Sledding!

We finally got a little bit of snow that stuck on the ground!  I do hope it is gone tomorrow, but I thought we would make the most of it today.  Especially since I totally screwed up the fun by forgetting all our snow clothes when we went to my brother's!  He lives on some mountain that has snow for most of the year on it-- and the plan was to go sledding!  Errrr... still a little mad at myself!  But honestly, I am very pregnant and I served for 2 hours in the nursery that morning.  I wasn't feeling well at all.  End of that story, on to this story!

Today Brad had some time off because of the weather and he came to my doctors appt and then we got the kids ready and out the door to a nearby park to have some fun!  But first Bryan went out back and literally covered the whole front of him in mud...  Thankfully after an hour of sledding, he was all clean :)

 The first time going down on the boys spankin' new sled they bought with their own money they got from Grandparents, Bryan was PETRIFIED!  He grabbed onto Paul with a death grip and refused to go down ever again.  Paul was sweet enough to pull Bryan up to the top-

 with maybe a little help from Dad.

 Hyrum was a little nervous at first testing out this weird sled our neighbor gave us.  He ended up loving it and trying out on all the different places around the park!

 Paul and Hyrum were all aglow as they raced down the hill!  That sled was FAST!

 In the mean time Bryan hoped onto his crappy sled that was slow moving and found his love LOVE for sledding!  Within seconds after that first slow ride, he shouted back at Brad, "AGAIN!"  The next ride and every time after that he was shouting that he wanted to go AGAIN before the sled came to a stop at the bottom of the hill.  ha ha!  Did you notice he shouted at his DAD to pull him and his sled to the top of the hill???  Ahhhhhh...  The joys of being pregnant!  Brad hauled him up that hill 100x I bet.  He never complained or acted like he was tired, and me, I enjoyed watching and taking picture :)  ----psst----  That is the one thing I HATE and always have HATED about sledding!  Drudging up that hill over and over again hauling the sled or tube.  Even if it was worth it- I still hated doing it!

 Thankfully Brad is quite macho!

 Bry-dude just couldn't get enough if it!

 Hyrum loved learning how to steer his sled thing and enjoyed crashing for the camera and me!

 Paul didn't act like anything else in the world mattered.  He was one happy boy: Sledding, hiking and hauling and sledding, hiking and hauling.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.

 He was all smiles.

 And so was he!!! 

 Paul loved when Brad would give him a boost so he could go faster!

 Bryan was in heaven, sledding and eating all the snow he could get in his mouth!

 By the time we were thinking about heading home, Bryan even started hauling his own sled and himself up the hill!

This is when things went from "Good" to "OK" to "Bad" to "Worst."

 Brad--- take 2.  Yes, he did fall toward the bottom.  I am very surprised he tried not only once, but twice!  He did mention he will never again though...

 Time to go! 

When we got home. Paul and Hyrum wanted to build a snowman.  Isn't there a saying that goes something like "A face only a mother could love?"  Wellllllll...

 This mother sure loves it :)

And Hyrum is sure impressed with his work, Paul is impressed with Hyrum's work too :) 

What a fun day!

Hyrum

My oldest.  Sure love him!  Hyrum is extremely kind, extremely caring, extremely insightful, extremely energenic and extremely smart.  He sees things differently than any one else I have ever known.  I mean that in a good way, he is optimistically creative.  What I have been inspired most with Hyrum is his ability to see beyond problems and tackle a solution.   

 

One thing about me and Hyrum is I have always been straight forward with him.  He is the oldest and I have taught him that repect and being a good example is earned.  It isn't automatic.  He has been an amazing example to his brothers and family, rightfully earned indeed!  I honestly couldn't ask for a better oldest child than Hyrum for our family! 

 Here we have half of Hyrum's supporting crowd at his basketball games.  Paul is running and blurred out of the picture, but Brad and Bryan watch Hyrum practice from the walking track above the gym. 

 Hyrum works really hard at basketball.  His effort is awesome!  He has worked really hard to be the best he can be.  He takes Brad's and his coach's advice and does all he can to do exactly what he is asked.  Basketball is frustrating for Hyrum at times because of his consideration of others and he is not assertive.  I find that a great quality!  Even though that doesn't make him a super star at this point :)

 Basketball takes a lot of coaching for my #24, but one thing that Hyrum is completely self-motivated about is academics.  Grading is so different now then it was when I was younger, but he gets "M's" (Mastered) all across the board and "E's" for excellent for all the citizenship.  He is reading at a 4.5 grade reading level.  The last couple of weeks he had a reading contest.  It was according to minutes.  The contest went for 2 weeks and after one week they awarded the winners and then they awarded the over all winners at 2 weeks.  Hyrum won the first week out of all of first grade!  That week he also was a finalist for the Class Spelling Bee.  He moved on to the Grade Spelling Bee and was a finalist for that with his good friend Kaitlyn.

 Hyrum and Kaitlyn then advanced to the School Wide Spelling Bee with 22 others. 

