Grandma Day

 Last week my mom had her local grand kids over to her backyard-o-fun. She had a bunch of games and the boys loved playing with their cousins. We sure missed the Williamsen cousins that live in Oklahoma and actually just moved to Louisiana after this. We haven't seen them in several years. :(

Here's a few pictures of some action. My mom made a fun day for them. My dad just stayed inside and sat and either watched from the window or just went to his room to get away from the noise and crazy kids. Ha!

 And then she had lunch for them. Look at that table of food. They had plenty to choose from. Nobody left hungry.

Sick Bugs

 I have a whole slew of pics from some of our summer activities, but I'll save those for another time. Poor kids have been sick. Jax had strep, for the first time. Bo and Rafe had their usual cough that never goes away, and Creed has been lucky and didn't catch anything! Poor Rafe also had a fever one day. I looked over and saw him lying around on the hard floor falling asleep. Then I scooped him up.

But don't feel too sorry for him. Today while I was so excited to go roam around Target and was going to have the boys go look at the toys while I got to go look at what I wanted, Rafe turned into the demon and screamed the whole time. After I let the whole store hear him, I grabbed my herd of boys and marched out to the car and listened to him scream the whole way home. Jax had to help me hold him down so I could buckle him. Why you ask? Who knows! Some of it was not wanting to be in the cart, then he didn't want to get out, and the rest I couldn't really understand. It was an awful morning.

***

Yesterday Bodie became one with the Rollie Pollies or Potato Bugs. Whatever you call them. He had 4-5 crawling on him and picking them up. Quite happy. I remember as a child I loved them too. Until I examined them with a magnify glass. And didn't really touch them after that. :)

I have to instruct him that lady bugs and rollie pollies are fine to pick up and let crawl on you. Ants are not. :) - or anything else in my opinion.

***

What else? I love that Creed gets a low growl voice when he talks to his swim teacher or leaves messages on the phone to his friends. And he's become attached to his splint/cast he's been wearing for the last month. I keep seeing him with it on. It's time to take it off and not have to wear it anymore, but he says he likes it and it helps him. Whatever. 

Jax is always saying something is hurting on his body... his leg, knee, yesterday his wrist, and today was his neck. He still wakes me up in the night to tell me about his nightmare he had. And he has mastered swallowing a pill. When he had strep with his throat pain we gave him a pain pill. He says he is a pro now. And has a proud smile that he's old enough to take pills. ha ha.

A Wedding

 So Greg's younger brother Chris met Anna a few months ago and then... they got married! We are so happy for Chris to have found a bride. She is really sweet. She's from Italy and knows a little English, but now living here she will learn it better in time. It's cool having a sis-in-law with a strong Italian accent.

Jax and Creed were so excited to go to a real wedding and see a bride walk down the isle. Jax was on the isle seat so he thought it was so neat to be right there. They said their vows and exchanged rings, said yes and kissed. Jax enjoyed it all. There we are (Below) waiting for it to start. They had a casual wedding and got married in her uncles back yard. It was a fun evening. Jax will sure remember it. He kept whispering things in my ear about the whole evening. Rafe loved all the airplanes flying low over head going to the airport. Bodie and Creed loved the trampoline. And we all enjoyed the food.

 Chris and Anna saying "Yes" to each other. All these pics are from Greg's iphone. Everyone had their phones taking pics the whole night.

Here's our family with the happy couple. Congrats to them. We hope they have a great life together!

Amore La Lorenzon Famiglia.

Our Independence Day

 I know the 4th of July isn't all about Barbecues and Fireworks. It's also about Freedom, Liberty, and the birthday of our country. I read something similar somewhere. And I hope to be able to teach my boys about patriotism and the feeling it brings. And why I tear up in the parade when the military brings the flag by. John Adams said about the 4th of July "It will be celebrated with pomp and parade...bonfires and illuminations... from one end of this continent to the other." - and how! 

We enjoyed celebrating with family, friends, and neighbors, with the whole nation! We started out with the usual morning going to the Millcreek parade. I got to hold sweet baby Olive while the boys collected the candy being thrown. We watched with our friends, the Davies. Earlier in the morning, while Greg was with the YM putting up the neighborhood flags, Creed took his little brothers downstairs to camp out and sit and look at all the fireworks in the packages and boxes. He was sure getting excited. He had an order of which ones he thought should go first.

