Bees

The other day, I looked out my back door to see bees flying all around my back porch and swarming all over my hummingbird feeder. We have enjoyed the hummingbird feeder this summer as we had many little visitors to it, and we enjoyed seeing them as we ate many meals on our back porch. The boys would get really excited every time they saw them. However, the visitors this time, were not very welcome. I have nothing against bees - - except I am allergic to them - - so I would rather not have them swarming all over the back porch. I guess the flowers are mostly gone, so that hummingbird feeder was a pretty attractive target for them. My fearless husband came home at lunch and took it down. Thank you Jeremy!!!

Brothers

There are moments you just have to capture.

The Bunk Bed

This is the newest craze at our house. We bought this a few weeks ago for Dallin and Thomas. After they fought forever about who got to sleep on the top bunk, they finally decided to take turns. They all just love to hang out up there, which scares me - because they can actually reach out and touch the ceiling fan. Jeremy cut the power to it, but I am still afraid that one of these days Dallin will try to swing from it, or that Jack will reach too far for it and go tumbling over the side. So far, they have all been pretty good, and I am hoping the novelty of the bunk bed will wear off soon and they will return to playing on the floor. I really, really prefer that!!!

5 Years Old!

Dallin is now officially Five years old! He had a very fun day with lots of great presents, cake and ice cream, a trip to the dollar store, and some really cool balloons from his friend, Ella, who lives across the street.

Dallin is a happy, outgoing boy that loves life! We love having him in our family! Happy Birthday Dal-Pal!

Back to School

Today was the first day of preschool for Dallin and Thomas. I decided not to send Dallin to kindergarten this year, because of his late summer birthday. Jeremy and I both felt he would be better off waiting a year and being the oldest in the class rather than the very youngest. So, Dallin is a seasoned pro at preschool. When I dropped him off I asked him if he wanted me to walk in with him (like all of the other moms were doing). He said "No, mom. I remember how it works!" Okay then!

Thomas loved his very first day. It was always hard for him to be left behind while Dallin went to preschool last year. This time he got to go to preschool first and leave Dallin behind. I think Dallin felt a little lost here at home without Thomas. It is amazing how much quieter it is around here without the two of them laughing, playing, fighting, pounding, demolishing, etc.

Here's to a great year guys!

Nostalgia

When I was in sixth grade I had a sucker business. I would make homemade suckers and sell them to kids at school for 25 cents. They were a hit and I had all sorts of shapes and flavors to choose from. My little business provided a bit of spending money and my mom was a good sport about providing all the ingredients and allowing me to make the suckers at least once a week.

When I was at home in July, I ran onto the old sucker molds and asked my mom if I could have them. I thought that Jeremy might like to give cute homemade suckers to his 5th graders at Christmas, Valentines, etc. My mom told me to take the molds and Jeremy and I went on the hunt for oil based flavoring (not an easy thing to find these days).

Yesterday, we made a trial batch. It has been a long time since I was in sixth grade and I wasn't sure if I still had "the touch". They turned out pretty well for my first batch in more than twenty years. A little tweaking and we should be all set for those Christmas suckers.

Dallin had a great time making, and eating, them. I don't think he ever dreamed you could actually make your own suckers. Pretty exciting stuff when you are five years old.

One of Those Days!

Do you ever have those days when you have obligations that keep you from your normal routine, and on top of that, you feel rotten, tired, and like you are in slow-motion? For me, yesterday was one of those days. By the time evening rolled around, I decided to just ignore the house and go to bed. So, this is what greeted me this morning.
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Ugh!!! I hate waking up to a messy house and dirty dishes. Thank goodness it only took about 45 minutes to get things a little bit more under control. Now we are looking like this.
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Much better. Not sparkling - but much better. I can function again!!!