Last few days of May, Start of June

 Here are some highlights from the last few days of May and first few days of June.

Carter giving Piper's head some support; silly dog.  Our pretty Peony bush is in bloom!

Summer has officially begun, at least the boys are out of school.  Steve took them to a splash pad to play.  They had fun watching the boats go down the stream.

So much fun!

They had fun, but eventually got cold, so they came home and warmed up in blankets.

Cute Hudson was playing in the sandbox, then by the tree.  More of the pretty Peony bush.

Silly Piper w/ the garden hose.

Thursday night we went up to Dave and Melissa Thomas' place in West Bountiful for a 11th Branch Reunion (the branch we used to live in when we were in Midvale in our condo).  It was great to see everyone!  We haven't been together as a group since 2019, before Covid.

Morris family, Shills, Harrs (kneeling), Martins, McGraths, Millwards, Steeds, Dunkelbergers and Thomas family.  Jon Brown in the 2nd picture.  His wife Jana passed away from cancer a couple years ago.  The Minsons also came but had to head out early to go to a wedding reception.

Saturday morning I took Carter and Hudson to Draper Park to play.  We had fun!  Hudson is doing great going pee in the potty.  Mostly we have to take him before doing activities like before going outside or going anywhere really.  He's stayed dry during the night though (knock on wood), which is awesome!  We have him go potty before brushing his teeth, then after prayers/stories/song, then we wake him up to go again as we're going to bed, then we've been setting an alarm at 5am to have him go again, then back to bed.  So far so good!  He's getting it!  He's been a little slow to run to the potty for #2, but we're getting there.

Having fun at the park!

While we were at the park, Steve took Nyles out to Magna to complete his Hunter's Safety Education field day at the Lee Kay Center.  He already did the online portion since the end of March.  They started at 9am.  They did a review course the first part, then went outside and did their field practice (like crossing a fence w/ a guy, walking together w/ other hunters, etc).  

Nyles ready to start, then going field practice w/ the instructor.

Then he did his written test, lunch, the shooting tests.

Good shots!

He did the written test all by himself, Steve had to go outside the room.  They had to wait while he graded everyone's papers before they could go.  They weren't done until 6:45pm.  It was a LONG day to say the least, but he did it!  Awesome work Nyles!!!  He is officially licensed!

Also while they were gone, we went over to LuDean/Diane's place for a baby shower for Steve's cousin Monica Taylor's son Christian who had a baby boy.  We gave them some new baby clothes and Hudson's size 2 clothes he doesn't fit anymore.  It was fun to see many of the McGraths.

On Sunday we had family dinner at our house again.  Steve smoked 2 beef chuck roasts and shredded them for dinner.  We had rolls/cheese to make sandwiches w/ them.  We then sang Happy Birthday to June birthdays (who were there) including Rob who joined us, Olivia and Carter.

Great quotes.

4th Week of May/Last days of school/Memorial Day Weekend

On Monday, May 22nd, it was supposed to be Carter's official last day of school.  The Kindergarten classes were supposed to have a field day where they could play outside and have fun.  Nyles' class was also supposed to go on a field trip.  Steve took the boys to the store to get a donut to celebrate that morning.  While he was gone, the school called and said the entire school was to do an online learning day because there was a water leak in the school and the halls were wet.  I called Steve to let him know the news.  The kids were pretty sad about it, but made do.

Carter getting licks from Piper.  The boys all laying in Nyles' bed, then Hudson asleep in his bed.

Monday night we had our Primary girls' activity.  We made mini pizzas using English Muffins, then we played Apples to Apples Jr.  We had a good time!

The next day only Nyles had school.  We played in the backyard during my lunch break.  A pretty Iris in bloom, a beautiful butterfly on our Lilac bush, and Hudson and Carter taking turns jumping on the trampoline.

Hudson song.

Later Hudson jumping on the trampoline w/ his boots on.  It rained so he wanted to wear his boots.  We played outside while Steve took Nyles and Carter to martial arts.  So cute when he's asleep.

On Wednesday, May 24th, Carter's last thing to do in Kindergarten was to take a test at the school.  

He then said goodbye to his teacher Mrs. Veazie.

Steve went to help his dad get new Honey Locust trees like we have and also a bush.  He also helped plant them in their yard.  They ended up being gone all morning.  While they were gone we had a crew come install "fibers" for our house to be ready for Google Fiber.  

Later Hudson playing in the sprinkler.  Nyles had a Primary Activity that afternoon.  They made water tornadoes out of pop bottles.

Hudson playing in the sprinklers.

Last day of school pictures, Hudson wanted to join in as well.

Nyles' class at school.

I went and did initiatories at the Draper Temple.  Beautiful Irises in bloom around the house.

More in bloom on the side yard.  We had ice build up in our fridge so Steve threw it outside.  

Piper decided she needed to eat it; silly dog :)

Nyles was done w/ school by 12:30pm on Friday.  That afternoon Dave/Joann took Nyles, Carter and Lynsie up to Melanie/Brandon's place in Midway.  They were having a celebration for the end of the school year w/ the neighbors and invited the family as well.  It was a little cold outside but they still had a great time!  They then went back to Dave/Joann's house that night for a sleepover w/ Lynsie.

Saturday morning, we started potty training Hudson.  Steve slept in that morning after a rough night, then went to the library to study.  Hudson and I played and did different activities.  I had him drink lots of fluids to give him "opportunities" to "go" and rush him to the potty over and over.

