School is for the birds...

Coleman had summer school. It was the 'Bridge Program' where students had a week of school to get use to the switching of classes and using lockers and all the fun stuff that middle schoolers do. 

Since Zach and Coleman were gone for the weekend they weren't able to participate in the Missoula Children's play like they usually do. For some reason Ben didn't want to. So this year only Oliver was in the play. It was 'Blackbeard The Pirate'. Oliver was a Parrot. 

Everyone is still in love with the baby. He is such a happy boy.

He will always smile if you make eye contact with him. He melts hearts everywhere we go.
   

 Oliver came in to the bedroom one night and saw that Luke was in his grey thermal PJs. Oliver then ran to his closet and searched for his so he could match his brother.

  Sweet boys. 

 One day Ben hit Coleman and got in trouble. I asked him to write Coleman a 'sorry note'. On it he drew a comic of him hitting Coleman. (Not quite heartfelt- but pretty humorous)

A dear friend and resident of a community I manage, Jim Cheshier passed away. He has been like a grandfather to my kids. Always at their plays, pre school graduations, baptisms, etc. 

We are really going to miss him. I had a memorial service for him. 

Scouting..

We are for sure a scouting family. It usually takes up 2-3 nights a week of our time and a few Saturdays a month as well. But I am thankful for the time it gives us with our kids and for the lessons that they learn.
Its been a hard week for me with all the usual work and running around. However this week I had added to that the sadness of a good friend passing away and planning his funeral. On a particularly hard day I had sat down to feed the baby right before pack meeting and Oliver went to throw something away. He told me the trash was full. I asked him to just push it down a little for me. So then he asks.."Mom, can I take out the trash?"

I almost teared up. Thank goodness these boys are taught to "Do a good turn daily"

Dave always goes all out for pack meetings. This time we made boats out of pool noodles for the rain gutter regalia. And the boys all "fished" for their awards. Im so thankful to have an awesome husband, and amazing scout leader and dedicated father all in one.

Also, since Coleman turned 11- he is officially a Boy Scout.

Dave is the 11 Year old scout leader. Dave wore his uniform and made Coleman wear his uniform even though they just had scouts at home.  

Fun, Swimming and Friends....

Last wekend Dave and I got to participate in what is turning into one of our favorite annual events. The Pulver's Amazing Race party. Since I had the little man, I decided not to race, but help out with one of the stations. Dave however had to defend his winning status from last year and had to race. It was fun hanging out with friends and helping out, but next year I want to get back to the racing!

We bought a pass to the Rec Center for the summer to enjoy the pool. We went on Monday and the pool was pretty cold. I thought it would be too cold for Luke. He loves a bath, but had never been swimming. When we first got in he was a little started by the coolness, but didn't cry...so I kept getting in. We were in for about 40 mins and he seemed to love it. Then, the next day, Luke, Coleman and I were at a hotel out of town for work and went swimming again. Luke again loved it. There was another person swimming who had been a swim teacher. He said he had never seen a baby that small like the water that cool and stay in that long. He showed me some good techniques to get Luke floating on his back. Luke even liked that. He is a water boy for sure. 

Colemans birthday is next Tuesday. Since it is in the middle of the week we decided to celebrate it early this past weekend. Coleman decided he wanted to watch Star Wars with his friends and eat Jack In the Box Tacos. He helped my make light Saber invitations.

And we invited a bunch a boys over, bought 50 tacos from Jack in the Box and Dave made some Light Sabers out of pool noodles. 

They hardly even watched the movie...because beating each other up with Pool noodles was too much fun. 

 

I tried to make a cake that looked like Light Sabers, but I think it just looked like a two toned X. But at least it tasted good! 

One of Colemans good friends moved 9 hours away. He happened to be in Vegas this weekend at a family members wedding. So I arranged to surprise Coleman and we drove up to Vegas to have dinner Saturday evening with Davis. 

Its been a while since they saw each other but started talking again like no time had passed. I'm always thankful for good friends my kids have. 

So it begins...

These past two weeks have been filled with end of school activities. Saddest time of the year for me! Not only am I not a fan of summer break with all the heat and nothing for the kids to do..but its a time to reflect and realize the kids are a year older and are growing up so fast. Coleman will now be in middle school, Zach just one year away from High school. Scary times.
All too soon this snuggle buddy will be there

Oliver had a school musical. He was a Rhino.

