July Week 1: Skylanders, the 4th, Sunday Joys

The boys are OBSESSED with Skylanders, the WII Nintendo Game.  Sometimes, I think that OBSESSED isn't a strong enough word.  They eat, drink, dream, play and talk about Skylanders NON-STOP!  Especially Ashton.  Half of the things that come out of his mouth are Skylander related.

Here's one thing about it.  Shane likes it too, and it's something that the boys do with Dad.  So they're almost never playing it without him.  I've given in a time or two, but I just don't love it like they do. Given Shane's work schedule, they usually play it at night, and for not TOO long...

But then Shane's day off comes, and usually a trip to the store for a new guy - and off they are for the better part of one of his day off days.  But they are together.  They like it.  It's something the do - together.

However, here's a funny picture, when the screen time was over for the day - but they just couldn't let it go.  So they played with the figures in some imaginary adventure play:

Shane worked on the fourth and the fifth of July.  So we didn't go anywhere.  We'd really like to do the Brian Head 4th of July festival one of these years.  Get a room and stay the night and enjoy the mountain fun.  They have three days of scheduled events and it sounds like a blast.  So - ONE of these years, that's our plan.

But THIS year we were invited to a BBQ at the Jeppson's house along with the Andersen's. The Jeppson's have a pool, and were very gracious for inviting us!

artists

"firework" art.

Ashton, Markham, and NQ in enjoying the pool

The boys and I made cupcakes and homemade cupcake decorations for the BBQ.  Alexia made some DELICIOUS shrimp and fish! There were burgers, steak, corn on the cob, potato salad, pita chips with hummus, brownies, cream soda, watermelon.., just a fun BBQ time!

However, after a rather LONG dip in the pool, it would seem that the salt water and climbing in and out of the pool had really irritated Nathan's chest, belly and arms.  So, after eating, we shot home to shower him up.  Shane ran down to the grocery store and picked up a smallish package of fireworks, which we did right before calling it a night - Shane DID have work the next morning. We're sorry we missed games with the BBQ friend crew, but we really couldn't stay up much later!

The next day - Ashton was worn out and all snuggled in for a nap like this - It was just SO CUTE! I love that he still naps and still sleeps in a crib.  He might just stay there until Kindergarten!  He CAN get in and out by himself, but usually calls for help to get down. 

Saturday night, I ended up sick all night - I hate those nights!  I really wish I knew what causes them! Shane just couldn't bring himself to wake me up the next morning, seeings as how I didn't crash until 2ish in the morning.  Needless to say, by the time we were all up and going, church had already started.  I thought I'd rush and make it to Relief Society, but I underestimated the time I would need for Shower/dressing/make-up.  I did not make it, at all. But, I did fast, so that was good!

Therefore, we had a family Church Movie moment.  We watched Legacy together.  And I cried.  Like I always do.  And we had family discussion about what we learned from the movie.

Nathan said what he learned is that we should "Always Pray" and to "Keep on Moving and Never Give Up!"  Of course this made me cry more.  And Ashton added that he learned that "Jesus never dies!" I cried more.  Shane said later in the day,  "Do you feel - just Love today?"  And I did!  We really had a peaceful day.  We just felt - LOVE - in our home. It was really cool. I'm motivated to make our home feel like that more and more!

Sunday night, NQ asked me if he could "Stay up as Late as I want?"  We'd discussed this several weeks ago.  And we agreed that he could pick a night, when nothing was special was going on the next day - and a day when Dad didn't work, and stay up as late as he'd like.  We were having a late night anyway, barely ready for bed by 10:45 (a huge departure from our Summer 9:00 curfew) when he popped the suggestion.  Sounded great to me!

I pulled out the sofa bed, got some treats, pillows, jammies and movies and NQ and I settled in for a late night! We watched Journey to the Center of the Earth 2 and Most of the Sorcerer's Apprentice. We visited, stretched, yawned, contemplated playing a board game, but agreed it was probably too dark and too soft a surface for good game playing. 

By 3:00 he was ready for bed.  By 3:10 NQ was ready to journey to the center of his room and sleep in his own bed.  Successful night!  And his humor today (so far) has been pretty good.  So the likely hood of this happening again this summer is looking positive!

Things at Petty's Place are going quite well!  We're happy little campers!