 Which happened to be that last week of the reading contest...  Sooooooo Hyrum tried to study the spelling lists (about 800 words) and read his little heart out.  I think just that last week alone, he read 6 Magic Tree House books putting him at #26.  It was quite the week.  I had to keep reminding myself that this is what he wants to do, this means a lot to him.  I couldn't wait for him to be able to relax and just be a kid again.  BUT I support him and his endeavors.  Hour after hour he read and hour after hour we went over spelling lists.  And at the end of the day this child wanted to study through the night and not go bed.  Night after nigh, I felt guilty sending him to bed after letting him stay up way too late.  He was so upset and felt like he had so much to do!

 But even though he didn't win the overall reading contest, he and Kaitlyn did great at the spelling bee.

 Hyrum ended up winning first out of all of first grade!  Technically he and Kaitlyn tied because they got out in the same round, but Hyrum got the first place metal because he got out after her.  It was an amazing experience seeing my little boy confidently stand before the judges and a crowd of people and ask questions and then proceed to spell the word "sweet."  He got out on the word "shawl" which he spelled "shol" and handled it so well!  No crying, not even a tear...  In fact not even a word of complaint.  With a huge smile, he said the experience was "fun" and he looks forward to next year! 

 We got root beer floats to celebrate and as a family really enjoyed the evening!  Even Paul, who said, "These guys are really good spellers!" talking about the last few people.  Attitudes, that what matters to me and I say Hyrum is a winner and also Paul for noticing others abilities!  I do have to add Hyrum and Kaitlyn had way too much fun on stage to begin with :)  They were giggling and talking the whole beginning AND then once it started Kaitlyn was acting like she was going to kiss Hyrum.  Hyrum quickly covered his mouth, worried she really would!  Yep...  All of that in front of all these mom's and dad's and judges and the rest of the school spellers that sat nervously waiting to be called up :)  Oh dear!

 Hyrum plays the violin.  He just passed off The Twinkle Variations and is working diligently on "Lightly Row."  I told him and Paul that this is how we plan on paying for their college.  They have to earn their scholarships.  Yeah, I may be a mean parent...  BUT Hyrum works hard, knowing that the reward is worth it.  College is expensive and especially if you plan on becoming a doctor, like Hyrum.

With all these brains and goals, Hyrum still is a blast to be around!  He brings joy everywhere he goes.  Unless, say, he is tired and growing and hungry...  He is only seven after all!  But when he has hard times, it isn't hard for me at all to remember who he is.  Hyrum is incredible.  He notices others and never hesitates to give a compliment, even to stranges.  Selfishly, I have to say he is always the one to notice my hurt feelings and wants to talk to me and cheer me up.  He cares about me so much.  He cares about his brothers and looks up to his dad.  He is a helper and a hero.  He sets goals and has dreams, but yet can play for hours on the floor or out in the snow.  He leads such a balanced life.  He works hard for what he wants and finds joy in all aspects in life.  He loves his Heavenly Father and Savior.  And everyday he prays that "we can be a family forever."  My love for Hyrum, as well as all my other boys, is felt with every beat of my heart.  I appreciate all that Hyrum is and look forward to his future!  He has my support in whatever he chooses to pursue...  Which today, it sounds like he want to become President of the United States.  Looks like we will be starting to study George Washington...

Paul

This Paul -wow- he is full of admirable qualities!  He is unique and surprises me all the time with his work ethic.  I remember on Christmas Eve, we spent the day raking leaves.  Paul worked NON-STOP till the job was done.  He didn't take breaks to swing on the swing or play with the neighbor's cat, he worked with ready hands and an winning attitude.  Yes, admittingly, he does act normal every once in a while, where he doesn't feel like doing something or feels like he can't.  But man, when this boy is in the game mentally, he is miraculous!

Speaking of games, Brad takes the boys to the gym every so often and works on basketball skills.  Paul is phenomenal.  He can dribble real great.  He can dribble while concentrating on the hoop or his dad.  He works really hard to get better and better at shooting and any other skill they are working on.  Afterwards, Brad takes the upstairs to run laps.  Paul can run a mile straight.  He says, "The more I run, the more I want to run!"  Brad takes breaks to lift weights and Paul observes every move.  He then comes home and while reading scriptures he bench presses Brad's legs :)  He says he is "Doing Muscles!"

Paul has grown to have great concentration and wonderful motor skills.  This is a Perplexis, a 3D maze with a marble.  He got it for Christmas and he tries and tries to pass it.  He does exceptional! 

Paul has started reading well too!  I taught him first his letters and sounds and now we are moving onto sight words and sounding simple words out.  (Thanks Jess for the suggestion!)  He gets take home readers from his preschool and I get the words from them and he likes to pick a few to add to the flash cards.  He loves to review his flash cards and he loves to read his take home readers over and over again!

