Truman at 5

On the day of a school performance for Parker, I was desperately trying to free up space on our Flip video camera, which didn't work because the software had disappeared from our computer and took 45 min. to download whilst preserving the existing videos. Anyway, I thought I would pull out the old video camera which we haven't used for several years because the playback is broken. (Is it becoming clear that we aren't very tech-savvy?) And in the process, I discovered a memory card which I had no memory of! haha. This is a long way of saying, "Isn't Truman a precious baby?" He was so sweet and good-tempered.

 And here he is on his birthday, five years later. Truman wins hearts wherever he goes. Even his sometimes mischievous nature seems lovable, because it's accompanied by a chubby giggle and a funny stubbornness. I was semi-complaining to a friend about his antics and she said, "I just hope he gets away with everything!" I'm so very glad he's our boy.

He played t-ball this Spring. He had fun being on a team with several friends. Adorable.

 The after-game snack is the best part of the deal.

Winter 2011

 Parker and Todd went to Disneyland together for Parker's 7th birthday.

Emma and I had done the same thing for her 7th birthday, and Parker was super excited to go without the little kids so he could stay late and choose all the rides.

 Another month, another school program.

Parker awarded a spot on the "Pyramid of Success" for Personal Best

PTA Father/Daughter Dance

Truman's 5th Birthday!

 Truman had his first birthday party and chose a circus theme.
Since it was on a weekday morning, it was just me, Graham, and eight pre-k boys, plus our clown friend, Devin, who was a really great sport and hopefully gets some kind of home school credit for helping out.

 Truman chose to dress like a "hawaii clown"



Holidays 2010

This was our first Thanksgiving in our own home. Todd's brother, Tom and his family came to spend the holiday with us and to go to Disneyland. We really loved having them. We also spent the day with the Murphy and Miles families from our ward. So we had a few little connections going on: family, obviously, then mission: Craig and Tom served together in Dominican Republic, then high school: Heather, Michelle and I all went to Viewmont. (And I know my sentence structure is a mess. There goes my career as a copy editor, which is Todd's back-up plan for me if my best-selling novel doesn't materialize. haha. I've told him I can't come up with stories, but it doesn't sink in.)  Here is the lovely girl table.

 And the adorable little girl table.

 The feast-loving adult table.
And . . . the boys were at the dark kitchen table making a good amount of noise, and frankly, I didn't want to go in there. So . . no photo. Anyway, it was a great day: good company, good food, lots of fun.

 Another school program with toddler in tow. I love this Christmas program "Christmas Cookies and Holiday Hearts" which Emma also did a few years back. Parker now has the same teacher.

 Parker with best friend, Joseph.

 Cute Mrs. Bantle and Parker

 Parker and Mom before the Mother and Son dance. We double dated with Joseph and Darla.

Kids at Mission Inn, Riverside

While I spent a happy weekend in Idaho with my mom and dad and Holly, Todd took the kids to see Santa.  Graham is happy now, but minutes away from screaming on Santa's lap.

"What do you want?" Wii!

 "Wii!"

 "Wii!" They really ganged up on us this year :) And so falls the last household (according to the kids) without a Wii.

 And then we had our Primary/ Ward Breakfast with Santa Activity and this picture of the Primary presidency with Santa was just so awkward I had to post it. Melanie, Kristen, Santa, Michelle, me.

 Graham's one and a half already!

 After one family decided to pack up and head to Utah, Emma discovered she would be the only girl on Christmas Eve. It was Emma as Mary or no Mary, so she gave up her dibs on the angel role. Luckily, the Christmas story is filled with boys. Everetts, Smiths, Beaches.

 Since the stockings are on view, I'd like to add that we were near tears on several occasions because there were no Christmas characters (i.e. Santa, Bears, Snowman) on our stockings. The boys have grown, they've shopped, they've seen how the other half lives and they want Rudolph! I want the classic, tasteful, good for twenty years, already paid for kind.

 Todd giving out small gifts from "Nani's Grab Bag," which is a tradition from his Grandma that we've followed when we're at home for Christmas.

 The older boys with their gifts. Keegan's family is Utah red, so he got the Boise State colors.

After our friends left, the kids each opened a gift.

Graham has a bajillion pajamas, so he got a hat and mittens.

 I tried but could not resist these matching robes I found on black Friday. No, they haven't been worn too often since then, but aren't my little men darling?

 On the stairs Christmas morning.

That wraps up our Christmas day photos. Can you believe it? Three measley pictures. I just have no patience to keep bothering with the camera for more than a couple minutes. The kids got a Wii from Santa and the whole family has been playing Super Mario Bros. ever since. I have been dubbed Mom the Dragonslayer.

Our good friends the Freys came over on Christmas and we had a delicious dinner and played games together. Thank goodness we aren't the only ones without family in town or we'd be alone every holiday!

Fall 2010

 Truman is the engineer of the family. When I try to help him build a marble run, half the time he is correcting my work because I'm creating dead ends. He is very good at playing by himself and is quite independent in almost every other way. Sometimes that leads to messes in the kitchen because he has helped himself, or stubborn arguments because he doesn't doubt that he knows best, but usually it's a great attribute.

 Here is Truman at preschool as Spiderman, showing some Spidey moves.

 With our favorite Miss Michelle.

 Halloween on a Sunday means trunk-or-treat at the church on Tuesday?
Emma is Ginny Weasley, Parker is GI Joe "Snake Eye" (or something), Graham hung tough most of the night.

 Parker's second season of soccer and finally in a division with goalies. He loves to guard the goal and he's really good at it.

 Soccer season means lots of roaming time for Graham. He actually picked up some nice kicking skills by the end of the season.

 We ended up on a team with several of Parker's friends (and their moms, which made it nice for me, too).

 Coach Al and Parker. Todd was able to be assistant coach and he really enjoyed it. He may coach next fall.

 The (Lightning) Strikers