Colton is 4, the Solar Eclipse was "for" his birthday!

There is so much to blog, and its late and I'm tired, but we'll see what we can do.
Saturday was a work day at the project house. One of the neighbors had complained to the city while we were in Utah. The second picture is the cleaned up version...??? Oh brother.

 

Isaac asked me if I had a good day. Yes. I did. But between the take Tanner, so he could get in on the fun, go get Tanner, take lunch, go get Colt he's sick of it, go get Cannon he's had enough now too I'd had plenty of trips to that house. But they had the fire trucks at JCPenny for a Back to School think so Colt and Tanner and I went there and Tanner won the drawing for the bike helmet. Sweet Right? Well except I'd just bought Colt a new one (off amazon, it would cost me more to send it back) but I'd wrapped it with his other birthday presents that very morning. Its still hidden in my closet wrapped. And they whole way going to pic up Tanner's helmet Colt was negotiating why it should in fact be his...because he needed a new one and Tanner didn't. But this week he's only really used his old one. 

Anyway...the fire truck was fun and Tanner was MAD when I pulled him out of that driver seat!

 

It was an ALL DAY Saturday project (isn't it always?) But along the way something broke on Brother Rogers back hoe so he drove it to the welding shop to have them fix it Monday morning. Every time he stopped (and I'm sure when he was running it too) that thing was leaking fuel like CRAZY. Well...there's more to the story...its coming.
By Sunday Isaac was talking about renting that project house out to a couple in the ward who are kind of in a tight spot. I was fine with that but I don't really know if that's going to happen, and neither does he. It would take a lot of work to get it livable, get the plumbing working and such. Then he mentioned if not rent it out then maybe get a bid to get it torn down.
Anyway we made it to Monday and Cannon was SO EXCITED to wake Colt up for his birthday, what a pal, right?
Spoiled with presents...double check! Among other things both Grandma's got him legos!

We had a "Frosting Roll" for breakfast and we had made it to the day of the Eclipse.

 

Isaac wanted to go for totality because we were so close. Our neighbor Darrin came over and they plotted and planned the best location until even Isaac was like: okay, whatever! (Which if you can over analyze and second guess something more than Isaac...that's saying something.) 98% was really good enough for me but I was sport and went for it. We checked Cannon out of school early and headed south. Well as we were driving we kept seeing people looking out the windows trying to see it, so I grabbed a pair of the glasses and tried it. I said "I can totally see it, the Sun is the shape of the  moon." Isaac's response..."Hold the wheel." But he couldn't really see it, but out plans for where to watch it turned quickly into okay so...next exit? Sounds good and we watched it at some Messianic Temple, with a handful of other people.

As we were pulling in Colt said "Why are we just wandering around?!" And Cannon looked at it for a few seconds then said "This is actually pretty boring." Ha! So he is my kid! These nice ladies gave us some Eclipse Black Cherry Soda...it might have been the kids favorite part.

 

We were there probably a little more than a half hour. But I admit: Totality was pretty dang awesome.  Since we only had to drive less than 2 hours to see it, it was worth it. (I wouldn't have driven crazy distances.) Here is a picture of the sunset in the middle of the day. (For pictures of the Sun look online--they are way better!) But the whole diamond effect or whatever its called was sweet! We also heard that the animals would start acting crazy...well our little animals did!

After that we went Gun shopping. Isaac is a shopper--as in he's going to check out EVERY possibility before he spends any $$ But the boys had SO MUCH FUN, it was Colts birthday, I was game, we topped it off with slushies so why not? Right? My four favorite people, shopp'n it up:

