Jack -- The Toad

Meet Jack -- the toad. A long time ago -- gosh, it has to be a couple of years at least -- I was in the basement and saw this toad in our window well. The kids all got a big kick out of him and after playing with him for awhile they put him back in the window well and forgot all about him. Skip ahead to a couple of weeks ago when Jase looked into the window well and saw the toad! I was thinking, "has he really been in there all that time?" I suppose he could -- our window wells are very deep and I don't see how he could have possibly gotten out. There would most likely be enough bugs to keep him fed and water from the sprinklers...unless it was another toad that came to the same fate but that seems unlikely.

At any rate, the kids rejoiced in finding him. Jared named him "Jack" and the kids have had fun playing with him everyday. They all held him and let him swim around in the kiddie pool -- always putting him back into the window well afterwards for safe keeping. After a week of this Janika apparently convinced Jared to let him go free. I didn't know what had happened until Janelle, Jaiden, and Josh came in crying. "Jack -- he's gone...and we love him!" Josh was throwing his arms into the air saying, "We love him -- we love him!" I told the kids to go find him so that we could take some pictures of their beloved Jack and then they could let him go in the yard. Maybe he would stick around and they could play with him again.

So here he is. So far we haven't seen him again but maybe he will show up again -- in a couple of years!

Friends, Friends, and More Friends!

Summer time has meant friends, friends, and more friends! Even Josh has gotten to play with a lot of friends this summer. Here is Josh with Mari- Posa Purdy.


In the pool we have Genevieve Purdy, Tayrn Bashford, Layla Purdy, and Jaiden -- with Hannah Bashford, Jared Jensen, and Carson Bashford in the back.


Then we have Audra Bronson and Janelle drying off and Jared playing light sabers with Jed Frei. The kids have had tons of friends over this summer and they have played and played and played!!

Swimming Lessons

Well the kids all successfully completed their two week session of swimming lessons.

When I announced that I had enrolled everyone in swimming lessons, the little girls were really excited. It was their first time and they couldn't wait. I put them both in the same class and they did great!

Jared was somewhat indifferent about lessons but Janika and Jase threw a fit insisting that they already knew how to swim.

I finally told them that if they passed this class (level 5) that I would call it good and not enroll them again next year (although I would prefer if they took the final class -- level 6). They agreed.

The first day Janika and Jase came out huffing and puffing saying, "That was sooooo hard!" The second day they were excited to find out that their swim teacher was one of Rick's seminary students (and she told them that Brother Jensen was her very favorite teacher). After that Jani and Jase felt like they got special treatment -- lots of attention and compliments -- and they loved it (the attention, not the swimming!)

They worked hard and did indeed pass the class. They are very much relieved. Jared's class was probably too easy for him but I wanted all of the kids to have lessons at the same time and they didn't offer level four this hour. The girls had a great time in their class learning how to do "ice-cream scoops" (front crawl) and chop chop timber (on timber they would jump into the pool). They also got to go down the froggie slide each day.

So for my own benefit (since I won't remember what classes they need to be in next year) I will post it here so that I can refer to it up during next year's sign ups -- Jared will be in level 4; Janelle will be in level 2 advanced, and Jaiden in level 2 beginning (she did great but was the shortest one in her class and not yet very confident about submerging her head in the water). I guess I have to keep my promise so Janika and Jase are off the hook unless I can bribe them to give it another go....

Arrow of Light

Jase earned his Arrow of Light tonight along with four other Webelos Scouts. The "Arrow of Light" is the highest award in Cub Scouts.

The meeting opened with an impressive, well-rehearsed flag ceremony presented by the Webelos.

The Arrow of Light ceremony was held in a dark room and a tape played telling the story of the wolf-cub. There were displays all over the walls and pictures of the Cub Scout Promise, sign, motto, hand-shake and so forth.

The boys each had a flash-light and shined it on the different posters and displays as the story-teller explained each one. He then explained the symbolism behind the Arrow of Light and then I presented the awards and each boy gave their mom a proper salute (kiss on the cheek). The ceremony was well-rehearsed, short, and effective.

