The BEST Dad Ever!

 In honor of Father's Day the boys woke up early and prepared a big breakfast for their Dad... his favorite! 

 They made biscuits, eggs, bacon, sausage, orange juice and cinnamon rolls... all while he was sound asleep

 Then they all woke him up in their favorite way... dog pile!  Once the wrestling was over,  and they'd all wished him a Happy Father's day, Gabe and Oliver said "close your eyes" and they took him by the hands and led him out in the backyard to the patio

Where breakfast was served..

after everyone was stuffed, the boys brought out the gifts

  Eli made this wooden picture frame at scouts

 The boys all picked out some of their Dad's favorite treats for him and I helped them decorate a stylish T-shirt too!

 Since their Dad is their favorite playmate they got him a volleyball net for the backyard

He LOVED all of it!

I know everyone says that their husband is the best dad ever and that 's fine if you think that but SERIOUSLY... my boys have the best dad in all the world!  He adores these boys of his, he notices the little things they do and say and at the end of the day we talk and he says "did you hear when Oliver said this..." or he says "Did you see the look on Eli's face when that happened...." Sometimes we sigh when we talk about the naughty things they do but always without fail Glen says " I sure love them!" or he says "aren't they cute!" or "its a good thing we love them so much..."  He always sees the positive and loves each of them for who they are.

 I love it when we are spending time together as a family anywhere and Glen and I constantly exchange glances every time our boys do naughty things or nice things... we share the same thoughts about these boys of ours. No one loves these boys like I do- except for him!  I see love in his eyes every time he looks at all of  us.  He keeps us all on track doing all the right things.  He expects a lot of the boys and he teaches them about respect and he enforces manners.  He teaches them how to do things like change the brakes on the car and how to fix a flat  tire on their bike- it would be so much easier for him to do these jobs himself but he knows the importance of letting them learn just like he learned from his own dad. He teaches them how to work hard and reminds them that someday when they are on their own they will be the best roommate, mission companion and spouse because they know how to work and do a good job!

When the boys get hurt they usually run to their Dad- he pretends he is "Doctor Dad" and he talks in a very official voice as he examines their injury- this always turns their crying into giggles. (or eye rolling from Evan and Eli)  He has the best tricks for getting these picky eaters to try new foods.  When he is home for lunch he tells the boys it's time to eat at "Huberhut" or "McHubers" then he pretends to be a chef and waiter- where he takes their orders... and delivers it just how they asked. They love it!  He builds forts and sets up train tracks with the little boys.  He throws baseballs, frisbee's and football's over and over.  He plays basketball and soccer and he arranges ping pong tournaments in the basement, sometimes he even lets me or the boys beat him! :) when we go to the park I would love for him to sit and visit with me while the kids play but he loves to play tag with the boys on the playground instead. I love to hear  him laughing with our boys! He loves bike rides, going on hikes and going camping! He takes time often to tell each of our boys that he loves them, that they are smart and that they are special!. Everything they do is more fun because they do it with him- he is their playmate and friend.  He tucks them in every night...EVERY SINGLE night he sings to them, he runs his fingers through their hair as he kneels by the side of their bed. 

These are just a few of my favorite things about their Dad.  The best decision of my life was when I married him!  Me and the boys are his whole world and we know it because he TELLS us and he SHOWS us everyday!  I really LOVE their Dad- truly the best Dad ever!

Happy Father's Day

 Here are a few words that come to mind when I think of their Dad

kind  understand  guide  support  tease  provide  teach  inspire  sports  laugh  service  protect  strong  care  encourage  fix-it  brave  patient  fun communication devoted  hero  friend  Daddy  play  family   hugs  respect  love  

He is our everything!

Happy Father's Day! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Mack Park

We went to Mack Park last week.  It is one of our favorite parks because it has lots of big shade trees and hiking trails.  a little river even runs right though it that is perfect for wading on a hot summer day...

I don't know why boys like rocks so much

Evan and Eli pulled up big rocks and started building a dam but they had to keep taking breaks every so often because they could no longer feel their lower limbs... the water was just a bit cold!

I love these brown eyes!

After some coaxing from the boys I dipped a toe in the water but then quickly retreated back to the safety of our picnic blanket where this little dream boat awaited me

 We talked and laughed as the big boys splashed around, collected rocks of every shape and color, attempted to flood the entire park with their dam and  raced stick boats down stream. 

I told Simon he would have to stay my baby forever! I begged him to never go off and do those silly boy things... but with a twinkle in his eye he giggled at me and I know in no time he'll be off joining the bunch!

Breakfast of Champions

 I was really not ready for Evan to go off to middle school last year.  He is growing up and although I love his independence and who he is becoming.  I am starting to realize now, more than ever, how fast the years go and how short the time is that he is all mine!  Evan didn't need me one bit on his first day of middle school.

 it's early... he's wishing he were still asleep!

 he didn't even look back!

