Memorial Day

On Memorial Day, we kept up with the American tradition of grilling and having a picnic. We were also looking for an excuse to break in our new pool so the timing and weather was perfect! We had about 5 families over that were friends we had made back in Maryland during medical school over 10 years ago (plus a couple more families that we just love). And now we are all together in Vegas that many years later. With 7 families, that means about 30 children and it is so much fun to see how much the kids have changed and grown. Ten years ago, most of us were just starting our families with 1 or 2 little ones but now that we're at the end of building our families, we all have 3-5 children each. That makes for a pretty wet, wild, and fun party!

Melissa and Drew with baby Ella

Jared and Geneva

Marquessa and Missy (both "single" at the time of photo)

Jen ("single" at the time of photo) and Kevin and Von

Mine

The food was delicious since everyone pitched in with their favorites--lots of yummy salads, fresh fruit, chips, seasoned potatoes, grilled mushrooms, hamburgers and hot dogs, ice cream and popsicles, cookies, and plenty to drink. It was a great day to relax, take in some sun, and watch the children splash and play until we (I mean, they) couldn't take it anymore.

Katelyn and Mia

Carlee

Jared was throwing the kids into the pool from as high as he could. The kids would keep lining up for their turn. I'm glad he's strong enough because he threw each kid in about 10 times each!

Hot Tub Capacity: 1 adult (Joe) and 16 kids (at one point)

Beach babes showing off their muscles

(The kids would not slow down for any good pictures. They were groaning about stopping to line up for these. It lasted about 2 minutes before they all pushed each other in and started right where they left off.)

Lots of happy and wet kids

Aubrey, Morgan, Savannah, Mckinzie, Aliyah, Ammon, Jake C., Hanna, Mia, Jake S., Katelyn, Jaxon, Aspen, Liam, Jacob, Clark, Carter, Wesley, Carlee, and Cole
(Missing: Ainsley, Cole, Joshy, Brock, Luke, Ella, Megan, and Alina)

Yard Improvements

One of the best things that made our home worth waiting for was the yard. It is just over 1/4 acre, which is pretty large for our area of town. It also came with some grass and a sport court. The only tricky thing about it is that the house is turned sideways on the lot (parallel to the road instead of kiddie-corner) so we have both a rectangular backyard and side yard. The side yard was seen at the end of our driveway and had a patch of artificial grass in the middle so it was supposed to look like a front yard. We decided to add a wall with gates at the end of the driveway so that we can park things in the back and have backyard access. We also decided to put in a pool. It is so hot here that the kids really can't play outside unless they are submerged in water. A pool is the best idea for exercise and playing in the summertime. So the improvements began in April and just finished this week. It looks amazing and we are so happy with the results!

The grass area before it got ripped up

The pool and spa outline

Jesse, our digger, getting a little help from Carlee

The steel frame of the pool

Shooting the gunnite cement that will harden to make the pool

Tiled, cemented and waiting for the plaster and spray decking

Completed and filling up!

The finished product


Plants around the pool and sport court

The pathway from the patio to the grass on the side of the house

Our grassy area for playtime

The gates at the end of the driveway

Steps leading to the front door so our visitors
don't have to leap over the bushes out front

Scissors

Carlee has been a little obsessed with scissors lately. I have caught her several times cutting paper into millions of tiny pieces, trying to give her dolls a haircut, and "helping" me cut out a quilt. I have explained to her that she needs to use scissors only with me next to her. She has been really good about asking permission first before just starting on her own cutting project. And since she has been so good and obedient with the scissors, I have felt some relief in knowing that I have made it through 4 children without any of them giving themselves their own "haircut." I thought too soon . . .

About a week ago, Carlee and I went to get haircuts. I'm trying to grow mine out so I've had to cut it even shorter to get ride of the A-line, make it even and look more subtle as it grows. Carlee has never had a professional haircut and it was time. I have always been able to trim her hair but she is too wiggly so I thought she might do better with someone else doing it. Boy, was I wrong!

She loved asking questions about all the tools and supplies. The stylist would turn her head a certain angle so that she could trim it but then Carlee would turn it the other way or ask if that was the right way while giggling. I had to hold her head still while her hair was being cut.

At the end of her haircut, I talked to the stylist about cutting bangs for her. Carlee has a cowlick up front and just off-center on her forehead. Carlee said that she didn't want bangs and so we just settled with trimming her hair to keep it healthy and long.

