Swimming Weather

We've lived in our new house for 7 months, and so far the only things we miss are the grass and the pool. We used to go swimming every day. Still, we're only 3 miles away. Last week we went 3 times, and we'll probably go at least that much this week. It's too hot to haul rocks.

Cameron was delighted to find a few chairs just his size.

Good thing we have Ian to protect us at the pool.

Cameron loves the water - and I love this picture because I think he looks like.....


YODA.

Awesome

Tyler's parents come home from their mission in Africa on July 7th. They've been gone for two years, and we're so excited to see them. Yesterday, I got a jury summons in the mail. Guess what the report date is? July 7th. Awesome. Let's hope it gets cancelled - like the last one I got just three months ago.

What We Did Today

Well, Tyler left this morning for a four day river trip with the young men in our branch.

We worked hard to keep ourselves busy so we wouldn't miss him too much. Also, this is the first day with no rain, over 65 degrees in weeks...so...this is what we did:

1. Emptied our burn barrel. I know this is a foreign concept to the rest of America. We burn our trash. Anyway, the point is that the emtpying required using one of the loader tractors, which was very exciting for the boys.



2. Hiked up Joe Billy Basin. I can't believe I forgot the camera. I'm thinking about going back tomorrow just to take some pictures. Of course we didn't make it all the way up - things started to go south after Cameron grabbed a cactus.
   


3. Cleared our little "wilderness area" of a massive rose bush root ball and dug a fire pit.



4. In the process of digging the pit, we found an amazing number of worms. We started a collection for the garden. If there weren't so many trees, we should plant our tomatoes around the fire pit.



5. Played in the creek....while mom raked rocks. Would you believe our soil is at least half rocks? I swear it is. And no - they aren't wearing any pants. Why do you think they are standing behind a sagebrush?


6. Went to grandma's to get her mallow roasting sticks....jumped on the tramp....weeded a little in the garden....chased her cat.
   


7. The boys took short naps while I finished the fire pit and hauled away the rose bush remains.
   


8. Spaghetti for dinner!!


9. Smores around the campfire with Grandma, Grandpa and Jared.


10. Show off on the slide a bit......play in the sand a bit.


11. Bath and collapse in bed.
    
    

I can't believe I'm still awake.

Happy Father's Day!

Tyler celebrated Father's Day by taking a very long nap after which we had my parents over for sweet pulled pork salads. Thank you swine flu. Pork is cheap! He got this bench for our front porch, which we were going to buy anyway, so we just called it his gift. I guess his real gift was his trowel. Now, after Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day, we all have our own trowels. I never imagined we would need to own multiple shovels to satisfy everyone's needs.

Anyway, Tyler is an amazing dad. He still manages to wrestle and play with his two energetic boys even after he has worked for 10 hours in a hot shop. And by the way, Ian was supposed to be in this picture with his dad, but he opened the door a few minutes before totally naked. So much for being obedient and staying in his church clothes.

What I've Learned about RAISING BOYS

My two boys are only 3 1/2 and 14 months, but it's already evident there are a few things that are pretty standard when it comes to raising boys.

1. They really aren't interested in dolls.
2. Screwdrivers or needlenose pliers are the ultimate object to carry around all day.
3. You could have a room full of fuzzy bunnies and one really sharp knife, and they will head straight for the knife, every time.
4. When you clean the bathroom, take a big long whiff, because that's the last time it will smell clean, until you clean it again.
5. They need to wrestle.
6. You can use anything for a sword: sticks, axe handles, fly swatters, steel knife sharpeners, broom handles, back scratchers, shovels. If you have a little boy, you will, at some point, have a stack of "swords" right outside your door.
7. Your mending pile will always exceed your other creative sewing piles.
8. They love rocks, and they aren't just for throwing. We have "treasure" rocks all over our house and stacks of rocks outside our door (with the swords).
9. Sand, dirt, (especially) mud.....they are all irresistable to little boys.
10. They believe clothing should be optional - any time of year.
11. They will start pushing cars, tractors & heavy equipment around before they can even walk.
12. The world is their toilet.
13. Tooting, passing gas, farting...whatever you call it....will always be funny. Cameron even thinks it's funny.

