Zip Line!!

Its been a busy week! My Aunt and Uncle came—so fun! We loved having them! 

They had been to Nauvoo and headed our way. We might have interrupted their planned travels but we had a great time and hopefully they’ll come back and hit the church sites west of us another time soon 😊Teresa slipped right into Grama mode and kept bringing the boys goodies every time she went to a store. The loved it!! Above they are playing the Kerplunk game she bought them.  
It was extra fun to have them here for the primary program. 

The boys worked tirelessly to memorize their parts for the primary program. Cannons teacher had bribed him with Skirtles and I told Colt I would match that deal. Well as it turned out A different teacher was the one standing there helping the kids and as soon as she pointed to Cannons spot on the program he looked down and never looked up again. Read the whole darn thing! I was bummed because he knew it so well. But oh well. His teacher let him do it in class and still have him skittles—nicer than me! Colt had extended his part (several times it was SO CUTE watching his little testimony shining through) well when it came to the program he was line up with all the other kids in his class and the teacher said one line and then they repeated it so Colt just followed suit. But afterward he was so upset-I turned to Isaac and said “he’s going to cry” so we waved him down to the bench and tried to setttle him down. He wanted me to ask the primary president if he could do his part again I told him I couldn’t but he could. He wasn’t so sure but as he slid past me and mumbled his request to Isaac, Isaac said “oh sure” of course. I didn’t know how he was going to pull it off but he did. He text the primary Pres but-I’ve been there. I knew it wouldn’t work-no Way would she have her phone it’s the worst stress Sunday of her year. But he had a back up plan he text Colts teacher and asked him to let the primary Pres know that Colt had more and did she think she could squeeze him in? Then he waited until his teacher looked up and he wiggles his phone at him. So Josh (Colts teacher who is FANTASTIC by the way) reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone and read the text then let the primary Pres who was behind him know. She was awesome and I saw her talking to Colt about it then just before one of the songs she got up and said “Colt went above and beyond and prepared more than his part, I didn’t give him a chance so he’s going to share it now.”  And Colt stepped up and NAILED IT. It was so cute. And I was so grateful his primary teachers for making it work for him because I wasn’t sure what I was going to do to help him feel better-he had worked so hard. 

Happily it all worked out :) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7_mYkgKUbA

And the zip line! The latest all consuming project gets its maiden voyage. Tuesday I had Cannon and his friends playing basketball, when I got back to my phone I found this text. Ha! 

The story was he ended up just having to drop. And his pulley was still up there...


This pic is a later run but it shows where he dropped from —-and then how we got the pulley back

But the it was pretty much bring on the fun. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RscEdC-CdBY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqWmOQucXro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZlVY_iM4-A

obviously this was the big event of the week but I had a few more pics—

A birthday party for a little boy in our ward. I love getting to visit with our ward friend, some I just don’t get to see anymore because I’m not in primary. 

Isaac was working on the windows...we just had to get that zipline up first 😉 the Pettit’s offered to tend Thursday so we had a little paint date and painted trim. 

Cutest church cleaners around 

And I’m running out of time on costumes...this might be as good as it gets for Mr Cosmo. 

I’m sure there’s more to tell, but I can’t remember...

We headed to Nauvoo for Stake Conference and found out as we rolled into town that it was the Scarecrow festival...the boys had fun with that. We dropped Isaac off at his meeting then walked the main street at took pics.

 

After that we made our usual stop at the family living center and even Tanner is getting in on the rope making these days! Cannon practiced his part for the primary program for missionary at the bread station to work her for an extra piece of bread (ha) but it was a good thing because while our plan had been to grab a late lunch Pizza, they didn't open until 4 and while we had rice crispy treat and such--we were getting hungry!

 

After we picked the Pizza and Isaac up we headed back to the condo. Isaac kept saying "Historic Nauvoo, and all you guys want to do is sit in front of the TV" but he too was glued to something they found on the history channel. That smile is because I got caught getting my phone out to take a picture. Before it was eyes glued, mouth hanging slightly open. HA.  The 3 TVs were the hit for the boys though-hands down.

