The Grover Family

Inspirational Thought of the Day

2012-01-12T21:58:00.001-08:00

Happy 30th (gulp) Birthday to Me!

2012-01-12T21:22:00.000-08:00

Thirty. Three - zero. The Big Three-Oh. As in not twenty something any more. As in half way to sixty. Midlife you could say. Who me?! Grey-haired, wrinkled-under-the-eyes, sweat-suit-wearing, mother-of-four (almost), minivan-driving, mortgage-paying, dinner-by-5 and bed-by-11? Yep, thats me--glamorous and exciting thirty-year-old me! But really, aside from the astronomically HUGE number, I don't think 30 is so bad. What 30 lacks in the wild, carefree, spontaneity of the 20s, it makes up for in a feeling of self-discovery, inner-contentment, and maybe even maturity. I feel more at peace with who I am, what I am, what I believe, what my purpose is, and where I am going than I have ever before experienced. Clarity. It feels good! Now if I could figure out how to have that itty-bitty, firm, tanned little bikini body of ten years ago, combined with the emotional/spiritual stability I feel I'm just now beginning to enjoy--that would be the best of both worlds!

Spent the birthday morning at the urgent care clinic with my wheezy, asthmatic Maxy. See? Glamorous.

I felt so guilty for traumatizing Max at the doctor's office that we stopped by the bakery to grab these little cupcakes. Ha! I can still be spontaneous!

Aaron, I love you to bits, but don't ever go into the party-planning business. The night before my birthday, Aaron apologetically confessed that he hadn't made any plans for my birthday celebration. Luckily for us both, my expectations were relatively low--and, I am a planner! So, we left the boys with Nana and Papa (thank you!) and spent the evening doing two of my favorite things: shopping and eating! Being that I am in semi-denial about my seven-month prego state, the shopping wasn't the most successful. But, I did get to spend an evening out with the man I love the very most, I felt very special and very loved, and thats what counts. And, just so you know, honey, I'm taking a raincheck on that shopping spree ;)

Long Overdue

2012-01-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

Due to a combination of moving/disorganization, and, well....laziness....I'm just now getting around to updating the blog with all of the latest and greatest. So, whats new with these guys?

Hank:
Hank has been the biggest helper lately! Its awesome! He carried his fair share of boxes on moving day and has been great about helping me get things organized. It makes me so happy when he tells me that he loves our new house...I'm not surprised; he'd probably be just as happy living in a tent if it had a trampoline in the backyard and his grandparents in the basement. I am just beaming I am so proud of Hank for how well he is doing in his new Kindergarten class. I walked him to his class on his first day of school and he just joined right in, gave me a big hug, smiled, and waved goodbye to me as I left. In just the few days he has been in school here, the lightbulb seems to have turned on and he has figured out how to read! Its so exciting! Lately, Hank loves to play board games, build with his Lego sets, and is really loving having some cousins to play with.

Max:
Although I'm not sure how much of this whole moving thing Max understands, he's just been happy to be along for the ride. He hasn't asked for much of an explanation for anything...where are we? why is dad home so much lately? why is everything different? He knows that we're together, and thats enough for him! Max started sunbeams last week--and loved it! Since Max was the clingy-est kid in nursery, I was prepared for a separation meltdown, but he loved Primary! Max is so happy to be surrounded by his family and his grandparents and is the perfect little buddy: helping me throw laundry into the washer, helping dad take garbage outside, watching a movie with Nana, or helping Papa with a project. Max's favorite things to do right now include playing with play-doh and his garbage truck collection.

Ben:
This little boy has been enjoying his vacation from therapy, but still hasn't stopped going, going, going. With the placement of a few strategic gates, Ben is enjoying free reign of the house, pulling up onto furniture and cruising, getting into drawers and tipping over boxes, and, just the other day, learning how to climb stairs! So proud of this boy! Don't worry, the vacation is over, and Ben is going back to work, starting therapy next week. I will say, when I took Ben to nursery in our new ward, I actually had a few tears, thinking of our special Orting Ward family and all of the love that they shared for Ben. I know it won't take Ben long to warm the hearts of all of his new friends here...you just can't help falling in love with this boy!

Welcome to Utah!

2012-01-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

The boys were excited to test-drive their new Christmas snow-suits when we finally got a little snow this weekend. The snow didn't stay for long in this beautiful sunny weather, but I'm sure we'll have plenty of chances to play in the snow all winter long.

Resolutions

2012-01-10T13:55:00.000-08:00

Rather than making resolutions that we forget in two weeks and never keep, our family has begun a tradition of selecting one scripture to memorize and recite each day as a family for the entire year. Last year we chose Philippians 4:13 "I can do I things through Christ which strengtheneth me." The boys memorized the scripture, we recited it together each night before family prayer, and I know it definately helped me to feel uplifted and focused, each and every day, all year long.

This year, we picked Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." This scripture captures my resolution for 2012 perfectly: to trust the Lord in all things and pray for Him to reveal the next step in our journey. Can't wait to see all of the GOOD things that He has in store for our family this year!

Bringing in the New Year

2012-01-10T13:44:00.000-08:00

Having just unloaded a mountain size worth of boxes, and still feeling a bit overwhelmed, we decided to keep our New Year's Eve celebrations low key this year. We joined our Utah cousins for a get-together at Aunt Bonnie's house (so nice to have cousins to play with any family nearby! Thanks for all the moving help, Hinkleys!) and then came back home and invited some good friends over for homemade icecream. We had good intentions of spending the night playing games with our friends, but the kids didn't cooperate with our plans, so we wished them a Happy New Year, put our boys to bed, and Aaron and I capped off the night with a bottle of Martinelli's and a movie.

Cheers to a Happy 2012!

Utah or Bust!

2012-01-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

The day after Christmas, we said goodbye to Nana and Papa Z, goodbye to the great Northwest, and headed out on our journey to our new home: Utah! Considering the fact that we spent 15 hours of driving time in a very cramped (see below) van, I was amazed at how well the boys did on our road trip. Hank and Max watched movie after movie and were kept content with a disgusting amount of gas station goodies, while Ben mostly snoozed the whole way.

Moving. It was total madness. End of story. Goodbye.

Unloading, hauling, and unpacking three 28 foot trailers full of boxes, pianos, furniture, and equipment in just two days. Sheesh! I was exhausted just watching the whole process from the sidelines!

A week and a half later and our house is beginning to feel operational, but we still have walls to paint, pictures to hang, closets to organize, and furniture to buy (ok, Aaron, if I must ;)

In one of our more adventurous (if not down right crazy) decisions, we bought our house in Utah sight unseen! Definately not my recommended home-purchasing method, but we did what we had to do, and I think our new house is starting to feel like Home Sweet Home!

Christmas Memories

2012-01-10T13:17:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve:
We spent our Christmas at Nana and Papa Z's house, joined by Uncle Adam and Aunt Brittany. Christmas Eve was a glorious day of relaxation, feasting and indulgence, and family time. Though perhaps a little untraditional, we began Christmas Eve at the bouncy house, knowing that the boys would go bananas if they didn't drain a little energy. Afterwards, the preparations for the feast began, and since there really was no good reason to hold off on partaking of our feast--we didn't! Luckily for me, I take the "eating for two" expression literally, so I ate my helping and this baby's helping of goodies. While the boys worked on a gingerbread house, last minute gifts were wrapped. We played games, the boys performed Christmas songs that we had been practicing together all week, the Christmas story was read, and then....Presents! As a compromise of our competing family traditions, the boys opened their gifts from each other and from Nana and Papa Z, having to wait until Christmas morning to open the gifts from Mom and Dad and Santa Claus.

Christmas Day:
The boys woke up on Christmas morning to find that Santa had left them exactly what they had each asked for: a Lightening McQueen scooter (Hank) and a new garbage truck (Max). Max was so happy with his garbage truck, he didn't have any interest in opening his other gifts, and was very annoyed at having to be bothered with unwrapping his other presents. Hank took the upwrap-first-assess-later approach and tore through his presents hardly stopping to discover what he'd received. Needless to say, they were very spoiled, and very happy. Hank's favorite present was his Lego Trio building set; Max most enjoyed his Pizza Playdough; and Ben was just happy to be in the mix.

Ben modeling his new firetruck jammies!

Max so happy that he hugged his new toy.

These pictures were taken, and this post is written, in the hopes of preserving our family memories during our Christmas celebration. But if the boys don't remember a single gift that they received, a single toy that Santa brought, I hope that they will remember that little baby that was born in a manger long ago, who offers us the greatest gift of all, eternal life through His great Atonement.

Roseburg Fun

2012-01-10T12:46:00.000-08:00

While I wouldn't really call the past few months a "vacation," per se, it has been FABULOUS to have Aaron at home. Except for the lack of income part, I could really get used to having Aaron around! During the week before Christmas that we spent together at Nana and Papa Z's house in Roseburg, we took the boys to the bouncy place/art center, went bowling and to the arcade, went shopping and ate lunch at Mickey D's (well, its a treat for the boys, anyway), visited the animals at the wildlife safari, played Bingo most every night, tortured (I mean "played") with my parent's little dog, played with Nana and Papa Z, worked on Christmas projects, baked treats, went to the park--even in the freezing cold, watched the Adventures of Tin Tin at the movie theatre, wrestled with Uncle Adam, and built a gingerbread house with Aunt Brittany. Boy, its going to be such a let down for the boys when Aaron goes back to work, we return to our everyday normal routine, and the boys are stuck with me!

Jolly Old St. Nick

2011-12-20T22:51:00.000-08:00

If you don't look super close, it almost looks like Ben is really enjoying himself on Santa's knee and just laughing it up, right? Wrong-o! As soon as I placed Ben on Santa's lap, Ben instantly burst into tears. Initially, I tried to distract him with a game of "peek-a-boo" but he quickly launched into full on blue-in-the-face meltdown mode, so I knew there was no hope of getting a photo of three smiling boys. I had the photographer take the picture quickly, and then rescued poor Ben. Two out of three--close enough:)

"She's a beaut, Clark!"