Jase doesn't actually leave Webelos until December, but his Webelos leader, Kathy Ence, is a real go-getter and has gone the extra mile pushing these boys to fulfill all of the requirements so that they could all get the award at the same time. She also put together the entire ceremony for tonight. As Cub-Master (and as a parent) I am grateful for such wonderful leaders in our boys' lives.

And of course we are very proud of Jase who has been doing TONS of scouting projects and homework -- including some extra scout meetings in order to finish all of his requirements. He loves scouts and has really learned a lot. Way to go Jase!!

Deaf Branch

As you know, Rick and I both know American Sign Language and yesterday we decided to attend church at the Deaf Branch. Afterwards Rick asked each of the kids, "So, what did you think of the Deaf Branch?" Jaiden (age four) excitedly said, "I saw it! I saw the Deaf Branch.... look there it is (pointing to a tree). See -- it has no leaves!"

They Grow Up So Fast...

We took the kids out to lunch at Del Taco on the Fourth of July. Taking the entire family out to eat is a rare treat with so many kids, but we came armed with six gift certificates that the kids "won" from their games at the park.

There were several Seniors at the restaurant and we had four different people come up and talk to Rick and I during the half hour we were there.

One commented on what a sweet family we had. Another grandmother came up and told us that she had eight children (and dozens of grandchildren and even some great-grandchildren.) She watched our children eat and play (and Josh as he ripped up all of the paper wrappers from the straws and drop them all over the floor).

She looked a little wistful as she said, "Forgive me for watching your family -- I remember those days with so many little ones...and now they are all grown up and gone..." A little later another set of grandparents spoke to us with a similar conversation -- they too had eight children. The next person came up and asked us how many children we had and Rick (with his mouth full) said, "eight." I gave him a questioning look and he quickly corrected himself saying, "I mean six!"

But the comments from these grandparents gave me cause to ponder about how fortunate I really am. When I only had two or three little children people would often say things like, “Enjoy those sweet little ones now – they grow up so fast!” I would sometimes chuckle and roll my eyes. On a more difficult day as I struggled with a headstrong toddler and fussy baby I would say, "Not fast enough!” But I don’t do that anymore. After all – that little toddler is now almost a teenager. Now when people say, “These are the best years of your life. Enjoy those little ones – they grow up so fast!” Well now, now I believe them.

Someday I will be that grandmother, gazing at another young mother surrounded by children, remembering days like today. But for now I am the mother – doing endless loads of laundry, fixing meals, reading stories, and giving and receiving hugs and kisses. Some days are difficult and tedious and other days are wonderful. But each day is a new opportunity – a gift from God.

Happy Fourth of July!!

Happy Fourth of July! First of all I want to say “Thank you” to all of those who have served our country and made it possible for us to enjoy the incredible freedoms that we have today!!

We had a fun and even relaxing day (for the most part). This morning we all went to the city park and the kids went to all of the free games – ring toss, basketball, golf, soccer and so forth. They also enjoyed the slip-n-slide and the wet sponge throw.

The prizes they won at the various activities were little gift certificates and coupons to various restaurants in town. I stayed in the shade, trying to stay out of the 106 degree heat as much as possible. By the time we left we had some hot, tired, cranky kids. They perked right up when we took them to lunch at Del Taco with their little gift certificates though (I'll write more about that in my next post).

We came home and the three youngest (and mom and dad) all took naps. Then I went for a little swim. Tonight we went to a BBQ at the home of one of our friend’s in the neighborhood. Our kids had a great time playing with their friends and Rick and I enjoyed some nice adult conversation. Then the kids had a blast throwing and stepping on “pop-its.” Even Josh got into the action.

After our family came home we lit “snakes. ” Below you can see all of the kids sitting around a little candle waiting for snakes to start growing from the black-top. They eventually came. And then the sparklers...then catching some glimpses of the city fireworks from the upstairs windows....then at last...bed-time.

It is always a relief when all of the little ones are safely in bed on the Fourth of July (away from fire, sparks, run-away fireworks, and loud booms).