Eating Dinner at the Table . . .

I was reading a friends blog today and came across this conversation and it just broke my heart.

One boy stated that he was starving and was excited to get home, because Mom was making a chicken dish that was his favorite and she promised to save him some. The reaction from a few of the other youths was surprising to me.

It went something like this:

Does your Mom cook dinner, every night? This was said with a huge emphasis that held an element of awe or disbelief. When he went on to assure the group that yes, indeed his Mom did fix dinner every night, the group was stunned.

The crust of the conversation held statements like, “we can’t afford milk, because my mom buys 10 red bulls a day or trades our food stamps for cigarettes.” another statement was, “I don’t think we have actually ever eaten at the table, at least not that I can remember.” one of my favorites, (hope you can sense the sarcasm) was, “we don’t even have a table”

I am grateful to my mom who made my sister and I eat at the table every night when we were growing up! We didn't always like it, but as a mom myself I enjoy that time with my family to find out how their day went, what adventures they had at work, school or daycare, and sometimes it's a race to see who can get done the fastest so we can spend more time at the park before bath time.

Sunday dinner is sometimes a challenge, the boys are hyper or whining about something, but I wanted to say thank you to both my parents for enduring meal time at our house! I love you very much!!!!

Peach Days 2009

Last Friday we met some friends in Brigham and enjoyed the festivities. Since the boys had the flu for the fair we promised them that they could ride the rides at Peach Days. Our friend Kristi is "The Nut Lady" so we stopped by there first to get some almonds and nuggets. The boys thought is was really cool to sit on Chris's Harley (Kristi's new hubby).

Then of course it was off to the sandbox and tractors! I don't know why the pictures of TJ didn't save to my phone, dang it! Operator error I am sure!

Then once it started to get dark we headed for the rides! The boys thought it was cool to ride the rides with the lights on. My cell phone doesn't take moving pictures that well so I don't have any of the boys having fun, but I think the best was the large slide. Hunter loved racing his dad and TJ. TJ's favorite was the motorcycle ride.

Hunter wanted to ride the ferris wheel so TJ and I hung back while he and Troy rode. Last year was much better for Hunter, this year he screamed most of the ride! LOL!

Labor day weekend 2009

Troy had to work the weekend before Labor Day so the boys and I hung out at home. Hunter loves duct tape (like father like son) and wanted to create an Iron Man hand. I wasn't hip on the idea of duct tape on the skin so Troy suggested using a baggy first. Who knew that a baggy and duct tape could entertain the boys for hours . . .On Saturday Troy brought home a skid steer to spread the pile of dirt in the back yard. The boys were in heaven! They loved riding the skid steer with their dad. TJ would patiently wait on the tramp for his ride then grin from ear to ear when it was his turn!Hunter loved it too! Whether his dad was driving the tractor or it was just sitting on the trailer, Hunter was content playing in it.

While Troy and the boys were running the skid steer I picked up tree limps and weeds! Not so much fun for me, I was one giant hive by the end of the day!

On Monday Grandpa Steve and Grandma Sue came for a visit. It was so nice to spend time with them. With all the festivities here in town and then the boys being sick, it had been quite awhile since we had seen them.

Later that night it was fun to enjoy a BBQ with Bryan, Kristi and the kids. Troy decided to burn some branches and weeds in our fire pit. It was nice to have a fire but boy did it irritate our allergies again!

First day of kindergarten . . .

Well the first day of kindergarten finally arrived for Hunter. August 31st was Hunter's first day of school! He was so dang excited! I can't believe how fast time flies. I took a long lunch that day so I could take him to school. I was a big girl and didn't cry!

Once we arrived he went running into his class, shouted out that he had glue sticks (that is the only thing the teacher asked us to bring) and grabbed the sticker with his name on it. I had created a color coded calendar (yes I know OCD) for his teacher, daycare and Troy. As a working mom I needed to know that everyone was on the same page, when Hunter went with daycare and when Hunter would be picked up by his dad. I checked with Mrs. Roberts to see if she need anything else, Hunter found his name to hang his back pack . . .
Then it was time for me to go. I gave Hunter a kiss and headed for the door. Hunter boy was so dang cute, from his circle of friends he shouts "have a good day mom I love you!" That's when I got a bit teary eyed! I am so glad that he loves school! Kudos to his daycare too! Hunter got a cool green back pack from all of his teachers chucked full of fun school supplies! Of course Hunter didn't want me to take back the transformer one we bought a week earlier, "it's okay mom, I will just use both!"

