Recreating the Past

Taken when each boy was about 4/5 months old.  

Matty on top, Asher on the bottom.

Random April

 In April, Matty graduated from the NOVA program 6th graders do in our area.  I honestly didn't understand what this was or why is was a big deal worthy of a "graduation," but the more he told me about it, the more awesome I thought it was. It really taught these kids principles to succeed in life, some seriously great skills.  I'm really thankful for the program.  

I believe this was his first over-nighter with the Boy Scouts (not just the 11-year-olds.)  They hiked up the mountain behind our house.  Dan went with him.  Matty faired much better than his dad on this trip.  He looked so little with that huge pack on him though.

Sweet Asher just grows and grows.  

He was about 6 months here.  

12! 12! 12!

Matty turned TWELVE back in April!!!

Somehow, he got 3 mini parties out of the event.

His first party with my family for Sunday dinner.

On his actual birthday, we took him and 3 friends to Lowes Xtreme Airsports in Provo for some jumping, foam-pit, trapeze kind of fun.  We all LOVED it! 

 

Sadly, one of Matty's best friends couldn't come because he broke his collarbone. 

Matty got a 2nd cake, and his friends hung out and played games the rest of the day.

That evening, we had our own little "party" with our family.

 Matty is smart, kind-hearted, helpful, and funny.  He loves to make up complex math problems to solve or create mazes.  His favorite pastimes are probably drawing, Killer Bunnies, Minecraft, Studio C, and watching magic on YouTube.  He's also done several stop-motion Lego animations.  He enjoys reading fantasy novels the most (but is willing to try nearly anything) and is a collector of all things.  Matty is as sentimental as his mom, if not more so.  (Saying goodbye to anything is a major accomplishment for him.) 

He and I joke about how he only has 6 years left in this house, but honestly I think we're both scared to death of how soon that will come.  These 12 years have flown by like nothing I've ever experienced, and I know how fast 6 more will go.  It's so amazing and at the same time heart-breaking to watch him grow up. He was only 2 years old when I started this blog. 

"Keeping It Hot"

What's this??  I have another son??

Why yes.  Yes, I do.

One I'm very proud of.

Matty's science fair project for school this year was all about what type of cup insulates hot chocolate the best.  He and I had fun doing his experiment together late one night as we drank lots of hot chocolate and watched shows on Hulu.  It was a much easier project than last year because his teacher didn't require a written report this time.

We were both surprised when he was announced as one of the winners at the school level, and we were even MORE surprised when he won at a district level!  He was able to go the a regional/state level fair (I really don't know how to define it) at BYU instead of school one day.  The little ones and I went to pick him up and watch some of the fun.  

He was totally fine that he didn't move on past this point as we were all getting a little sick of science fair activities by now. 

First Days of School

Matty started 6th grade this year.  

(Um . . . how did THAT happen?!?)

 And Jossy started 3rd.  

Lacey started Kindergarten a week later.

She was not happy I wanted to drive her just so I could take some pictures.  She REALLY wanted to ride the bus, but I won.  Her teacher is in our ward, which helped her feel much more comfortable going to school.  She's not awesome at new things, and there would have been many tears had the teacher situation been different.  (She cries every year when she has to get used to new primary teachers even though I'm right there in the room as chorister!)  She kept asking me when I would leave because she wanted me to go.  She was ready!

Paper Clips and Planes

Matty worked super hard on his science fair project this year (which was testing the best location for a paper clip on an airplane.)  The work started at the beginning of the school year and was finally due in January.  But even once everything was over, he couldn't let go of the display board he made.  So it sat in his room for months before I was finally able to convince him to dispose of it.  He wanted a picture with it first, and his sisters can't stand being left out. 

Extras for Studio C!

Matty and I got to be extras for one of his favorite shows, a BYU sketch comedy called Studio C.  He was SUPER excited!  We had a fun afternoon together and enjoyed seeing the process of filming.  Lots of takes and down time were involved.  The sketch doesn't air til this Fall.  We took this picture afterwards with a couple cast members and Matty got Matt's autograph which made his entire year.

(Can I confess something silly?  I posted this picture on FB right after we took it, but not before I totally Photoshopped my tummy to be flat!  At this point I was definitely showing a little belly with baby #5 but no one really noticed but me.  Being a little self-conscious thinking people would just think I was gaining weight, I took out any question!  Ha ha!!)    

Eleven!

I started this blog when this boy was two.  Just TWO!!  In April he turned the ripe old age of eleven. 

 It blows my mind how fast he's growing up.  Just 7 more years in the house.  :(  

Matty made all the paper figures for his cake.   I wasn't talented enough with fondant to do what he could with paper.