2011-12-20T22:44:00.000-08:00

I'm just going to go ahead and say it. It's a sad, sad little Christmas tree...if you can call it that. Sorry, Mom, but it's the truth. When we told the boys on Sunday that we were going to decorate the Christmas tree, I think they were a little confused when, instead of heading to the farm, tromping through the forrest, and chopping down our beautiful twelve-foot live noble, Aaron brought down a small dusty box from the storage room and proceeded to pull out a crumpled, artificial "tree." Looking at the boys' puzzled expressions while Aaron "built" our tree, and then exclaimed, "She's a beaut, Clark!" (name that movie), I literally burst into hysterical laughter. But, you know what? For the first time ever, I think the boys really did have a great time decorating the tree! Since I couldn't care less about styling the tree just right or making it look just so, we just let the boys go to town with it and decorate it as they please. Put a third ornament on that same branch? Sure! Go ahead. Now I'm not saying I'm going to convert to the artificial tree and let the boys go willy-nilly with tinsel any time again soon, but maybe next year I won't get quite so caught up in making the tree just so, and let the boys join in on the decorating fun, too.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-12-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

Christmas may be my very most favorite time of the year...the much anticipated trip to the tree farm to cut down our tree followed by a family tree-trimming party, decking our house with Christmas decorations inside and sparkling lights outside, and all the cozy nights enjoying family time, creating memories and enjoying traditions. Well...being that we're entirely homeless this month (visiting our Nana and Papa before we make our way to Utah), all of our possessions are currently being stored in a trailer 1000 miles away, Aaron spent the past three weeks out of town (leaving the boys and I to make our own fun), and the flu bug has already circulated once...this hasn't been the most traditional of Christmases. Bound and determined to make this Christmas-time special, despite our unique circumstances, the boys and I have been busy all month long with Christmas festivities:

What would Christmas be without baking? The boys got to help their Nana Grover make Christmas sugar cookies--good practice for our day 'o baking soon to come!

Our family was visited this year by one of Santa's elves, whom we named Donald. Donald has the special job of watching the happenings around the house all day long, and then reporting back to the North Pole at night to help Santa determine whether or not the boys make it on the "Nice List." Each morning, we find that Donald has been up to some little antics while we've been sleeping: snacking on milk and cookies, reading Christmas books, or riding the kids' train.

Here is one of the many little Christmas craft projects the boys and I have been working on together: handprint-reindeer that we mailed to my grandparents for Christmas cards. I'm going to turn those boys into crafters whether they like it or not! Right now, its looking like not.

We cap off most nights with a little treat (brownie sundaes are the favorite) and a family game of Uno or Bingo.

We are soooo happy to have Daddy back home!

A few other fun things we've been up to:

Carroling - Hank and Max LOVED going carroling!
Christmas parties
Polar Express Party with our best buddies....miss you guys already!
Making snowflakes and painting homemade ornaments
Service Project
Reading Christmas stories every night before bed
Watching Christmas movies - makes me laugh to hear the boys quote "Home Alone"

Ironically, I anticipated that I was going to have to work extra hard to make this Christmas special and create that magical Christmas spirit since we are without our home, our tree, and our belongings...but, it turns out, maybe Christmas isn't about any of those things after all! The perfect Christmas means simply being with the ones you love most, and that is what makes this my most favorite time of the year.

Hank's First School Pictures - Kindergarten 2011

2011-12-19T22:55:00.000-08:00

And so it begins....the annual school pictures. Boy, I can think of some school pictures of my own that I wouldn't mind accidentally burning....say, like years 9 through 13. I cringe to think of some of my hairstyles (bangs?! really??) and outfits. But, nonetheless, those photos are priceless--humiliating, but priceless--as they capture my progression from childhood to adolescence. So, it is now Hank's turn to mark his journey with the annual school picture:

What a cutie! Hankie, I promise you, I will always do my best to send you to school on picture day in a clean outfit, with combed hair, and hopefully your school pictures will be more kind to you than they were to me:)

Moving Day

2011-11-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

I question why I even bother buying the boys nice toys to play with, because they have been endlessly entertained by the mountain of boxes that have taken over our house.

*Note Max burrowing into a box in the background.

Up until this point, the idea of moving to Utah seems like care-free fun! In my mind, I thought we'd just throw our things into a few boxes, march those boxes into the moving truck, and then blink ourselves to Utah. Well moving isn't all its cracked up to be, and I think I'm having second thoughts: its like camping (and you know how I feel about that!), but inside! We're sleeping in our sleeping bags (the beds are all taken apart and I don't want to re-dirty the clean sheets) and dinner requires a hammer and flat-head screw driver (where on earth is the can opener?). At least we have electricity and running water:) Its all going to be worth it. Right???

Day Of Thanks

2011-11-25T22:06:00.000-08:00

With our kitchen packed in boxes and our house a total disaster, we decided to eat Thanksgiving Dinner out this year at Salty's. Unconventional? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely. So the pumpkin pie wasn't quite like Mom's....but, the chocolate fountain and dessert buffet (Aaron would include the prime rib carving station, shrimp, salmon, and dungess crab, too) was incredible. The boys were surprisingly well-behaved; several restaurant guests commented about how cute, charming, and well-behaved the boys were. I love it when they make me look good! And I'm not complaining about the no-fuss, no-dishes part, either!

Forget the turkey, Aaron took one bite to satisfy tradition, and then ate his weight in prime rib!

I didn't waste any time and went straight for the dessert buffet--hey, I'm eating for two!

Hank didn't eat much of anything besides a couple marshmallows, and a few peices of cheese, but he was very amused to be seated on the water and was entirely entertained watching the tide.

Max sampled a bit of everything.

Ben's Thanksgiving feast consisted of Cheerios, Cheerios, and more Cheerios.

Thanksgiving is always an opportunity to reflect upon and give thanks for our many blessings. This year, spending the holiday with my favorite people in the whole world, amid all of the change and chaos going on in our family right now, my greatest blessing was brought into focus: my family. We don't need a fancy decorated table, we don't need a gourmet feast, we don't need a houseful of things (...of course we're grateful for these comforts...), we just need each other. Happy Thanksgiving!

New Adventures

2011-11-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

I think the best word to describe our lives these days is, "whirlwind." Yep, I think crazy, unpredictable, chaos, swirling out of control sounds about right. Quitting a job, buying businesses, moving out of our house, buying a new house, moving to a new state...life is out of control over here!
Well, to back up a bit, all this mayhem actually began quite awhile back. With the economic downturn hitting the construction industry especially hard, Aaron and I both felt concern about the longevity of his position with the company that he had enjoyed working for over the past six years. Out of prudence, we began brainstorming alternative employment options, but most of the ideas we came up with didn't seem very viable at the time. Fast forward to about a year ago....Aaron wakes up in the morning, swings his feet over the side of the bed, and announces that he has had a dream (Aaron never has any dreams and rarely puts much stock into any of mine, for that matter). He further declares that he learned in his dream that 1. we were moving to Utah, and 2. we were going to have another baby! Well, ok then! Its settled! NOT! At the time, both of things he predicted in his dream seemed about as likely as pigs flying. So, we both laughed a little, and didn't think much more of it. As the months passed, little by little, we felt as though our course was in fact being directed towards making some big changes for our family and, with lots of prayer, decided to act on those impressions. Once the ball of action starting rolling, it started an avalanche effect, and we found ourselves making major decisions very quickly--and feeling really good about them. In the period of just a few weeks, Aaron quit his job, started school to prepare for his licensing exams, passed his exams and became licensed to sell insurance, purchased two Allstate agencies in Utah, and bought a new house! And so we find ourselves here...

The moving truck arrived this afternoon and our house is in shambles, its contents scattered among heaps and piles of boxes. We've got a couple days left to finish packing and then we're off! To our new adventure! We're feeling bittersweet right now: already beginning to miss our home in Washington, our sweet ward and precious friendships, and everything known and familiar to us, but, at the same time, we're excited for the journey that lies ahead. One beautiful chapter ending, another exciting chapter beginning...

Why Mess With a Good Thing?

2011-11-16T22:03:00.000-08:00

We were thrilled to learn this morning that baby number four is a BOY! Another rowdy rascal to chase around the house, another rugrat to throw on the dogpile, another buddy to tag along beside me, another sweetie to hug and kiss, another missionary to send out! Bring it on!

Still just so tiny, but already such a handsome little guy! I just love my precious little baby boy.

Grandma Zollinger

2011-11-16T21:56:00.000-08:00

Francis Evelyn Abbott Zollinger

November 12, 1924 - November 10, 2011

My Grandma Zollinger passed away last week, two days before her 87th birthday. Although she will be greatly missed, I am happy that my Gramma was released from the limitations of the disease that claimed her body in her final years--free to hum her favorite '40s tunes like the bubbly, cheerful, sweet Grandmother that I remember fondly from my childhood.

I couldn't have captured the essence of my Gramma any better than the words shared by my sister:

She was a great storyteller and I loved hearing stories about when she was younger, and the ones she made up. I loved trying on all of her little avon mini-lipsticks and costume jewelry. She was a horrible cook, but I loved making things with her because she wasn't afraid to experiment or let us 'help.' My favorite things to make were 'honey balls' and 'cheese straws' and my least favorite things to eat included anything out of 'american cheese' and anyone of her experimental salads, including and most especially one that I believe was named 'Ronald Reagan salad' and paired vegetables with mayo. yuck. She never ever pronounced 'Kmart' correctly, instead pronouncing it 'Kmark.' This irritated me endlessly and I corrected her constantly. She wore polyester pants with seams down the front and silky blouses. This was her uniform for as long as I knew her and I never knew her to deviate from it. She had partial dentures and would occasionally take them out in her bedtime routine to my shrieking amusement. She had endless patience for games of go-fish as well as for all of the half-broken weird off-brand games she would pick up from garage sales. She really disliked shopping, but would take me shopping each time I visited. She wasn't much of a t.v. watcher (or maybe she just didn't have the time whenever we were visiting) with the weekly exception of the Lawrence Welk show, which I remember her and grandpa watching religiously.

My Gramma created an impressive legacy, including a sweetheart of 66 years (!), two children, ten grandchildren, and forty great-grandchildren.

18 Weeks!

2011-11-04T22:58:00.000-07:00

Shame on me. This poor little baby isn't even born yet and its already so very neglected. 99% of the time, I completely forget I'm even pregnant and then I'll glance at myself in the mirror, or someone will comment on my baby bump, and that flood of panic rushes back all at once, "Oh my gosh! I AM pregnant!" Baby doesn't have a name (haven't even begun that conversation), we haven't bought so much as a diaper (we have plenty of diapers, but none in the newby size), and here I am, nearly half-way through what is more than likely my very last pregnancy. I feel so guilty for not slowing down, processing this special time, and savoring this sweet experience--but my plate already feels so FULL! Keeping up with three boys and a crazy house, taking our family on a giant adventure and beginning the moving process, etc. Thank you sweet baby for staying put and not giving me any trouble. I'm really not sure how this whole four-kids thing is going to work out...but I'm just banking on figuring it out as I go. Hang in there baby, Mama will figure it out.

