O Turns 8!

O woke up on his 8th birthday to the customary birthday cookies...

...a gift from G & G Kim (Magformers)...

 ...and scriptures from J and me.

 The day was busy, as our Wednesdays usually are (school, swimming, scouts), so we saved the celebrating for the following Saturday.

We began with his baptism:

O put the program together all by himself. S played the piano, I gave the talk on baptism, and O's 1st grade teacher gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. J baptized and confirmed our little O, who was calm and content throughout.

After coming home for a light lunch with our baptism participants, O changed into his play-clothes and got ready to...DANCE!

 A friend lent me her disco ball, we cranked up the music, and let the cousins, brothers, and three of O's friends go at it!

 They danced almost the whole time,

 pausing only to watch O open his gifts (two nerf guns and an angry birds stuffed animal),

 and decorate their own cupcakes. (Can we say holy mess, Batman!)

Our middle child ("the Jan") arrived 8 years ago, weighing in at 8lbs., 10oz. with a bush of hair on his head. He slept like a dream and was the happiest baby we'd ever met. Today he still has some great hair, a darling crooked smile, and is still such a happy boy. O is so thoughtful -- thinking of others' needs above his own, willing to share anything he has with his best friend brothers, and giving me the sweetest hugs when I've had a bad day. In every prayer he asks for help to be a better person. He loves Legos, Star Wars, The Hobbit, swimming, and reading. Recently he won 1st place in the 25-yd backstroke event at a swim meet. He has a 6-pack and rippling back muscles, which he will show you at a moment's notice -- mostly at the dinner table. He's tough and strong while being so sweet and gentle. We love this boy!

September

We began September with a Praying Mantis...

 

 ...crawling all over S...

...whose freaked out face in the previous picture was just because it was tickling him as it crawled up his arm. He was so fascinated by it. Every time it tried to leave him, S would pick it up and place it back on himself.

 

Grandma Lundgren came to visit for Grandparent's Day at H and O's school. 

Who is that mowing the lawn?

Is that my 5-year old?

Impossible!

But true. 

H mowed the front lawn all by himself. Amazing kid!

And, to get in on the fun, O did the back.

He came into the kitchen to get a drink of water and said, "Whew! It is hot out there! I'm mowing the lawn, Mom! I'm going in circles and curves! I don't want it to be all straight like when S does it!" Sure enough...

I am a Jedi Master. Make me breakfast, you will...

Swim meet #1

S and O have been swimming with the OTAC White team for the Winter/Spring Season. We signed them up for the Summer season, which has been great for keeping them active and busy since school has gotten out. They had their first swim meet on Tuesday, July 3 -- the HAST mini-meet. O swam three events and S four. Here we are at the beginning of the meet, my monkeys worried and anxious about the unknown:

H was so good to hang around in the hot sun with us all day:

O getting ready to start his first event -- the 50 Free:

 

 

 I was so proud that he got in the water and swam, freaked out as he was.

He also swam the 50 Back and 25 Free

S started out with 100 Free.

S getting ready for his 50 Back:

S swimming the 50 Breaststroke:

S finished up with a 50 Free. 

Here are my swimmers, best buddies:

After each of their first events, their nerves calmed down and we had a good time. By the end of the meet, you'd think they'd done this 10 times before. J was able to be there for most of it, which the kids really loved and appreciated. Afterwards, I took them to lunch at the Purple Turtle in Pleasant Grove as a treat. It was a great, long, fun, exhausting, exhilarating day!

Sunday Slackline Fun

Kids Entertainment Tip #298

Word!

Peace

Love

Understanding