Caleb Changing Brakes

September 20, 2011

I came into the garage and found Caleb with a big pry bar "working" on the back driver's side tire. I had no idea what he was doing, but he certainly knew what he was doing. He intensely working very hard on something....

I told Clint was Caleb was doing and he told me that Caleb helped him change the brakes on the Honda a few weeks ago. Clint was very impressed that Caleb was using the correct tools for the job.

I hope Caleb keeps his interest in fixing cars. It's so handy and everyone needs that kind of help. Clint saves us a lot of money by servicing our cars on his own. I'm grateful Caleb has such a great teacher!

Sunday Boredom Inspires Building with Cushions

September 23, 2011

After church, Brennan and Derek get bored. They decide to build a "house" out of the couch cushions. They did a great job and even made it big enough for Caleb to "live" in there too.

Marble Run

September 22, 2011

I've never disliked anything more than a game called Marble Run. It's a big box of pieces that when you put them together correctly creates this magical structure that boys LOVE. I hide the box all the time just so the boys can't see it or play with it. As soon as they even get a glimpse of the box, they scream, "Mom, help us build Marble Run!" I think, "This is the worst invention ever!"

Well, Derek found the box! Brennan was at school and Clint was out of town, so I tell Derek he'd have to wait for Brennan to get home. After an hour of pleading, I cave in. I pull out the "map" as Derek calls it and start to call out for the colored pieces I'd need to build the tower. Of course Derek picks out the hardest one! 

I finish building and I'm getting a lot faster. It only took 15 min. When I first started we were looking at a good hour. It was painful!

When the tower was build, we test out the first marble and success! It made it down all the tubes on the correct side and through all all of the slides and spinners. Then Caleb comes over and sees this magical contraption and he wants to play too.... One big problem, we only have one marble! So then I spend the next half-hour searching for more marbles for Marble Run. The big bag of marbles I got from the dollar store are a hair too big and get stuck in the spinners. Really? There is a specific and special size of marble required for this thing? Derek was getting sick of sharing his marble with Caleb and the screaming starts. I finally find another marble and just before I'm going to lose it. 

I guess I'll lose the rest of my marbles another day. For now, Marble Run is safely hid for another few months!

Clint's First Half-Marthon

Clint completed his first half-marathon on Saturday, October 12th. The race started at Antelope Island and ended in a park in Layton. He did a great job! Came in under 2 hours at 1:58.
We are so proud of him!

At the finish line with Clint.

Derek's First Day of 4-yr-old Preschool

September 8, 2011

Derek was SO EXCITED to go to preschool. He is attending Imagination Station Preschool and his teacher is Brittney Christensen. He got dressed all on his own and it was wonderful!

One minute after Brennan left for school on his scooter, he wrecked. He was only a few houses away. His friend, Shaun, came running to the house to get help. I was in the bathroom getting ready when Derek came in. He told me Shaun was at the door and that Brennan had crashed. I thought, oh well, just get up and to go school. But Derek was insistent that I go to the front door and talk to Shaun. I find out that blood was involved, so I ran to the kitchen for the bandage kit. I still had to get my shoes on so Derek grabbed the bag from my hand and ran out the front door. As I'm putting my shoes on I hear Derek screaming down the street, "HELP IS ON THE WAY!" I was laughing so hard. Derek is so cute! We got Brennan all fixed-up, which took a while. He had three injury areas and a lot of dirt in hi knee and elbow. By the time we got Brennan to school we only had 12 min. to get Derek out the door for preschool. We made it though! And what a memorable day it was.

Derek's Black Eye

Clint and I went on a date last Friday. The next day Derek wakes-up with this black eye! I asked Derek what happened and he had a hard time remembering. Then he told me a jumbled story about the trampoline, Caleb and a plastic hockey stick. It seems Caleb is finally getting to dish-out some payback!

Popcorn and movie at 10 am

Now that school is in, the younger neighborhood boys are getting together to play during the day. We have a cute neighbor, Grant Goodsell, that comes over. Derek and Caleb both LOVE having friends come and play.