Isaac didn't buy a gun but Cannon did talk him into a little kids size 22. I (aka mom the grinch) put the breaks on that. He is going to have to be a heck of a lot more responsible--and forego all the crap play shooting at each other nonsense first! I am however all for a gun that was a good size and the boys learning to shoot right and be respectful of the weapon and so on.
So we came home empty handed (except for slushies and crazy bread)
I was pondering on Cannon's ability to talk his dad into ANYTHING though. I'm telling you--that birthright son stuff must be ligit. But it made me realize that Cannon, even if he whines, communicates what he wants to his dad--and Isaac does his best to accommodate. But I think I realized I'm not as clear with expectations and what I want (and hopefully a LOT less whiney) but I end up expecting him to know things I want--or don't. But he doesn't know. Anyway, so when the project house came up and if we tore it down and ended up staying here in Kirksville we could just build there....I said "I don't want to live there! Not build, not nothing." To which he replied "Good to know." So (its documented here) but I think it was a really good thing to watch Cannon talk his dad into a .22 and then kind of process the fact that its not that Isaac will do anything Cannon wants and wouldn't do anything I want...it more about clarity of what I want with him.
I think this was an important discovery.
Anyway---back to the week
Traffic was HORRIBLE coming back and we ended up dirt roading it getting around some of the rest of the stand still. Seriously an hour and 50 minute delay on out hour and 45 min drive???? YIKES!
When we got home we got right back to the birthday business and I scrambled to make a cake. What a beaut right? But he loved it, and it was his birthday so good enough. Actually, they ripped those little mini transformers off and played and played and we didn't even cut the cake until the next day.

 

Apparently I shorted him in the sprinkles dept. Ha. 

 

We may have not have cut in until the next day--but the frosting got sampled right away. 

 

And then it was back to school and the routine. I was so excited to have Colt in afternoon preschool so Tanner could come home and nap...I just didn't think about how bad he was going to hate that plan. He and Colt are SO CUTE walking in to preschool together! He has to put his backpack on everyday just like the other boys.  He gets ticked when we take it back off to put him in the car seat. And he HATES getting left out of the school fun and having to come home with boring old mom. 

 

Poor little man...hopefully he gets used to it...because he get so mad nap time hasn't exactly been easy...

 

And he's heck on the bookshelf lately, not because he's mad--just for fun. Little twerp! And if he can't get a page to turn he just tears it. I'm been taping all kinds of books back together. But he's a big shot in the big boy swing!

 

And check out this little Colt man toughy. Didn't even flinch or shed a tear for shots today!!! (He's been so nervous about it too) But right before the nurse came in we made a deal-if he didn't cry I would buy him a book off the little scholastic order forms his teacher sent home. One book for each shot, he got to pick. DONE. After the first shot he said "didn't hurt!" But after the second one he still didn't flinch but he whispered in my ear. "One tine dove huwrt." Cut little stink.

 

And tonight we did the Truman Volleyball free clinic. (Along with going to watch some of Cannon's friends play football.) The boys had fun!  

Oh I almost forgot to finish the backhoe story. They went weld it but couldn't start in because all of the fuel had leaked out. They put more in, it leaked out too. So the welding shop called Isaac and said we can't work on it like this, so Isaac spent ALL of Tuesday night messing with that dumb thing. I guess the fuel tank is rusted out. Who knows. But he tweaked his back working on it. I've put on his socks the last 3 mornings. He was pretty gimped up, especially Wednesday, but luckily he had to get his physical for his CDL Wednesday and every doctor around here is a D.O. So the guy was able to do a little manipulation on him and get him a little bit more straightened out so at least he's on the mend! We think! And the backhoe is just sitting at the welding shop with its gas tank on our front porch. He did mutter something about "something like this always happens" they other day...true...very true. 

Well I'm sure I'll have stories to tell next week too!

1st Grade for Cann man Preschool for Colt

After an hour delay because of the stupid dog, we took off from Huntington last Friday night and had a pretty smooth trip. Sunday I taught sharing time but probably shouldn't have, it was a blur. It was pretty cool here last Monday (59 degrees when I took the garbage out) and I really felt like we had left summer in Utah and come to fall, but then it got all sweaty nasty hot again and I thought oh yeah, humidity-I didn't miss you!

Tuesday we got to meet Colts teacher and Wednesday we met Cannon's teacher. (Colt wouldn't do a picture by himself--or even get very close to Miss Mikki but we are very thankful Myla is in his class!)

Thursday they were off!

