of the tub I was just letting her walk around, after about 20 minutes she came into her bedroom where I was cleaning holding her little bum mumbling to me, so I asked her if she had to go potty. After she nodded her head we ran for the bathroom and there it was she went potty! Now I realize she is young and she seems way to little to be doing it, but if it works we will take it! Since that day she has gone severly times on the toliet, she gets so excited after. I think once the boys go to school I will really focus on getting her potty trained, on Oct. 4 will be our 6 year of buying diapers, yes it is true I have never stopped buying diapers in 6 years!!!!

8*9*08

Last Saturday we celebrated my grandpa Rhodes' 88th birthday! Out of all my family we were only missing 1 of my dad's sisters and her whole family, my sister and her family, 5 cousins (a few of them have families), and then a few of my cousins spouses'. We had a nice time and my little Marcus was in heaven watching the semi's and tractors out in the hay fields picking up the bails of hay. We had a great time visiting with my Grandpa, even though he didn't really like all of the attention! Last time we had a big party was for his 80th birthday and I think everyone was there that day and then a few months later my Grandpa had horrible heart problems where we weren't sure if he was going to make it. I remember it was days before I left for Connecticut to go be a nanny, so when I said goodbye to him I really thought it was possible I would never see him again, but here 8 years later we had another big party for him!

After the party we went to Logan to do some grocery shopping and use our gift certificate that our neighbor gave us. The kids did a great job at dinner, Marcus wanted steak and shrimp, but he settled for the kids ribs and shrimp. Now grocery shopping on the other hand was a little bit of a joke! Walmart was our last stop of the day (6th stop, not including eating), was past their bed time, and it was one of those shopping trips that we were empty as could be so we had a full cart! One thing Olivia got was a new baby and some panites for going potty, so we only had a few melt downs from the boys that Olivia was able to get something fun and they didn't. I told them their fun was all of the school things we were getting, crayons, glue, socks, underwear, etc.! They didn't really fall for that being considered fun!!

8*10*08

On Sunday we went and was able to witness cousins Kate's baby blessing, Nicklaus did a great job! After we went to our church so Carson could teach his first week of being a Primary Teacher and Marcus had to give a talk. He did a great job! I always get nervous writing their talks, but I think it turned out pretty good. Here it is....

Marcus Talk August 2008
“I will show my faith in Jesus Christ by being
Baptized and confirmed.”

A couple of months ago I was able to attend my Cousin Jackson’s Baptism and Confirmation. I am so thankful I was able to witness something so special happen to my cousin. As I talked to my parents about everything that happened to him that day, they mentioned how happy and peaceful he was that day because he had faith to do what is right and get baptized. He now has the Holy Ghost with him all of the time. After watching him that day it helps me to have faith in Jesus Christ to do what is right so that I can also have peace and happiness in my life. As I get closer to turning eight years old, I hope I can live my life by always choosing the right, so I too can be a good example to others and continue to show my faith in Jesus Christ by being baptized and be blessed by the Holy Ghost.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

8*13*08

Olivia is 21 months old! She is quite the little girl. Her latest favorite thing to do right before she goes to sleep is sing I looked out the window as well as Itsy Bitsy Spider. She honestly can not go to sleep until she does those two things! The other night I went out with a friend and when I got home all the kids were asleep. Shortly after getting home Alec woke up screaming because his legs hurt so bad so it woke up Olivia. When she saw me and I went and laid by her she gave me the biggest hug and was holding on for dear life! As she contiunes it get bigger and surpries us daily we fall in love with her more. Her little personality is honestly so fun! Oh, I better not forget her to say that one of her most favorite things to eat right now is peanut butter on a spoon!

I also must not forget how much Olivia loves to put on her pretties (lip gloss). This is what happened the other day when she was watching Molly put on makeup, she helped herself to be pretty!

8*16*08

Yesterday was our last day of swimming lessons for the year! It was another 8 day season, the boys were in one class and then Olivia and I took a Mom and Me class. Oh it was honestly such a success, I know it sounds cheesy and that I am trying to paint this perfect picture, but honestly my kids did so well! Marcus is to the point were he knows the basic it is just getting big arms, etc. So that is what he did and then by the last few days he got his diving confidence back and started diving off the diving board again. Alec was amazing! Let's just have a little review of last year, 3 sessions, 8 days each and he cried nearly everyday! The first session this year he had the tightest grip on Chyrstal and Whitney and wouldn't let go for the life of him, 2nd session he figured out he could at least touch so he was becoming a little bit more brave, and now..... He does so good doing his "ice cream scoops", and yes the best part is he jumps off the diving board with no one catching him and swims to the side of the pool by himself! Then little Miss Princesss...the first day she didn't think it was too bad as long as I held her, the second day we had to let go of them while they were under water, and so she hated it and then we got to the last 3 days and she did great! She even let Chrystal swim with her. She loved blowing bubbles and putting her eyes in the water. Papa came the last day to watch her and she couldn't stop yelling at him to watch her do bubbles she would yell, "Papa, me bubbles!" It gives me hope that next year she won't scream and yell everyday of swimming lessons! Thanks once again Chrystal and Whitney, you are the best swimming teachers ever.....

This is Olivia and little Molly, Molly is exactly 1 year younger then Olivia. Molly is half the reason for Olivia's braveness, everytime Molly went under water Olivia thought it was okay for her to as well!

Well I think I can say that I am now caught up!

Sorry one more thing...

This is what my kids have enjoyed watching at my parent's house, taking down the High School!