Dave and Joann took Nyles, Carter and Lynsie up to the cabin.  Jeff's family met them up there as well.  Nyles took the opportunity to shoot the BB gun.  He hit his target!  He actually just finished up Hunter's Safety (the online portion) and will do the field day and written test on June 5th.   Later playing Battleship w/ Joann.

Carter building a Domino tower, then playing Sleeping Queens w/ Dave, Alexa, Kim, Kim' mom Cathy and Lynsie.

Carter knocking his Domino tower over.

Another beautiful Iris color came out!  We have so many different colors this year!

Sunday I stayed home w/ Hudson to keep working on potty training.  After church we hung out.  Nyles and Carter had a fun time playing w/ him.  Cute Hudson in his underwear in his bed.

Cute peaches coming in and pears on our trees.  Pretty Irises.

Beautiful peach color Irises on the side of our house, even in our raspberry patch.

Cute Piper up on the wall, then smelling our Peony bush about to bloom.

Cute Piper gets so focused on the ball!

Steve holding up a stick showing how tall our trees have grown since we planted them July 2019, after we replaced our retaining wall.  Sunday evening Steve smoked some chicken breasts and veggies.  The boys had fun jumping on the trampoline.  We kept Hudson in his underwear the whole weekend to help to recognize when he need to go potty quicker.

Monday morning Hudson and I woke up before everyone else, so we went outside to play.  Hudson wanted to jump on the trampoline.  The grass was wet so his feet left little footprints on the mat (so cute).  Later we got out the Toboggans and filled them w/ water for a little swimming pool.  Later Nyles and Carter wanted to play Sleeping Queens again, but Hudson wanted to wrestle instead.

Monday afternoon while Hudson was down for his nap we did work outside.  Steve, Nyles and Carter helped to stain the deck on the trailer to make it waterproof and UV resistant.  While they worked on that I spread mulch around the flowerbeds.  We also put up our American Flag.  Steve borrowed our neighbor's pressure washer to clean off the trailer bed before staining it, then used it to clean a few other things.  Nyles and Carter thought it was fun to get sprayed by it, and Hudson enjoyed spraying them. :)

The new mulch spread out on the flowerbeds in the backyard.

New mulch in the front yard.

Piper kept finding rubber duckies in the toys outside and would bring them to us to throw for her.  Silly Piper!  Carter playing on the swing.  Hudson climbing up the rock wall w/ his cute underwear, then going over to swing w/ Carter.

We ordered pizza for dinner after a busy day, then made s'mores for dessert!

Great quotes.

3rd Week of May

Here are some highlights from the 3rd week of May.  

Hudson drinking from the hose.  Get got all wet (image that), so he took a bath to warm up.  

He wanted to use his hair brush to scrub his body.  Whatever works :)

Hudson's silly poses while sleeping.  Hudson helping Steve take the trash out to the curb.

On Tuesday, Pauline and I did another Pilates class together.  We didn't get a picture this time :)

On Wednesday, May 17th, Steve took the boys and Nyles' friend Lincoln down to Utah Lake to fish for White Bass.  The wind picked up and they weren't catching any.  As soon as it died down though they started biting, so they stayed a little longer and caught several.  Lincoln also caught his very first fish!

Having fun catching fish!

Silly Hudson playing w/ his drill, fixing the playhouse.

Hudson after eating a chocolate donut.  Nyles giving Hudson a "ride" around the house.

Our beautiful Irises are finally blooming.  We have so many different colors coming in, I love it!

Hudson jumping on the trampoline during my lunch break and spraying the grass and Piper's ball.

Hudson jumping on the trampoline.

Friday, Steve took the boys over to a park and put up hammocks and played for a while.  Carter's friend Colin came over to play that afternoon as well.  They had a blast!  Hudson thought it was really fun to swing, but then threw up on Steve!  They came home shortly after.

Our cute pears starting to come in.  The boys playing on the trampoline, then wrapping Hudson up in their snakes and surrounding him w/ their stuffed animals.  Our Honey Locust trees coming in along w/ the bushes.  

On Saturday we went kayaking for the first time this year!  We went down to Utah Lake to kayak down the Provo River.  We went down a little ways then found that they dammed it off.  Steve read they were doing that, but thought it was further down the road.

We then turned around and came back up the river.

Steve w/ Hudson, and Rob trying to avoid the sun.  It was pretty warm at 83 degrees.

Carter and Nyles making their way down the river.  Cute ducks.

Carter got tired coming back up the river so we stopped and got a rope from the car, and tied him to Steve.  I also took Hudson and brought him w/ me.

We then rowed around to the lake and back around into the cove area.  It was a lot of fun!  We then went down to Provo and ended up at Café Rio for dinner.  There was a Little Caesars next to Café Rio, so Carter got a pizza instead.  We picked one up for him and all ate together in Café Rio.

Silly Piper laying on Nyles' stuffed animal snake.  Cute Hudson's pose while asleep.  Steve took Nyles and Carter to lay in the hammock again Sunday afternoon while Hudson took a nap.

Steve also smoked a beef roast on Sunday.  It was super yummy!  Steve just used water, instead of beef broth, Mrs. Dash salt free spices and an onion to flavor it as a way to have low sodium, especially for Dave.  We went over to Diane/LuDean's for dinner.  Dave and Joann met us there.  We played a game after dinner, which was fun.  Diane sent us home w/ Otter Pops.  The boys only ate a "few" coming home.  Thanks Diane!  Thanks for the fun everyone :)

Great quotes: