Dalton Turns 11

Fabulous Facts about Dalton in No Particular Order:

He wants to grow up to be an actuary.
He is collecting interest on PACE buck, (his school's currency), loans to his friends.
He would LOVE to learn how to work the real Stock Market.
He sells his Halloween/Christmas/Easter candy to his siblings and friends at an awesome profit.
He has recently started babysitting for me at $1 per. hour, a rate we both have agreed upon.
He enjoys reading books, but mostly ones in a series so he can keep going, and going, and going...
He does 3 jobs a day without complaint.
He monitors his own 30 minutes of earned Wii time each day.
He plays the piano beautifully and wows his instructor each week with his dedication to practice.
He is reverent for sacred events and is becoming more in tune with the Holy Ghost.
He enjoys his morning routine of shower and starting breakfast just before I get home from the gym.
He has improved his trampoline skills already this spring and hopes to master a back flip by the end of the summer.
He has a great group of friends that I envision being a strength and support throughout his teen years, possibly his whole life.
He and Joe and friends have built a sturdy hideout/fort complete with lighting, computer access (not internet), TV (not cable), and protected by rubber-band guns.
He is a delight to his parents, teachers and a good friend to his siblings.

Happy Birthday!

(This is all the good stuff of course. We also call him our absent minded professor for reasons that need not be recorded ;)

Dalton's 2nd Piano Recital

Remember I started teaching Dalt last year. Well we got him a real teacher in September 2010 and he's progressing beautifully! He loves playing, I only sometimes have to remind him to practice and even then, he's happy to do it. Actually he plays at the most inconvenient times ie: screaming Jennie? Dalton is playing. Screaming Joe, Dalton is playing. Crying Sophia, (she's not much of a screamer) Dalton is playing. I've realized that he uses it to scrub out the chaos of family life. I'm just glad he has a productive coping mechanism. He loves learning the theory, his mathamatical mind finds patterns everywhere. I see music being his lifelong friend.

2010 Photo Shoot

A chess club was born

It's cold here in Idaho Falls. So cold in fact that these energetic children are driven indoors and with time limits to the Wii, are forced to play real games. I don't even know one of these boys, but they're showing up lately once or twice a week. I'm happy to provide the game, the space, free popcorn and if their cheeks show signs of cold, I'll even make some hot cocoa. They're making teams, building allies and capturing loads of pieces before checkmate is called, and they're teaching younger boys to play too! I love it all!

I Wonder...

How long will Dalton let Joe play with his big friends?
How long will he put up with Joe tipping over coffee tables in the middle of a losing game?
How long will he ask me to help him with homework?
How long will he be willing to babysit for $1 an hour?
How long will he be interested in helping me in the kitchen?

How long will Joseph hold my hand in public?
How long will he be willing to distract Jennie with "The Horsey Game" while I'm slipping out the door to Book Club?
How long will he help buckle the girls or give them pegs on his bike?
How long will he come to snuggle next to my bed when he's scared at night?
How long will he believe that he is the strongest 8 year old alive?

How long will Sophia and Jennie play kitten and puppy, carrying on for hours communicating exclusively in yelps and meows?
How long will Sophia beam while showing me her artwork?
How long will she build castles and play dress-up?
How long will she love pink?
How long will she snuggle with me, full bodied, when she hurts?

How long will Jennie look up to Sophia?
How long will she insist on sleeping with her silky blanky?
How long will she let me give her ringlets?
How long will she blame others for everything including who messed her bed/underwear/hair?
How long will she ache to kiss and hug her daddy before he leaves for work?
How long will she color outside the lines?

So Many Firsts!

First time making my sisters AWESOME home made play dough.
First day Sophia didn't wince while I styled her hair around her 3 staples.
First day of preschool for Jennie.
First day of Dance for Sophia, (well in Idaho anyway).
First time I've ever asked one of my children to call me "Miss Sherrie"
First time Sophia shares a seat belt with her friend on the way home from dance.
First day Joseph came home from 3rd grade in a good mood.
First day of PACE for Dalton, (Idaho's accelerated program).
First day of real piano lessons for Dalton.
First time I've been complimented on how advanced Dalton is in piano.
First day Joseph takes a shower on the first time he's asked... EVER.
First time Jennie steals a popsicle right out of the neighbors deep freeze.
First call to the home owners insurance.
First flavorful nectarine of the season.

The First Day of School 2010

Totally ready for 3rd/5th grade with loaded new backpacks, blessings from dad, and an egg burrito in their bellies.


New duds.


And they're off! "Have a good day at school, I love you, be nice, follow the rules" (I heard another mother 3 houses down shouting the same as her son ran to catch up with my boys).

Is Summer Over???

Spelunking through the lava tubes at Craters of the Moon.






Sometimes it's necessary to transport Dalton illegally, but only when we're picking up a new...


BBQ! Happy Fathers Day Doug!



Willis Water slide.




Idaho Falls Zoo with our friends the Bess girls.


Wild Huckleberry picking after the Ward campout.


A local told us that we weren't finished picking till our hands were stained.


Because Jennie doesn't nap anymore.





Blue Angles.






Swim lessons.





Sometimes the trips to the Zoo, Arizona, Lake Powell, Craters of the Moon, Reeds Dairy, and the Pool were just not enough.


I loved every bit of our summer and already miss my boys, but hey, now I have time to blog. Bring on the school year!

2 Mile Fun Run

Abraham, Abby, Katie, Me, Dalton, Taylor and not pictured Randy ran on the 4th weekend down in Prescott. We had fun, enjoyed each others company, and started another healthy tradition.

I didn't tell Abraham and Dalton about the race till the day before, and Abe was so cute. He "trained" by running around my Papa's driveway 12 times and was even nervous that night as he went to bed. He came in first from our family and wore his number for 2 full days.

Here's my favorite part, the brother run down... Andy (the oldest and fittest) placed in the 10K. Randy ran the 2 mile fun run with us, but somehow was behind us and then in front of us and then again behind till we realized he was taking short cuts every time he could see the trail ahead of him...all in the name of a good photo of course. And then there was Brad, eating a dilly bar at the finish line. Classic brothers.

Behind the scenes were my Papa, Lenora, Sally, Ben, Marielle, and the babies all working the set-up, after race eats, goodie bags, and take down of the whole race. I love working with my family.

Seas The Day

Mama and Papa Nelson made this whole Lake Powell trip possible, I think they enjoyed themselves too.


Joseph enjoyed the sun a little too much resulting in sun poisoning. It didn't stop him for long though, not this kid.


The kiddos enjoyed cousins, boat rides and...


tubing.


The beach didn't disappoint either. Ice cream? Or bucket of sand?


Isn't my nephew so stinkin' cute!


The captain!


With 3 huge flat screen TV's, the B word (bored) was never spoken.


Cousins! Cousins! Cousins!


Inside was just as enjoyable as the outside, especially for the little ones.


Thank goodness for life jackets!


These girls love their daddy.


I may have married a pirate.


I skied, tubed, and enjoyed my whole family the whole time. Thank you Mama and Papa, and Thank you Brad and Lenora.

Dalton's First Piano Recital

We started informal lessons, (I'm his teacher, and he's pretty much caught up to me now:) 2 months ago, and he's already in a recital! My new girlfriend Suzy teaches, but she's full right now. She invited him to perform with her students in their "Spring Recital". I'm so proud of him! His first song he has titled, "The Chase", and his second little ditty he calls, "Just Playin'".



I tried really hard to get him to bow, but he was too embarrassed. He's super motivated to practice on his own and enjoys making up his own songs. Way to go Dalton!

All grown up

Of course I mean Dalton is all grown up, but Doug is all grown up too caring for our first yard, putting together our first lawnmower, teaching his oldest son how to do it too. Moment captured.

Dalton is 10!

For me, his party was all about the food. Introducing... The toppings!


Dalt loved making/eating his very own super thick crust pizza.


Joe is my kind of pizza maker... his was LOADED!


Sophia's favorite toppings... artichoke hearts and olives.


Patrick couldn't get enough pepperoni.


Parker liked it, believe me.


All he really wanted was an unlimited Wii day. He got it with over 10 hours played!


I can't really believe it. My baby is growing up so fast! He reads voraciously, loves to help me in the kitchen, enjoys his new bike, is a natural learner and loves math, science, social studies, and almost all games. He tucks me into bed and offers to rub my feet when I've had a long day. He always does his jobs quickly and with a great attitude. He got his own bank account for his birthday, and it was so fun to take him down there with his savings can and have him officially sign his name. Dalton is GREAT!

Charts

I picked Jennie up from Apple nursery today and noticed her pants were backwards, then noticed her obviously diaper-free bum and asked the ladies how that went. They knew nothing of the situation, and said that her pants were backwards the whole time. "Jennie, where is your diaper?" I asked and she confidently led me to the miniature toilet and there it was in the garbage can, a totally unfolded (an adult would never throw it away like that) diaper. Sure enough, she took off her diaper and stayed dry at least most of the 2 hours she was in there. I then went grocery shopping with her just in pants and she made it home and ran straight to the toilet. So today is the day. A clean stack of underwear is on top of our toilet and a chart is taped to the wall and she wants a puppy when she's done.

Stuffed of course.

Jennie's chart made everyone want a chart, so Dalton has a piano practice and scripture chart. Joe has a shower and homework chart. Sophia has a 1 outfit a day and bed-making chart.

My sticker pad is sacred right now.

Jennie just wet the bathroom rug. I hope this isn't another Sophia repeat... I can't handle this for another 3 years.

Naughty, Nice, Questioning, too Old, and the Real Story