Ethan's Soccer

It's that time of year again and we're back in the thick of things.  And since Taylor coaches both Isaac and Miles' teams, Isla and I get to watch Ethan each week.  He is loving his rec team with just enough competition to keep things interesting and then friends to make it fun (and treats afterwards too).

He's a good little soccer player and if he's happy, so are we.

Ezi and Isla agree- good Saturday morning entertainment.

Isaac's Kindergarten Animal Program

Our neighborhood school has a fabulous art and music program that the PTA funds.  Isaac gets to go to music class and art class every week and loves every minute of it.  They've been working hard all year to learn songs and rhythm and finally to perform it for all the parents.  Having been-there/done-that with Ethan, I knew it would be an overcrowded room so we dropped Isaac off and then just stayed to save seats on the front row so we could have a good view.  Isaac came in early with his class to set down their instruments and props and we got to all say hello.  It was pretty cute to see Ethan and Miles treat Isaac like he was a long lost friend they hadn't seen in years.  

And then finally it was time for the program.  Isaac "had a little rooster who said cock-a-doodle-doo-dee-doodle-dee-doodle-dee-doodle-dee-do".  The other kids held up different animals on their turn.

Isaac got to do the sand paper blocks.

And had fun acting out the animal parts.

Taylor played hooky from work and came to watch too.

Here's the whole kindergarten ready to perform.

And the happy smiles after the performance.

 These last few shots are ones I found on my iphone months later.  So excited to see us all there waiting for his program.

 Ethan luckily didn't have school that day (different district) so he got to come along too.  I brought along their ipods to entertain them for the hour and a half we were there saving seats.  It was really cute to watch them get excited when Isaac came in to drop off his stuff and then start taking pictures of him like he was a celebrity.

 And then after it was all over Isaac was excited to take us back to his classroom and show off all the art he'd made and even the wheat grass they grew.

We Meet Goby

Every little boy wants a dog but unfortunately for my 3 boys, I'm just not a dog person.  And neither is Taylor.  So they're really never getting a dog.  But LUCKILY Taylor's mom and sister are and so every summer when we came home from Law School and the 4 1/2 years we've been here, they've basically had a dog to play with anytime they want just by going next door to Gram's house and letting Oscar out.
Oscar was a wonderful dog.  Big and fun and happy to fetch a ball or chase you around if you ran.  And he was hilarious with bubbles.  He LOVED them and was obsessed with trying to eat them with his mouth.

And he was great entertainment around the pool always dropping his ball in so we'd pick it up and throw it across the yard for him to chase.  Ethan's the little kid in the picture above and that's little Isaac below.  Sadly Oscar started getting sick and passed away this spring.  

It breaks my heart to look back at pictures like these and remember all the happy times my kids had with him.  Ethan is especially sad and has even cried a few times this week.  We will definitely miss him.

Barbara was the one who brought him home as a newborn puppy and raised him.  When Mack went off to school and she was the only one home a lot, Oscar was always there for her.  She took him with her to college a few times and then thankfully was able to move back 2 years ago and keep him with her and Clint at their condo.  But it seems to have been the hardest on her so we weren't that surprised when just a few days after Oscar passed, they showed up with a brand new puppy.  

We were still in pajamas but very excited to meet him.  He's a Goberian.  Which is not an offiicially recognized dog species.  Basically he's a mutt- a mix of Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever.  

He is cute and fluffy and happy to lick your hand.

And HUGE!  He's half Isla's size at just a few weeks.

But so much fun and the kids are really excited.  They won't have a dog next door since Barbara is going to keep him at their new house but he'll come visit every Sunday night for dinner so maybe that's still the best of both worlds for my kids: a dog to play with occasionally and no mess or trouble for the mommy :)

St. Patty's Day Invaders

I can't resist a holiday where I can add a little magic and fun to my kid's lives.  So of course I couldn't pass up St. Patrick's Day.  Pinterest had several fun, easy ideas.  

Leprecauns climbing up into the fridge and leaving their green footprints...

And then turning our milk green!

And leaving clues for a treasure hunt throughout the house.

And finally standing on the toilet and leaving it unflushed after they'd done their business.  The kids thought it all was hilarious and were very convinced that leprecauns had somehow managed to get past our home security system and get inside the house without setting off any alarms.  The footprints and the pee especially appealed to them since they're boys.  A fun, magically morning.

Just a Day with Jeff and Jessica

We love living in Utah for many reasons and one of those is that almost all of my sibling's spouses have some kind of family tie to Utah so they end up coming to visit- and we get to see them- at least for a day.

Jessica's mother lives in Utah so they decided they'd come out for his last spring break during law school.  The boys were in HEAVEN with Jeff because he's a master lego builder and built them each their own fortresses.

And Isla was pretty excited to meet another girl cousin.  Darcy is adorable.  We didn't get to keep them for long but it was fun to see them and take them to see the new City Creek Mall and eat at a few local favorites.  Come again soon!