april 2014 (part one)

Burke's science fair team competed at the state level with their project, "Pollution Exclusion."  In Burke's words: They researched how household plants could eliminate volatile organic compounds, a form of pollution found in things such as cardboard, paint chips, and paint thinner.  

The boys had the opportunity to defend their project in front of several judges and ended up taking second place in their category!  Prior to judging:

Ryan C., Xavier V., and BTP

A quick pic prior to leaving for the awards ceremony:

The boys with their awesome teacher, Mrs. Iyer:

Way to go, guys!

 Liv is obsessed with these retro boots I've had since high school and wears them all over the house:

She insisted on buckling her baby in the car (with stroller) on our way to run errands:

One of Rob's new church responsibilities is over family history work for our ward.  We went on a date (I tagged along to a training meeting he had) to our local family history center and I was blown away when I found one of my ancestors dating back to 1043!!!  I had never checked out puzzilla.org before (do it if you haven't already!), and it was really cool.  Most of you know that I've always had an interest in names (I think this is one thing that Burke actually got from me), and I'm really looking forward to getting into family history work.  I'm planning to devote a good amount of time to this each week when Liv starts kindergarten this July.  What's great now is that all you really need is a laptop--no need to go to a family history center.  Rob started working with Burke and Hewitt on Sunday afternoon, getting them user names and ready to get to work as well.  Our boys love learning about their family, and it's a great Sunday activity.

Rob and I have been working hard to do some 'Spring' organizing/cleaning around here (my laundry room has been clean for over two weeks which may be a record!).  This is a random gem we found in our upstairs hallway desk.  I'm not sure when Hewitt drew this, but it made us chuckle.  Thankfully, he saves his humor for his art and never actually said this from the pulpit.

I'm not sure if I've already mentioned this but the kids are really into "The Game of Life" right now, especially Tosh.  Tosh is really into money and likes seeing how much money he can make playing Life.  He was just telling me on Sunday that he is planning to be a doctor, and I think that is mostly because that is the profession that makes the most in this game.  

I really enjoyed all sessions of General Conference.  Rob pulled out this awesome mat and wooden toys we got from Grandma Watkins which kept the younger kids busy during one of the sessions.

I'm pretty jazzed about these sweet pillowcases that will be going on our guest bed.  I have no idea if they were my grandmother's or maybe a wedding present for my parents?  I think they are darling:

I just found this "vacation map" in Hewitt's school papers.  It beautifully illustrates our holiday company this year.  I think my favorite part about it is how excited Hewitt and Aunt Alisa are to see each other (top left).  It's the cutest!  And then the photo of Alisa leaving on Christmas Day is awesome too (she's like, "See ya!" not even looking back.)  So funny!

Hewitt's teacher requested surprise posters to help encourage the kids for the week-long testing they had last week.  I thought Hewitt would get a kick out of these Studio C people cheering him on:

We attended Arts Night at Burke and Hewitt's school.  This is Hewitt's "Georgia O'Keefe" watercolor flower on display (this was a fun art lesson to teach):

The band preformed outside.  Burke is fun to watch on percussion (they were missing most of the band since it was an optional performance.  This cute Grandpa helps the section out sometimes):

My Primary responsibilities have changed and I am now over cub scouts (I think I've mentioned that before).  We just had our Blue and Gold Banquet which was pushed back a couple of months (due to the temple celebration activities and because both the cub committee chair and I are brand new).  We ended up doing a western theme and we had some last minute craziness over the venue needing to be changed due to scheduling.  The boys loved being able to run around outside at Skousen Park and it was a success in the end...AND it's over until next year :)

Hewitt and his buddy Dax:

Our good friends Fred and Char were sealed in the Gilbert Temple this Saturday.  They asked Rob and I to help with their program at the luncheon afterward.  We ended up doing seven numbers (in addition to family and friends making some nice comments and sharing memories).  Rob was even kind enough to fulfill the bride's request and figured out how to play Chicago's "You're the Inspiration" on the piano (with it's 4 key changes or whatever).  I think this is the only time I've ever seen Rob nervous!  Everything went well and it's always fun to me to watch Rob play live and be reminded of how awesomely talented he is.  I'm a lucky girl. 