Paul can't wait to go to preschool everyday.  It seems that I am left teaching him the reading and counting.  At first I was a little disappointed, but I have come to realize all that he is learning.  He is learning:

• To love school
• Cooperation
• Writing skills and technique
• How to start and complete a big project
• Cooperation
• Many many games!  They work on small and large motor skills everyday.  Along with games, they learn HOW TO LOSE.  Winning is fun, but a lot of games only have one winner and when they win, they are so excited, but when they lose, they learn to be happy for the winner and that it is ok!
• Songs!  I could never teach him this!
• All of his letters, he has learned them through and through by heart.
• Sigh language!
• Participation and how to wait till your are called on.
• They do a lot of crafts.
• They have 3 teachers and 13 kids.  So they get the help and assistance when they need it.

Paul loves school!  I happen to really miss him a lot when he is gone though...  I love his excitement when I pick him up and he can't wait to tell me all about his day!  He also wants to continue learning at home.  He loves when I or Hyrum spend an hour reading to him and he want to write and count and sing! 

When Hyrum is at school, Paul and Bryan play and play and play!!!  They get along so well and always imagining away.  Bryan really looks up to his older brothers, but has really taken to Paul lately.  Bryan wants to be a "Cowboy Pilot" just like Paul. 

Paul loves his cousins, this happens to be Brenna.  He loves all his cousins mucho!

Paul spends a large portion of his day singing.  While he plays, he usually has a song stuck in his head...  Usually from American Legends:  Paul Bunyan or John Henry.  He takes great pride that he and Paul Bunyan share a name.  And out of all our boys, he is the biggest.  He always lingers around the 75th percentile for height.  He yo-yo's against Hyrum's height.  He has never passed him up, but he has gotten with in an inch or so many times.

He still plays with his hair all the time :)  And when he is sitting by me, he plays with my hair too.  It is so cute!

Paul plays the violin and watching him learn has been a joy!  He is on Tukka Tukka Stop Stop and works so hard to hold his bow right,  play between the stickers, hold the violin right and have his fingers right on the tape and so on.  I would have never believed how complicated it is to play!  Twenty things need to be done perfectly simultaneously.  It would be so easy to give up...  But not Paul, he enjoys playing and practicing everyday (mostly, he does have his days :)  I love when he sets a goal and he chooses for himself to accomplish it!  He does very well! 

Paul is helpful. Paul is loving.  He does everything he can to be a "good guy" and choose the right.  He is honest.  He is active and athletic.  He is full of energy and his eyes are full of light!  I love Paul and I am excited to see what he makes of himself!

Bryan

Bryan is quite the package :)  He is quite daring and full of energy.

 

He is our "Tiny Power" weighing in at the astounding first percentile or 25 lbs at over 3 years of age.  His height adds a little umph by measuring clear in the second percentile.  Hey, I couldn't be happier, this is the first time he has been on the charts since after he swallowed his penny...  But there is so much more to Bryan than his good looks and tiny power...

Bryan loves those flat puzzles that you slide around the tiles.  He loves all puzzles actually and the harder the better.  We just finished a 500 piercer and Bryan would spend hours trying to fit in pieces or simply watching the pieces build into a picture.  This kiddo pays very close attention to detail.

 Here he is finishing up his waffle dunkers.  Brad and I completely enjoyed watching his teeny tiny hands at work tearing his waffle into perfect-sized-pieces to dunk into his syrup.

Bryan's imaginations is something I can't quite describe.  It is AMAZING.  PERIOD.  He puts in a ton of effort and time and imagination

 into building and creating and perfecting:

Our family, with every one's favorite colors.  And yes, we are planning on naming our soon-to-be addition Jared, which Bryan thoughtfully included.

 Here is the alligator bus he thought up.

 This amazing crab that even has a tail

 A bat that he says is nice.

And me and Bryan as giraffes :) 

I am constantly amazed by his abilities to create whatever he thinks up.  This is just a handful of his creations.  I can't help but wonder about what he will chose to do with is brain and abilities! 

Another endearing thing about Bryan is that he is so full of love.  Especially for babies.  Every time he sees one, he bee-lines it to the baby and talks and waves and gently strokes it's cheek with his fingers.  He talks about his Baby Jared all throughout the day as he talks to him and kisses my tummy.  He talks about how life will be when he has his little brother here.  He plays with his toys and imagines him as one toy and Jared as the other. 

And when he prays...  sweetest thing ever...  And I must add: it is the only time he calms down except for when he is fast asleep.

Bryan also has a sincere love for turtles and story time at the library.  Last time he stood up in middle of story time, folded his arms and said at the top of his lungs "MY NAME'S BRYAN!  AND THIS IS MY BROTHER PAUL!"  He proudly declares this to everyone he makes eye contact with :)  Not shy, nope.  He also yelled at a girl who sat right next to him and said, "HEY!  NO GIRLS ALLOWED!"  There are very few girls he accepts in life...  hehe...  I hope it stays that way ;) 

I love Bryan and look forward to the man he makes of himself!