No More Primary!

Andrew is now a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood at church.  He no longer has to go to class in Primary (the organization for kids).  He is now in youth Sunday School and Young Mens.  I know that will sound confusing to those of you who aren't members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but it just means that Andrew has turned 12 and now has more responsibilities and service to perform, instead of just being a kid.  He will need to do things like raise the outside flag in the morning, help pass the Sacrament, and clean the building by stacking chairs and checking classrooms after church. 

His friend and classmate Mathew also became a deacon today. 

Scott was a proud dad! 

12 Years Ago

 I always enjoy when people do birthday posts and show baby pictures of the birthday person.  I don't think I did one of Bradley a few weeks ago, but I was playing with my scanner today after I found an old photo album, so I have a few of Andrew handy for this post.

Andrew is the baby of our family.  He's the only one who doesn't have a 7 letter first name, haha.  Andrew is the best name and it fits him nicely.  He was a cute baby.  He was huge when he was born-  11 pounds 1 oz.  24 1/4 inches long!  He was super healthy.  I'm so glad he's a part of our family. 

Now that he's 12, I feel like he grew up too fast.  I think being the youngest in an active, outgoing, big family makes for probably a crazy childhood.  We brought him with us everywhere and he missed naps, missed sitting around time, probably missed some fun because we always had practices, activities, things to do, places to go, people to see.  Now, if Andrew gets a choice of ANYTHING he wants to do, he will pick just sitting home doing NOTHING.  That's fun to him. 

He is still tall.  He will probably be the biggest of all the kids.  He likes to do his own thing, not follow what the others have done.  But he does look up to all of his siblings and admires them. 

Andrew is funny.  Sometimes he just looks at me and says, "Why are you laughing at me?"  He's witty. 

He's really a good kid.  He's smart.  He's confident.  He's easy going. 

My "baby" is 12, how can that be.  Andrew, STOP growing up so quickly!

Andrew's 12th birthday was yesterday.  After about 2 straight weeks of eating NON STOP holiday goodies, we just WERE NOT in the mood for birthday cake.  Scott has been doing an early morning job for a friend who has a "free dozen doughnuts for every week of the year" stamp card, so he got Andrew a dozen doughnuts yesterday.  There were miraculously still a few left last night, so we just put candles in one for Andrew to have something to blow out after we sang "Happy Birthday" then the traditional Hooning birthday song. 

There were only 4 candles on the thing, but he almost didn't get them all out in his first blow. 

He opened his birthday cards first and they both had cash enclosed!

Then he opened the one and only gift from us (that I am really not that thrilled to give him).

He was beyond THRILLED, he's been asking for a cell phone for a LONG time.  I see no reason for him to have one.  He's always with me and when he is not, he's at school.  At school there is a phone in every classroom, the multi purpose room, and in the office...if he needs to make a call, there are plenty of options.  When he is with me, he can use my phone.  When he is at home he can use the house phone.  I can see getting a 16 year old, new driver a cell phone, we'd want to know where they are at all times and come to rescue them if needed, but a 12 year old does not need their own cell phone. 

The phone was free, though, and our bill will only go up $10 a month, so I cant really complain about the price....and it's the only thing he wanted and we've been putting him off.  I know I'm the parent...and I should have been stronger....but I also have a hidden idea....IFFFFFFFFFFF Andrew rarely uses the phone, in May, when William gets home, William will need a phone and this can be it.  Good idea, right?  If that happens, I'll go buy Andrew some Legos or Hot Wheels!!!!

He was a really happy kid last night, though!  The first text he sent me was- "go make me some ice cream".  I don't think I will enjoy having this new texter in the family!  I answered, "get your own". 

 

Skeet Shooting

One of Scott and the boys favorite things to do is to go to the shooting range and shoot skeet.  It's kind of a waste of money and the shooting range is pretty far away, so we do not go very often, but we got to go on the day after Christmas while Melanee and Dax were here.  Even though Dax is in the National Guard, I guess he has never shot a shotgun.  Melanee also likes to shoot.  So everyone had fun.  The place was PACKED with people shooting off their firearms and explosives, so I mostly sat in the car trying to protect my ear drums. 

From where I was watching, I think Bradley is the best shot.  Scott did most of the skeet throwing and everyone took turns.  We brought a lot of guns, so they had fun shooting at the skeet and seeing who could get them first! 

from my view in the not very soundproof, but better than being out in the open, truck

family get together

My dad lives only about a half hour away from us.  My brother and his family live 4 hours away.  Sharon also lives 4 hours away.  Melanee and Dax live way off in Texas.  We rarely all get together.  I sometimes see my dad.  David sometimes sees Sharon.  My dad sometimes goes down to see all of them.  No one has ever gone to see Melanee and Dax.  But we rarely ALL get together, so it was so great to see everyone in the same house yesterday!  It was chaotic, but nice!!!

playing games on dad's kindle

Playing pool, or really just sliding the balls across the table into the holes!

Jesse Stone

This may be one of those "you had to be there" stories to make it funny, but my dad gave Bradley a "Paradise Police Department" hat.  My dad lives in Paradise.  Paradise, California.  So we got into a discussion of how my dad came into ownership of a Paradise Police Department hat because I'm pretty sure they don't just give those out freely. 

