The Bully Update

I don't know if it's the age, or what- but Oliver is obsessed with "bullies". He is always talking about his "team" and their recess escapades to find and stop the bullies. It is hilarious to listen to and when it's our neighbor's turn to drive the carpool, her husband always asks her to get the "bully update." One day, when she asked about them, he answered, "Well, it turns out...Bullies are actually pretty hard to find." Seems he was quite disappointed. I can't remember the rest of the story- I was laughing too hard. Next time I'll have to take notes.

I didn't sign Oliver up for soccer this season. Although he has spent almost every Saturday and numerous nights of his short life on the field, he wasn't very interested in the game last season. He loved interacting with the team or discussing with teammates on the sidelines how they were going to win the game, but didn't do much on the field. While I tried to figure out what to do, the deadline for signing him up came and went. I was relieved when he brought home a flyer on the first day of school advertising a karate class. It was cheap and had very little commitment.

As I watched the first class, I have to admit I felt a little disappointment. I love soccer almost as much as my girls, I think, and as I watched Oliver listening to his instructors- completely focused- I realized that karate might be the sport for him.

Let me qualify that. It's actually Kung-Fu. In fact, it's the "Chuck Norris Community Outreach Program" that teaches something that, according to them, most closely resembles Kung-Fu. They compare it to what is done on the movie, "Karate Kid." Yeah, it's kind of funny. Anyway, they spent a lot of time on the first day communicating with the kids how important it is to only use the moves when appropriate- i.e. not at school on the playground. I think Oliver really took that to heart because when I asked him after-wards what he thought, he said, "It was good, but man, I wish I could use that on bullies." I guess it's a good thing he hasn't found any yet.

Father's Day

How did I not post about Father's Day? It was quite a day. Emmaline really worked hard to make Tyler feel loved, including making a "Father's Day" crown.

The kids also made paper ties with the things they love about their Dad.

While Emmaline's was more of a list of the things he helps her learn, Oliver's said that he helps him build puzzles- I think. =)
Then we headed back to the poppy fields like we did last year.

This photo shoot went about as well as the one last year in Mexico! With the sun, I could really only get a picture with one poppy in the background.

I think Tucker is looking for bugs.

We had a picnic, then took a quick peek at the tabernacle in Brigham City. The temple will be right across the street. Isn't this building beautiful?

Then we headed out to the "Golden Spike" museum. It was already closed when we got there and we had driven so far already, when we saw a sign for the "Spiral Jetty," we decided to head out there. These pictures kind of look like we are at a beach.

Not really.

But it was really fun, particularly for Oliver.

He had talked about the "Spiral Jetty" in his art class and they had made their own versions out of clay.

It was really fun to spend time together. As we were driving home, Emmaline said, "I love how our family does crazy stuff like today." I guess crazy stuff means you set out to do one thing and end up doing another? I have to say, I was a little stressed because I needed to get home and make sure the girls were all packed to leave for Brighton Camp early the next morning. But it was a great day. I just need to learn to love the spontaneity. =)

Fallon Reunion

One last summer post, then I think (but I can't promise) I'm caught up on most of summer's big activities.

Oliver and Sam found these marshmallow guns (I truly hope those weren't meant for the auction) and spent most of their time in the bushes, shooting bad guys. Tucker had to be satisfied with a plain old stick.



We went on a hike to find petroglyphs. Most of them were pretty washed away, but it was a lot of fun to hike around looking for them.


Everyone wanted to see some of the work Tyler did on the temple in Cebu, so they spent some time around the computer.


Emmaline always finds a way to sneak some special time with Great-Grandma, looking at treasures.

Obviously I was really bad at taking pictures. I don't even have a single one of Savannah! But it was fun to see everyone. Two years sure does pass by quickly!

Chalk art

Everyone that is around Tucker for any length of time always comments on his obsession with drawing. With Tyler as his father and Emmaline as his sister, I guess it's no surprise. The driveway has provided him with the perfect "blank slate." He and Emmaline have spent so much time out there.


He's snuck out there first thing, still in his jammies, plenty of times as well.


Now he's even begun attempting to draw specific things. He draws lots of "water" and once drew a "guy running." I'll post one as soon as I get a good one on paper.