Since it seems like I live in my pajamas and never get around to doing anything with my hair, I haven't been in the mood to document my baby bump for our family history. So today I finally got dressed and did my hair and everything (and it wasn't even a special occasion!) and didn't want to miss this rare window of opportunity, so I had Hank take the picture for me. When you have a five-year old take your picture, you get what you get.

My Little Turkeys

2011-11-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

Having Hank in Kindergarten has made me appreciate the special mornings (Hank's Kindergarten is full-day, every other day) that I get to play with my boys at home. No therapy, no playdates, no errands...just good old mom-and-boys time. So this morning we decided to get our craft on and the boys and I made these cute little turkeys. I'm just surprised at how well they can pay attention, follow directions, and concentrate--when they want to, that is. I have to say, I'm pretty proud of the final products (they made the turkeys all by themselves...cutting, glueing, drawing, and everything).

Hank embellished his project by drawing a castle around his turkey.

Max though his turkey needed hands and feet.

Bragging About Hank

2011-11-03T23:13:00.000-07:00

At any given time, if you look at the camera roll on my phone, you may find 20-30 random pictures of Aaron's feet, the remote control, or the underside of the kitchen table. My little budding photographers love clicking away at the camera...but sometimes the subject can be interesting. So, it made me smile when I found this cute little self-snap shot of my Hankie.

The other night Aaron and I got to visit with Hank's kindergarten teacher for parent/teacher conferences. Although his teacher did report that Hank is all boy, and likes to wrestle with his friends, and push his way in line, she confirmed what I already knew to be true: Hank is a smarty-pants! I don't know if all of our future parent/teacher conferences will be this enjoyable, but it was a treat to listen to someone else tell me how awesome my kid is. Tell me something I don't know! I love this little boy and I'm so proud of the awesome little kid that he is turning into. Smart. Intuitive. Sweet. Helpful. I love you, Hank!

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

Hank and Max decided to be firemen for Halloween this year (again!) and Ben of course was made a fireman by default (and likely will be for the next five years since I now own fireman costumes in every size). The boys have been playing dress-up (or whatever manly version it is that boys do when they were costumes) all month long. By the time Halloween finally rolled around, the costumes were looking a little bedraggled with stains from two church trunk-or-treat parties, one preschool party, and Hank's kindergarten party. At least I got my moneys' worth on our costumes this year.

The boys could barely stand to wait until it got dark outside to head out trick-or-treating....I'm not going to lie, we were definately the first trick-or-treaters on our block. Ok, I confess, I was excited, too!

Ben barely made it around the block before he was ready to go back inside, but Hank and Max couldn't get enough. Greedy! By the time the night was over, our noses were cold, our feet were sore, and our pumpkin baskets were HEAVY!

A few funnies from Max:
- Even with the repetition every single time we rang a doorbell, I couldn't get Max to say, "trick or treat." Instead, he'd tip his hat and say, "howdy!" To be honest, his greeting probably earned him more candy than the traditional phrase, anyways.
- One friendly neighbor told Max that he wished he could be a fireman when he grew up, to which Max wisely responded that he should eat his begtables (vegtables).
- My brave fireman retreated from every doorstep where he heard a dog inside the house...imagine how afraid he was of some of the neighbors' gory decorations.

Not bad, right? This much candy will probably last....like, at least a couple weeks:)

Jack-o-Lanterns

2011-10-25T22:45:00.000-07:00

When I have to physically break up the boys' wrestling, yell at them for burping at the dinner table, and hose them off after covering themselves from head to toe with sand from the sandbox, I am convinced I live with the most unrefined, rough-and-tough group of boys. But times like last night, when they refuse to help scrape out the pumpkins because they are "too icky," I wonder if my rough-and-tough boys are just a bunch of softies. So of course, the boys watched from the sidelines as Aaron scraped out and carved the pumpkins.

Don't be deceived, I literally had to bribe the boys with an M&M cookie to get them to just put their hand inside the pumpkin.

Check out Max's incredulous expression when Aaron pretended to eat a spoonful of the pumpkin guts.

Of all the pumpkins, my favorite is the cute one in the middle.

Pumpkin Masterpeices!

A-dor-able

2011-10-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

Look at my big boy with his big boy haircut....a-dor-able.

Hotel Getaway

2011-10-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love a good surprise? We pulled off a huge surprise last weekend when we packed up a change of clothes, grabbed a couple Happy Meals to-go, and spent the night eating junkfood, splashing in the pool, watching movies, and staying up way past bedtime at the downtown Marriott (thanks for the free night, Marriott!)

Not the best photo, but you get the idea: we partied, we snuggled, and we vegged out.

My boys usually aren't big risk-takers, so I was surprised that they were so fearless in the water. We had to tear them out of the pool, pruny fingers and everything.

Visit to the Pumpkin Patch (wink, wink)

2011-10-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

I'm glad the boys love the rubber ducky races, the bouncy rides, and the petting zoo so much because otherwise they'd see right through our trip to the pumpkin patch for what it really is: an excuse to sneak in a family photo-op! Oh, and pick out a couple pumpkins. This year, we visited the pumpkin patch a little early because 1) we decided to capitalize on a brief window of sunshine, 2) Nana and Papa Z came to visit and who doesn't love the pumpkin patch? and, 3) we're just crazy like that.

Makeover Max

2011-09-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

Getting Max's haircut is a hysterical, hair-flying, tears/drool flowing, mess. Trust me, its an unpleasant experience for everyone involved. But when Max tried to pull-off this wack-a-doo hair-do at church on Sunday, I had to draw the line:

Ahhh, so much better:

What a stinkin' cutie!

Add it to the Resume

2011-09-26T22:20:00.000-07:00

Now, just so you know, I did think long and hard about whether or not I should post this little nudie picture on the blog, knowing that photos are stored on the internet forever. Well, let me just tell any future prospective employers that may be finding this photo during a background check: Max is the bomb!

I put off potty training this little boy, anticipating a full-on knock-down, drag-out battle, but this kiddo surprised me and turned out to be a potty training champ! I plopped the portable potty chair in front of the tv, threw in a movie, and kept the juice flowing until Max was floating....and voila! Instant success! Max is no dummy--as soon as he figured out that all he had to do was pee in the potty to get his reward skittles, we were in business! Oh, to think of all of the diapers I could have saved by training this kid a long time ago!

Autumn Fun

2011-09-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

It literally pains me to see summer fading into fall, but these past few days of crisp autumn weather have been too beautiful to not celebrate.

The boys love their fireman rain jackets--they wear them rain or shine, in fact! On this afternoon, we took a really laid-back nature walk....collected leaves, sampled blackberries, heckled the cows, and tossed rocks into the river.

Doesn't nature make the perfect playground?

On Saturday, I had to pull teeth to convince Aaron to join us for our family-on-wheels cruise down the trail, but once Aaron strapped on his rollerblades he loved it! We made quite the sight: Aaron and I on rollerblades pushing Ben in the stroller, Hank riding his bike, and Max trying to keep up on his scooter.

This afternoon, the boys and I got crafty and made these fun little Halloween spiders out of egg cartons and pipe cleaners.

Curve Ball

2011-09-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like you're just cruising along, minding your own business, when all of the sudden...WHAM!...life sends you a crazy curve ball that just knocks you back on your rear? Well, thats kind of how I felt when I saw this:

So I'm still trying to recover from the surprise of it all, but I'm definately already starting to fall in love with this little baby that will be joining our family next April!

I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed with the idea of having four (FOUR??!!) kiddos, but I am just taking a giant leap of faith and relying on Heavenly Father to help me rise to the task.

#1 Mariners Game

2011-09-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Aaron scored some sweet tickets to the Mariner's Game! It was a beautiful night, just perfect for going to the ballgame.

Our seats were in the third row, right off first base! Perfect position to snag a pre-game signature from Trevon Robinson.

Although I enjoy all the sights and sounds of the ballpark (and the yummy treats), I think its probably for the best that I'm not a major sports fan. Between walking the boys around the stadium, taking them to play at the in-field playground, bouncing Ben on my lap and feeding him Cheerios one at a time....was there a ball game going on?? I think I heard we won! Go Mariners!

Touch-A-Truck

2011-09-10T22:29:00.000-07:00

Touch-A-Truck, an event put on by the city where trucks of all shapes and sizes gather in a parking lot and open their doors to the kids to climb in and explore, is proof that my kids aren't the only ones that are positively obsessed with TRUCKS! Max was too scared of all of the horns honking to let go of Dad, but Hank got the chance to climb aboard and sit inside every kind of truck you can imagine. A boys' dream come true!

Even Daddy liked driving the big rig!

Happy Birthday Maxwell!

2011-09-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

Happy 3rd Birthday to my Maxy-boy! I love you all the way to the moon and back!

A Couple Interesting Things About Max:

* Max is a character. He likes to talk in funny voices and he always makes silly facial expressions. He makes his signature face by sticking out his tongue (he can nearly touch his chin; he's very talented), closing his eyes, and shaking his head.

* Max can throw a mean fit, but for the most part, he is very laid back. I often say that Max is my low investment/high return kid because he is just so happy, so easy going. Max has always been one of those kids that other moms just watch with envy and wonder what I must be doing right to get him to be so mellow. I'd like to take the credit, but really Max is just awesome like that.

* Max is a chicken. I can't even list all of the things that Max is afraid of. Not a risk-taker, that boy. I like to say that Max is just tender because he never strays very far from Mom and Dad.

* Max is a great eater and a great sleeper (knock on wood). Max will eat just about anything, but he likes to graze off others' plates rather than his own. His favorites are pizza, chicken nuggests, and steak. Max takes a 2-3 hour nap every afternoon and will tell me when he is tired and ready for bed in the evening, usually around 8.

* Max has a great attention span and loves to work on very fine motor activities like cutting paper with scissors or buttoning his clothes.

* Max has a funny fascination with hygeine. He loves to inspect Dad's hands for dry skin and pick off any offending skin (a little gross), he loves to clean out between his toes, and he loves to brush his teeth and "comb" his own hear (it usually ends up looking worse than when he started). While these habits are a little strange at this age, I'm hoping its an early sign that he'll become a great doctor one day :)

There are so many things that I love and adore about Max, I could just go on and on. I truly feel like I lucked out when Max joined our family. He has brought so much joy to our family. He is a one in a million little boy and I love him to bits.

Happy Birthday Max!

We Went Big

2011-09-10T22:05:00.000-07:00

Max is a special boy, so we wanted to go big for his birthday. Real big. Like parades, clowns, cotton candy, rides, and petting zoo big. So, of course we went to The Fair!