My dad also outgrew his favorite leather jacket and got a new one.  His old one is authentic, his new one is a knock off. The old one is awesome and carries a lot of significance to my dad because he's a pilot and because he has worn it many places.  He gave it to Bradley. It fit perfectly

So at some point in the evening, Bradley was wearing both the Paradise Police Dept hat and the fancy leather coat.  My dad then brought out a set of DVDs.  It was for a series called (I think) Jesse Stone.  Bradley looked just like the guy on the cover, well, maybe not his face, but definitely the coat and hat.  My dad went on to explain that Jesse Stone's Paradise is actually Paradise, Massachusetts, not California and he clarified that he didn't get the hat from actual policemen in his town! 

We laughed a lot between teasing my dad and seeing Bradley look like (sorta) the guy on the cover.

hair cut

BeforeAfter

I don't know if you remember Bradley's hair most all of last year, but he really liked the long, shaggy, curling up out of his hat look.  This year, he prefers his hair short.  Even though the "after" picture doesn't really look that good, he looks great with his new hair cut. 

Grandma/Grandpa in the Lake

I was looking through an old photo album and came across this picture.  I had to laugh because this is a picture from the day grandma and grandpa Guymon fell into the lake!

There is more to the story than just two grandparents getting wet.  It's actually a very funny story.  One time grandma and grandpa Guymon came to visit us in Chico.  It was in the middle of a hot summer.  We decided to meet them at the Afterbay, which is between Chico and the Sacramento Airport.  (Instead of having them come all the way to Chico, then drive back to the Afterbay.)  They arrived and were dressed in fancy travel clothes, like slacks and button up dress shirts.  Scott is a good jet ski driver and the bathrooms were far away, so he convinced them that he would give them a "not wild" ride and they didn't have to change their clothes.

While getting onto the jet ski, Scott's mom somehow lost her balance and fell into the no more than 2 feet of water, but panicked and started flailing around, which scared grandpa Guymon so he jumped in to save her and she pulled him down under with her.  So they were both completely soaked in their nice clothes.  I think Scott took them out for a "wild" ride after that, since they were already wet.  But when they got back they walked to the bathroom and put on more "day at the beach" appropriate clothes!  haha! 

(*dont know where William is in this photo, but he's not the one in the bikini, that's a neighbor girl)

palm tree on Palm Avenue

When we moved into this house in 1994 we planted a palm tree because our street name is Palm Ave.  Very fitting, right?  Makes sense?  But we thought the little palm tree in the little bucket would just be more of a small bush than a GIGANTIC real California palm tree!   

Each year we take the kids first day of school picture in front of the palm tree.  It would be so fun to find all of them and post them here side by side, but that is probably IMPOSSIBLE. 

But here is Melanee next to the palm tree on the day it was planted and then Bradley and Andrew in front of it 19 short years later!  

Ah man, I should have taken a picture of Melanee in front of it while she was here this week!!!

more street hockey

 We sat around today and watched a movie, played some games, watched a show about finding rocks, one about sharks, and some other Discovery Channel type show, but we got bored and the sun was going down....so we went back to the school for more hockey playing.  Since one of the sticks broke earlier today, we brought two brooms, but they werent as effective!!!  Still fun, though!!!!

 

 

 

Christmas Morning

 Everyone woke up and we talked a little about Christmas traditions.  Scott's family did Christmas morning a different way than my family when we were kids.  Then we did Christmas here different when Melanee and William were kids than when Bradley and Andrew came along.  And this is Dax's first Christmas here, so we found out about his traditions before we decided to eat breakfast before opening gifts.  We all went into the (small) kitchen and everyone had an assignment....Dax peeled potatoes, I cooked the bacon, Andrew made the frosting for the cinamon rolls, Scott cooked the potatoes, Bradley did the dishes from the evening before (mostly cinnamon roll bowls and spoons and stuff and our cups from after dinner, so it wasnt much, and Melanee set the table and made the eggs.  Andrew wanted us to go fast, but it was an enjoyable and tasty breakfast. 

 Dax also frosted the cinnamon rolls with the frosting Andrew made.

 Then we opened presents.  Everyone was happy and liked the presents they received. 

 

 

 Glende Polaris free advertising, haha!  Thick warm stylish sweatshirts for all the kids! 

 Look Martha, Bradley's favorite gifts: a street hockey stick and a GREEN BISCUIT puck!  He went straight to the kitchen to play (ignore the background MESS!)  (THANKS for the idea!!!!  They are great!)

 Then we went over to the school and played hockey.  I KNOW that the pucks are not really for street hockey, but there was no stopping anyone from playing and they had a blast! 

 

 

 

 Then we played the soccer juggling game.  We would juggle until we got 7 in a row (with talented people you are supposed to go to 10).  After the 7th juggle anyone can grab the ball and throw it at anyone.  If they get hit, they get the first letter of the word "K-I-L-L".  If they catch it they can throw it at someone.  It was a lot of fun, but guess who got K I L L first????  ME!!!!  And guess what was the "punishment" for getting out???

 Stand bent over as a target and everyone gets to shoot at your backside.

 This is when Bradley got "KILL".  We all missed him.

 Then we played more hockey....and GUESS who broke one of the sticks?  SNAPPED IT IN HALF!  The thing only lasted 2 hours!  (It was cheap plastic!!!, not really MY fault!)  But the game was over after that!