Snowflake Pioneer Days 2009

Snowflake Pioneer Days 2009 (in a "nut-shell") = family, food, parades, church softball championships, remembering our heritage, and of course wrapping up loose ends with a rodeo & fireworks show.

SHOTS

The most dreaded words in our little rebel 5 year old's vocabulary is...Back to School Shots! A right of passage that we all (or most) get the dreaded opportunity to endure through before entering the long awaited journey into Kindergarten. I prepped our rebel in on the big talk of "all 'Tough Guy's' get Shots for Kindergarten speech" before heading out for the dramatic experience which was about to occur. A little paper work, a little distraction, and a quick pinch, sting, and tears later we both survived the most unfortunate duties of our back to school check list. The worst of it is over...know he's off to Kindergarten in a few short weeks!!!

Independence Day

Fireworks, picnics, parades, barbecues, and rodeos are only a few of the many fun traditions tied to the 4th of July. Bright and early Independence morning a great Feast was dished at Papa & Nana Smithies house. Decorated with flags, streamers, and everything red, white, and blue, all the grand kids (and adults) were feeling the holiday spirit. The remainder of the day was spent roaming the mountain enjoying the festivities. And of course we ended the night in the best All American Spirit... BBQing with extended family, lighting off a few fireworks of our own (shhhh...), and listening to the ooh & ahhhs of the kids under the firework show. What better way to celebrate our independence than with family.

TRANSFORMERS 2

Every household that contains testosterone within its walls has been anticipating the arrival of TRANSFORMERS II (the Revenge of the Fallen). The recap of our date night went something along the lines of this: Husband + Wife + a little added baggage named Crew = a little drive to the Movie Theater, paid for our tickets, picked up our popcorn & drinks at the concession stand (a must do for any movie), staked out our seats, settled down for entertainment, watched Crew get his first on screen crush on Megan Fox, holding hands & sharing popcorn with the one I love, and feeding into the cheers of oohs & ahhs of our little 5 year old boys excitement while the "good-bots" beat up the "bad"-bots and won. I don't know who was the better date, the one who paid for it or the one that made it so entertaining...they'll have to settle for a tie.

Little Slugger

T-ball season has come to an end. Mr. JCrew laced up his cleats, slapped on his ball cap, and carried his glove out on the field one last time. Although our little 5 year old got a little bored with the game halfway through the season and not to mention a little distracted while waiting to catch a ball or get a hit during games, he still loved playing with his little team-mates. He stuck with it, he loved it, and looked so handsome while hittin' dingers at the park!

Saguaro Lake Getaway

The Whiting Families spent the weekend down by the river....we had a weekend planned full of sun, water, and relaxation at the SRP lake homes. Minus the boat this year, (may it rest in peace), we still had a a fun time laughing & relaxing with the kids and one another. Our days were spent watching kids splash in the pool & attempt cool new tricks on the slip and slide, driving into to town and taking the kids to the movie UP (which is definitely a new fave), late night competitive games of Mexican Domino's, a very serious game of 3 on 3 volleyball (plus a few little helpers on each team) and launching water balloons using each other as targets. It was a lot of fun and our family can't wait to go again.

Swim Lessons

Our little Goldfish (that thinks he's the Big Kahuna) Mr. JCrew is taking the long awaited plunge for swimming lessons. It was so much fun to watch all the little kids try to prove their swimming skills in the water. Some were pros, some panicked, and others sank like rocks...thanks goodness for all the great lifeguards staked out in & around the pool. Crew will learn to swim yet...that is, IF he won't be concerned about doing the "Most Perfect Cannon Ball ever" and listen to his very patient ever so sweet Swimming Teachers. Crew, you will be a shark yet!

Preschool's Out...

(Pre) School's Out Forever...for our strapping young man Mr. JCrew. He came home with his Graduation Certificate in hand, a smile on his face, and three cheers...summer is FINALLY here! These past few months of preschool have been filled with questions about Kindergarten, and how to tie his shoes so that he can graduate to go to Kindergarten, and every morning the question gets asked..."Mom, is it a Kindergarten school day yet?" 2 years in preschool has long been enough for this little rebel...he is definitely ready to enter into the Big World of Kindergarten learning....we too, are excited and nervous, for him to be a Big Kindergartener next year...what a HUGE milestone we will all get to tackle together.

Tree Monkeys

Two little monkeys swinging in the tree....literally, swinging and screaming with glee. My little adventurers decided to climb the apple tree to get away from the "wild animals in the grass, aka: the dog" ...or so the story is told. And of course Crew just had to have his 2 year old partner in crime, Trip, get into the tree too, by assisting him with a chair and a little boost. It's a wonder to me that we have yet had an emergency room visit for broken bones & stitches (knock on wood). I can only imagine what these little monkeys will attempt to climb next. I'm sure it will go along the lines of this...1-bigger trees 2-the walls of my house 3-and Everest!

Crinkled Mother's Day Card

This is what Rebel #1 comes home with, grasping a card in his little hands, on Mother's Day...

(All the reasons I LOVE my Mom)

1. My mom is special because...she always helps me be good.
2. My mom's the funniest when she...makes funny faces.
3. My mom always says...good things to me.
4. My mom does lots of things. She' best at...school.
5. My mom is smart because she knows all about...stuffs.
6. My mom's the prettiest when...she goes to church.
7. I like it when my mom...helps me with school stuffs.
8. My mom is special because she...loves just me.

What a sweetheart. To tell you the truth I think my little guy may have had a little help answering or, for lack of a better word, "altering" some of his replies (specifically on #'s 3, 1, and I gotta give credit to the teach on #6). All in all I couldn't be happier with my testosterone overloaded house...I love my Whiting Boys. Thanks for the Mother's Day.