The morning started with the cattle drive and parade.

Once we were through the gates, the boys couldn't wait to hit the rides. We bought 120 ride tickets and thought surely we would have tickets to spare...but can you believe we used those tickets all up?

Darn you greasy, fattening, fried, and oh so delicious fair food! Fluffy cotton-candy, melt-in-your-mouth scones! Just stop! I'm getting hungry all over again!

The boys are like magnets to these tractors:

Fascinating. Of all of the fancy fair attractions, Max was by far the most entertained by an agricultural exhibit that allowed the kids to simulate milking a cow.

One of my favorite things to do at the fair is watch the various shows: Elvis impersonators, aerial acts, hypnotists. This year, we went to a kiddie circus show. The show was pretty good, but Hank thought it was hysterical! Those clowns must be dialed in to 5 year-old humor because Hank was just rolling he was laughing so hard.

I have to admit, when they pulled Aaron up on stage as part of the act, I laughed pretty hard, too!

Until next time, Puyallup Fair, until next time.

Shopping Trip Gone Bad

2011-09-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

For weeks now Max has been talking about two things: going to the fair for his birthday and getting a new garbage truck. We didn't want to disappoint him, and to be honest we hadn't had the time to stop and pick-up a garbage truck, so we took the Birthday Boy to the toy store to pick out a garbage truck. Sounds fun, right?

What started out as a fun idea ended with Hank and Max both leaving the store in tears: Hank was upset because we were mean-o's and didn't let him pick out a toy, and Max was mad because he wanted to buy every toy in the entire store. Mean, mean, Mom and Dad.

Too Much Birthday

2011-09-10T21:37:00.000-07:00

Ready for cake and presents??

I'm not sure why we bothered buying Max any presents because the only one that he was really interested in was his new garbage truck. Maybe after all the birthday madness has died down, he'll finally realize there were a few other presents.

Make humored me by taking a brief break from playing with his garbage truck to blow out his birthday cupcake candle, but was far too busy playing to even take a bite.

Can there be such a thing?? Oh, yes. After a full day of parades, rides, animals, treats, shopping, presents, and more treats...this little birthday boy was quite party-ed out! Happy Birthday and Goodnight!

We love you, Max. Happy Birthday!

Can it Be True?

2011-09-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

Can my baby boy possibly be old enough to go to school? There must be a 'pause' button, because I don't know if I'm ready for this...

I guess Hank must be ready, because he came running into my bedroom at 6:00 a.m. fully-dressed and ready to go!

The kids gather in the gym each morning, lined-up in their classes, for a morning assembly.

Actually, Hank was so happy and eager for kindergarten that it made the experience of sending my baby boy off to big-kid school very easy. Hank had no fear--he was all smiles and excitement.

Hank had no problem finding the hook for his backback, dropping his lunchbox off in the right bin, finding his assigned seat at the table, and starting right in on a coloring project. In fact, Aaron and I felt a bit in the way, so we said a quick goodbye and left! Peice of cake! As we were walking down the hallway outside the class, Hank came running up to us, gave us one last quick hug, said, "see ya!" and then ran back to class. Ok, that maybe hurt just a tiny bit.

At home, Max and I worked on a "Welcome Home" sign for Hanky and made chocolate-chip cookies for an after-school snack.

I was dying all day long to pick Hank up and hear about his first day. I went to the school early, parked, and waited outside his classroom so I would be the first one to see his face when he came out of his class. I envisioned him running straight into my arms and telling me how what a great day he had and how much he missed me. What I got was a scowling Hanky who I had to flag over to come see me who informed me that he wasn't ready to go home and wanted to stay longer. Not exactly how I had pictured it, but a good thing, I guess??

It it going to be so strange not having my Hanky-boy home with me. I can't help it! I miss him! Thankfully, I know that Hank is ready to start this new chapter. Over the summer, I have come to feel like I am keeping a frisky labrador puppy in the house when what he really needs is more room to run, to be let outside. And so, I know that its time for me to give Hank more room to grow, more room to learn. I just pray, pray, pray that I have done my job in preparing him for that great big world out there. I love you, Hanky! You're going to do great!

Cousins!

2011-09-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

I'm regretting that I didn't do a better job taking pictures of the awesome week we spent with our family in town. Too busy to snap pictures!

We had so much fun with Andy, Britney, Baylee, Sydney, Robyn, D, Macie, and Hailey! The kids LOVED playing with their cousins. I was actually surprised at how well they all played together--digging around in Nana's sandbox, playing outside, having a giant sleepover, playing at the bounce house, going to the park, watching movies, etc. We wish our cousins lived closer so we could play more often! Thanks for coming to visit, you guys! We had a blast! Lets get together again soon:)

#20 Mt. Rainier

2011-09-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

Breathtaking! Living in our town, we get to admire the mountain often, but Mt. Rainier was stunning in person. We couldn't have picked a better day to pack a picnic and head to the mountain for a hike.

Not to be a whiner, but I will say that the first half of our 2.5 mile hike was much more enjoyable than the second half--carrying tired, heavy!, kids uphill in the hot sun. It was a workout!

See? I'm smiling here because we're sauntering downhill--tra-la-la, tra-la-la. I swear, Ben must have gotten at least 30lbs heavier on the way back uphill!

By the end of the hike, we were famished!

Spray Park Fun

2011-09-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

I love to see the big 'ol smiles on the boys' faces! Even in the freezing cold water, they loved splashing around with their cousins and playing at the park--another perfect summer day!

#22 Ferry Ride

2011-09-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

On Thursday we rode the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge and drove to Sequim to visit the Olympic Game Farm Park. Hank was pretty curious about the ferry and wanted to check everything out, Max was nervous and stuck close to Dad. I spent the day doubled over with a stomache ache, so not great memories for me. Glad the boys had fun.

Birthday Boy!

2011-09-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Honey! Have we reached the point where we stop counting, yet? Don't worry, 34 is the new, uh, 34. One year older, and another year more handsome and wise!

Aaron's birthday was filled with birthday festivities, beginning with an early morning fishing trip with Andy and D. Aaron's cold streak finally broke--he caught a salmon!

After the fishing trip, Aaron and Andy played 9. Then it was off to the Grovers' for Aaron's meal of choice: steak, potato salad, and his mama's scones!

After his birthday feast, the whole gang went bowling. The family bowling tournament turned into a bit of chaos with the crazy kiddos running amuk, but Aaron and I still brought home the prizes: he won the prize for first place, and I won the consolation prize for last place. I had planned to cap-off the birthday fun with a late night movie at the drive-in, but the birthday boy was too pooped (can you say, "old fogey?") and wanted to go home instead.

Happy Birthday to you, Aaron!

Go, Ben, Go!

2011-08-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of this little boy I think my heart could just burst! He crawls! Hooray for Ben!

When I watch this video, I just see a little boy who works so hard and who never gives up. It hasn't been easy. Its taken a lot of therapy, a lot of work, a lot of practice, a lot of prayers--but he did it! I have no doubt that if Ben works very hard, and never gives up, that he will do whatever he sets his mind to do. You can do it, Baby!

#12 Spray Park

2011-08-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

It finally felt like summer when the kids and I met up with some friends at the spray park for some splashing. It was so warm and sunny I actually had to bust out the sunblock! The water was freezing cold, but the boys had so much fun racing around with each other and getting wet. We packed a picnic lunch and after the boys dried off a little we ran off the rest of our energy at the playground. Good friends, warm sunshine, and playing hard--a perfect summer day!

And that is why I love Max. Can you just feel the energy exuding from that boy??

My Fisherman

2011-08-21T22:47:00.000-07:00

Those fish must be super scared of Aaron and his awesome fishing skills because they won't come anywhere near him when he's fishing!

Its a good thing you're cute, honey.

Ben and Papa G

2011-08-21T22:43:00.000-07:00

Whether they are tagging along on trips to Home Depot, pounding nails in the workshop, or sharing chocolate-chip cookies, the boys love their Papa Grover.

#15 Family Bike Ride

2011-08-21T22:36:00.000-07:00

When the tire tube on the bike trailer popped, our family bike ride turned into a family trip to the nearby elementary school where Max and Ben played on the playground equipment with Nana and Papa G while Aaron and I raced Hank around the track on our bikes....not exactly what I had in mind, but we just went with it.

Amy + Eric

2011-08-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

I can't remember the last time I went anywhere by myself...I'm lucky to get a little privacy while I use the bathroom, so it was a huge treat to take a trip to California for my sister's wedding All. By. My. Self! No diapers to change, no fights to break up, no whiny kids pulling on me, no one to take care of but me! Ahhhh, it was bliss!

The break from the norm was wonderfully refreshing, but it wasn't quite as glamorous as it looks--I spent most the trip baking up a storm in a small kitchen, helping decorate the reception site, and running misclaneous wedding errands. All the work was worth it--the food was delicious, the venue was spectacular, Amy was breath-taking, the reception was lively, and it was beautiful to watch as a new little family unit was created.

I had so much fun getting to know my nephew, Jasper, a little better. This little man was a such cutie, walking Amy down the aisle.

Congratulations Sargeant Family!

I can't remember a time my sister has looked this happy, this glowing! Beautiful! Smug married life suits you, Amy.

The happy couple enjoying their first dance together.

Thanks for sharing your special day with me, Amy. Wishing you both happiness and joy as you begin your journey together:)

love letter

2011-08-07T23:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Ben,

Your little smile just melts me! I love you to bits and bits.

xoxo,
Mom

#16 Shaved Ice

2011-08-07T23:22:00.000-07:00

Well, it was a far cry from the Matsumoto's Shave Ice that Aaron and I know and love, but it was cold, wet, sweet, and seemed to make the boys happy. Good enough.

Torchlight Parade

2011-08-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

Aaron and I paid the price for our beautiful front-row seats at the Torchlight Parade: we arrived bright and early on Saturday morning, staking out our spot a whopping 8 hours before the parade started!

Ordinarly, sitting on a sidewalk wouldn't be my dream way to spend a Saturday, but, I have to say, spending 8 whole hours doing nothing but enjoying the warm sunshine, people-watching, and spending some quality time with the husband without the distraction of the kids (who joined us much later) was really quite relaxing--something I should do more of now and then.

Thanks Nana Grover for buying the boys these super loud/obnoxious horns:)

Can you guess which part of the parade was the boys' favorite?

The T-Ball "Tiger Dominators"

2011-08-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

After Hank's first T-ball game was over, I gave him a high-5 and told him what a great job he'd done, and he responded, "I tried my very best." Can't ask for more than that.