That night he brought home is first homework assignment. He had to put 3 things in a bag to stand up in front of the class to tell a little bit about himself. WOW who knew the first assignment would be so difficult. Trying to explain to my five year old that putting a toliet paper roll with glued paper on it, really wasn't what the teacher had in mind! After much thought in his bedroom Hunter came out asking if he could please take a transformer, he really liked playing with them. Sure, that would be okay I said. Then I asked if he wanted to take a little 4 wheeler toy since he likes to ride with his daddy. Oh my, the fit started all over again! No that is not what he had in mind.

While we were making dinner, Hunter asked if he could take something to show everyone that he likes to help me cook. Fabulous idea! He choose a measuring cup. Two down, one to go! I was trying to figure out something for him to take to talk about camping and riding the 4 wheeler. I suggested a picture of him, daddy & Travis on the 4 wheeler with the trailer in the background. It was a hit! He loved it!


On Wednesday, the first week of school, it was Hunter's turn to present to the class. He said the kids really liked his stuff! Glad we both survived his first homework assignment! LOL!

Hunter only got to go to school for a week, then it was assessment testing. During his week off the teacher sent home a figurine for the kids to create themselves with. I was a bit nervous considering our last assignment, but we made it through without a fight! LOL!
Now as most of you know I am not very creative at all, but we pulled out the construction paper, scissors, glue and went to town. Hunter didn't want to draw is own face, lord knows I can't draw so I suggested a picture. Hunter thought that was really cool! Then of course we had to decorate his stick figure shirt to match the transformer shirt he was wearing. Here is Hunter and his finished product! Very cute I must say!!!

2009 Box Elder County Parade & Fair

Troy had to work the night of the parade. The boys were suppose to ride the daycare float, but since they were so grouchy I had them take a rest instead. After a quick nap we walked down to Hearts & Hands Daycare to watch the parade.TJ loved eating his popcicle and Hunter loved getting candy with his friends.

Muriel is the daycare director and is absolutely fabulous! TJ and Hunter just love her!

Once the float was a block away from the daycare I grabbed the boys and we walked to the float. Hunter was so excited to be able to hand out candy.

TJ rode with Shelly, another daycare teacher who is wonderful!

Hunter walked about 2 blocks and decided he had had enough, he wanted to ride the float. TJ was done all the way around, he wanted no part of the float, he just wanted his mom! LOL! Thanks to Patty, the pre-school teacher at daycare, for helping me with TJ.
After the parade we headed to the rodeo since the boys had never been. Wednesday was the night of the bulls. Hunter and TJ loved it. Uncle Shayne & Aunt Mindy came as well. Shalon brought Mandy to enjoy the rodeo too. Hunter wanted to pet a horse so bad, so Shalon & Mandy took him to meet the rodeo queen (Mandy's cousin). Hunter was in awe. He was too embarrassed to have Shalon take his picture! Hunter has decided he wants to ride a sheep next year so he can bucked off! LOL!

The advantage to living in a small town is we can enjoy the festivities every night and it doesn't cost a dime. I love that the fair is free! On Thursday we met Lisa, Luke & Gracie to see the animals. We found Brianna's pig who took 6th out of 250 pigs! Way to go Brianna! After seeing all the animals the boys wanted to play on the saw dust pile. Boys, they are entertained with anything!

On Friday we headed to Ogden for Carrie's baby shower! I am so excited for her! She is having twin boys in November. Daniel, who is three, will have so much fun with his little brothers! Leave it to Hunter to get curious about a toy. He got his arm stuck in it. Carrie's sister Lisa was so cute, she was trying to calm Hunter while she was taking the toy apart. Jodi, another mom at the party, came into the toy room just a laughing. She tipped the toy upside down and wiggled Hunter's arm right out. Jodi has 4 boys with the same exact toy! LOL! Thank goodness it wasn't anything too serious!
Unfortunately the night didn't get any better. TJ threw up on the way home from Ogden. It was a very long ride from Willard to home for all of us! I had no idea the boys were even sick, they were acting normal, but I later found out they were exposed at daycare. Poor TJ kept throwing up every hour through Saturday night. Hunter started throwing up about 3am Saturday morning and was sick through Saturday night as well. I have never had both boys sick at one time, not an adventure I want to try again anytime soon! The boys were devestated that they didn't get to go back to the fair on Saturday to ride the rides. Thank goodness Peach Days was only a few weeks away!

Playing with worms & slugs

The weekend of August 15th we headed up to the Eagles to camp with my parents. It had rained a ton that weekend so the worms and slugs were out in full force. The boys thought they were cool . . .

Millie and Mollie loved it too when the rain stopped, they could be outside to play. PINNED barked Mollie as she was standing over Millie. LOL!