The Start

 First let's start with the END. The end of preschool for Bodie! Oh my. He had his class program on the last day. And his teachers and my own jaw dropped. He was silly and crazy, and singing louder than any of the other kids. Talk about coming out of his shell. I thought for sure he'd sit and mumble some songs and be scared and shy like usual, but he sure wasn't. Wow, he was fun to watch. I still can't believe how he was during their singing and performing. I couldn't even contain him when I took his picture with his teacher and assistant Mrs. Lynette Walker and Mrs. Jenny. He loved preschool this year. He has come a long way in learning. Upland Terrace has been good to him. (and Creed, back when he went there)

Now he's registered for Kindergarten. But man it's a never ending debate in my head and heart on if we should send him as the youngest/baby of the group or wait another year so he can be the oldest and thrive. How will I ever know. I hate this decision! I think I'm good with sending him. Then I start doubting and feel that it will be best in the long run to wait. Ugh. I hate August birthdays.

And this picture... well I'm just keeping it real. Who knows how many days it hasn't been swept under the table?

The Start of Summer!

And here's the next generation riding in their cars. For years it was always Jax and Creed and now I needed some pictures of Bodie and Rafe. This is Rafe's first summer being able to actually drive and steer. Yeah!

 And this kid is now like this... Happy and showing it!

 And used to be this...    I love little Bo in this picture. Too cute I had to share again.

 Peace out Rafe!

School Stuff

 Boy oh boy, lots has been going on. Last week I had a crazy marathon day. I volunteered for the drawn out all day schools 1 mile Fun Run. Jax and Creed both ran with their grade level. Creed did great. Finished in the top 10 (don't know the number). Jax was bummed to get 5th place again. Although he'll say he got 4th. But I was handing out the ribbons as they crossed the finish line so I counted. :)  He was holding his shoulder in pain. But he is glad he did it. He's so competitive. Geesh.

Then right after that, literally, I ran inside to Jax's 3rd grade South American Fair. He and one of his best friends, Graydon, did a display and little presentation on Chile. And grandma and grandpa (my parents) were able to stop by for that as they dropped off the younger ones from babysitting. That was nice not having them out in the sun with me all day. I got a little sun burned.

Then I was supposed to help set up for the Art Night at the school as well. (When I signed up they weren't on the same day). But I had to run Bodie to swim lessons. He passed his level and was able to swim and float with his clothes on. Yeah for him!

Then a fast dinner and back out the door, over to the school for the big Art Night. I am so glad our school is now getting a real art program. This was the 1st annual event. They boys were proud to show off their stuff. Then I stayed and helped with that for a few hours. Then I ran over to Greg's softball game to see that then home to get the boys in bed. Man I was tired.

I loved seeing the boys creative side with their art projects. Both of them stood out from the rest of the classes pieces. I love art. I feel it's so important and great to have in schools. I tried doing a little part in helping with it this year.

Then today was the school talent show for all the kids who won their class show last week. And Creed won his, so he was on the stage in front of all 680+ students/people and did some soccer tricks and kicks. I am SO PROUD of him. 

It's a funny story I want to remember... For the last few weeks Jax has been talking about his talent show (his teacher made it mandatory for her students) and wanted to come up with a funny dance routine being Olaf from Frozen with a friend. But the friend bowed out so Jax decided to just do a basketball lay-up. The morning of he was practicing and decided to just do some fancy dribbling and then shoot a basket. So he took his ball to school that day. He came home and said he did it and said he didn't miss. Phew. Good job to him.

But then he said Creed won and will be in the school talent show?! Huh, what?! Apparently Creed saw Jax practicing with his bball and he decided to take his soccer ball to school and try out as well. I had no idea. And he said he had enough friends that voted for him so he made it with his soccer ball tricks. So I immediately asked him what it was that he did and wanted him to show me. So out in the drive-way he did some maneuvers and soccer things. Whatever you call it? Who knew? He really surprised me and I am so glad he is brave and just did it.

I was a very proud mom in the back of the school gym today. Before he came on I was kinda teary. Seeing all these brave kids do something. You can tell some were scared to death. Creed seemed fine until last night he started talking and saying he isn't good, all his friends are better at it and worried that everyone will laugh or not clap. I had to reassure him. During it, the room was silent as could be while he was on stage. He did good and got great applause. Way to go Creed.