Coleman, had a bowling party. Being pregnant, having a baby and everything I had missed a few field trips with this kid. So I made sure to make his bowling trip. 

All the kids had great teachers this year. 

Coleman and Mr. Stratton bonded over matching taste in shoes. 

Mrs.Cox survived the year with Boss Oliver keeping her on task. Telling her what she is 

"supposed to be doing"

 I am especially thankful for Ms. Hughes 

 

It takes a special teacher to 'get' Ben. Not only could she reach Ben in a way he thrived with..but she also saw all the awesome potential and strength in him.  She is one of those teachers you would like to clone and keep teaching your kids year after year. 

I got an adorable card from her class.

Since I did the copies, they actually thanked me for the homework. 

What an awesome class to thank someone for the work! 

I was actually doing 'ok' the last day of school and didn't cry until I had seen a group of 5th grade girls crying in Mr. Stratton's class. I asked them what was wrong and they said, "We won't be here anymore." I started to cry too. Then later I saw one of the boys sobbing so hard he could hardly catch his breath. So much for me being able to hold it together!! How could you resist that?

We took the kids out for lunch the last day of school. We headed to the Chinese Buffett where Jaden gave Coleman a lesson in Chop sticks. I was impressed, he even ate Jello with them. 

__________________________________

I had an amazing experience at work:
I was sitting in my office I was prompted to go outside. While I was out there I heard something, but explained it away as being an animal from the farm next door. I went inside and was prompted to go out again. Shortly after I heard the noise again. I wondered if I was coming from an apartment so I got closer and found out it was. A resident and friend had hurt herself and needed help. When I got there she said she felt alone. So many reasons for me not to be outside today but I was prompted to be there. It was such a testimony to me that we are not alone. Then later as I left the property..this beauty was in the sky.

I've never seen a Rainbow like that. It was IN the clouds. 

I have some awesome people I get the privilege of knowing at my work. One special one dear to me is Jim. He is my buddy. There is nothing funner then watching him play with Luke. 

I am always feeling like a horrible mom that my kids play so much games and electronics. So I made a few deals with them and asked them to think of some other things they could do other then play on games all summer. So we are trying out to have 3 days a week that they do not play on electronics at all...not even TV. So far its working out ok. Mainly I just have to keep them distracted and out of the house. Hopefully it holds up when its 120 degrees outside. 

This past Friday Grandma Holly invited them over to her house to go swimming. 

This was obviously an exhausting experience for Luke. 

Later that day we stopped by the Roos N More event that was in town. I LOVE that zoo. I have never seen a zoo where they allow you to get so hands on with the animals. They even let the kids hold baby monkeys. There was a cupuchen and a spider monkey, a lemur, a bearded dragon, a baby desert tortoise, a wallaby and a porcupine there. 

While in St. George we also stopped by the DI and scored a marble maze game for really cheap that has kept the kids busy for hours. 

The kids are surviving no electronics so far. 

The Art of Camping...

Oliver and Coleman had pieces in the Art Show at the Art Museum. Coleman had a drawing and Oliver had a clay piece.

For memorial day weekend we stayed in the Ranger Station in Pine Valley.

We have stayed in it once before, while I was pregnant and without a flushing toilet. Not fun! However this time it was the right season and we had a flush toilet. For some reason the water heater wasn't working right and the water was ice cold. Thank goodness the Thurston's were also in Pine Valley and have a cabin there. We were able to get a shower in one night. It was also fun spending some time with the Thurston's. The kids loved Hunter.

There was even a serious game of Bocce ball that had to be measured it was so close.

Dave found a playground ride that was fun ;) 

Luke had fun hanging out inside the cabin while the boys played. 

Ben of course loved hanging out with Mahana the dog. 

He would get close to her every chance he got. 

It was nice to be out of cell service and somewhere without electronics for the kids to zombie on. They played games and went hiking and fishing.

The little man and I only got up once in the night. The second night we were there he only woke up because I woke him up. I was sore from him sleeping through a feeding! I guess he enjoys the relaxing camping style.

 We attended church in the Pine Valley Chapel. It was a fun experience. When the chapel got full people just sat outside.

Here are some beautiful pictures Kim got:

Its almost the end of the school year. Always such a sad time as another year passes. Oliver was in Ms. Cox's class this year and that meant that he was in the musical. He was a Rhino. He was pretty cute.