The Leatherwoods: September 2011

Sunday, September 25, 2011

The Fast Version

Here's the fast version of the rest of our summer. We discovered Herriman Reservoir and spent several days there soaking up the sun and visiting with friends. The kids loved the sandy beach and playing in the water.

Jackson spent a lot of time tormenting the girls. SURPRISE, SURPRISE.

I'm already excited to go back next summer ...

We took the kids on a hike to Stuart Falls up by Sundance. It's a beautiful hike and not too long. One of our kids was having a bad attitude on the hike. Can you guess which one?

This trail is usually pretty crowded, but we did it on a Saturday evening and had it just about all to ourselves.

Dave enjoyed playing with his new fire pit. He's wanted one for a while, and I have to admit it has been fun to sit around the fire and roast marshmallows in the backyard.

T.J. used to be really photogenic and would willingly post for pictures. Not exactly sure what happened ...

Also, we now officially have a TEENAGER in this house. Austin turned 13 back on August 11th. Wow.
His chosen birthday activity was going to see Captain America with his friend Keegan. I had Dave take them since it seemed cooler to have your dad take you and your friend to the movies, rather than your mom. Am I right?

We're not much into traditional cakes around here, so a stack of peanut butter bars became Austin's birthday cake. The boy is obsessed with peanut butter.
We spent the day as a family at Trafalga for Austin's birthday.
They have these cool water boats there. I stay away from such things. But thankfully Dave was like knocking over little kids to get out there, so at least the kids had someone to play with. I am the photographer ... photographers do not get wet.

Dave was egging on our kids and total strangers, and as a result got seriously wet. Serves ya right hon.

Dave's little bro got married. Congrats to Brian and Meghan!

Didn't even mean to be all matchy-matchy, but check that out!

And lest you think Dave is the only INSANE BYU fan in his family, this is a picture of Brian and Meghan on their special day with .... wait for it... Tom Holmoe. And WHO is HE you ask? He's the Athletic Director at BYU. REALLY?!??!! Yes, multiple members of Dave's family recognized him and someone finally went over and asked him to pose in a picture. It was definitely one of the highlights of the day for Dave's family.

We did LOTS and LOTS of boating this summer. Thanks to Grandpa Morton's boat and his generosity with his time, the kids spent lots of time riding around in the boat, getting pulled on the tube, and learning to water ski.

I even got on that contraption once myself. I got thrown violently from this tube (I think my dad did it on purpose), and I'll have you know I came up out of the water with my sunglasses on my face and my earrings in. I'm tell you, it's a gift. Of course, I had fish bathroom water in my mouth, so I wasn't too happy.

Grandpa is helping the boys with their boating merit badge requirements for scouts. There's actually a lot they have to do for it, and they're just about done. Thanks grandpa!

And did I mention, cute little Raylie was born in August. London finally has a girl cousin on my side of the family who lives 0.7 miles way. She COULD NOT be more excited! She is obsessed with little Raylie, like we all are, and loves to hold her and hover over her and just be around her. What a cutie!