Nebraska

I have so many pictures to post, it's hard to know whether to just put them up or write! We went to the ranch a couple of weeks before the reunion to check things out and try to help with any last minute preparations. It was pretty much flooded from unusual rainstorms but we had tons of fun. My favorite story from the trip was finding "The Greatest Place on Earth." One day Emmaline and Oliver came back, breathless from an adventure. They begged me to come with them to a wonderful place that they had named "The Greatest Place on Earth". We trudged with them through water

and pasture

(can't go far without the sword)

to find what used to be someones dump. It was full of old license plates, bottles, etc.

Oliver turned to me and said, "Don't you think we've hit the jackpot!" (in a sing-song voice) LOVE IT!
A couple of weeks later we came back for the reunion. What to say?! It was so fun to shoot guns...

(Tucker had to have a turn too!)

do crafts...

roast marshmallows...

(check out Emmaline wearing the "safety glasses" so she could look at the fire?!)

drive the Kubota...

play Kubb...

pretend we were cowboys...

eat yummy food...

play in the "indoor sandcastle"


and just generally have a good time together.

(had to include this picture Leslie took of me with Audrey since I have so few with myself in them and she seriously looks so much like I did at that age!)

Every time I visit, it makes me a little sad that my kids can't have the ranch experience that I had growing up. I guess a few weeks, here and there, will have to do.

Pioneer Day

We had a great time on the 24th. We started the day out bright and early (well- at least I did) with a 10k. I ran it with Jon and Lacey- their first race together.

Hopefully Tyler and I can do that someday, it's one of my favorites- maybe because it was my first race ever. My time was 1 minute slower than my fastest, so I was pretty happy because I hadn't been running much. After going home and picking everyone up, it was time for the parade.

Tucker LOVED it!

Oliver really wanted to climb this tree, but got a bit scared when Jon helped him.

He decided he liked it after all.

We hung out a bit at Liberty Park after wards.

Hard work is good for him! =)

Home for a nap and then off to the rodeo.


Didn't get a good shot of the whole crew... this will have to do.

What a fun day!

Oh Johnny!

Just had to post two random pictures of Johnny.


This is at the rodeo on the 24th. Oh, I didn't post about that day? Maybe later!


This is while we were at Noodles and Company on my birthday. He has such an easy laugh and Oliver loves to be the clown.
It's so fun to have a cousin close by.

Lemon Lime

Although Tyler tried to convince her to be "different" and not swayed by the crowd, Emmaline got her ears pierced on her 12th birthday. She brought along her friends Lucy, Kylee, and Saffron and we all went to see Toy Story 3 after wards and had ice cream sundaes. I don't know if it's just because she is small, but she seems so much younger than 12 to me. Maybe I'm just dreading the thought of my youngest girl growing up! I feel like Emmaline has really matured this year, though. She is so compassionate- maybe because she knows what it feels like to be on the "outside." She is amazing with little kids. She spent a bit of time babysitting Johnny this summer and I think it was wonderful for both of them. (The title of this post is a nick name given to her by her 3 year old cousin Gavin who also adores her.) She got a job taking care of our neighbors front lawn, and was paid VERY well for the work. She's really missing all of the free time she had this summer (I didn't make the girls do track or swim team this year), but I think she's ready to work hard and I can't wait to see her progress this year.

Oh, Tucker!

One of the cutest things Tucker has learned how to say is, "What happened?" We love to hear it and try to get him to say it all the time by saying, "Oh, no" etc. to keep him asking. He eventually tires of it because he realizes we are just teasing. Emmaline has learned to keep it going by saying things like, "What happened is you were born," or "What happened is you're cute." I was so surprised the other day when he played the same trick on me by saying, "Aw, man!" When I asked him what happened, he replied, "You love me?!!"
This summer he developed an addiction to our neighbors apricots. We had to keep a constant eye on him as he would sneak out the door and over into Russell's yard. When we would find him, he was always so proud that he could pick them himself and said, "I eatin' ak-ki-kots!"

Here he is with some of the "spoils" one day.
I have no idea why he likes to put the seeds on the plate and the apricots on the floor.