 We had our annual 4th of July party. We BBQ'd hotdogs and potluck from everyone. We ate and visited and the kids (and adult kids at heart, Greg and Abe) did a little water balloon fight. Once it finally started it sure ended fast.

 And then the firework show started. Of course I couldn't get the boys to hold still.

 We had sooooooo many fireworks. Look at the pile of loot on the ground. (middle picture) It was over an hour long. We were doing up to like 10 at a time. Then we also had lots of cool aerial fireworks. One fell over and shot right at us and the house. Yikes, so we put them in cinder blocks to make sure they didn't fall over again. We were lucky nobody got hurt. It was a little crazy with kids running everywhere all wanting to help light them. Next time we need to set some rules and enforce them. :)

It is fun to watch the kids get so excited. Rafe was a little scared so he sat on grandma Lorenzon's lap. Then with me and continued to ask to go inside and then please to go to bed. It was late, he was tired and refused to look up in the sky to see the ones shoot up. It made me laugh he was so stubborn about it.

Every year I always wear my patriotic bling, ha! My flag necklace. My boys love it and always want to touch it. I got it in NYC right after 9/11 so it is special to have year after year for me. And my little boys see me paint my toe nails and always want me to do theirs too. But I don't. I just think it's so cute they beg. Greg does not think that. :) Well happy July Celebrating to everyone!

Melting in the Heat

 St. George is hot. The dessert is hot! Enough said.

We went on my mom's vacation with out her. :( We headed down to St. George using her time share condo. She was unable to go because of caring for my dad. He's to the point that traveling that many hours and being out of his familiar home would be too confusing and probably agitating for him. So there was Greg and I and our boys, my sister Amy and her hubby Karl, and my bro Cameron and his kids. I sure wish my mom could have been there. We missed you! We also missed my sis-in-law Amy and Drew/Alecia/kids in Oklahoma. (soon to be Louisiana)

We did the famous "crack" of St. George. I barely fit through as I did it with all the kids. I was squished front to back ribs and breathing was hard at the skinniest part. But it was fun, they wanted to do it twice.

Then we went to see the temple. Such a pretty one. I love how bright white and "old" it is. Also one evening Greg and I were able to get away and go to the Temple.

 It was so hot. We couldn't get enough of the drinking fountain. And my mom sent us down with a little family history story to share with the kids during the building of the temple. The cousins had a fun time.

 We hit Snow Canyon early one morning. Jenny's Canyon, Petrified Sand Dunes, and then the White Bowl. Then as it got ridiculously hot we called it a day.

 I've shown this formation in a picture on my blog in the past, as we've been to it before. But I liked this picture. Greg is at the top, Cameron is at the bottom and the kids scattered between. It was fun to explore all around.

 Then we hit the pool. Everyday. Did I mention how hot it was. 100's everyday of course. 

And you see the black splint on Creed's arm?  Luckily we didn't cast it and so after swimming we removed his splint and dried it and voila! Put it back on and he loved being able to swim for hours everyday. Me too.

 Greg threw the kids a few times, they made trains and jumped in and out a bazillion times. We added a little floaty ring for Rafe and he was happy as could be on his own floating around. It was nice not to have to hold him the whole time.

Then an early start for Zion's National Park as well. We rode the shuttle up and hiked the Riverwalk to the Narrows, then we did Weeping Rock and had lunch and drove back to enjoy more pool time.

We also relaxed, watched some movies, played with cousins, ate, and took the kids to our favorite Rec Center to swim and play there too. Such a fun vacay! They all said swimming and hiking and eating at Chuck-a-Rama was their favorite. Greg had a bunch of free car rental coupons, so we rented a mini-van for us to drive down for this trip. The kids thought it was great fun.

Juin

 Some stuff from June. In French it's Juin. As my older boys will tell you.

We did a big Costco run. Rafe is hidden in just one of our carts. He didn't want to get out. A half year supply of stuff. Well a lot of junk food.  So we are stocked for snacks, vacation food and treats, movie treats for the summer.