Two days after our haircuts, she woke up and came into my room, climbing in my bed saying hello and to snuggle a bit before getting ready for the day. I groggily looked at her and it seemed like she had some bangs across her forehead. I wasn't sure since I didn't have my contacts in and I had just woken up, so I just shook it off. After I woke up and was ready to start breakfast, Carlee came downstairs and she did have real bangs! I took a closer look and on one side of her face, a piece of hair was shorter than the other and there were straight bangs across her forehead!

Me (calmly): "Did you cut your hair?"
Carlee: "Yes."
Me: "Where are the scissors you used?"
Carlee: "They're upstairs. The blue ones."
Me: "Where were you when you cut your hair?"
Carlee: "I was in my room with the door shut."
Me (trying not to laugh): "You knew that was naughty and that's why you shut your door, huh?"
Carlee (with a sad face): "Yes."
Me: "Where is the hair that you cut?"
Carlee: "In my garbage can."

Carlee and I walked up to her room and sure enough, there was her cute blonde hair in the trash can. I told her that I was sad that she cut her hair and reminded her again that she is not supposed to use scissors without Mommy. She replied that she didn't cut any Barbie's hair or any fabric and that she wanted bangs like me. We had another discussion about scissors and when to use them and she said she was sorry and wouldn't do it again. (We'll see . . .)

As a side note and very luckily, she did a fabulous job by just cutting her hair at her eyebrow. Most kids cut hair chunks all the way up to the scalp but she had cut her own perfect bangs right above her eyes. They were just a little uneven so it was easy for me to trim the one side to even it out. I must admit, she looks pretty darn cute and her cowlick isn't seen or hard to comb around. Plus, she's not constantly brushing her hair out of her eyes. I guess if she is going to be naughty, it's better to look cute afterwards for easier forgiveness.

Conversations in the Car

As a mother, I get to spend a lot of time in the car driving my children to school, scouts, Broadway kids, soccer practice, baseball practice, activity days, and after school play rehearsals along with my own errands of helping our family function. Being a constant chauffeur also makes it look like we live out of our car with all the clothes, shoes, sports bags, toys for entertainment, water bottles, camping chairs, snacks and emergency supplies. Although it can get very tedious and I feel like I'm constantly in the car, driving children around also includes some of my favorite moments because of the conversations that go on.

One such conversation happened while I was driving Jake's kindergarten carpool. They began discussing families and where they came from:

Gavin: "Sky, your mom is half-Hawaiian and your dad is half-United States ;)."
Skyler: "No, my dad is half-Hawaiian and my mom is half-American because she has blonde hair."
Gavin: "Oh, that's right. Your dad is from Hawaii. I am just American because my mom and dad have brownish-red hair."
Jake: "You guys! You guys! Guess what? I am half-Elf and half-human!"
Skyler: "Jake, you're half-Elf???"
Jake: "Yes, because I have a pointed ear on the top. See?"
Gavin: "So who is half-Elf? Your mom or your dad?"
Jake: "Mom, who is half-Elf? You or Dad?"
Me (while trying extremely hard to stifle my laughter): "Definitely Dad, Jake!"
(Although I wouldn't mind some magical elf powers!)

Another conversation happened right after dropping them off. Carlee and Jake started talking about getting married and having boyfriends/girlfriends.

Jake: "Carlee, who is your boyfriend? Luke? Joshy? John?"
Carlee: "All of them. I like 3 boys."
Jake (giggling): "You like 3 boys? You can only marry one. Who will you marry?"
Carlee: "I don't know yet. I have to wait until I'm big."
Jake: "Yeah, you have to be big like Mom and then you can have a husband."
Carlee: "That's right. When I'm big like Mom. Who is your girlfriend, Jake?"
Jake: "I don't know yet. I haven't found the perfect woman for me to marry. I'm still looking for her."
Carlee: "Oh."
Jake: "Mom, was Dad the perfect boy to marry?"
Me: "Yup, he was, but I had to like lots of boys and date them before I found Dad. When you get home from your mission, you can date lots of girls and then you'll find the perfect one to get married to."
Jake: "I hope so, Mom. It's hard finding the perfect woman."

The best conversations happen in the car when there is undivided attention and no distractions. Some are serious with intense questions and honest answers. Some are silly with funny comments, jokes and teasing, and lots of laughs. Some rides include family games and karaoke at the top of our lungs. Some rides have independent children doing their own thing and other rides include a good ol' movie that everyone enjoys. There are rides with family planning meetings discussing future trips and goals, and there are those completely silent rides with children sound asleep with crooked heads, slumped bodies, and mouths hanging completely open in exhaustion. Whatever ride we take, I'm glad that I get to participate. It brings me a lot of joy to be there whenever they need me, to always capture the special "moments", and to drive them to and from wherever they need to go. I love seeing their waves and blown kisses goodbye and I love their silly faces or big grins when they see me pick them up. It makes me happy to just drive.