Triathlon

On Saturday morning our ward had their annual Triathlon. We always have something and can never make it. But Greg was able to do it this year. I was going to maybe do the run part for fun but my lower back has been having problems and I can't run. So I took the boys around on the route to see Greg and cheer him on. We were able to spot other people we knew as well. It was fun. We were sleeping and just waking up when Greg did the swim, but we found him on the bike route and Jax made it back to run the 5k with him. And Creed ran the last 200 yards or so and Bodie joined in the parking lot just before the finish line as they all came running in. It was cute (for the boys). And Greg did good. He loved doing it.

I'm impressed with those who are in charge and put it on/together every year. It's seems so official. Half the people participating aren't even in our ward. The swimming is at Steiner pool and the biking route is along the route Greg ran and trained for every week for the marathon. By the Zoo, along Wasatch and back towards Sunnyside Ave. Ending at the famous chapel everyone knew so well back in the single student collage days at the U of U. They had yummy food for us to munch on as we waited for everyone to finish. Jax claims he's going to do it next year. And Greg says I have to do it. So we'll see.

Our Memorial Weekend

 I really kinda like Memorial Day weekend. A little break, a sea of pretty flowers at cemeteries, remembering loved ones, family, meals, and this year a little rain then hot sunshine. Friday we went to Wasatch Lawns and visited my grandparents (my dad's parents and grandparents), we loved the mountain views and the awesome tree to climb. We asked my dad if he knew who these graves were. He said yes, then tried to tell us and read his dad's name Clair and kinda mumbled something while trying to read his mother's grave and then looked off and seemed confused and that was that. Breaks my heart.

 Sunday we had a family dinner at my parents house and then headed up to Lakeview Cemetery in Bountiful. And we saw some extended family we never get to see, enjoyed some bagpipes being played, the boys wandered around and played, we loved the lake view and sunset. We visited the graves of my grandparents (my mom's parents) and my Uncle.

I loved my mom's shirt she had on. It read "Keep Calm and let April handle it" - so perfect and so true. She can handle and do anything.

Then first thing Monday morning we headed down to the farm. Greg's grandparents in Alpine. And people worked on the farm (yard work). I didn't really work, but others did. (he he) I did help clean up breakfast and some dishes. The boys had a grand time playing around the farm. Some of their fun was chasing chickens, getting eggs, wandering the field with cousins on some adventure, climbing hay bails, jumping on the trampoline, "driving" all the tractors. Half the time I didn't know where they were. But it was sure fun for them. It made Greg and I glad for them making memories on the farm.

Then we relaxed at home and went and had dinner with our June vacation families to plan it out. Almost everyone we know gets out of school this week. But not us, we go through the first week of June. But I'm ok with that because I'm totally not ready for them to be home all day yet.

Brave Things

  Sometime kids have to do brave things. Bodie the Brave! First of all, this week he had to go to the dentist to have a cavity filled. I was so worried for him. I asked about having to even numb him up and go through that whole process. (which I just did- boo) The dentist thought it looked small enough to try it with nothing. And phew! It worked. 10 minutes and he was done. Awesome! Can I say that again? 10 minutes and we were done! Awesome! Bo really has no idea what it could have been like. But he is still brave.

Bodie also started some swim lessons. He is brave for trying this water stuff again. It's pretty much the same stuff he did last summer. But this time he only cried the first day. Now he is brave and doing it all.

 

This house looks pretty, um, well shabby I guess is a word to describe it. Hello windows? What?! We have the privilege of looking at this thing from our yard. Luckily our apple tree hides it from our house and half our yard view. With our 4 boys always, always throwing or hitting stuff over the wall, balls, frisbees, or toys. It seems whenever they are in our backyard they have to go retrieve something. Well only the older 2 boys. I have never actually gone over. I don't know where I'd step. The weeds and dead grass are usually so over grown you can't see anything. (give it a month to grow and die) And Creed informed me last week that they all say this house is haunted. We have a Haunted House behind ours! Yikes! They are brave for going over the wall. But Creed will only do it once. Then he is done. It is kinda scary looking.

Creed has been complaining that his right leg hurt. He'd limp for a bit then forget about it and move on. After 5-6 days Monday morning he woke up in tears saying he can't move it. It brought back memories of when he had Transient Synovitis in April of 2011. That involved being admitted to Primary Children's, getting IV's and lots of tests.

