Our nephew, Carson, turned 4 at the beginning of the month and so we
celebrated with him at Grandma and Grandpa Palmer's house. We had
dinner and then opened presents and of course had LOTS of snuggle time
with baby Sophia. Eden was so excited to hold her! She looked so
stinking tiny in Grandpa's arms!
MOM SCHOOL
Six moms in our ward at church got together to teach
preschool to our 3/4 year old kids. I only did it for a while with Finn
because of some other things that were going on. Pregnancy, migraines,
home school... to name a few. This was the first day of Mom School
minus cousin Carson. Drew, Finn, Jamison, Teo, Eliza. Such cute
kiddos!
EDISON PLAYGROUND
This wooden play structure was the kids' (Oliver and Eden's) former
elementary school playground at Edison Elementary. They just LOVE it! I
remember getting some similar photos of Eden and Oliver when they were
younger.
ARBORETUM FIELD TRIP
The kids at Mom School had their first field trip and they went out
to the arboretum. They went on the 'Sherlock Gnomes' scavenger hunt to
find the porcelain gnomes hidden throughout the flower gardens.
MY CHILDHOOD PARK
We went to the playground that I played at almost every day after
school when I was a kid. I used to LOVE climbing the big rock!
I LIVE IN AN EPISODE OF 'COPS'...
Really
early in the morning... probably around 1 or 2... we heard a banging on
our door. I didn't know if someone was trying to break in or what, so I
didn't answer it. I looked out the window and saw someone walk by with
a flashlight and really got freaked out. I woke up Ed and then I heard
the pounding again. He answered the door and it was a cop telling us a
drunk driver took out our entire back fence through the alley. I guess
it was a high speed car chase that tore through our alley at about 40
or 50 miles an hour! He took out a few people's fences and destroyed a
poor old man's garage. The chase ended after he drove through the local
cemetery. He actually came by the next day with his mom and sister and
apologized and fixed the fence himself. The pictures show the
aftermath. I had started a memorial garden for Oliver, but being
pregnant, hadn't gotten too far on it so not much was destroyed there.
So glad the kids weren't outside playing. They could have been killed.
One reason I personally don't drink...
Some randoms from this month. Finn was excited to get this McD's play
station. I love Finn's pose on Grandma Palaver's chairs. Jaren and
Finn sitting in the yard and playing at Barnes & Noble. You know
you are a parent of boys when you find an action figure in the cereal
bin! Finn sleeping under his bed. I almost didn't see him there! Finn
and Jaren loved meeting my uncle's dogs when he came to visit. Playing
with Papa.
OLIVER'S MEMORIAL TREE
The memorial marker by the tree they planted at Becker Elementary in Oliver's memory. I know he'd love the grasshopper just hanging out on it!
NATIONAL CATTLE CONGRESS FAIR
The cow's name was "Finn" and there was another one named "Palmer"! Finn petting... Finn.
I LOVE Finn's sweet smile in this picture! He loves going on the kiddie roller coaster!
After the magic show they were selling these funny worms for like $5
each. I couldn't spend that much for each of the kids, but a sweet
couple bought two of them for the boys and gave them to them. It was so
sweet! I bought one for Eden so she wouldn't feel left out. I told Ed
that I want to do stuff like that when our kiddos are all grown up.
NEIGHBORHOOD NATURE WALK
Funny Finny
PHELPS YOUTH PAVILION
ISLAND PARK PICNIC
We
went to the park to grill some hot dogs and marshmallows with my mom,
brother, his girlfriend and her daughter, Chloe. The kids just LOVE
playing with Chloe! We had so much fun going on a nature scavenger
hunt, doing leaf rubbings, playing on frisbee and climbing on the
playground equipment. It was a really fun outing!
HOME SCHOOL with JAREN
Eden had to okay to stay at the school she had been attending when Oliver was sick. I didn't want her to have to move, make new friends, see a new counselor and everything else when Oliver was sick. Unfortunately, Jaren wasn't able to go to Kindergarten at the same school, so we had two kids getting out of two different schools at the same exact time every day. Eden couldn't be bussed, but had bullying issues regardless, and Jaren was just starting kindergarten and I was nervous about him going alone. So... I decided to take the plunge and home school him. We did lots of fun activities and went lots of places. He LOVED doing science experiments! Unfortunately, it only lasted one semester as I was having multiple migraines a week and other pregnancy issues and then had the baby and had post pardum depression and couldn't get out of bed to save my life. So... we put him back in and was fine. I was worried, but he did great. I worry because of all of his medical/health issues, and I will ALWAYS worry because no one takes care of your kids better than their parents do. Well... for the most part.
