School's Out!

Our last day of school work was May 20th but our official last day of school was May 29th.  I looked outside and say Tanner and Bridger jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler.  They were soaking up!  But they were giggling and having so much fun.  I sat on the back porch and just watched them.  They looked so happy.  I thought "it's officially summer!"  It's small moments like this that make me happy.  The simple joys of life.  I love that Bridger will still play with Tanner like this.  What a good big brother!  (Chase has his own special connection with Tanner and finds ways to spend time with him).

Maddie Graduated!

It has not been the ending of the school year that Maddie had anticipated but she's made the best of it.  One third of her senior year was spent in quarantine.  All of the festivities that go with celebrating your graduation were cancelled.  Her school did an online graduation ceremony and then showed a picture of every senior.  She had an appointment to get her cap and gown.  Luckily a handful of her friends coordinated it to be there at the same time.  So she was able to get some graduation pictures with her friends.  They also did appointments to have your picture taken with the principal while he handed her her graduation diploma.  We're so proud of Maddie for making the most of this crazy experience.  She's made so many wonderful memories during her high school years.  We can't wait to see the amazing things she continues to accomplish.

Mom's Birthday and Maddie's Graduation

Mylissa generously invited us to her house to celebrate Mom's birthday and to celebrate Maddie's graduation.  We wanted to made a big deal out of Maddie's graduation since it's been a big bummer not having the normal festivities because of COVID.  I made Mom and lemon poppyseed bundt cake!!  Mom always jokes that things cannot be too lemony but she admitted that this cake was a little too strong.  But it was still good.

Maddie came out in her cap and gown.  Shantelle had the graduation music playing.  We cheered for Maddie.  She joked that she was the valedictorian of her class (since she was the only one at her house).  Maddie showed us her prom dress.  Her group was doing a mini prom.  She looks beautiful in her dress.  Maddie joked that she was also prom queen. We told her why not! Celebrate it up!

It was a great day being together.  I bought several shirts for Dad to give mom.  At first mom was really surprised but then Dad gave it away that I had helped.  It gave us a good laugh.  Dad also surprised mom (with my help) and gave mom some really nice AirPods.

BB gun shooting

Bridger got out his BB gun and set up some target practicing.  He helped Tanner with the BB gun.

Tanner's Treasure Hunt and Drive Through Graduation

The sweet kindergarten teachers made a treasure box for every student.  It was their mini -drive through graduation.  There were lots of cute things inside, like a few books, a new pencil, Oreos.  She had saved all of their art projects and put them in a cute book.  Mrs. B has been an amazing teacher.  She's so loving!  She makes Tanner feel so special.  When Tanner gave her a gift, she got a little choked up and said how COVID has been so hard on them.  She talked about how much she has missed her students.  They did a great job of teaching things online and keeping the kids on track.  We're so lucky Tanner had Mrs.  B.

More Yard Work

On Saturday, we stopped by J&J's (along with half of Davis County).  We bought 2 Dawyack Beech Trees for our backyard.  We wanted a little bit bigger tree so we forked out the bucks and paid $200/tree!  But they are beautiful trees!  They're 7-8 feet tall.  We put one just right off the porch to hopefully provide a little shade and then one to the right of our bedroom.  We also put one Skinny Jeans Oak tree on the left side of our bedroom, in front of our bathroom window.  I like the contrast of the green tree with the red beech tree.  A week ago, I bought a bunch of stuff and filled in our rock walls in the back yard.  I planted some spirea, euonymus, Stella O day Lillies, Rose of Sharon, mini forsythia, boomerang lilac bush, and some daisies.  I hope they survive.  It looks so much better!!!

We also planted a bakerii pine tree out in our island out front.  Then we added some perennials to fill it in.  We put some mini butterfly bushes, more lilies, dianthus, dwarf nine bark.  I love how it's all coming together.  It makes such a difference.