Our Trip to the Dentist

Some of you know that in the last month, we discovered Ian needed some dental work. We actually knew he had at least one cavity because we had watched it develop for the last year. We were trying to hold off because we didn't know how we would get him to comply for a dentist. I finally took him the dentist when he said he had a "cabin" in his tooth and he wanted to go to the dentist.

We took him to Elko, just because of convenience, not because we actually trusted any dentists there. Ian wouldn't lay back in the chair, and the dentist could barely get a visual exam, but, they did take a few x-rays. They quoted us $900 to fix two cavities, and said that they would only do the work with him completely sedated at the hospital. Well, knowing that would easily cost $3,000 in Elko, we sought a second opinion.

We took him to a pediatric dentist in Provo, Dr. Gifford. Ian submitted to a full oral exam there (although he was sitting in my lap when it happened), and let them take two more x-rays of his molars (the kind where you have to bite on those awful bite wings). I was surprised to see him even do that much. This dentist found not 2 but 4 cavities. The second 2 were small, but might as well be fixed while the two bigger ones were being done. This dentist felt like Ian was compliant enough to just use an oral sedative, but we'd have to come back twice because he could only numb one side of his mouth at a time. Or, he said, we could sedate him at the hospital, which would be more convenient for us, but it was our decision. After some consideration and investigation into the cost, we felt that we'd at least have to try the oral sedative, and if that didn't work, we'd find some way to pay for the general sedation, which would cost $2,000 in Utah.

We really needed the first option to work. So, we had a special fast for Ian, and Tyler gave him a father's blessing the night before. Ian talked about going to get his teeth fixed as if he were going to the library or to the pool - he didn't seem nervous at all. But, inside, both Tyler and I were praying it would work, knowing that we have some big expenses looming in the not too distant future.

The morning came, and we gave Ian the sedative. He didn't seem to be any different than he normally is...and I thought he would be sort of there...but not. This made me nervous. But, when we got there, he was the most obedient little thing I have ever seen.

Dental Assistant: "Hop up in the chair."

Ian: Hopped onto the chair without hesitating.

DA: "You need to pick a silly nose, we have strawberry, orange and grape."

Ian: Laughing a little, "I want strawberry."

DA: "You need to lay down, we will put on your silly nose and these sunglasses so the bright lights won't bother you."

Ian: Obeys every word no questions asked...not even a flinch when they got the drill out.

Me: Flabbergasted. I need some of this stuff to give him everyday.

The dentist came in, numbed his mouth and left. The DA put sealants on all his rear molars. Ian looked up once to make sure I was still there, then laid back down. The dentist came back in, and fixed both teeth in 5 minutes. The guy is so speedy. In my mind, I'm calcuating...all that work included...that's like $50 a minute, and this guy is pretty cheap compared to other dentists!

When they were done, Ian popped up, and went to check to see if Cam was playing with the fire engine in the waiting room....only this time...a little dizzy. We had to carry him to the car.

I felt so relieved it actually worked. No need to take him to the hospital. The hardest part was he couldn't keep himself from chewing on his numb lip - especially when the anesthesia started to wear off - it was itchy. So now he has a big fat lip - but it will heal. When the narcotic started to wear off, he got really weepy and had to take a nap. That was really the only way to keep him from chewing on his lip anymore.

We have to take him back in a month to get the other two cavities fixed on the other side, and I'm relieved because he wasn't traumatized by the first visit, so I think it won't be difficult to get him back there. I'm so impressed with Ian. He handled like a champ what many adults couldn't even do, and he's only 3 1/2. Also, we are so glad Dr. Gifford took the chance on Ian, and was willing to work on him at his office and spare the expense of taking him to the hospital.

Dear Ground Squirrels

Please vacate our yard immediately. I don't want to have to eliminate you. In fact, I think you're kind of cute. I like to watch you wrestle and race around from here to there.....if only there weren't thousands more just like you...eating our tender little garden...and my salvia plant. If there were just two of you, we would be happy to let you share our home. I think a good birth control program could really do wonders for your image. However, since it's too late for that, please just pack your bags and move out! I'm just warning you because if I see you hanging around the garden, I will be forced to shoot. Further, I regret to inform you that it is not likely to be a quick painless death because, to be honest, I'm not a stellar marksman. So, you can see it's in your best interest to just go. Go far, far away.....please!