(Here he is at 4 years old, he remembers them trying to poke him like 6 times to get a vein, both hands)

Then we were sent home to just use IBProphin and it will get better with time. 

This time I took him to our pediatrician and then of course we have to go up to Primary's again and get some blood tests and x-rays to rule out stuff like an infection. So we did all that. Creed was brave. I didn't tell him about the needle and drawing blood until moments before. Then I had him look away while they poked him. Then he watched. He was in a lot of pain moving and holding positions during the x-rays. But he was strong and brave. And now he is all back to normal. And they assume it was another flare up of TS, in the other hip this time. Creed only complained of his whole leg hurting then at the hospital he narrowed it down to his upper leg/hip. Nice. That just might have saved us the whole ordeal at Primary's.

I'm about due to show some more x-rays on the blog. Here are some of Creed's bones to enjoy...

Happy as could be getting to ride in a wheel chair. He figured out how to steer and push himself. But his brothers had their own ideas of pushing him. So it only caused a little fighting and there may have been some screaming too.

And heck, I am brave too. For dealing with all these kiddos and helping them through their stuff and doing all in my power to show them they can be brave.

Marathon is Done!

 Yeah! Greg did it! He trained for months, ran it today, and now it's all done and over. Phew. 

We are all very proud of Greg here at our house. We have all been excited for him as well.

When he signed up I was jealous of the location he got to run it. The Ogden Marathon is up my favorite canyon and goes around my favorite "Valley" and lake (Eden, Huntsville, Pineview). Gorgeous scenery I tell ya. I wish I could have been along the route to see him and see the cool site of thousands of runners.

Here is a picture of Greg running and running. Check out his legs!  It was actually taken last month because I knew we wouldn't get one of him on the course. And then at sunrise this morning up at the start before the race waiting with our bro-in-law Abe.

Greg was running along with Abe and said he was feeling great and was pushing a little and doing a faster pace than normal, to finish in under 4 hours. Then at the dam at mile 18 he decided to stretch and bam, his IT Band locked up in his left leg. Then a few miles later the same happened to his right knee. So he had to intermittently walk and run the rest of the race. He was frustrated that he couldn't just run like he wanted. He felt he had the energy and was hydrated but it slowed him down. In the end he finished at 4 hr. 43min. He always said his goal was to finish under 5 hrs. And I figured that was a generous goal for him and he would do it under. But he did it! He's a 42 year old and ran for 26.2 miles! He is truly so happy that he did it. 

I drove up to Ogden with my boys. We stopped at the mouth of Ogden Canyon and waited in the shade by the river as the runners were starting along the parkway. And we were able to see and cheer for Uncle Abe (my bro-in-law). Then we jumped in the car and drove downtown and parked and walked 2 blocks to the finish line and be with Andrea and Greg's parents. Just in time to see Abe finish. Then I called Greg about every 10min. to check on him and be ready for when he is approaching the finish line.

Waiting in the sun was hot, the boys were troopers (Bo and Rafe below) Then after the race we met up with Greg and hugged him and took some pics. I got a cake for us to "celebrate" his accomplishment. Yeah!

 Here is Greg almost to the finish line. Jax, Andrea and Richard (g-pa) were right at the line and Jax was so thrilled to see him. I was a bit further down to try and get pictures. And then the family after. I wish we had one with the Denzer's.

 I LOVE that big smile on his face. Crossing the finish line. The End!

Oh, one more thing. I had my camera on the wrong setting, so that's why he's blurry! I'm so sad about it. Once in a lifetime and my camera was set wrong and I didn't notice. Oh and don't even ask to see the video I was trying to capture at the same time. Ha! That is a joke. I have to laugh. It was in my hand but certainly wasn't pointed at him. Geez. Next time?? I don't know that there is a next time. This is a big check off his bucket list.

Creed and his shows

All the end of the school year spring stuff is starting. Creed had a busy week at school a couple weeks ago. He had his dance performance. Greg was able to come to that one. Let's just say that he doesn't move as much or get into as much as others. I'm used to watching Jax do it and Creed was just more "mellow" I guess. But it's ALWAYS fun to watch. Creed was even the tall center part of a peacock at one point. I am glad the school has teamed up with Tanner Dance and they get to do some creative interpretive dance and movements.

And a few days later he had his 1st grade performance. His class sang a song in French. I say his class sang, not him. Ha! I might have seen his mouth move a little?