Teacher Parade

Our awesome school did a drive by teacher and staff parade.  They drove through all of the boundaries of the school.  They even came out to our neighborhood.  Tanner was so excited to see his teachers!!  We made lots of noise and cheered loudly for them.  Tanner saw his teacher for a split second but it brought a big smile to his face.  We really appreciated their effort.  What a bunch of great staff!  We love our G Elementary.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day weekend was great!  On Friday, Matt ran over to Logan to go on some "errands."  He came back with a Crumbl cookie box that said "Happy Mother's Day."  Cookies are much better than flowers!  He also got me a new iPhone.  I haven't been able to make any phone calls on my phone for the last two weeks.  I can only text on mine.  So I just use the boys when I need to make a phone call. Matt was very sweet and got me a new phone.
  I think we're all going a little crazy from being so cooped up so we spent some time with our families over the weekend.  On Saturday, we went down to the A's.  We had a BBQ and then planted lots of flowers for Grandma.  She was thrilled with them!
  Sunday morning, Matt and the boys made me a yummy breakfast.  They made me cinnamon muffins and scrambled eggs.  We didn't have church because it's still on hold for COVID.  Later that afternoon, we headed down to the R's to celebrate with everyone.  It's the first time the cousins have seen each other since Christmas!  Everyone was so happy to see each other.  I gave Mom and Marilyn Shutterfly books for our Moab trip.  I'm so grateful for the wonderful "mothers" I've had in my life.  My mom is an amazing example of love and selflessness.  Marilyn has taught me to be strong and to make the best out of life.  Charlene is full of love for her family and God.
 

Butterflies

Angie sent us a fun butterfly project.  10 caterpillars were delivered in the mail.  Over the next three weeks we watched the catepillars grow, turn into chrysalis and then transform into butterflies.  Then we released them!  It was so fun to watch them change over the weeks.

  

Tanner's 6th Birthday

On Saturday night, Tanner said he wanted to go to the place where Chase went for his birthday and get a corn dog.  (Maddox)  While we were driving there, Shantelle called me.  I told her what we were doing and she said "Maddox doesn't have corn dogs."  I thought she was mistaken.  But sure enough, when we went to order the server said they don't have corn dogs.  Tanner started to cry.  I felt like I had ruined his birthday.  So we made a really big deal out of their fries.  I promised that we would get him a corn dog next week.  He loves corn dogs!!!
  We invited our parents and Mares and Angie to come up for dinner and celebrate Tanner's birthday. He requested crepes for breakfast with the special sauce (buttermilk syrup).  He requested "white sauce" (alredo) with fettuccini noodles for his dinner.  He also wanted a chocolate Oreo ice cream cake.   The main thing Tanner wanted for his birthday was remote control cars.  He ended up getting three because Mom gave him one too.  He got a little mini one, an outdoor one that climbs on rocks and then a fast yellow fancy car.  He was thrilled!!! He got lots of lego Star Wars.  Matt and I got him a new bike.  I thought he was going to be so happy.  He seemed happy when we brought it out but the next day he told me he didn't want it.  He said that he wanted Caleb's hand me down Captain America bike.  Well, ok!!  Maybe next year he'll want a new bike.
  Tanner loves to play outside whether it's riding bikes, playing "golf" with his brothers, jumping on the tramp, or playing on the swing set.  He's such a happy guy.  He loves to play with friends.  He likes to play with cars (hot wheels and Disney), marbles and legos.  He loves basketball and soccer just like his older brothers. He likes to play board games.  His brothers taught him how to play chess.  He's learning how to read and is really improving. I love to hear him read!!  It's amazing how much he's learning in less than a year.  He's getting a little better at trying new things.  His favorite movie is End Game (that's embarrassing!  You can tell he has older brothers).  He's learning to play the piano.  I'm teaching him.  We try to do two lessons a month.  He loves watching Tom and Jerry cartoons!!!  He still loves his minky blankets.  He likes to sleep in just his underwear at night.  I'll put him to bed in his pajamas.  But when I go to check on him before I got to bed, he's taken off his pajamas and they're on the floor.  Tanner doesn't like spiders.  But he likes to hold rolley polleys.  He loves to eat cereal specifically cocoa crispies, and cinnamon toast crunch cereal.  He's discovered brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts.  He still loves Costco chocolate milk.  He loves his Donovan Mitchel Jazz jersey!  He would wear it everyday if I let him.  He'll take a nap about 1-2 times a week especially if he's been staying up late.  He likes to play with bouncy balls.  Tanner is into telling jokes.  He makes them up and then we laugh regardless of what he says.  He cracks himself up!  (I remember Chase and Bridger going through the same phase).  We're so grateful Tanner is in our family.  We love him so much!