Hold to the Rod

She blasts through the Isaiah chapters in record time!

Growing into a Dad

Grant: Mom, my neck is a little bumpy right here. (points to neck area, under chin)
Me: Here, get in the light so I can see it. (I verify - seems like a mild rash)
Grant: It's okay - I'm just getting to be a daddy, so it's a little bumpy.

(An hour later)

Grant: Mom, I'm gonna have to shave right here because there's little sparks!

Happy Father's Day!
(From a few kids who idolize their dad.)

Bow Hold

We haven't written anything about the boys playing violin on our blog. I'm not sure why. I guess we've been waiting for them to do something AMAZING. But the truth is, this whole last year has been amazing! Miraculous, really. We're putting together some video of what they've accomplished since starting lessons just after they turned 3 (a little over a year ago.) But for now, here is Grant with a great bow hold: bent thumb, finger over the "frog eye", pinky on top of the bow...
All year, their teacher (Sarah Oehler - a truly incredible and talented violinist and teacher) and I have been trying to get him to hold it the right way. Cole caught onto this much earlier. But Grant finally reached a moment where he wanted to master this detail on his own, and he's very proud of it. Grant has incredible pitch, and can follow notes on a page with his voice. I got a tear in my eye one week when we was doing it at a lesson. They each have different strengths, but both boys have surprised and impressed me as they've allowed practice to become part of every day, and part of their lives.

Here's Cole:
Now, stay tuned! (no pun intended)

Public Alert!

Be on the lookout for a deceptively youthful gang of bikers. They go by the name "Mom's Angels".
Suspect 1: Cole AKA "Coleoptera" "Beetle Boy"

Suspect 2: Grant AKA "Grantelope" "Sweet Cheeks"

Suspect 3: Bryn AKA "Brynderella" "The Instigator"

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

Surveillance Video:

Suspected detonator hidden in nose?


Please consider them armed and sticky (and 66% training wheel free).

Look Ma! No training wheels!

I arrived at home after work tonight to find the following in my driveway:
Despite the poor cell phone video quality, you get the idea. He's pretty pleased with himself.

Okay, I'm pretty pleased with him, too.

How about a celebratory cupcake?

Anyone Need a Friend?

How about a New Era?
Bryn loves reading books but magazines seem to hold her interest even better. It has become a common sight to find her sitting on the floor slowly turning pages and excitedly pointing out all of the animals she finds.

The Idaho Trip - Bryn's Take:

First of all, let me tell you about Lava Hot Springs. Ahhhhhhh.

And after mom annoyed us all to death with reminders to pack our swim suits, naturally, she forgot hers.
Thanks for taking us, Grandma and Grandpa!
Then off to see the baby goats at McKee's Feed and Petting Zoo. One of these times, we're pretty sure mom will end up bringing a couple of these goats home with us.
The South Jordan Temple in Utah was spectacular - especially the part where our cousin Nathan came out with a wife!
Grandpa kept the boys occupied with pounding competitions.
And last of all, Grandma's food was.........
well..........
finger lickin' GOOD!!!!!!!

Marinating

Other verbs that come to mind:
irrigating
germinating
hydrating
dissolving

Spring Sabbath

"My baby and I are looking for my brothers."

"It's time for church and I know they're hiding around here somewhere. Ooo! Here are some pretty flowers. Baby, don't get all dirty before church!"

"Of course, where else would you expect to find monkeys?"

"Come on boys, primary isn't that bad."

Sweet Tones of the Heart

For family home evening this week I asked the boys to draw a picture of our family. Here is Cole's picture:

And here is Grant's:

In both pictures I am on the left and Sue is on the right.

As Grant was drawing he kept adding more and more hair. We then had the following exchange.

Grant: I'm drawing you, dad. You have kind of a lot of hair.
Me: Thank you.
Sue: I think he's talking about after the resurrection.

Hmmm, for the closing song I think we need to sing "Let us oft speak kind words".

Our lesson next week will be on the prophet Elisha.

FHE: On Location

Leaving the house for Family "Home" Evening (and picnic dinner) is a great idea:
1. Spill all you want, I don't have to clean it up.
2. Ready-made lessons abound, with lots of visual aids

3. The activity portion is always a huge hit!
We did have to touch on the "modesty" topic towards the end, for Brynnie's sake (I'm pretty sure streaking is not condoned in "For the Strength of the Youth.")
And even though we brought a couple donuts for dessert, some of us just ate dirt. Mmmmmm.

Location: Salmon Creek (across the street and down the hill from our house.)

The Blustery Day

The boys got kites for Easter and today was the first day with sufficient wind to fly them. Due to a sudden "potty issue" we didn't keep at it long but we got both of them aloft for a few minutes.

North West Easter

Let's go look for eggs outside the Zabriskie's house!

The Easter Gnome? Whatever. As long as there's eggs hidden we don't care who hid them.

Nor do we care where they are hidden. Trees are fair game.

That basket is starting to get pretty full.

Peek-a-boo Buzz Lightyear! Someone get that boy a belt.

I think we found them all... I hope.

To the toddler goes the spoils.

They all look pretty spoiled to me.

Eggscellent!

I know you'll find this hard to believe.

Two four year olds. Twenty raw eggs. Five colors.

On some of them we even applied eye and mouth stickers.

Not a single breakage.

Another Easter miracle.

Walking on Water

I love to overhear the deep philosophical discussions the boys have while building their tracks. This morning's topic:

Grant: "Miracles are what Jesus can do."
Cole: "Yes, but we can't walk on the water until we're 8 years old."
Grant: "Yeah - and we can go on a mission when we're 16."