I confess coming back from the Adult session (oh the Williams boys tended ours during that and our kids LOVE them so it was perfect. Treats. TV. Teagan and Andrew...they were sold) but I loved getting to lay in bed and watch the BYU game after that evening session too. I thought...yeah...its probably a good thing we don't have TV!
Both sessions we were were back on the hard chairs, it was certainly no picnic with the boys Sunday but the best thing was KNOWING we would be able to hear. There is so much connection trouble when they broadcast it to Kirksville. I really liked going over-hopefully we'll do it again! After Sundays session we were helping pick up chairs and the boys were awesome helpers. But Colt was running around and ended up on the wrong end of a chair leg being lifted up to hang on the rack. It was rough. One of those cries where I was like...oh that's not a fight-that's hurt! But the smile later was a good one and he decided the shiner was okay because his favorite pup on paw patrol has one eye that is black.

The road in Alexandria was washed out so we had to go up around a longer way, well the boys saw this train on the way but we were busting it to get to Isaac's meeting so on the way back we let them stop and check it out. They loved it. They want to go that way every time. Not happening.

This week I had to get a picture of how I survive self checkout at walmart with Tanner. Let him "Shoot" all the things were are buying. It works pretty good and keeps him from picking up the treats nearby!

Colts school skipped the corn maze this year and had a little activity at the school. My boys loved the goats, no surprise.

There are actually more pictures I was kind of excited about. I had PTC with Colts teacher and she showed me out to actually use the app I downloaded for her class, it was great, she puts pictures lots of things they do in class on there. Now I'll just have to remember to check it-and get them off.
This next pic...just the daily battle around here. I think Tanner's in his underwear because it was close to tubby time...lets go with that anyway! Then below Tanner and Isaac were getting some wood. I think the plan is to actually get a truck load today. Isaac's been pretty into that darn stove project, but it will be good to have an alternative head source if he can get it working (I think he might want to be the main source...either way-whatever) He didn't have to work Thursday or Friday and that was very much his focus. Well, that and the zip line. I didn't waste my time buying -or finding our old- smoke alarms because it always smells super smokey but I did buy a carbon monoxide monitor!

I told the kids I would take them to Lego day at the library again, they had a blast, the trick is just remembering when the 3rd Thursday is. I loved this top picture where they wouldn't even look up and Tanner is "reading" in the background. HA. but they were pretty serious about building a lego "Titanic"

Complete with an iceberg, rescue ship, and life boats!
Then it Homecoming for the high school. Its a big deal in this little town. The parade was really fun and we ended up standing by the Moodys so I had a great time visiting with Michelle.

We actually went to the game too, but it was a little cold so we bailed, and listened to them blow it on the radio instead. Bummer.
Anyway--I think that's about it.

Oh man it’s blog night and I haven’t thought about it at all, I guess we’ll see what the story the pictures tell...

Oh yeah, it was Home Depot day, then conference. It seems like we’re always trying to bust it home from HD in time for conference but we made it. 

Much to the boys disappointment I didn’t do “fun bags” this go around. But we usually have good treats around here at conference time. I can’t remember what we made and Cannon said “oh yeah we always have good stuff at conference” that’s the idea buddy-listen to the good stuff, eat the good stuff 😉 they were also big fans of the Halloween sour patch kids-whatever it takes-

I bought a little bracelet maker thing that you could put their name in it, or Cann wanted one that said BYU that type of thing I thought would keep them busy-Colts my craft man. But holy cow, it was way too hard! It kept me busy until I quit! So that plan was a flop! Saturday’s second session or maybe it was Sunday morning but we did get the conference train up! That was good, Colt was a great helper! 