An after-school Scrabble game with this cutie:

It is a little cooler this week than last (high 80s instead of high 90s).  I took Liv and her friend Natalie to two different parks today.  They were so cute blowing bubbles in the shade:

In honor of National Siblings Day (yup, that's a thing apparently) I dusted off this oldie and quite possibly my favorite throwback photo ever of my siblings.  I seem to vaguely remember dressing up as "Mr. & Mrs. Neat and Mr.& Mrs. Messy" or something like that.  The one thing I remember for sure is my sister telling me to find an outfit that doesn't match and me thinking that was impossible because everything looked great together--ha!  I also have to point out that this is me at Tosh's age.  I love what my good friend Angie said about this, "You don't just look like him but you seem to have a little crazy like him too."  Ha!  No comment. :)

Anyway, I am thankful for these three awesome people and their great examples in my life.  I love you guys.

march 2014

Burke's soccer season wrapped up at the beginning of March.  A parent on the team sent this photo to Rob after the last game.  It's a great shot!  I can just hear Burke analyzing the game with his coach :)

Post-game review

Burke was required to make a cell model using household items for science.  This project really took me back--I'm certain I had the same assignment once upon a time.  I thought it turned out pretty well.

We are trying to spend as much time outside as possible before it gets too hot.  She sure looks like she is enjoying this tire swing.

This is the life!

I will really miss my sweet buddy next year (all-day kindergarten?! It's a bittersweet thought).

Look what we found on aisle 19 at Ikea (the kids LOVE having dinner and playing there)!

We'll take it!

Liv and I rode bikes to a couple of different parks along the bike trail one day.  She was a bit ahead of me and then decided to take a little break.  I think it's so funny that she kicked off her shoes and stretched out on this bench as if it were a comfy couch :)

Hewitt dressed up as Jigsaw Jones for "Favorite Book Character Day."  Like Burke, he has read all of these mystery books several times, and it was a much easier costume to put together than say Harry Potter. Hewitt is very particular and wanted to try to match Jigsaw as much as he could.  He looked so cute and was the only "Jigsaw" at school.  

"Jigsaw Jones"

Rob asked Hewitt to say family prayer one evening, and it struck me really funny (a Fuhriman moment that had me crying a bit). Hewitt was so serious and sincere that there was no way I could let him see me struggling to keep it together.  He said, "...We are thankful for this house even if it isn't the best--it is enough.  We pray that we can survive the future, whatever may be incoming..."

This was cute; Liv was looking in the mirror while I blew her hair dry one Sunday morning...
Liv: What is this on my face?
Me: It's a little mole; a beauty mark.
Liv: Jesus picked ME to be beautiful?!

I've had a FHE packet about the "Armor of God" since Burke was a Sunbeam and finally got around to giving this lesson.  The kids really got into it (as I'm sure you can imagine).  Tosh is such a funny kid and enjoyed being my helper (you'll notice in this blog post that he is really into giving "thumbs up" lately):

The kids had a little over two weeks off for Spring Break.  I joke with Rob that he only travels when the kids are out of school.  He had an over night trip to California the first week of break.  The first day of break Hewitt was at the doctor for strep, which canceled some of our plans (play dates with friends) and we hung around home.  After ortho appointments the next afternoon, I took the kids to a park we'd never been to in Tempe.  One of the tables had a built in checker board and the older boys played checkers, "Rocks vs Sticks" while the younger kids played on the playground equipment:

Complete Concentration

From the park we went to McDonald's to get a sundae or ice cream cone, and then went to the dollar movie.  The theatre was fairly empty and quite clean.  A pleasant discovery--we'll be back another time:

A couple of my friends organized an early hike one morning to Wind Caves.  It had been announced in the RS bulletin, but it ended up just being four of us.  It was a great hike--I had never been there before.  Here I am at the top:

Me, Keri, Brooke, and Kristy

 After the hike, we went to Joe's Farm Grill for brunch.  It was a great morning (and a nice break from the kiddos)

Rob returned home from California on Friday evening and we left Saturday morning for Utah.  Poor Liv seems to have inherited the 'prone to motion sickness' gene from me.  The last two times we have driven to Utah she has thrown up as it gets windy going into Flagstaff.  She threw up three different times (the second time all over herself).  We pulled off on the side of the road so I could change her clothes (luckily I still pack a change for her in my purse), and she sat the rest of the way on a plastic grocery bag on her very wet car seat (from throwing up Gatorade).  Things could have been worse, but she is such a good sport and doesn't complain.  She is the least dramatic of our children when sick!  She was perfectly fine when we got on I-15 and had a straight shot.  I was 95% sure it was motion sickness, and was very relieved it wasn't the stomach flu! Isn't this the saddest, sweetest little face?  Poor girl.  I hope this doesn't mean that her pregnancies will be terrible...