We've tried to squeeze in a few park trips with the Tilton's and today Adalyn is hanging out with us. (I love how she calls me Miss Windy) when leaving the park the other day Colt was so excited about this green car and wanted one someday...so he's Isaac kid. 

We also had a back to school shin dig with Isaacs work. The boys love playing with Micheal.

And both big boys got to ride home with dad! Colt started the ride, Cannon finished it.

When I got out my phone to take the first picture Tanner automatically said "cheese" so of course we documented that too (whipped cream face and all)

Whipped cream that day...ranch this day and the Motorcycle helmet cuz he thinks he's a big shot. He keeps me on my toes!

Seems like a busy week but it will be good to get back into a rountine. 

Our Great Summer adventures are wrapping up

Ok-so we had a ton of fun at the get together with Isaacs family last week, and it was so nice of Stacy's parents to let us use there home but I'm not going to lie--there's something very stressful about having my little kids in a multimillion dollar home. We helped clean up the best we could-our biggest help was getting 6 little hands out of there! By time we got to my parents house it was nap time and I breathed a big sigh of relief when we got to my parents...(mistake) Isaac had been up early and went riding motorcycles with Phillip and I got Tanner down we were all tired from staying up so long all week long so the plan was naps. Tanner out-me out-Isaac out-trouble #1 and trouble #2 were smart enough to realize if they were quiet and didn't fight mom and dad would zonk out and not police the naps. When I woke up they had pulled every pillow from my moms house (and there's a lot) into their fort project AND basically emptied her linen closet. I wasn't amused, so much for my sigh of relief! I didn't even take a picture because I was too mad and wanted it cleaned up. (Later when I was telling her about it I regretted not having a picture.) I asked "where did that (a comforter) come from?" They pointed to the top shelf, I was livid "You climbed the shelves?!?!" Cannon answered "No mom I used that stool and gave Colt a piggy back, mom, that's what piggy backs are for!"

Oh brother! 

So they survived that...

Then Grampa came home we ate and visited for a minute then Isaac was tinkering with the motorcycles the boys were playing in the irrigation water-it stunk-they were having a ball and Chip and I were going through some things my Aunt had brought down from my Grama's house. And then it was quiet...too quiet...and it had been for 20+ min....

Oh those little stinkers had completely flooded the sandbox. I was lit! They know better! I did take pictures this time but it was their fast pass to getting to go to bed. They were just being naughty for fun and Cannon just laughed and laughed about it until I swatted his little hiney and he decided I was serious. (Go ahead and call CPS on me it won't be the first time) oh man-what a mess!

Grama has threaten a hundred times that she's going to get rid of the sandbox if they don't stop making messes just to for the sake of making messes...I think its time! I was fuming mad but Grampa made the big mistake when he (innocently) said "You're lucky Grama's not here." Then Colt (Grama's little darling mind you) was so scared of being in trouble by Grama he just wanted to go home before Grama got back. I said "We can't go home we're going to San Diego." He said "Can we go first thing?" Trying to convince him that he wasn't really in trouble with Grama-after he'd totally been in big trouble for doing what Grama has warned them not to do was kind of tough. Naughty or not--look at that grin. This kid was cracking us up.

He knows Grampa is good for a Hershey Kiss (or SEVERAL) if he was quiet...we pretty much knew where to find him. It happened over an over again until we finally put them up high...but it that didn't stop him. He kept producing more. Finally we realized when he's pulled the jar down he'd spilled enough in the chair that he was just going to the chair "refuel"

Sunday we went to Church with Grampa Chip--by after church Grama was back from her adventures at our house. (And she wasn't mad 😉) It was good to see here but it was way too short of a visit!

We ate dinner and hit the road-we we're San Diego bound....along with every other resident of So California that had been to Vegas for the weekend--YIKES! We weren't even to the Nevada California boarder when the freeway turned into a parking lot! That one slow down alone was going to add an hour and a half to our drive according to our phones and who knows how many other slow downs there were soooo we abandoned our plans took the quickest exit we could in the booming town of Jean NV and scored a cheap hotel room at the Goldstrike casino. (The next night at the hotel in San Diego Cannon said "this one smells way better" I totally agreed!) We got up early the next morning and headed west for the beach! Traffic was much better and the boys LOVED the beach! 

