Hyrum Turns 12! (and other sundries)

Big stuff around here this week . . . if you're Hyrum. But first, an update on the rest of us.

Eli and I spent a morning together while Karli was at the doctor with Caroline. He was so fun!

 And I taught him to say, "Yepperdoodle!" Love this little guy.

And it's nearing the end of citrus blossom season. In all the years I've lived here, this is the first year I've cut blossoms and brought them in the house. They only last a day, even in water, so I'd cut a new bunch every day.

 In case you're wondering, those are grapefruit blossoms. Grapefruit aren't as valuable around here as the navel oranges, so Brad didn't begrudge me the blossoms off the tree!

Hyrum and Eve had track and field day. I didn't get a picture of Hyrum, but he got 8th in the 50 dash and second in the co-ed relay.

Eve took fourth overall in the 50 dash and second in the girls' relay

 This is a day the kids look forward to all year, and the weather could not have been more perfect--about 76 degrees and sunny.

Micah has decided to exercise his agency and grow his hair out. Here he's rocking ponytail like Deb from Napoleon Dynamite.

 I'm ready for him to cut it all off, but he's determined to grow it out till he's required to cut it before EFY in June.

And here's the birthday boy doing some homework.

Hyrum has been gypped a few years in a row as far as birthday parties go--we've been in the Easter Pageant, which makes it difficult to plan a party. But he lucked out this year, for sure--two parties!

 He and 13 of his buddies got together for a neighborhood scavenger hunt and Mario Kart tournament--plus treats, pizza, and presents.

 I have NEVER heard louder singing than these guys around this table. Seriously felt like the pain from a loud concert. But they had fun. And he used the money from his birthday to buy his first longboard.

That was Saturday. But his birthday was actually Thursday . . .

 It was his first adolescent birthday--clothes and books . . .

 . . . and a loaf of bread, which I thought was hilarious. The kid LOVES toast and begs for me to buy white bread every single day. I thought a loaf of his own would thrill him, but it puzzled him more than anything else.

I can't believe he's twelve.

Last year of elementary school. Last year of "childhood." He's such a good kid, and I'm proud of what a good friend and good example he can be.

 Plus, he shares his cake and candles . . .

Spring Break with the Brubakers

How could I resist a Spring Break trip to Idaho? 

 Brad and Micah attended Mountain Man Rendezvous for the scouts, so I brought two tagalongs with me on the airplane--which makes the experience five times more fun (and more exhausting, I guess!).

Heidi packed all six of her kids into the van to get us at the airport, and I was immediately surrounded by the joy and energy and love that fill her home.

Hyrum challenged Lydia to a staring contest that he promptly lost. She's pretty good!

 First thing on Eve's (and my list) was to hold three-week-old baby Kate.

 Just look at the cheeks! She and I got cozy in my bed one morning while Heidi took Sam to work.

And Gran can't come visit without making chocolate chip cookies! Hyrum convinced me to get milk chips this time, and he may have singlehandedly changed the trajectory of our family's cookie enjoyment. All in Idaho were converted. We'll have to see when more of the family gets together and votes.

 Lydia is like me in a few ways--the brown eyes and hair, to be sure, but the girl LOVES her boots!

 And these two girlies love each other. Spending a week together was the best for them. They're growing up, and they tried to match whenever they could.

 Eve even convinced me to take them to Walmart and get matching outfits so they could match when they were apart.

These two are opposites in almost every way, but they're becoming really goo friends--giggling in the dressing room together, trying to have "girl time" when surrounded by brothers. I loved it.

And how can I help but love this face? Look at that baby.

 And this baby who isn't the baby any more.

 Lydia loves her baby sister, and I can't wait to watch them play girl games and dress up together.

Rexburg had one of its snowiest Februarys on record, so we spent a lot of time indoors. Jonah beat Eve on this round of Guess Who? and he was stoked. Eve was a little bugged that she got beaten by someone half her age . . . 

 The AZ kids were enamored with snow, and even they acclimated to the warmer temperatures, often leaving the house without a coat if the sun was shining and the wind wasn't blowing. They tried to entice the cat, Prince Hans (yes, THAT Prince Hans) to play with them the way Cleo does. They don't know that cats have more pride than that!