On one cold and very rainy wintery summer day (last week) we went to Classic Fun Center to roller skate. I was excited to do it again. The boys have NEVER been before. Jax had a blast. Fell lots, flailing arms in balance and was proud of his record of 7 times around the floor without falling. Bodie cried at first not wanting to do it. Then seeing his friend out having fun changed his mind. Rafe and Bodie enjoyed it. Rafe stayed on the carpet with me the whole time. But thought it was great. Notice Creed sitting on the bench behind Bodie. Holding his arm and crying...

 

After less than 60 seconds of me getting his skates on. I turned to get Bodie's on and I hear Creed screaming and crying out in pain laying on the floor on the edge of the rink. And he continued to cry for the 2 hours we were there. We iced it for him. Let it "heal" for 2 days and then decided to get an x-ray. (3rd one for him in the last 6 months- btw) And sure enough. A buckle fracture. I spent hours on the phone trying to find a place to cast it for us before we leave town again. But in the end and after consulting our cousin who's an Orthopedic Surgeon he said it's fine to keep it in the splint for 3-4 weeks. He can remove it to shower. And we are a-ok with not casting it. 

The arrow is pointing to a "bump" it normally would be all smooth. And Creed's giving his arm a strange stare. He says he hates skating and never wants to do it again. I stayed with Creed and never did get my chance to skate again. Oh well.

 And I had to share just a little more of the incredible Lake Powell. The first one is the arm of the canyon we stayed in (Last Chance Canyon) and then somewhere in Forbidding Canyon again.

Greatest Place on Earth!

 We just came back from Heaven on Earth. Ha! They say Lake Powell is the greatest. And I'd have to agree. It is just amazing. I took way too many photos, naturally. So I narrowed down to just a few. Here is some of the scenery from cruising around on the boat. I felt like I was in a post card.

Here is Gregory Butte. Fittingly called my hubbies name. (he he) Our view from West Canyon.

And here it is from the other side from the mouth of Last Chance Bay. We stayed in this canyon, way towards the back. 

 

 And this is in Forbidding Canyon, where Rainbow Bridge is. I had to look at the pictures I took just before this to see where it might be. Then to look at a map to get the name.

Ok, now for the vacation details and pictures... this is long.

Tuesday morning we drove down towing our boat the 7 hours to Wahweap. Then loaded up the boat and drove almost an hour to the house boat we were staying at with 3 other families. Greg's sister and bro-in-law Andrea and Abe Denzer were going with some good friends and invited us to join. There were 22 of us on the trip. The Taskers and Smith's. We all fit on two motor boats to cruise around on. 

I got heat stroke while at the marina loading up the boat. And while driving out to the house boat I hadn't had anything to drink and then I felt nauseous and a bad migraine hit me. So I took medicine, threw up 4 times, and slept it off. I was just so hot. It was awful. Luckily we had an ER Doctor on board and he had some nausea pills I could take to get me under control again. That whole first evening was a blur. Did it really happen? What happened? I was so out of it. Greg was awesome and took care of me and the boys and our stuff getting settled. He's a keeper. :)

We bought the movie Frozen for the boys to watch on the way down and back. We knew they'd love it. And they did. On the Houseboat all the kids watched it again and we had a big group sing-along (shout along) to Let It Go.

We cruised around in the boat and explored everyday. It was so fun, so tiring, so sunny, so hot, and so great to experience it. I've been to Powell a few times. Greg has been lots. So it was neat to be there with our kids. And it was also SO different to be there with kids.

The day we hiked to Rainbow Bridge it was too bloody hot for me (100's) and I didn't want to risk heat stroke, so I waited half way up in the shade with Bo and Rafe. Man I don't do well in heat or freezing cold (like snow skiing).

 One day our boat had oil trouble so we didn't drive it and while Greg left on the other boat to go buy some oil, their new boat broke down. They were gone for hours, had to get towed and fixed, they lost a speaker while hitting the bad waves, it was a windy day. The rest of us stayed and played on the house boat all day. We had no way to contact them to see where they were. I was starting to get a little worried.

In the picture is our family on a rock bridge that is slowly getting deeper underwater everyday. I think they said the Lake is rising about a foot a day. We lost a little of our beach and had to move the house boat to adjust to the rising waters.

We spent our time with the Denzer's. Luckily we had the same idea on what to experience while on vacation. There was wake boarding, skiing, swimming, jumping, sliding, sand playing, fishing, exploring, and much more.

