Childhood fancy

Yesterday Jacob and his buddy were playing in the backyard for a few minutes before I came out. After looking all around the yard, I finally found them in the apple tree reading books. Absolutely romantic! They stayed up there for a good half hour before coming down to use their "magic wand" sticks to change all the trees in the backyard into dragons, monsters, and alligators. But when Jacob's friend changed himself into a "human," the game got too wild and we had to go inside.  

Turf-iffic!

Two days ago, Eric and I optimistically (read: naively) bought 500 square feet of sod, hoping that our purchase would pressure a prompt project deadline. Oh boy. I had never even handled a wheelbarrow before (they look so easy to maneuver on video!), and my sod-laying education consisted of a single (yet very encouraging) eHow clip. There's no better instructor than actually doing a home project, however, and now the grass is in and ready for some soccer! 

We took this picture halfway through the project. A true "before" picture would show all the dirt areas covered in foot-high weeds. 
Here I am with my work crew. Jacob's job was to dig up weeds, and Zachary watered the new sod.
Tonight, Eric and the boys enjoy the new turf!

Cats

Last night Eric and I went with his parents to see CATS at Capitol Theatre, and I've been swept up in a Jellicle Ball ever since. Fabulous! It was truly a "Moment of Happiness" that we won't soon forget! 

Wheeler Farm with the Alldredge cousins

Yesterday we enjoyed a trip to Wheeler Farm, a working farm right here in Salt Lake County. We fed the geese and ducks, rode a tractor-pulled wagon, saw a cowgirl clean horse hooves, and made barnyard noises at the animals. 

Zachary, Spencer, Andrew, and Jacob fed dozens of (hungry!) geese and ducks.
Like the rest of the boys, Michael was most interested in two things: dirt and tractors.

Why my children didn't eat dinner until 8 p.m.

After coming home from a fun day of soccer practice, swim lessons, and the park, my kids were ready for dinner. I took Jacob and Michael in first and put a pot of water on the stove to boil. Then I went out to get Zachary. Zachary was crying, and he was pointing to his mouth. He looked like he was going to vomit, so I ran him inside. 

He did vomit. The vomit was white. White, bubbly, sweet-smelling foam. I gave him a drink of water while I went out to the van. There, tragically overturned underneath the center console, was an empty 40 oz. Super Size bottle of Mr. Bubble (completely full 90 seconds prior). Zachary ingested approximately 2 oz, which converted to one gallon of bubble-vomit; the driver's seat was completely saturated with the remaining 38 oz. So dinner was postponed for two hours: one hour to repeatedly rinse and shop-vacuum the seat, and one hour to clean up three muddy boys who had gotten into mischief while I was shop-vacuuming.

Now I've heard that last month Mr. Bubble filed for bankruptcy. This is sad news for all of us, especially for those of us who have enjoyed "Big Bubblin' Fun" throughout our childhoods. But to be honest, there are some serious problems with the packaging. The advertising on the back of the bottle asserts that the product "Makes Getting Clean Almost As Much Fun As Getting Dirty!" Yesterday the product made us both dirty and clean, and neither was fun. In addition, I see no directions on the packaging that indicate how to remove the product from automobile upholstery. Finally, why in the world is there no child-protective cap?

P.S. I wish that I could include pictures. In an unrelated but equally tragic event, our camera was recently submerged in the fish tank.

Virtuoso Michael

Every child needs a video of himself playing the piano as a baby so that if he becomes really great he can see where it all began.

Temple Square

Yesterday we went downtown to see the children's exhibit at the Museum of Church History and Art, and we also stopped by Temple Square. The exhibit includes over a dozen hands-on, gospel-related activities for kids. They had a great time, and it was a neat way to spend the afternoon.

I have a picture just like this one taken with my siblings Kim, Sandra, and James about 20 years ago. I think that I'm the one in the picture trying to hold the baby (James) up.
Jacob built a replica of the Sacramento Temple, Zachary built "a gate and a house," and Michael put the block pieces in and out of the box. 
I love walking through Temple Square, especially during the spring and summer when the landscaping is so gorgeous. By the way, three people yesterday asked me if the kids were twins or triplets. Honestly, don't they look different sizes to you?