 I thought about him all day that day. I had his schedule memorized and I looked at the clock throughout the day keeping track of where he was supposed to be at each hour...hoping from afar that he was surving middle school! (without me?)  I was nervous for him, hoping he was finding his classes and able to open his locker and that he had some friends in his classes...etc!  I took Gabe and Oliver to the store and we decided to get the boys a "you survived the first day of school treat" as an after school snack!  I thought Evan might need something to help smooth out the kinks of the day and nothing does that better than candy right?  We quickly threw a little note together

 We sat out on the front porch waiting for Evan to walk home from the bus stop. I was all worked up when he came into view, trying to read his expression.  I guess I thought he'd come home with horror stories of bullies, hazing, locker mishaps and tardies. But when he walked up he was calm and collected and smiling! what?  I hesitantly asked him about his day...waiting for the awkward stories and for him to fall into my arms because he'd needed me all day- but he only shrugged and walked right past me as he said over his shoulder "It was fine mom"  I pressed him for details and like only a boy can do he gave me none! nothing!! finally after more prodding and then bribing him with the candy note he told me "I love middle school mom,  it was so fun!"  I was shocked and a bit crushed he hadn't needed me but at the same instant I knew that his reply was just as it should be and in the end I was relieved and so happy for him!  We both survived the first day of middle school- for me it was bit traumatic but for him it was no big deal!

He had a great year as a sixth grader!  Evan got himself up every morning at 6:00 and showered, got dressed and then came upstairs and woke up Glen.  they had breakfast and said prayers before Evan was off to the bus stop.  I was in bed pregnant and sick, then pregnant and tired and finally  up with a newborn all night and tired! I know Glen loved his mornings with Evan though and it was a good routine!

Evan had fun participating in inter murals during lunch and he also joined a few of the after school programs- I think his favorite was a toss up between ultimate frisbee and the badminton club!  He set a goal at the beginning of the year to get all A's and he worked hard to accomplish that goal it helped that learning comes easy to him too!.  He loved his P.E. class and Science and Math but his favorite teacher was Mrs. Murray who was his two hour block language arts teacher.  He had her class all year.  We could not have been more lucky that he got her for his teacher- she was an amazing teacher!  She especially liked Evan and he really excelled because of  her confidence in him!  This is the letter she wrote to Evan inviting him to 'Breakfast of champions'

Reading it melted my heart and reminded me what a good kid I have!  Breakfast of Champions is what the school does to honor the kids who have worked to get good grades.  It was for all the kids in sixth grade who had maintained a 3.89  (one A-) or a 4.0 grade point average in at least 3 terms out of 4 and their parents are invited too.  We all went early in the morning before school started. We ate "honor rolls" which were these cinnamon or berry scone things, they were served with chocolate milk or orange juice

The assistant superintendent was there and he spoke for a minute complimenting the kids who were there and encouraging them to set their goals high for getting a good education.  they also had the top scholar from Sky View high school come.  He talked about being well rounded and involved in many things, having good friends, being close to family and being dedicated.  He said that those were the things that helped him to excel.  He related well to the kids and gave a fun little analogy using a Frisbee since he was part of the ultimate Frisbee club at sky view.  Anyway he was a cute kid and obviously very ambitious!  He said he decided when he was young that he was going to do his best in school and he never wavered from that.  It was a good thing for all of the kids to hear and see what opportunities are in store for them if they continue to work hard.  After he spoke then they recognized each student and presented them with a medal and box of wheaties cereal (yuck!)

Evan with Mrs. Murray

Evan with some of his friends

Austin, Jarin, Evan , Matt, and Chad...they are all on the same soccer team!

 We sure love our Evan and know he does have a bright future ahead!  He will do amazing things!

3 months

  I am trying to get caught up chronologically on this blog of ours (forget backtracking, the last year and a half of our life might just be a lost record!) but life at the moment is sort of making that more difficult than it should be!  I am oh so close to being up to date but I just wanted to jump ahead and give you a sneak peak of our baby boy - 3 months old!... I wanted to post these pictures on his 3 month birthday but I am not organized like that, so technically he is a tiny bit over 3 months as of today... but who's counting right? Certainly not me...I can't stand the thought of this baby growing up and at the same time I love the milestones he is hitting.

  I love that he follows me with his eyes and if I so much as glace at him he kicks his legs and grins.  I always stop to kiss on him, he is irresistible and then he lifts his chin and his lips curl into an O shape and he goo's at me.  I love that he does not only save this attention for me but that he does the same thing with every one of his brothers and his daddy too.  I love that after feeding him or bouncing him or talking to him when I finally set him down he whimpers in protest for a second but is such a good baby he decides to be content for awhile.  I love that he splashes and kicks his legs in the tub. I love how he holds his breath when I pull a shirt over his head and wearing a hat drives him crazy...he keeps waiting for it to be pulled down over his face, like a shirt, so he holds his breath and does this little gasping thing for awhile while he squirms until finally he realizes it is on his head to stay.  He complains the entire time he has to wear a hat.

  I love giving him zurbits on his tummy and neck...he closes his eyes and wrinkles his nose all the while a big smile is on his face... he loves kisses! This week he started laughing... not those big belly laughs yet but just a few little giggles- it is the best sound in all the world.  I love that he pops his binkie out of his mouth with his fists- at first I thought it was luck but he does it enough that now I know he knows what he is doing and then he sucks and slurpes on his fists! I love that he likes to lay outside in the shade under the trees- he lays there thinking, taking this big world in.  I love it when he talks to his toys and smiles at them.  I love that he is sleeping better at night.  He has a bottle at midnight and then he wakes at 5 or 6 am to be nursed, when his belly is full he cuddles in bed with me and his daddy.  I love that his legs are getting chubby. I love his bright blue eyes. I love his scent and his breath on my neck.  I love this little baby oh so much...see why?... I told you he's irresistable!