 And while stuff like the dancing goes on... so does this...

C's Soccer

 Creed loves soccer. He plays it everyday at school and asks all the time when his soccer games are and who he "versus". I keep telling him it's called "who you play against" not verse. But whatever. He is on a team with his little buddy Daniel. He is the blonde with glasses in the first top picture. They both are pretty good. 

I love Creed's moves. He loves to kick the ball backwards to stop it, he loves to throw the ball in, he always tries to head butt the ball, and the fun part is his drop kick. It is huge and far. Almost the whole way down the field. Both his coach and the other team we ever play always yell when Creed is goalie and is about to kick. "It's Creed, everyone hurry all the way down the field"!

He is a very entertaining goalie to watch. In the picture he is posing while waiting for the ball to come down field. He normally will jump side to side or do some dance move. He'll turn and take a ball in the back or chest. I like games where he's aggressive. This game where I had my camera... he was goofy and his attention wasn't totally into the game. Figures.

 I have to help him get his shin guards, long tight socks on, and tie his shoes tight for him. I do the same for Bodie, gosh is the soccer season over yet? It's tiring.

A few Saturdays ago, I packed a picnic and we stayed the day at the Rec Center. Games were at 10:30, 12noon, and Jax's Bball game was at 2pm. So no time to go home between. Luckily it was warm. I even got sun burned.

Greg was slaving the day away working on the duplexes and missed out. I sent him this picture of me with my feet up in the shade working hard watching games. He jokingly responded via text,  "jerk". (he he)

 Here are the boys watching and waiting for games. Usually the Saturday games are drawn out all day. We go back and forth from home. The long day there wasn't too bad compared to the other long days.

Now if it will warm up I can get to yard work and planting flowers.

Bo's Soccer

 Bodie has been playing soccer. And might I say he's had some growing up, change of attitude, and being brave away from mom on the field since last fall when he played. Or last fall, when we attempted to have him play ;)

I think a huge difference was his best little friend Canon played with him this spring. They carpool to and are in preschool together. And they are 2 peas in a pod. They love to play and have fun together and always seem to be inseparable and touching somehow. 

The first collage is all about what happens in a little kid soccer game. We have some airplane flying, some bum rubbing, some robot move, playing on the side lines and a little watching, the parents watching and visiting, some rolling around on the blanket, a parent tunnel after the game and of course huddling and getting treats after. Well that about covers every picture. And I forgot to mention all the brothers climbing trees or kicking their own ball in the back ground.

 Bodie likes to run and chase the ball as best he can by having his tongue in his cheek. He also likes to run out and around the crowd of kids chasing the ball.

 He runs and kicks and loves to play. I love that he is getting this sport playing thing. And that he gets some running in, have I mentioned that already? We put him in the "older" team so that he could be with Canon and it kinda shows that he is only 4 and the other kids are 5-6. But that's ok, they're all young and having fun being part of a soccer team.

The Day

Greg had a B-day and we celebrated Mother's Day. It made for a tricky day to see who got breakfast in bed (I did) - after I went back to bed after getting half ready for church first. And then I had to clean a little for the Lorenzon family dinner at our house. But we did both take short little naps. I told Greg I'd make up his "pampering" Birthday to him next weekend after the marathon. 

How is it that I have 4 boys and somehow end up with 10 cards from them. Not one was from Rafe. The schools like to do Mother's Day stuff I tell ya. I love it all! I get to be a mother to 4 children. I always hope I am a great mother to them. I hope I do things right and don't screw up. I am so grateful to the mother's in my life. And for all the women that teach me and are great examples being great women. 

*********

So this crazy guy had another forty something birthday... I do love how he is a funny silly guy. And makes life fun. (Him on our wedding day.)

I also love how he is a great dad to my children. I love how he see's the big picture in life and does what it takes to make it great. He likes a home of order and we are so much better off because of it. I love our inside jokes. I love that he helps keep me organized. I love that he always makes sure to set goals and is determined and achieves them.  He puts up with me. He's the best! There's no one I'd rather be with. I love you babe!

After dinner he's making a wish. And doesn't that cake Andrea and Abe made look divine?! And don't ask what Creed is doing in the back ground. Ha!

Yea for Mothers, yea for Greg, yea for Children, and yea for yummy Chocolate Cake!