Isaac didn't exactly keep track of the details as far as what time his meetings were (we're not really surprised by that though right?) So by time we left the beach we were kinda bust'n to get to the hotel and Isaac get showered--the rest of us went sandy--and get him to his meetings. Typical!

It was harder to get a cute picture of Cannon because I think he loved it the most! He was so a far away and just love'n those waves!

That night we were able to hit the Mormon Battalion museum which was very well done. The boys loved panning for Gold, the "talking pictures" and camp fire smell bonuses. We stayed in "old town" so it was less that s mile from our hotel-that was nice. And being in Old Town we had to go for Mexican food-it was good too

   

 (I'm always teasing Tanner about his "cheese" smile....I have it too. Oh well)

  

 

Tuesday morning it was back to the beach!

   

Tanner LOVED the birds, he had a goldfish he was going to share, he kept tripping chasing them, then he was COVERED in sand and then all of the sudden it was just like it was like Hmm! Fine! I'll eat! And he did--with a big handful of sand!

  

After that we headed to the USS Midway which we expected to love...and it was cool. But since we'd been on the USS Wasp in New Orleans which was an active ship (and free--that was the part I hated the most, once the $$ was spent Isaac said he didn't care I said "I guess I just think you hate spending money." -Which make me more conscious of it-He answered "I do" ...Ok so I wasn't too far off) Anyway it was cool. The kids had fun. But the Wasp was WAY better. 

  

      

We got back to St. George at about 1:00 AM. Hit Lory's pool for our 1 last day there. We even got Isaac to come! Its nice to have him not studying. I got to go to Paula's...now that's tradition! Tanner was sleeping so he stayed home. Cannon of course wouldn't come if his dad wasn't coming. So we grabbed some to go for them. Tanner says--hey, if you're having Mexican, so am I. Or at least that's what I interpreted him climbing up on the table to mean. 

 

That evening we headed up to Ky and Kami's for a little Un-birthday for Colt (we did that when he was almost 1 too--out at the ranch) anyway it was about 15 degrees cooler and and hour in the right direction so it was fun too see everyone in my family. I loved it. Isaac seemed to enjoy himself too-that's always good. (And the boys are dressed in their picture shirts because I tried to get some head shots of them to be able to update the frames on my wall...but I love it, I'd do the twinner look eveyday if I could.)

  

Colt tasting the balloon. Riley right behind him. Yikes. 

  

My brothers (and Grama) kind missed the he doesn't need presents memo. He of course loved it. I had bought some "squeaker" balloons on clearance at Lins for a quarter. Oh boy! Those plus the harmonica--we had a circus--or a band if you ask the kids. I dunno but it was noisy. Ky said "I don't know what I'm sending to Missouri, but I know its going to make a lot of noise!" Ha

  

We had great time and didn't hurry out of there so we didn't get to Emery Co until about 1:00. Isaac had talked about heading out last night for the long drive. I'm so glad we didn't. So much driving! So we'll take off tonight. In the meantime we've done what we do here! Play hard. Tanner even got in on the driving!

  

Cannon's getting pretty brave on the motorcycle...maybe too brave? I swear I saw him catch a little air! He and his dad like to play "Follow the leader."

Isaac's been able to tinker with his motorcycle a little and help his dad on the truck a little so that's been good. The boys got to cut the succor branches-that was their "work" project. They had a good time. 

  

Last night we got a great little treat as we got to meet up with the Neilson's because they were driving through price. It was so fun!!! We met up at a little park, that quickly gave way to the wave pool next door (maybe that was our plan all along...) I loved getting to visit with Annie. I swear its good for my soul! Largely because her life is my life! Blake and Isaac are so similar that I get it, she gets its. We got to be really good friends in Mississippi. I crazy to think back...we only had Ayla and Cannon and they were so little! Well, Tanner's age when we moved there-exactly.