#25 Visit Nana and Papa Z

2011-07-25T23:10:00.000-07:00

I'm so mad at myself for doing such a poor job documenting our trip to my parents' house. We packed so many fun activities into our trip, I just never had the chance to snap any pictures. So, I guess these are better than nothing:

I could not believe how well the kids handled the 5 hour drive to Oregon. We packed a lunch to eat in the car with a few snacks and treats along the way, the boys watched a few movies, and even took a little nap. I had been dreading the drive, expecting the kids to whine and complain the entire way, but they were great and it actually felt like a treat to have some adult conversation with Aaron while the boys enjoyed the drive.

A list of things I did NOT get on camera:
- I got to read a whole book--in peace! without interruptions!
- We took a picnic outdoors
- We went swimming--Hank even allowed me to let go of him and he figured out how to doggie paddle
- We went on a date with Adam and Brittany while Nana and Papa played with the boys
- Haircuts across the board!
- We played at a couple parks
- We fed the ducks
- We hung out at the ward summer party
- During some girl time with my mom and Brittany I remembered why I was never very good at ceramics:)
- We watched a movie and let the boys stay up way past bed time every night
- The boys golfed
- We laughed until it hurt playing Balderdash
- We ate. I never get tired on Mom's cooking.
- We got to attend church together and be there when my Dad was set apart as a bishop

Tell me he doesn't look like a little missionary with that spiffy new haircut?

We checked out the fish ladder and watched all of the salmon swimming upstream.

Aaron took the boys to this fun park while I had a little girl time with my Mom and Brittany.

We were sad when it was time to go home. We had bunched of fun and wished we could stay and play longer. It didn't help that the ride home was a bit more arduous with heavy traffic and squirmy boys.

Thanks for the good time, Nana and Papa Z! We love you bunches! xoxo, the Grovers

#26 Wildlife Safari

2011-07-25T22:53:00.000-07:00

While we were at Nana and Papa Z's house, we took a little mini-excursion to the Wildlife Safari. We piled into the van and drove around the safari grounds, spotting various animals in their natural habitats, very up close and personal.

It was fun to play "I-spy" and try and find each of the animals as we travelled through their environments. I loved the kids' commentary. As we passed through the bear exhibit, Max said, "those bears have bum-bums!" Very true.

Max was sitting on my lap in the passenger seat when this ostrich came up to the car and tried to peck our window. Max said, "I don't like that duck!"

After touring the safari, we went into the village and visited the petting zoo, rode a little mini train, and brought a picnic lunch.

#9 Movie in the Park

2011-07-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

A weekend or two ago, our little town was showing a family movie in the park, so we popped our popcorn, grabbed our blankets and camping chairs, and joined several other families from our ward for a fun outdoor movie night!

Ben snoozed through the movie and I loved spending the time snuggling with him under a cozy blanket (because, thats right, it was cold and drizzling on this awesome July night).

I don't know how much of the movie Hank watched--he spent most of the time wrestling with his buddies.

I didn't love the movie, but the atmosphere was great. It was so down home, in a good way, to just drive up to the local park, pull out a blanket, join several other families from church, and watch a family movie together. Good times!

Ben's BFF

2011-07-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

A lot of kids develop an attachment to a comfort object...some kids have binkies, some kids have blankies, some kids have teddy bears....and Ben has his shoe. Yep, a shoe. He plays with it, he chews on it (don't worry, I ran it through the washing machine), he holds onto the velcro straps with a death grip, and he sleeps with it. Why is it that of all of the shiny, flashy, musical, bright toys that we own, he chooses a shoe??

#18 Bonfire

2011-07-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

Does this count? I don't know if I would call it a bonfire, but we had a ton of fun getting together with our good friends for FHE and roasting smores in the backyard on Monday night.

Thanks, Wortons! Let's do it again soon!

Practice, practice, practice

2011-07-12T22:19:00.000-07:00

Top 5 Signs Your Son is a Future T-Ball M.V.P (as observed at Hank's first T-ball practice):

1. You have to repeatedly remind him to throw the ball "over-hand"
2. All t-ball action comes to a halt when your son announces the sound of a nearby train
3. During a drill to teach identification of the bases, the coach calls out, "first base!" All kids run to first base, only your kid runs straight to...second...base.
4. Your kid puts his glove over his face and asks, "hey, who turned out the lights?"
5. Rounding third base, your kid trips over his own feet and falls on his face, just shy of home plate.

M.V.P. or not, I'll always be your #1 fan, Hank.

Pop! Bang! Boom!

2011-07-05T22:57:00.000-07:00

In my many years of observing the 4th of July, I have never seen a fireworks display like the one put on by our own neighbors....unreal. Beginning in the early evening and going until well into the night time, our neighbors launched a firework extravaganza that left me in awe...of the beauty of the fireworks, the independence of our country, but mostly the amount of money these crazy neighbors of mine must have spent on their silly fireworks. I feel a little guilty that all we contributed to the fireworks festivities were a few packs of pop-its, a couple ground flowers, and a sparkler or two. Thank you, neighbors! God Bless America!

Go Jump in a Lake

2011-07-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

After our hike, we met up with Nana and Papa Grover for a lovely afternoon of barbecuing, swimming, and relaxing at the lake. The picture just doesn't do it justice--it was gorgeous.

The water was freezing cold but Hank wasn't deterred--he splashed and paddled around the lake until his lips were blue and his teeth were chattering.

Land That I Love

2011-07-05T22:46:00.000-07:00

In keeping with our 4th of July tradition, we took the boys for beautiful morning hike to explore and enjoy this land that we love.

For some reason Hank has become paranoid about stinging nettle and spent the entire hike pointing to anything green and growing and asking if it was stinging nettle. Is it mean that we found it very useful in keeping Hank from running off ahead by telling him that the growth along the trailside was actually stinging nettle?

Check out those muscles!

We had a lot of fun enjoying nature's playground--pointing out mysterious animal tracks along the trail, hunting for walking sticks (yelling at the boys to stop hitting each other with said walking sticks), poking slugs and keeping an eye out for spider webs, investigating every mound and hole in the dirt, and the boys genuinely concerned that we had gotten lost when our car was within clear sight.

#8 Camping in the Backyard

2011-07-05T22:35:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, Aaron set the tent up in the backyard and had a little backyard campout with the boys. Since we were one sleeping bag shy (darn it!), (and being the selfless mom that I am), I made the sacrifice to let the boys have all the fun sleeping outside in the cold with the dirt and bugs while I made do sleeping inside on my pillowtop mattress and 1200 threadcount sheets.

Ironically, it turns out that I got the short end of the deal since the boys slept like logs (I finally had to wake them up at 7:30!) and Ben decided he was awake and ready to party with me at 5:00am!

#21 Saltwater State Park

2011-07-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

Salt Water State Park is like a hands-on marine biology class with crabs lurking under rocks, clams, shells, and snails hiding in the tidepools, and geoducks squirting little geyers in the sand. I love it! Keeping it real, though, the boys were....well....wimps. They didn't like the sand in their shoes, they were nerveous about the crabs, and didn't care for all of the seaweed and barnicles. They thought the beach was great fun, as long as Dad was the one doing all of the crab hunting, we made sure to wash off their shoes, and they were carried over any puddles. really? Really?!!

Don't worry, no crabs were harmed in the photographing of this event....just tortured slightly before they were released.

The boys were much more comfortable with sand-castle building back on the beach and had a good time digging in the sand with Nana Grover.

Thats How We Roll

2011-07-02T21:13:00.001-07:00

Putt-putt

2011-07-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

Last night Aaron and I decided to break out of our usual dinner-and-a-movie date night box, and went miniature golfing instead! It felt great to be outside, be together, and enjoy a little friendly competition.

Almost looks like Disneyland, right?

Guess who was the winner?

Me!

Little Salesman

2011-06-26T19:44:00.000-07:00

At our garage sale this weekend, Hank made $16 selling chocolate-chip cookies and Koolaid! I'd like to claim the credit for his sales success since I made the cookies, but I'm pretty sure Hank could sell ice to an eskimo with that perfect-angel smile and his charming little personality. Hank was quite pleased with himself and, after holding out a tenth of his earning to pay tithe, Hank used his very own money to buy a new garbage truck.

#14 Picnic at Dad's Work

2011-06-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

Well, "Picnic At Dad's Work" probably wouldn't have made my Top 5 list of exciting summer activities, but Hank suggested the idea and we aim to please.....so, we had a picnic (kinda) at Aaron's work!

The boys and I picked up Subway sandwiches and brought them to Aaron's office after work on Friday. Since Aaron's building doesn't have any grassy picnic areas, we improvised and ate our picnic in the conference room. Hey, spinning chairs and a view from the window of the pump fleet? Good enough!

After our picnic, we took the boys to see Cars 2. Although it probably wasn't the movie I would have chosen, it was really fun to watch a movie together, in the theater, as a family.

#6 Icecream Man

2011-06-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

Good Grief! Icecream Man? More like highway robber! Have you seen how much the Icecream Man is charging these days for a popcicle? Its nuts! Oh well, small price to pay for the fun memory, the sticky fingers and red-stained tongue, and these smiles:

#13 Slip 'n Slide

2011-06-21T21:53:00.000-07:00

With today marking the first official day of summer, and the weather actually providing us with some sunshine, we got off to a good start, tackling #13 on our summer to-do list--the Slip 'n Slide:

What fun thing will we do next??

Getting Busy

2011-06-21T21:50:00.000-07:00

For Family Night on Monday, we upheld our family tradition and created our Summer To-Do List. Under the rules of our tradition, all suggestions are added to the list, even the most ambitious suggestions, and we try our very best to accomplish everything on the list. In summers' past, I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of items that we have been able to check-off our list with a some advance planning and a little creativity. Looking forward to another summer loaded with fun!

Switching It Up

2011-06-21T21:44:00.000-07:00

After fourteen months of having Ben sleep in a bassinette beside my bed, we decided it was time to make some changes. First, in order to vacate the nursery which was still being occupied by Max, we decided to bunk up Hank and Max in these beautiful bunkbeds that Aaron and his Dad MADE. The boys love climbing on their bunkbeds, wrestling on their bunkbeds, and playing together on their bunkbeds...now if we could just get them to sleep in their bunkbeds we'd be set.

With Max moved out, Ben spent his first night in his crib in his own room last night. Ben was snug as a bug in a rug and slept really well in his new room. I, on the other hand, burned a path in the carpet between his room and mine checking on him all night long. I'm certain that Ben is ready for this big change, I just hope I can get used to having my baby sleep down the hall instead of at my bedside.