 One afternoon when Heidi's kids were all down resting or gone to school, Eve and Hyrum excavated important artifacts from the ice on the back porch, including this glove.

 I promised them "Ralph Breaks the Internet" one afternoon, and they all sat there for almost an hour without anyone leaving. It may have been the popcorn and fruit snacks, but I loved watching the all together for a while.

 Tommy loves that baby. He's only three, so he has to be monitored or he wants to bury her in blankets or play too rough with her. But in his heart, he's so tender. She's lucky to have three big brothers watching out for her.

 Sam had a crazy week at work, but that didn't stop him from helping with the baby as he worked on a presentation.

 Hyrum and I snuck away to the temple one morning. He didn't think he'd need his coat, but he underestimated the power of an East Idaho wind on the temple's hill. I, as a native Idahoan, did not. I think he learned a valuable cold weather lesson!

 Jonah joined me and my kids to eat lunch with Ellie at school.

 She opened her peanut butter sandwich, filled it with her fruit snacks, then smashed it flat before eating it.

 She swears it's delicious, but I'll have to take her word for it!

The kids all spent lunch recess together. It's been years since I was a kid on an Idaho playground, and I'd forgotten that they just play on the snow and ice . . . 

 . . .  sometimes almost falling in the process . . .

 This kid thought he was so big to be at the school. Next year, he will be a kindergartner. How is that possible?

 Hyrum mostly played with the other kids, but he did take a few opportunities to get baby snuggles.

 And Lydia learned that every time I moved the mixer to the island, it was time to make something yummy. Here she's patiently waiting to help me.

 On Saturday, Heidi set up a small leprechaun treasure hunt, with the first clue waiting for the kids when they came in from the snow.

The prize was only a plate of cookies, but this proved that kids don't care how big the surprise, only that they get to have fun along the way.

Whew. Picture overload. What a great week, and we can't wait to go back in May!

Ordinary Life

We had to peel that kite out of two trees before he decided it might be better to try flying it at the park next time!

Even though the days are getting longer, it's getting harder to get kids out of bed in the morning. Micah leaves for school right after scriptures and prayer, but Eve and Hyrum have an hour to slowly get moving.

Hyrum slept like that for about fifteen minutes--me stepping around him making breakfast. Silly sleepy guy!

 Micah and Eli are great buddies. I wanted to remember this moment and Eli's self-comforting with both his pacy and his tuft of hair.

Ben and Makayla found out their new little addition will be a boy, and we are all excited for July when we get to meet him and squish him!

 These two are usually at loggerheads, but this particular day they spent coloring and sharing. I needed to document this small slice of heaven so I remember it did occasionally happen.

The weather has been spectacular this spring, and I'm finally recovered enough to walk Cleo around the block (still not back up to three miles, but I'll get there . . . not before the heat hits, unfortunately).

Our spring is going to be shortened this year because of all the snow and rain and low temperatures, but we've been enjoying the evenings in the back yard as our family. Eve was showing me her newest tumbling trick--back handspring--and Cleo couldn't figure out how to get on the tramp to play with her!

Speaking of the tramp . . . the mat finally gave out and needs to be replaced.

I bought a new one, brought it home, and drafted Hyrum and Micah to install it. With minimal argument, they headed out to do it.

 It's an annoying process, but they kept at it . . .

 . . .  until they got to this point . . .

 . . . and we realized Mom had purchased the wrong size. New mat is on order, but the kids have made use of the gigantic open pit by inventing a few ball games.

And Cleo turned one! Eve took it as her personal responsibility to make the day great.

 (Daisey is her toy puppy.)

She even made a paper "cake" and everything!

 Cleo has been here for seven months now, and we're all finally hitting a good, predictable groove. I think this whole dog thing may work out this time--fourth time's a charm!

As for me . . . school has been extremely difficult over the last few weeks. I can't ever seem to get ahead of all of it or truly understand one of my classes. Lily asked me how I was doing one day, and here's the pic I sent her. Kind of a mess, just like I feel.

I have midterms this week, and hopefully I'll have a better idea where I stand in my linguistics class. I never thought 16 credits would be easy, per se, but I didn't foresee how hard this class is.

Wish me luck!