Conference was good-big announcements. I especially liked the women’s session. (I told Isaac a Facebook fast was easy but I didn’t know how he was going to keep me from shopping online. Ha! I really haven’t bought anything—but I’ve shopped😉) 

Monday we hung out with the Tilton’s again. It’s a busy time for them and pretty easy for us to cash in som play time so we’re happy to help out. Tuesday we did basketball again, pretty fun! I have pics but...Tanner took them sooo-ha! They all look about like this: 

And...Should I admit to being sore from it? Probably not but dang-truth-I don’t a lot of that stuff anymore!

Wednesday Cannon got to go on a play date after school to our friend Daxton’s house. He had a BLAST but boy did his brothers miss him! These two are usually pretty good buddies too though, here they decided to ride the stuffed animals like a horse???? That’s what I was told they were doing. Whatever! 

Tanne selfies...I find them often...that’s just a mischievous look in his eye and you might not be able to see it but it accompanied by a grin-guaranteed. 

Thursday was more Tilton time and today we just puttered, but tonight we I went to the grocery store and Isaac took the boys to the gym to get some energy out. I came back to this: 

They’re so funny. No wonder the big boys crashed and Tanner is still awake-we was just relax’n. No ifvthe truth be told it was all Cannon could do to convince him to get on, but he obviously caved. Ha! 
Tomorrow we’re headed to Nauvoo for stake conf, we’ve never stayed over before so I’m sure adventure awaits! 

Hot Nacho

I mentioned last week that the boys had found Isaac‘s old iPod, well they’ve been listening to that song about “gotta have fiddle in the band” anyways they thought the part where it says “cotton eye Joe” said “hot nacho” so when they sing that at the top of their lungs it’s one of my favorite things right now. 

...I still want to get a movie of it, but I don’t know if they’ll go for it. 

Let’s see, the week: 

Saturday I went to stake women’s conference over in Nauvoo. I had a good time but I came home to this!!!

Ummm that’s a 28 ft homemade ladder they built while I was gone! Ah! I’m not so much afraid of someone getting hurt (that’s a given!) but somebody could fall off that thing and Die! He assures me...well tries to that they will have a rope and a harness and it will be safe, but I argue it’s there now, and not safe. Anyway-it’s off limits. Phew.

I was tempted to send the picture to his family group text message app with the plea “Can someone with more influence than me convince him this isn’t safe?!” But then I thought about his brothers (well Nathan in particular) and that’s just going to put more people on not my side of that debate. 😂 So then I thought about our friend Jeff who teaches law and that maybe he could convince him of the liabilities of having that on our property...and in the end I did nothing. 

Saturday after being gone all day I didn’t really have plans for dinner so I asked Isaac if he wanted ____. Can’t remember but he said “No” and I asked “well what do you want?” And he said “Mexican” And we went out. That NEVER happens but it was AWESOME!!!

Sunday was uneventful but that was fine especially after last week. Monday we had dentist appointments. Tuesday and Thursday we got to hang out with the Tilton’s 

Oh it looks like I didn’t get any pics but Tuesday was also a much anticipated play date with Lani—Tan was in heaven!

I had asked Isaac to call the Chimney sweep if he really intended to use the stove downstairs but instead he barrowed a brush from Bro Chace and bought more poles for it. 

Fiercely independent-stubborn-cheap...probably all of the above. Hours later he is still not done- it was/is so bad! Clear clear full. It stinks like crazy, is nasty and wet because we don’t have a cap (ordered one though) 

What a mess. 

We played basketball with the boys Cann’s age on Wed, he did great and I love slipping into that Coach mode for a few minutes. It’s so fun for me! Today I ordered a hoop, we’re (Isaac)  going to try to build one of those contraptions that hook on the backboard over the standard rim and lower the rim. The 10 ft rims are just too high!  Sometimes that fiercely independent -stubborn -and cheap comes in really handy 😉 those little suckers $500 bucks a pop. And we’re not that committed yet. 

Let’s see, what else?

Today it was back to the dentist to get a cavity filled for Cann. We’re losing daylight quick these days but the boys love to jump or ride bikes or anything with Isaac when he gets home. We’re excited for conference! 

Bout it!