This was the good morning smile Ben greeted me with when he woke up this morning.

Have You Been Working Out?

2011-06-21T21:35:00.000-07:00

Why yes, yes I have, thank you for noticing. Now, I'm no fitness expert. I don't go to the gym, I don't work out, I don't lift weights. But I do lug around a 32lb one-year old everywhere I go, and I've got the biceps to prove it! Check out these mommy muscles:

For comparison, this is my non-baby carrying right arm--nothing special, right?

Boom! How 'bout them guns!?

Stones in the River

2011-06-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

Perhaps one of the things about summertime that I look forward to the most is taking long walks, enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors....so therapeutic, so invigorating. The other day, I happened to get home from therapy in time to join Hank, Max, and Nana Grover on a fabulous walk along the trail to our bridge, where the boys entertained themselves throwing rocks into the river below.

Sometimes it really is the simple things...

Daddy's Day

2011-06-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

Who else can cause a riot every single day simply by opening the front door and arriving home? Who else has a small entourage following two steps behind during even the most ordinary of tasks? Who is the strongest/tallest person on earth? Who else can fix anything? Knows everything? Can do anything? Our Dad. Aaron, thank you for being our Super Hero. We love you. I hope you enjoy the homemade motivational posters the boys and I made for you:)

First of Many

2011-06-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

After work on Friday, Aaron raced home, packed up the gear, and took Hank and Max on the first of many Father/Son Camp-outs. The boys were so excited to spend some special time with Daddy, and I won't lie, I was pretty excited to have a little "me" time. As the boys arrived at the campsite, set up camp, sat around the campfire, and bundled down for bed, Aaron would text me a quick note with a picture, telling me how much fun they were having together.

At 3:30 on Saturday morning, I got the text, "Rainy. Wet. Coming home." Apparently, Aaron's tent was lacking a rain fly to keep out the pouring rain and the boys woke to find themselves sleeping in a lake--and so the camping trip was cut short. Aaron threw the gear in the van, buckled up the sleepy boys, and headed back home...where everyone slept, warm and cozy, in their own beds. Even though the first camping adventure was a bit of a bust, the gang is already planning the next family camping adventure....oh goody (note sarcasm)!

Couldn't Have Said it Any Better...

2011-06-09T13:22:00.001-07:00

Hank is 5!

2011-06-07T21:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! Hank is 5! Five means that Hank is old enough to go to kindergarten in the fall, old enough to buckle his own seat belt, old enough to dress himself and brush his own teeth, old enough to count to 200 (and count to 10 in spanish), old enough to know his address and phone number, old enough to ride a scooter, old enough to pee standing up (we held off teaching him this for purposes of cleanliness), old enough to skip taking a nap, old enough to offers his own prayers without being told, old enough to stay up until 8:30 on a good night, old enough to climb the monkey bars, old enough to write my grocery list for me, old enough to return the cart at the grocery store, but.....never, ever, too old to be my sweet Hanky boy. Our family was blessed five years ago when Hank was born--Hank, you are one in a million! Happy Birthday, Hanky boy!

Hank's special day started with a breakfast of his favorite: pancakes with chocolate chips, served on the special-day-plate.

Hank had quite an impressive cheering section for his soccer game: Mom, Dad, Max, Ben, Nana and Papa Z, Uncle Adam, and Nana Grover all came to cheer on the Birthday Boy.

Hank made fast friends with his Uncle Adam, sitting on his lap, inviting him to sit in the back seat of the car with him, holding his hand, pillow-fighting, and lots of playing with toys.

The Birthday Party started with some bowling with a few of Hank's friends. Although at times the bowling seemed to be in slow motion (picture very little boys trying to heave a very heavy ball down a very long bowling lane....not exactly fast-paced action), the boys all had a good time bouncing their ball down the bumpered bowling lane.

My favorite little bowling ball.

The party finished off at our house with presents and treats.

As usual, Hank was very spoiled and received many fun gifts: transformers (we're still trying to figure out how to put them together), a tow truck and police car, nerf sets, and a slip and slide.

At his request, I made Hank a giant cookie instead of a cake. Non-traditional maybe, but boy was it tasty!

The party ended with Aaron treating Hank and his friends to a special surprise.

The remainder of Hank's birthday was spent enjoying the beautiful sunshine in the backyard. The boys tested out their new slip and slide while we barbequed and visited.

It will be hard to top this birthday: lots of love from both Nanas and Papas, a fun activity-filled day complete with special surprises, plenty of sunshine and outdoors, loads of presents, and all kinds of birthday treats. Hank, you are a special boy and I hope you felt very loved on your special day.

Q & A with Hank

What are you most looking forward to about being 5? "I'm looking forward to getting a big, red crane."
Tell me about your family. "I love everybody. Mom, Dad, Hank, Max, and Ben."
What do you like to do? "I like to play with my toys, go outside when its summer and play with my summer toys, play in the sandbox."
Who is your best friend? "Everybody I know."
What is your favorite thing to eat? "French bread with nothing on it, pasta with parmesan cheese, and pancakes with chocolate syrup and chocolate chips."
What is your favorite color? "Red, blue, orange, green, yellow, black, and purple."
What would you like to be when you grow up? "A garbage man, then a fireman, then a tow-truck driver, then a policeman, then a missionary, then I'll just be a dad."
What is the best thing about you? "I am kind of kind, I be nice to brother sometimes, and obey."
Is there anything that you are afraid of? "monsters."
What is your favorite toy? "Don't have it yet but next time when I turn 6 I'll tell you what my favorite toy is when you ask me."
What is your favorite movie? "Return to Neverland."
What is your favorite song? "Follow the Prophet and Mary, Mary"
What is your favorite Book of Mormon story? "When Nephi whacks the bad guys head off with a sword."

Ben's Big Day!

2011-06-03T14:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day for the record books! It seems that Ben's development just exploded! All at once!

#1: Our day started early with a visit from our home educator (birth-to-three), Sara. As Sara was trying to entice Ben with various toys, Ben became very fixated on the dangling straps attached to his walker. Sara placed Ben on the floor on his tummy, with those straps teasing him just out of reach. Now Ben doesn't usually tolerate tummy time at all, so consequently we don't really put him on his tummy all that much. So I was very surprised when, instead of fussing and complaining, Ben began to extrend his arms and really reach for those straps in earnest! Poor Ben was determined to grab the straps; he was grunting with effort. Finally Ben figured out how to do a "semi-army crawl" and inch himself close enough to get ahold of the straps. Huge!!! Ben didn't actually do a cross-pattern coordinated army crawl, but he did do kind of a concerted stretching of his arms and legs that did produce some forward motion. Its a start--a miraculous start!

#2: Since Ben seemed so enthralled with the walker, I decided to put him in it and let him hang out in the kitchen. The boys had messed up the alignment on the wheels and set the brakes, so I had to tinker with it to adjust the wheels. Somehow I was able to loosen the wheels so that they were super reactive to motion--and Ben just pedaled around! He would reach for a kitchen chair, shift his weight in that direction, and the walker would wheel him closer. So exciting to see the wheels (the ones upstairs and the ones on the walker) turning and watching Ben be able to explore cause and effect.

#3: After an eventful morning, I laid Ben down for his nap after lunchtime. Ben was still awake, but he usually drifts to sleep within a few minutes of being placed in his bed. A short time later, I went upstairs to check on Ben, and I found him knocked out cold--sitting up! As uncomfortable as he looked sleeping in the sitting up position, it was also a celebration of his learning how to go from his back to sitting up all by himself! I had laid him down in his bed, but he had apparently decided that he wasn't ready to go to sleep, so he sat up! Just like that!

#4: Ben has a few consonant sounds in his vocabulary, mostly Fs, Vs, Ws, and the occasional Bs. Several months ago, Ben began making the M sound, and saying Mama, but usually only when he is distressed, never in imitation. What a special treat it was yesterday when I was playing with Ben in his exersaucer and he let out a huge string of "ma-ma-ma-ma-ma"s! And it wasn't a one-time thing. I would say "ma-ma" and then he would imitate me and repeat it right back. I was sure to capture this first on video (and I will admit that I may have played it to myself, oh about a million times). Ah! What sweet music to my soul!

#5: Ben has been working on water therapy for many months now, but yesterday he went in the pool with a different therapist for the first time. The new therapist had a bit of a different routine, and set Ben alongside the edge of the pool, with his favorite toys outside the pool on either side of Ben. Without the effect of gravity, Ben just cruised along the side of the pool, as though he's done it a million times before, and grabbed one toy after the other! Ben? Cruising? Who knew?!

In all the world, I can't conceive of anything more precious, more inspiring, more faith-promoting, than to witness the small (but Huge!) developmental steps taken by my special son. After a day of FIVE miracles, all I can say is God is good.

Memorial Day

2011-05-31T19:11:00.000-07:00

We're going to pretend its sunny and warm....even if this crummy weather won't work with us for our Memorial Day plans.

After we had slept in (is that an oxymoron when you have kids?), we packed up and headed to the lake at the park for a picnic, nature walk, and some fishing.

1st Admission: We didn't catch a single fish. 2nd Admission: I don't mind one bit. Stinky, slimely pond trout? No thanks!

The boys had fun casting their fishing line into the lake and taking turns realing it back in.

We couldn't leave the park without burning off a little extra energy at the playground.

At home, Aaron refilled the sandbox with more sand (it seems all the sand has somehow found its way onto my kitchen floor) and the boys enjoyed some backyard time.

Aaron filled the position of Grill-Master and set to work grilling up our Memorial Day feast.

....and it was delicious!

We capped off the evening with a round of smores roasted over the firepit.

We sure didn't let the cloudy skies stop us--Happy Memorial Day!

Family Garden Project

2011-05-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

The weather has not cooperated with planting our garden this year, so we finally decided today was the day to plant, whether the weather is ready or not. Planting the garden turned out to be a great family activity--we all took part and had lots of fun in the process.

Aaron weeded the garden beds, raked in fresh soil, and helped the boys plant our beautiful veggie starts.

Boys and dirt go together like, well....boys and dirt. Hank and Max used their little shovels to dig holes, count out and fill the holes with seeds, and smooth out the soil.

While Hank was digging through the garden, he found a worm and asked me if he could touch it. I told him that I thought worms were icky and I probably wouldn't touch it, but I didn't mind if he wanted to touch it. He asked if the worm had germs, and I told him I thought they probably did. He weighed the pros and cons for a minute and then decided to pick up the worm. After less than a second, he dropped the worm back into the dirt and said he was going to go back inside to wash his hands. Thats my kind of kid!