Matty loves to create.  Legos, stop-motion videos, origami, k'nex, comic strips, you name it.  He especially loves to draw, and his preferred medium is pencil or colored pencil.  He's very smart and does well in school, but not without a little (or a lot of) pestering from me to do his homework.  He's kind to others and concerned about their feelings.  He gives his sisters piggy-back rides and lets them play with his stuff more than my big brother ever did.  He especially dotes on Alice.  He adores her and thinks she's the cutest.  He's super excited to have a brother in a few months.  Even though they'll be 11.5 years apart, I can't wait to see their relationship grow over the years.  Matty is respectful of adults and in general does a really good job obeying and trying to do what's right.  I appreciate having him as the oldest so much! 

The Easter Bunny and a Secret

They expected to find their Easter baskets.  

Little did they know the secrets they would learn from this basement . . .

 I had been plotting for weeks, trying to think of a way to tell the kids we were expecting.  When we told them with Alice, it was cursive writing on a cake that said "Mom's having a baby!"  But no one read cursive and even when we read it to them they didn't understand who "Mom" was so it took forever for them to get it.  I wanted to be more direct this time.  I decided to tell them while taking their pictures with their Easter baskets.  All eyes on me.  They aren't distracted.  Cameras are rolling.

So I said things like, "Say Cheese!  Say Happy Easter!"

Then I moved to "Say Mom's having a baby!  Say Mom's pregnant!  Say for real!"

No change in expressions.

They just kept smiling thinking I was joking.  

Then I pulled out the ultrasound photo to prove it.

At this point I was accused of using an old photo to trick them.

I told Matty to check out the date on the picture.

Things were starting to click a little.

Matty said, "It looks like a frog."  I said, "Well then we're having a frog! Whatever!  That's a baby in my tummy!"

His first response once he realized the truth was of course, "I hope it's a boy."

While the girls said, "Can we eat our candy now???"

Cub Scout Graduate

Back in March (yep, super super far behind now) Matty earned his Webelos Badge and his Arrow of Light.  It was an INSANE couple of week trying to get it all done before his birthday.  The changes to the program had put the leaders behind a bit and made it impossible for him to finish without doing a lot of work at home . . . but we made it!

He had to pin his mom upside down.

He made his first fondant cake for the banquet. 

Dan and Alice were there, too, but she was getting super sick so he had to take her home. 

Thank You, Telephoto Lens . . .

. . . for making my horrible seats at the school Christmas program not as bad as it could have been. Perhaps Jossy couldn't see me, but like a proper stalker/spy I could at least see her.

Poor Matty thought he was supposed to dress up.  Nope!  He was upset his teacher wouldn't let him call home to have me bring different clothes.  I wouldn't have brought them anyway.  You're wearing clothes at school, so you're good.

Budding Artists

Reflections is an art contest sponsored by the PTA.  It's a national program that starts on the school level.  There are several categories you can enter: Dance, Visual Art, Photography, Film, and something else that's not coming to me.  (Ha ha!)  I like my kids to enter at least one area.  This year the theme was "Let Your Imagination Fly."  How the kids interpret the theme is scored more than artistic ability.

 

Matty entered art and photography.

We found tutorials online to make this AWESOME spray paint galaxy art.  I cannot even describe how much fun it is to make these!!  We made 3 extras I think just because Jossy and I wanted to try, too.  SO SO SO much fun!!  (I'll do another post on this if I remember.)

In September we viewed the Super moon lunar eclipse.  I taught Matty how to lay on his tummy and use his elbows for stabilizing his shot.  He took this and entered it.  

Jossy spent time photographing her sisters in dress up items she picked out.

She end up choosing this one to enter.  

She also painted a simple picture and did a dance to "Let it Go."  It took quite awhile to convince her to enter dance.  She loves to dance around the house and is always coming up with choreography, but she was so nervous to have it recorded.  Thankfully, she chose to do it because she was the only one in the whole school who did!  (Winning by default is still awesome.)

At the school awards' night, they were both asked to read their Artist Statement for one of their entries.  There were about 125 entries this year at their school!  Jossy was also asked to perform her dance, but she declined because it was held in the library and she was afraid she'd hit something.  

 Jossy won an award for her dance and her photography!

Matty was a winner in his age group for photography!

(Which clearly I suck at in these 2 photos. Oh well.)

They were both excited and Matty was super relieved,

 (as you can see on his face behind Jossy's pic. LOL)

Getting an award at school level allows you to move on to council level.  2 kids per age range per category move on.  I was sent an email telling me we should attend the awards night for council level because my "child" was receiving an award.  Um . . . which child???  I was nervous for who would feel left behind, but I prepped them both the best I could.

We found both their pictures displayed in the foyer at the awards night.  

Good sign???

At this level they give an Award of Excellence for 1st place, Awards of Merit for 2nd and 3rd, and Honorable Mention if they want to.  ONLY 1st place moves on.

Jossy received Honerable Mention for her photography and 2nd place for her dance!  

Matty received 2nd place (second year in a row) for his photography!

 So they don't get to move on any further, but I was SO relieved nobody got left out this time!  

More trophies for their dressers.