Titanic and Bodies

Last weekend Grandma and Grandpa Stuart came down for a few days. They drove down on Friday so that Grandpa could go to the Father and Sons Campout on Friday night with the boys. Grandma, the girls, and I went to Sammy's for yummy pizza and salad, headed next door for ice cream sundaes and a pool party, and then home for a chick flick.

Early Saturday morning we went to Jake and Katelyn's soccer games and then headed downtown to see the Titanic and Bodies exhibitions at the Luxor Hotel. Clark went to Titanic on a school field trip and has been talking about it nonstop so we went with his plan and enjoyed both after lunch at the Luxor. The exhibitions were very interesting and the kids really enjoyed it. I thought that they would be grossed out by Bodies but they learned a lot from it. That evening, we sat in the crazy cold wind and watched one of Clark's playoff baseball games, which they won.

Sunday, we all watched the movie of Titanic and the kids really got into that as well. It was fun for them to understand the story of the ship and its history even more. It was a great weekend.

Pinewood Derby

This year's Pinewood Derby was especially competitive for Clark since it is his last one and he didn't participate last year with Joe being deployed. He was determined to win First Place and have the fastest car. A couple of weeks ago, Clark asked Joe if he had ever won a Pinewood Derby. Joe replied yes and Clark asked what color his winning car was. Joe said that it was blue and black so those were the paint colors that Clark chose. They spent several nights before the competition cutting, sanding, painting, weighing, etc. to create the perfect winning car.

Before the race began, the scoutmaster handed out some awards. Clark received three and is on his way to earning his Webelo award.

After the awards were given and an arrow of light was presented, the derby began. The race track was pretty high-tech in that it was hooked up to a computer and had a timer/scoreboard at the end of the track. All of the competitor's names were entered and the computer would randomly put them in heats to race. Each heat included cars from the Webelos, Bears, and Wolves dens along with the Unlimited Class racers. Clark's car won each heat but for some reason, he took 5th place overall. He was pretty disappointed, but decided that he would just "learn from his mistakes and help make the best racecar ever for Jake when he gets into scouts!" All in all, the boys just enjoyed building a car and racing each other for the finish line. At least we have a couple more years to prepare the perfect winning car before Jake gets in there!

The First Race:
Brother Eckersley lining up "The Brick" from the Unlimited Class.
Clark's "The Bruiser" is in the middle.

The Bruiser goes on to First Place!

The second race:
The Bruiser continues to First Place

Two brothers, jumping and cheering

Best buds--Clark and Carter

Best buds--
Mitchell with "The Hammerhead" and Clark with "The Bruiser"

Brian Regan

Friday night was spent at the Tuacahn Ampitheater in St. George seeing a great comedian, Brian Regan. Our friends, Marquessa and Melissa, planned the evening a few months ago and invited us to go. Always wanting to hang with friends and have a date night at the same time, we jumped at the chance.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Anasazi Steakhouse where they bring out your "medium-rare" steak on a stone that is 700 degrees. You then cut off the pieces and cook them to your liking. Every bite is hot and juicy. It was delicious and the experience was so fun. Unfortunately we didn't have enough time for the chocolate fondue dessert but the meal was fabulous.

We drove out to Tuacahn and enjoyed a great show. He was really funny and my cheeks hurt from laughing so much. My favorite parts were his jokes about experiences with his own kids. They were the funniest because we have been through the same ones and said the same thing over and over.

After the show, we headed to Iceberg for delicious, gigantic milkshakes. It was a fun night and we enjoyed everything about it. Our next plan is to make it a family affair and see Tarzan!

Gilcrease Bird Sanctuary

Carlee and I got to go with Jake's Kindergarten class on a field trip to the Gilcrease Bird Sanctuary. His class had taken care of some eggs around Easter time and they finally hatched into 6 baby chicks! They named the chicks Mario, Luigi, Rocky, Marshmallow, Red, and Fluffy. When they were old enough, the class took them to the bird sanctuary where they would live permanently.

Jake was so excited to ride the bus and take a sack lunch to eat on the pavilion.

There were many different birds to see and animals to pet--llamas, pigs, ponies, goats, donkeys, and sheep.

I love being able to take Carlee on field trips because Jake is such a good big brother to her and he loves to show her off to his classmates. So cute!

They even got to climb up on the haystacks and measure the height of the corn.