Rock Climbing with Uncle Scott

So Scott LOVES rock climbing right? 

So he's felt it important to introduce the sport to all my boys in past years. And this was Rhett's first time.  It was a big success!

He really did so so well.  He climbed the kiddy section to the top several times without help (7-ish feet high)!

Then when we used the ropes in the main section, he climbed a little more then half way up before feeling uneasy.

CHAMP!

Luke got nervous half way up as well, then Scott renewed his confidence by bringing him to a little easier section where he climbed to the top, and then back again to his original challenge. Nailed it!

And here's a picture of Kaden rocking 'bouldering'

Basic or intermediate climbing carried out on relatively small rocks ,generally without ropes, that can be traversed without great risk of bodily harm in case of a fall. They did great!

A little tired out.

Backyard Fun

Don't you just love those beautifully nice evenings that are unexpectedly warm that bring everyone outside to play and laugh together?

I Love to See the Temple

So the other night after reading an article in the Ensign with the boys, we realized that they don't have much in their rooms to remind them of what is important in life...Or reminders of the ENTIRE reason we're here. 

So, we decided to try and get a picture of them in front of the temple-blow it up, and hang it in their room.  (To say "we" might be a bit of an overstatement...or a flat out lie.  It was me.  Just me that thought having them all dress up in the church clothes on Spring Break and go as the lone adult to take pictures was the BEST IDEA EVER :)  

ANYWAY  so we got a picnic together with their favorite foods, drove the 10 minutes to the temple (LOVE UTAH!) and took some pictures. 

I think it's HILARIOUSLY RIDICULOUS to try and get 4 young boys to:

"smile and look at the camera at the same time"

But that didn't get me to stop saying it over and over and over and over and over again. 

HA!  So this was our closest shot.  

But I had such a great time with them. They're so wonderful and full of such an incredible spirit.  Although they may yell, fight, bug, and frustrate each other, this group of boys loves each other.  They all try so hard to make each other happy.  

It's the unprompted moments that warm my heart.  

Like this morning when Kade helped Rhett with his chore of unloading the silverware because he could tell Rhett was getting frustrated.  

Or when Rhett got candy earlier this week and his first thought was to put it on his brothers dressers so they could have a surprise waiting for them when they got home from school. 

Or how he plays peek-a-boo and walks around holding Max's hand.  

Or when Luke does "secret service" and makes his brothers beds with notes signed, "sincerely ?????"

I am soooo insanely blessed to be a mother, and to learn from these amazing boys.

Hooray for the knowledge of the truth!  

Families Can Be Together FOREVER!

 Luke KILLS me in these group pictures! HONESTLY!!!!  HA!  THAT BOYS A RIOT!

 

Luke asked me to take this picture so that it would look like he was picking his nose....he's fancy like that.

Rhett LOVES helping Max walk.  He'll take his hand all day long and lead him around.

Special....I think he called this his Mad Scientist face.

Luke kept picture bombing Kade's pictures! HA! He's so his dad's son.

They were ready to be done before I was......

Max rocked that expression!

And this is the REALEST of all the pictures!  

Max has food to keep him from crying. Luke is making a crazy face (90% of his shots) Rhett's just happy, and Kade's helping with Max.  This may be the one that gets that frame.

I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE!  (and all that it represents)

Easter Excitement

So our Easter Bunny came on Saturday again. The boys followed their trail of peeps to their baskets and enjoyed their goodies.  Then later that day the weather was top notch for kite flying...well...sorta.  Actually, Rhett was the only one who thought about it, bought up his kite and Dad had him do the Kite Test---this consists of setting a plastic garbage bag on the grass, and if it flies out of our lawn, it's windy enough.  To our surprise--it was!

It really was soooo fun to watch the boys try to run up and down the road and figure out their kites.  Then the whole family was out there, Scott got home from work and WHAM!  Street Party :)

But also we were flying in our front yard...with trees and what not, so there was a few exciting moments when the kites got stuck.

After our Kite flying party, we were ready for Mom's fancy Easter egg hunt!

Even the adults had eggs--special ones with our initials on them with money in them! Woo Woo :)

The kids had 2 bags each to find with little gifts in them.

Cute boys right?  

Okay...quick side note: Doesn't Kara look SOOO much like Katniss Everdeen/Jennifer Lawrence from The Hunger Games? Yes. Yes she does!

For Sunday's Easter Dinner we got to have my cousin Melinda over, my cousin Vinny and his wife Amanda, and my good friend Kelly and her kids.  It was so so so great!  Great food, great friends, laughing, playing.  Just lovely.

Kelly and Leah

Dad and Max

I found Rhett under the tramp with Hyrum eating all his Easter Candy.  Good Times.

All the kiddos playing while the grown-ups laughed and talked in the living room.