Funny kids

A new road just opened up by us called Pioneer Crossing. T.J. and I were on it the other day when he asked where all the pioneers were. I explained that they lived a long time ago and talked a little about the pioneers to him. He said, "Well, if the pioneers are dead, how can they be crossing the road?"
At the Qquirrh Mountain Temple Open House, there was a player grand piano playing hymns as we exited the temple. T.J. wanted to know who was playing the piano, so of course Dave told him it was a ghost. T.J. wanted to know, "Dad, is it the Holy Ghost?"
T.J. was changing himself out of his wet swimming suit today and into his pajamas when he took a few laps around the living room completely naked. I chased after him and said, "T.J., you can't run around naked. Get some clothes on!" He gets all indignant and says. "Mom, I'm NOT naked ... I have sunscreen on."
T.J. came running up to me this morning and said "Mom, I want to play knock-knock joke." I said, "Well good luck with that. You should probably wait until your father gets home becuase he's better with the whole knock-knock joke thing." T.J. said, "No I'll do it." I said okay, and he ran off. So a few minutes later there was a knock at the door. I answered it and it was T.J. laughing hysterically. I was a little confused and said, "What's up T.J.?" To which he responded, "We played it mom. We played knock-knock joke, and it's so funny." Apparently knocking and then laughing when people answer is now called "playing knock-knock joke."
London wanted me to buy her a new movie at the store today and I told her "no." She, of course, started in with the "Why not?" and "How come?" and all of that. So I just said, "London we don't have enough money to buy every new movie that comes out!" So she said, "Well, why don't you do some jobs and save up your money?" To which I responded, "London, are you serious? You want me to do jobs and save up my money so you can have a new movie?" She said, "If you work hard mom, you could do it."
I told T.J. the other day that he had to clean up some toys he had gotten out before he could have the piece of candy he wanted. So I said, "Come on, let's just hurry and clean it up. I'll help you." So he comes over for a minute and we pick up a few things and then he just walks away. I said, "Hey! Where are you going?" And he said, "You don't need my help mom. You're a big girl. You can do it all by yourself."
T.J. always wants me or Dave to lay by him at night while he falls asleep. Sometimes we do and sometimes we don't. Tonight, we were busy with other things, and T.J. was in there calling for me, "Mommy, come lay by me." I said, "T.J. I can't right now but I love you." So he said, "No Mommy, don't love me ... just lay by me."
I think my kids might be getting a little too much "election" exposure this year. We were at Partyland the other day having fun looking at costumes. Dave found a Barack Obama mask and put it on. London was not amused and told Dave, "No Daddy! Don't be him. He makes bad choices." You got that right London.
T.J. got into trouble yesterday and I got after him for it. He says to me, "Don't get mad at me or I'll call you a big red chicken." Huh?
I've been thinking about going back to school, and we were asking the kids what they thought about it the other day. So Dave says to Austin and Jackson, "What do you think mom should be? What should she study in school?" Austin gave some perfectly reasonable responses like "teacher" and "writer." Jackson says, "Mom, can you be a really famous football player?" You bet Jacks. You know what Dave's response was? "Jackson, have you ever seen mom run?" How rude!
So T.J. is pretty much potty trained, but we're having a few issues with number two. So, I walk into the room today and clearly caught him in "the act." So I say, "Uh oh T.J. Guess what?" And he says, "Uh ... I don't know. Maybe you smell something?" I definitely smelled something.
I went to put T.J. in his car seat the other day, and he said it was too hot. I said, "I'm sorry. What should I do?" So he thought about it and said, "Can you blow on it for me?" So I did, and then he said it was only warm and happily got buckled up.
Austin needs to have a wart burned off his finger. Jackson happens to be an expert on the subject after much experience a few years ago. So he reassures Austin by saying, "It doesn't hurt too bad ... maybe like London scratching you about 5 times .... or maybe 10." Thanks Jacks.
In the midst of a Saturday full of errands, we agreed to take the kids to McDonald's to play on the playground and have some lunch. They were all excited, but I think London most of all. She jumped out of the car at McDonalds, ran over to me, and in her most dramatic fashion ever said, "Oh thank you mom! I just knew we were a happy family."
We always tease London about eating like a bird, and she really does. But it may be getting a little out of hand. Last Sunday when I handed her the sacrament tray of bread, she said matter of factly, "No thanks mom. I'm full."
The week of London's 5th birthday, Austin, in family prayer, makes a heartfelt plea that London will "understand the reponsibilities of being 5." What a good brother. Now if someone could just explain what these "responsibilities" are ... maybe I'll ask Austin.
Jackson broke the personal, family, and possibly world record the other day by thoughtfully saying in his prayer NINE TIMES: "Please bless us to have a good time." Wow! This kid is seriously concerned about having a good time.
London was playing her computer game this morning and after passing off a level, she was really proud of herself. I was happy for her and told her "Wow! Good job. You are really good at that." She was really excited about her accomplishment and my praise and exclaimed, "Mom, I did such a good job. Maybe I should be in a parade."

The Leatherwoods

Sunday, September 25, 2011

The Fast Version

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