For his part, Ben entertained himself nicely sitting on a blanket on the grass and playing with a few toys.

My contribution to the group effort? I did what I do best: I did the overseeing.

Now we get to tend our little garden and hopefully soon we'll get to harvest our yummy veggies!

Binky Addict

2011-05-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not proud of the fact that my two-and-a-half year-old is a binky addict....but what am I to do when I insist that the binky stays in his bed for bedtime-usage only (I know, changes are a-coming) and I find him hiding in the corner between my nightstand and the wall, sneaking sucks on that binky?? Enjoy that binky while it lasts, Max, enjoy it while it lasts.

Little Monkey

2011-05-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Proof that Hank is in fact a little monkey:

Hank made up his mind that he wanted to learn to climb the monkey bars.....and so he did! Over the past week, Hank practiced and practiced. At first he was only able to make it to the first bar, then then next, and then the next, until finally he made it all the way across those monkey bars. Though just a simple task, it was very rewarding to witness Hank working hard and then accomplishing his goal. Way to go, Hank!

Just Me and The Boys

2011-05-22T22:47:00.000-07:00

Aaron left us on Friday night to go camping with the scouts, so I got to spend some special time with the boys....just mom and the boys. We kicked off our fun date together with a trip to Baskin Robbins.

Out of the 31+ flavors to choose from (and I did hold them both up to the counter so that they could see each flavor), Hank chose the ever-popular chocolate icecream with Mike 'N Ikes on top and Max went with the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough icecream, again with the Mike 'N Ikes on top. Mmmm!

After Max finished his last bite, he tipped up the little cup and slurped up the melted icecream. I guess he liked it?!

Ben got a little taste of chocolate icecream, too!

After our icecream outing, we went home and snuggled up together and watched Yogi Bear. Thanks for being my Friday night date, boys!

Fieldtrip Fun

2011-05-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

We picked the perfect day to visit NW Trek for Hank's last Joyschool fieldtrip. The sun was shining and the boys chased each other through the trails and animal exhibits, climbed rocks and hunted for sticks, rode the tram, and had a picnic. Hank and Max love playing with their buddies--its craziness at times, but always lots of fun.

s'more please!

2011-05-19T20:46:00.000-07:00

Just because I'm not much of a camper doesn't mean I don't like sitting around a campfire and roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores. Yesterday we enjoyed the best of both worlds: Aaron built a little quickie fire pit in the backyard and we pulled up our camping chairs and introduced the boys to the deliciousness that is s'mores--without all of the bugs and dirt of real camping! Win, win!

And so my only question is, "why didn't I think of this idea a long time ago?"

Look How Far We've Come!

2011-05-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

As painful as it is to remember, today I reflect on how far our family has travelled on our journey since bacterial meningitis threatened my baby's life one year ago today...

My Facebook entries documenting our experience that began one year ago today:

May 15, 2010 at 6:28pm:
Please pray for my sick baby boy. My heart is dying. We need a miracle.

May 16, 2010 at 7:26am
My heart aches, holding my son's teeny hand as he fights for his life. But he is fighting! I have faith that the Lord hears our prayers and I will continue to plead for a miracle. Please pray for Ben.

May 16, 2010 at 11:13am
Ben's evaluation from the picu doctor this morning: "I think he will survive." We have hope. Fresh courage take.

May 16, 2010 at 10:26 pm
In my worst nightmares I never imagined my five week old son would be in a battle for his life. As his mother, I feel pain and anguish that can't be described. But, I choose to have faith. I know the Lord is mindful of our family and I will continue to pray for our miracle. Please pray for my baby. Pray hard.

May 17, 2010 at 2:39 pm
My body is exhausted, my mind is numb, my heart is drained, but my spirit is strong. Ben needs a perfect miracle so I am determined to have perfect faith. Please pray as Ben is in his MRI now--please let there be good news.

May 18, 2010 at 7:05 am
My goal for today: breathe. My heart is heavy. I am praying for the faith and courage to stand before this aweful trial for one more day.

May 19, 2010 at 9:17 am
Happy 6 weeks Ben. It is a priviledge to be your mother. I love you infinitely and unconditionally.

May 19, 2010 at 9:27 am
The only light in this awful darkness and despair is my faith in the Lord. Please pray that we might be able to put our trust in His will and find peace in our hearts.

May 20, 2010 at 10:55 am
Each day is a rollercoaster of events and emotions. I cannot return to the past, the present is misery, and the future itself is uncertain. The only thing I can trust is that, come what may, the Lord's will be done. My faith in His plan is the only thing that lightens my heavy burden. I CAN do this.

May 20, 2010 at 11:05 pm
We are closely monitoring Ben's breathing as the slightest stimulation causes his respirations to crash. He is unable to tolerate nutrition at this time. He has coughed, cried, and yawned on his own--but he is yet to "wake up." We must now wait...nothing is certain at this time. We are continuing to pray for a healing, but are determined to submit to the will of the Lord.

May 21, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Best moment of the day: holding my precious son and comforting him with primary songs. Second best: Hank and Max visiting at the hospital and Hank telling me out of the blue that my tummy isn't big anymore. ..... Praying to find joy in my journey.

May 22, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Ben is like a little leaky boat and the doctors try their best to bail him out with teaspoons. Today was a good day--no new holes to plug. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Words can't express the gratitude we feel for the countless small kindnesses we have received. Please continue to pray for my son.

May 23, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Ben sucks! Literally. Ben demonstrated huge steps in his recovery by sucking on his binky this afternoon. Sucking = swallowing = eating....hopefully. Thank you so much for remembering our family in your prayers.

May 24, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Let's see...wake up, eat breakfast, hang out, watch my baby's brain surgery....yep, average Monday. CT scan today showed excessive fluid in Ben's head and a blood clot in a vein in his brain. Bad news. It's a good thing Ben is a fighter. I'm so proud of him. Praying for Ben to hang in there.

May 25, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Just a little icing on the cake: doctors are thinking Ben has pnuemonia. More medication, back on oxygen, another CT tomorrow, and new picc line. We will not give up.....we have never felt the hand of the Lord in our lives more strongly.

May 26, 2010 at 8:44 pm
This rollercoaster is making me feel sick and I think I want to get off. Highs: today's ct scan was nuetral and Ben opened his eyes for nearly an hour. Lows: Ben is having heart issues after receiving sedation for his picc line.... EKG today and an echo tomorrow. Ben is so tired--hopefully tomorrow's ride will be smooth.

May 27, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Today was just what we needed--slow, quiet, boring....no new bad news! I am hopeful that we may have finally bottomed out and can start recovery mode now. Praying for a speedy, full recovery and trusting in the Lord and His plan for us. Thank you, thank you for your prayers--it means the world to us.

May 28, 2010 at 6:54 am
Disturbing events this a.m.: twice Ben "forgot to breathe" and had to be revived. Absolutely terrifying. Doctors don't have any explanations yet. Today is not off to a good start. Please, please keep a prayer in your heart for Ben.

May 28, 2010 at 8:49 am
Back to ICU....

May 28, 2010 at 7:16 pm
After an intense day in the PICU in which Ben repeatedly stopped breathing until he was gray in the face, it was determined that his apneaic spells were the result of seizures. Hopefully we'll be able to adjust his anti-convulsant meds and patch this little hole in the leaky boat. Aaron and I are exhausted after a high drama day, but so relieved that Ben is hanging on. So proud of that boy.

May 29, 2010 at 9:36 pm
For the first time in weeks, it felt like the old baby Ben was back. Although we can't be sure, we think Ben can hear and possibly see! Best of all, Ben gave me a great big dimpled smile today! Yesterday we weren't sure Ben was going to make it and today was his best day yet! What a difference one day can make. So, so, so grateful for the many prayers offered on behalf of little Ben. Keep them coming--it's working!

May 30, 2010 at 6:55 pm
It's a record! Two good days in a row! I'm liking this new trend. In order for Ben to come home, he needs to work really hard this week. Please pray that Ben will have the strength and ability to pass some very important tests. He's come so far already...you can do it Ben!!!

May 31, 2010 at 7:41 pm
One more day down and one more day closer to bringing our baby home and bringing our family back together. Today was a slow day at the hospital--hopefully Ben got enough rest to pass his skills tests later this week. We've come so far but we still have so far left to go. Saying my prayers of thanks and living one day at a time.

June 1, 2010 at 12:48 pm
At 4, Ben will be taking a swallow test to determine if he is able to feed orally, or have to continue receiving nutrition through a tube. I wouldn't be any more nerveous for this test than I would be if he were taking the LSATs. This morning Ben was given his first bottle ever, and his first oral feeding in over 2 weeks (to qualify for the test)...he drained it! Yes! Please keep Ben in your prayers this afternoon:)

June 1, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Cheers to Ben! Ben is about to get his grub on....we got the go ahead to start feeding Ben with a bottle! This boy continues to amaze me. I can't thank you enough for your prayers.

June 1, 2010 at 8:58 pm
I don't have the words to express my appreciation for the outpouring of prayers, love, and service rendered on my family's behalf. I will never be able to repay all of the acts of kindness that we have received...but I will do my best to pay it forward. Love to you all.

June 2, 2010 at 8:57 am
Ben just finished his morning bottle--not sure if he was more happy to drink it or if I was more happy to be able to feed him. Hearing test this afternoon.....praying constantly.

June 2, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Miracles happen: my baby can HEAR!

June 5, 2010 at 3:01pm
Two very exciting things to celebrate today: Hank's 4th birthday and the news that Ben will be coming home in a few days!

June 7, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Waiting for a few more of Ben's doctors to give us the green light to be discharged....then it'll be home sweet home tomorrow!

June 9, 2010 at 7:43 pm
After 4 weeks in the hospital, my head is spinning from playing nurse to Ben, but I won't complain because it feels so good to be back home.

If I had the choice, I'd give back this trial in a heartbeat. But, I can't deny the profound impact that Ben's illness and subsequent road to recovery has had in drawing our family closer together, deepening my appreciation for our friends and family, increasing my faith in the Lord and His tender mercies, sewing my testimony of my Savior to the walls of my soul, solidifying my testimony of the power of prayer and priesthood blessings, and confirming my unconditional love for my sweet children.

I am so proud of how far Ben has come in just one year and I'm excited to see what amazing miracles are in store for this boy in the journey ahead!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

Wow. A girl could really get used to this royal treatment! From the breakfast in bed to the special musical number, the extra "I love you"s and special pampering--my boys treated me like a queen! Oh that every day could be Mother's Day! Thank you, boys, for making me feel so loved.