These are of Greg Cliff jumping, being a "homeboy" and driving us around some narrow canyons. We only scratched the front side bumper a little. :) - just one time.

 We swam, I actually didn't get in the water that much. Hmm, oh well. Rafe loved his sunglasses. He and Creed's hair got lighter from being sun bleached in the summer sun. The boys loved the fishing and watching fishing. The kids loved playing on the beach. For hours and hours.

One adventure we are sure to never forget, but we will have to rely on memories because we didn't have our camera with us was in Labyrinth Canyon. We drove our boat through the narrow canyon, then randomly found a sand patch to anchor to because it got really narrow after that. It's for Kayaks, in fact some were leaving and told us how far until the sand to hike and said there's no way to swim. But that didn't stop us. So then we loaded up the kids and swam over maybe 60 yards? 100 yards? Probably seemed farther than it was. But it was swimming through a thick layer of all the twigs, crap, muck, and prickly weeds you can imagine. Oh my yuck!

I was really not wanting to do it. Knowing my kids would whine and complain. Ugh! And Bodie and Rafe cried and screamed. But Greg and I had them, Jax and Creed swam it. Then by the end, we all made a Lorenzon Family train to get through it. Then we cleaned off, left the life jackets and explored an amazing slot canyon. In our bare feet. Prickly thorns, and hot sand. Bodie and Rafe had forgotten the gross swim out, and then quickly realized we had to do it to get back. Bodie didn't really cry but Rafe cried the whole way back. He didn't like it. But once clean and back in the boat with his towel he was fine.

Here I stole some pictures from the internet. This is what we walked through and saw. Beautiful and amazing. Creed got kinda dizzy and nauseous. I started too as well. Then back out to the gross swim back to the boat. But we did it, wow! As Andrea said to me, we are LIVING life, having a real adventure. Or something similar. :)

 Um, what else?

Jax tried water skiing for the first time. We counted and he tried getting up 10 times. He did it a few times, but immediately fell over. But I am so proud of him for trying. Creed loved the Easy Ski (tube ski thing). And poor Bodie didn't want to do it and didn't love it. But we made him. Look at his sad crying face. But he did it, and he finally stood up and we went super duper slow and he was super close to Greg holding him with the rope on the back of the boat. He smiled when every one gave him high fives after. But it didn't give him the desire to do it again.

 Riding on the boat for hours, being in the sun all day, loud motor and windy makes you just a little tired. There were plenty of naps by all the kids. I had to take pictures. Andrea was good and completely covered her kids in a towel. And they only got stepped on a few times, right? The kids thought a lumpy towel on the floor means you can step right on it. Kinda funny, as long as they didn't get hurt. :)

We sure sun screened our bodies and none of us really got burned. In fact I kinda don't even look like I got any sun. A little I guess. All the kids got rashes on their arms and chin from rubbing the life jackets all day every day. 

Did I mention I was the only one to get my own room. Greg would tease me about if I was enjoying "my state room". 4 bedrooms, each family got one. The 2 babies had the lower deck and the Smith's had the master and I had an upper bunk. There wasn't room up top with any padding and I was fine in the room with the fan blowing on me. It was so hot, only one night was "cooler". But I also survived with the fan's "white noise".

After a couple nights we moved Rafe from the living area to the top deck and he loved it! He was so excited to wake up in the morning and see the sky. We were worried about Jax. He sleep walked. He said he woke up and was across the deck on a lounge chair. We felt kinda freaked. So Greg kinda made a blockade so he couldn't just wander in the night and off the side to drown or something. One night his sleeping bag zipper was stuck all zipped so he couldn't get out easy. Scary!

Last picture: Our group in 2014!  All 22 of us on the house boat. Fun great people, great kids, good food, lots of memories.

There is Stirling and Rachel Smith and their little family, Scott and Heather Tasker and family, Andrea and Abe Denzer and family, and then us. All the kids had a great time. 11 boys and 3 girls.

The 3 other families...(Stirling, Rachel, Stockton, & Hazal Smith) (Scott, Heather, Griffin, Weston, Cami, & Strider Tasker) (Abe, Andrea, Lucy, Will, James, & Andy Denzer)

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.