Aren't Dad's Great!

Jeff is such a good father. As I tuck my exhausted boys into bed tonight I am so grateful to be married to a man who loves his boys as much as he does and takes the time from his busy life to make memories with them. This afternoon, they saddled up the horses and spent several hours going for a horse ride. When they got done, they put the horses away came in the house long enough to get jackets and fishing gear and then they were off to go fishing. He took them out to our property on the South Fork of the Snake River and they fished until 11p.m. where they staggered in and dropped in bed but not before sitting up out an almost dead sleep to exclaim exitedly about all the fish they caught. They release several, but kept 3 to bring home for dinner. They couldn't harldy keep their eyes open, but their mouths were all yacking at once tyring to explain their night. As soon as I kissed sunburned cheeks that smelled like fish and listened to prayers, they were almost instantly asleep again. I missed being there to take pictures of it all, but I was happy to catch up on several much needed projects and got the whole house clean and the laundry all done. Thanks Jeff for giving me a break and making memories to last a lifetime with your boys. I love you!!

Funny Conversation For the Day

Ok time to tell another funny comment by Jaden. So today I'm paying bills at the computer and out of the blue, Jaden walks up and says:
Jaden: "Mom, I'm a boy."
Me: "Yes, you're right you're a boy."
Jaden: "I like boys Mom they're cool."
Me: "Yep"
(pause)
Jaden: "Dad didn't marry a dophin or a penguin..."
Me laughing: "No he didn't marry a dolphin."
Jaden: "...Nope he married a Mom!"

Well good thing Jeff has better taste than arctic or marine animals. *grin*

Impromptu Recital

Here's something to make you smile today! (you can pause my blog music at the bottom of the page so you're not hearing both.) This is Fran & Marlo Cowan (married 62 years) playing an impromptu recital together in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic. He turned 90 in February.

Conversations with a 3 Year Old

Jaden always makes me laugh. Sometimes conversations with him are so off the wall. You wonder where his mind is. Today in the car on the way home from taking Payton to preschool, here is our conversation:
"Mom, is today square pants day?"
"What?"
"Is today square pants day?"
"What is square pants day?"
"You know its like Christmas."
"I don't know for sure, I've never heard of square pants day."
"Well it must be, because the stickers are on the cars."

Hmmmmmm I wonder about that kid some times.

Saying Goodbye to the Arnolds

Wow, we can’t believe the time has finally come to say goodbye to our good friends Clinton and Rochelle Arnold. In thinking back over the memories we’ve shared together, they’re probably too many to list, but we’re going to give it a shot. There were snow machine trips with a few wrecks we'd all like to forget, 4-wheeler rides, nights at the cabin, the annual Halloween party in fantastic costumes, the Night Owl Bowling League (even though we weren’t any good, the socializing was fun), dinners, movies, Super Bowl Parties and New Years Eve bashes, many card nights playing Barnyard Rummy, campouts, horse rides, hunting trips, water skiing on the lake, a trip to Lake Powell to stay in the house boat with Ken & Margaret, monthly book club with Rochelle, visiting teaching together (especially having lemonade on the back porch with Lela), scrapbooking, trips to the Stillwater Mansion for tea spring tea parties, weddings, baby blessings, funerals, missions, listening and watching the elk bugle, Clinton’s fantastic cooking, birthday parties, a trip to the New England states to see the fall colors, the best cruise we have ever been on to the Southern Carribean, laughing until it hurt to breathe, sharing tears, frustrations, and joys, and never ending trust and companionship.
There are so many fun memories, how do you choose a favorite. One that sticks out though, is going to Jackson Lake for Clinton’s Birthday with Melvin & Gailiene. We stayed overnight in Jackson Hole and went waterskiing on the lake. I’m not sure I’ve ever been that cold waterskiing. The 3 girls wrapped up in towels for blankets in the back of the boat while laughing until they were almost sick at Jeff, Clinton & Melvin riding the banana boat. That has to be one of the greatest pictures of the 3 amigos on the banana grinning from ear to ear.
With Clinton and Rochelle, we have such a dependable friendship. We know they will be there for us no matter what. We are so glad we got to do so many fun things together and make so many outstanding memories. We are sad to see you go, but can’t wait to hear about all your new adventures in Arizona. We love you no matter where you are.
Jeff & Alana

Face Dancing

Today I was playing some music and trying to find some to put on another blog I was working on and the kids were playing by my desk. Payton starts laughing, so I turned to look and he was distorting his face all kinds of ways to the beat of the music. His eyebrows were going up and down, his nose was scruntching up and down lips were moving. It was hillarious and he said, "Look mom, my face is dancing!" We all had a great laugh. This isn't the first time either. Here's a picture to show you what I mean.

Funny Pretend Play- "The Christmas Dinner"

Ok, so listening to my little boys play absolutely cracks me up. This morning, Payton and Jaden were outside playing an imaginary game after Zack left for school. It was still a little cold outside and they came in a little chilled talking about their "game" they were playing. They do a lot of imaginary play, but its usually in narration form. The process of the game is to just go around and tell 3rd party what they are doing. So instead of actually being the characters, thye tell each other what they are imagining they are doing. Anyway its a funny odd way of playing I think. They came in the house and proceeded to explain that they are playing Christmas dinner (no concern that its the 16th of May). They both had different names: Justin and Jaxton and I'm the Mom and Justin (Payton) had invited Jaxton (Jaden) over for Christmas Dinner. :) They even came in and pretended to put up the Christmas tree. Then "Jaxton" told me that they were going to serve hamburgers and french fries with ketchup for dinner. they went out for a bit and came back in & "Justin" told me they were waiting for "Jaxton's" mom & dad and brothers and sisters to get here for the dinner. Justin then preceeded to introduce "Jaxton" to his sister (our new kitten named Cindy). "Mom, Cindy can be my sister." Needless to say I've been laughing all morning. I just had to share and write it down so I don't forget these fun moments.
Alana