Nothing makes me feel more content and satisfied, stimulated and challenged, and just plain happy than being a mom. I am so deeply grateful for each of my children and for the great opportunity and responsibility that I have been given to be their mother. I love my special boys and pray every single day for the added guidance and wisdom to carry out my special role as their mother in a way that would be pleasing to my Heavenly Father.

Dear Mom,

Thank you for being my very best girlfriend. I call you often, sometimes for a needed recipe, sometimes to share a peice of happy news, sometimes to glean some mommy advice about a minor medical issue or a problematic behavior, sometimes to just complain and vent about life in general, and sometimes just because--and you always know EXACTLY what to say. You know when I just need an ear to listen, you know when I need a pep talk to build me up, you know when I need a soft reminder to consider the greater perspective, you know when I need comfort and reassurance. Your words have often been the precise answer to prayer that I was searching for, the extra bit of boost that I needed to keep going. Thank you for being my friend, keeping my company, sharing my burden, as I try to walk this path of motherhood in your footsteps. Happy Mother's Day.

I love you,
me

Tough Guy

2011-05-06T20:26:00.000-07:00

When I grow up, I hope I can be as tough as Hank. That kid = tough as nails. This morning during his pre-kinder physical, Hank got four shots--didn't even flinch.

Look at that tough guy face! Don't mess with Hank. He'll mess you up.

And the bribe for Hank's bravery? A sweeper truck and an airport firetruck.

Ouch...that hurt a little bit

2011-05-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know that Hank will have a blast at kindergarten next year. And I know that he will make tons of new friends and learn lots of new and exciting things. And I even believe that sending him to school is what is best for his overall development. But if my heart hurt just taking him to Kinder Round-up this morning, how will I possibly survive sending him off to kindergarten full-time in the fall? I honest to goodness don't know if I will be able to bear it--I will just miss my sweet Hanky so much!

As the children arrived at the round-up, the kids enjoyed cookies and juice in the cafeteria. The principal's welcome speach wasn't nearly as exciting as the garbage truck that stopped right outside the window....which of course Hank plastered his face to in order to get a good look.

On the school tour, we stopped into a kindergarten class and the kids listened to a story and colored a butterfly. Hank seemed a little timid and nervous, but I was happy to see him listen attentively to the story and then raise his hand and make a comment at the end.

Its no surprise that Hank's favorite part of the Round-up was getting to tour the school bus.

I know that when school starts in four months Hank will be ready--but will I??

Weight Watchers

2011-05-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

As much as I love Ben's squishy belly, his rolly-polly thighs, and each and every pudgy finger and toe, his doctor said that Ben needs to go on a diet (for real!) in order to support healthy bowels, encourage mobility, and meet his nutrition requirements. Poor baby. No more Big Macs for you, Ben! Until Ben's oral feeding skills improve, this what Ben will be feasting on:

Mmmm, mmm!

Super Heroes

2011-05-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

It put a giant smile on my face when the boys asked if they could wear these to the park this afternoon:

Don't the frog rainboots just complete the look?

If you could see their faces, there would be smiles from ear to ear!

This little boy will always be my hero.

How is that for celebrating the ordinary moments?

**Thanks so much Erin for the awesome capes!

Ordinary/Extraordinary

2011-05-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

Presenting a new Grover Family Blog column to celebrate life's ordinary and extraordinary moments every single day:

* My intuitive little Hank has learned that Mom turns into a crazy woman in the morning when we're trying to throw breakfast together, locate shoes, pack diaper bags, and get out of the house before school/therapy. Sensing my stress the other morning, Hank stopped me and gave me a hug and a kiss, told me that he loved me, and said that I was the best mom in the whole world. Then he said, "Do you know why I said that? Because I seen that you were having a hard time so I said that." So sweet. Thank you, Hank, for the much needed reminder to slow down and take a deep breath.

* Like most siblings, Hank and Max fight like dogs....over favorite toys, the prized pink plate/spoon, the movie selection, who gets in the bathtub first, etc. To address this problem, I decided to implement a morning family prayer time where we would focus our prayers on developing kindness and patience towards each other. Its working! I have seen dramatic changes in the boys' behavior--so much less fighting! Starting our day with a family prayer has made such a difference in the spirit in our home.

* My good friend Jean has undertaken a very thoughtful service project in making Ben a few pairs of Sunday pants, summer shorts, and rompers so that he can be comfy in clothes that fit his pudgy little body and look snappy, too! So grateful for the kindness of friends.

* After being blacklisted from the library for a time, the boys have recently rediscovered the fun of checking out books and movies. Sitting between Hank and Max, with Ben on my lap, and reading together--a favorite activity of mine--has been a very special treat.

I'll be looking for more ordinary/extraordinary moments to celebrate throughout the week....report back next week!

Soccer Stud

2011-05-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

Tell me you wouldn't be scared if you came up against this soccer stud (doing his "karate" pose) on the soccer field:

If Hank's first soccer practice yesterday is any indication, this is going to be another awesome (and comical!) soccer season! Can't wait!

Rainy Day Remedy

2011-04-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

I'm embarrassed to say that in the five years I've lived in Washington, I've done a lot of hot chocolate sipping, a lot of snuggling under warm blankets, a lot of pleasure reading by the fireplace, and a lot of lazy pajama party movie days, but I haven't done nearly enough of this:

A person can only take so much dark clouds and rain, before its time to throw on the rain gear and hit the puddles! I have to say, playing in the rain was actually quite invigorating!

The boys approved of our puddle splashing activity...Hank told me I was the best mom in the whole world!

Easter Highlights

2011-04-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the highlights from our awesome Easter weekend:

* EASTER EGG HUNT

If I was a better person, I would feel bad that my kids greedily filled their baskets to the brim with Easter eggs while other poor children got trampled by the crowd of egg-hunters and went home with empty baskets. Sorry. A few years ago, I tried playing "Mr. Nice-guy" at the egg hunt and we went home empty handed. Lesson learned: every man for himself.

When the Egg Hunt began, my competitive spirit kicked in and Hank and I raced past the pack of egg-hunters, to the back of the field, where Hank had ample time to fill his basket before the crowd caught up. Greedy!

The fun really is in the hunt (or race, more like it) because out of the dozens of eggs the boys grabbed, we came away with a couple Tootsie Rolls, a few temporary tattoos, some bouncy balls, and a couple erasers.

Oh Benjamin. Even that little pouty face makes me smile.

* SUNSHINE....Isn't life just a million times better when the sun is shining? We spent all day outdoors mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, thatching the front yard, pressure washing the porch, taking a family walk, playing at the park, and just loving life.

* DYING EASTER EGGS

I have fond memories of dying Easter egss as a girl so it made me happy to share that tradition with Hank and watch him have so much fun decorating his eggs.

We kept it pretty basic, but I think they look great!

* VISIT FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

The Easter Bunny was a little burnt out after delivering all of those Easter baskets to the Tree House earlier this month, so the Easter Bunny decided to just skip the baskets and leave a small toy instead. Max loved his emergency vehicle HotWheels and Hank is fascinated with his firetruck transformer. Thanks, Easter Bunny!

* EASTER OUTFITS

My dear friend Jean made Ben these custom pants so that he could wear slacks on Easter Sunday instead of his usual sweatpant style.

I love these people.

* EGG WARS.....this self-invented tradition is a huge family favorite. Each family member uses their signature Easter egg to try to smash the opponent Easter egg in an egg duel. Its like our own mini-food fight!

* EASTER DINNER

And this was just the dessert! I had a lot of fun cooking up a storm in the kitchen and then having Nana and Papa Grover over to share our Easter feast. And yup, these strawberry lemonade bars were as good as they looked.

* THE REAL REASON....On this special Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of our beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ, who atoned for our sins, died on the cross, and then arose from the tomb. In overcoming death, He made eternal life possible. Happy Easter!

Growing Boy

2011-04-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

Benjamin's One Year Stats:
Length: 31" (95%)
Weight: 30.2 lbs (self-explanatory)
Head Circumference: 47 cm

** photo to follow documenting Ben's first tooth which arrived on his birthday!

The Tree House

2011-04-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

We completed Ben's Birthday Service Project by delivering our beautiful Easter baskets to the Tree House the other night.

Visiting the Tree House again, nearly a year after our residency there last spring, was a very bittersweet experience. While Ben was in the hospital, the Tree House provided us with a place to rest for a few hours, a place to share dinner together with Hank and Max, a place where we could spend time with Hank and Max as a family, and feel kinda-sorta normal. We will always be grateful for the generousity we experienced while staying at the Tree House. However, stepping back into that facility, seeing other families with that familiar shell-shocked look on their faces, brought me back to a very dark time in my life--a time that I would rather not revisit ever again.

Though it is a very small gesture, we hope that these Easter baskets, made with love by the boys and their friends, will bring a little smile to the faces of the families who will be spending Easter at the Tree House this year.

Daffodil Parade 2011

2011-04-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

We look forward to watching the Daffodil parade from the curbside of our little town every year. This year, it was a bit chilly, so we had to bundle up tight. Ben isn't much of an outdoorsman, and is a little sensitive about noise, so he and I enjoyed the second half of the parade from our warm, quiet[er] car. Hank was hardcore and wanted to stay and watch every float, every marching band, every dignitary, and every tractor and firetruck until the bitter end. Maybe one year Hank will get to march in the parade!

A Big Year

2011-04-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

You were warned, remember? No apologies for the absurd amount of photos posted below (keep scrolling). It was a very eventful year and I earned the right to brag ad nauseum about my special birthday boy, Benjamin. But honestly, can you blame me?

[just a few of the] Things Ben Can Do:

Cause random strangers to stop, point, stare, and smile at his total CUTEness
Melt hearts with his SMILE
Convey total HAPPINESS with his squeal
Create MAGIC with the light in his eyes
INSPIRE others to increase their FAITH
Bring PEACE to our family
Express LOVE to everyone who he comes into contact with
Prove that MIRACLES do happen
Provide AMAZEment with every developmental inchstone met
LIFT others to want to become better
TEACH values: compassion, tolerance, acceptance
EXEMPLIFY courage and determination
GIVE HOPE

And just think, if Ben accomplished these impressive tasks in only one year of life, what amazing things will he be able to DO next? Anything and everything.

Birthday Wishes

2011-04-07T21:25:00.000-07:00

From Aaron on Facebook today:

Happy birthday to the coolest one year old on the planet! This little boy has been through more in the first year of his life than many will have to endure in their lifetime. It is an honor to call him my son. He is my little hero. Happy birthday Ben!