Everyone was so excited to arrive in Utah and see Grandpa Dunning and Grandma Helen!  I was able to go hear them speak on Sunday morning about their mission to New Jersey (they were asked to speak in another ward with a member of the High Council).  It was my first time hearing Helen speak in church (live) and it was such a treat to watch the congregation react to her dynamic energy, and the fact that she could quote all scripture references and latter-day leaders from memory.

We attended their ward later that afternoon and then got together with their Dunning cousins for dinner (at Melanie and Kevin's home).  It's always great to see my adults nieces--I feel lucky to have seen our family twice in two months!

Here are some cute photos of my dad and the kids taken at Melanie's: 

I asked the other kids to join in on the couch:

They love their Grandpa!

Monday morning we went to the Provo City library (two of my nieces work there):

We then headed to BYU campus.  We had planned to go to the Bean Museum but it was closed, unfortunately.  The main thing Hewitt was interested in doing while we were in Utah was going to where "Studio C" is filmed.  We stopped by the broadcasting building and walked around:

These life-size cut outs are pretty cool.  I think I have a photo of either Hewitt or Liv by every single cast member :).  This next one is my favorite though.  Also, I should mention that Hewitt is counting down the days until the new Studio C season starts.    After the tour, we went to the BYU creamery (one of the main reasons we drove to Provo) for ice cream cones (thanks, Grandpa!).

That evening we had dinner with the Haynies. We knew we needed to meet early in the week since Angie gave birth four days later! Dinner was really yummy and Angie even made rainbow jello and mint brownies in honor of St. Patrick's Day:

That night Tosh woke up several times coughing, crying, and having some trouble breathing.  We took him to urgent care first thing the next day so they could listen to his lungs and give him an albuterol treatment.  It was SO frustrating that I forgot his nebulizer at home (please remind me to ALWAYS pack it!).  We ended up spending $200 for the doctor visit and meds.  He was feeling better the next day.

I felt that we were fairly successful this trip of trying to balance time with family and friends.  Generally we spent time with my dad and Helen during the day (Rob worked three of the days) and would then have dinner out with friends and other family.  In addition to the Haynies we were able to see the Dommers, Maughans, Andelins, Uncle John, Paces, and Ashbys (who had invited the Perschons and Hansens over for dessert so we could see them), and Mike Peterson.  I was also able to visit briefly with Jon Stimac--a good family friend who I have known since I was Liv's age (if not younger).  He and my dad went out to lunch on Friday and when I came up the stairs to greet him he got very emotional and then apologized saying, "I'm so sorry, but you just look so much like your mom.  She was a neat lady."  It was pretty touching and really tough not to start crying along with him.

On Wednesday night we got together with three of Rob's siblings (Uncle John happened to be in town at the same time) and had yummy pizza and visited while the kids played.  Here is a cute photo of the kids eating that Rob's sis took:


My Dad and Helen took us out to lunch a few different days.  One of my favorite places I like going with my dad is to Marley's inside of the Harley Davidson store.  I really like their slider called, "Handsome Rob," go figure :).  I appreciate that Hewitt is always up for having his photo taken:

Not only was Grandma Helen and Grandpa very generous in feeding us (and making sure we had plenty of treats), but the kids had so much fun being in their home and playing Play-Doh with Helen.  I really feel like I've hit the jackpot (or jackbox-ha!) when it comes to "mothers" in my life.  I've been blessed with the best mother, mother-in-law, and stepmother you could ever ask for.  I'm truly grateful that Helen is so loving to the kids and makes them each feel so special.

We went to the "castle" park one day (another favorite) and I caught this super cute photo of Liv and Rob.  He had been pushing her on the swing and she got such a kick out it when Rob said, "Okay, it's my turn now!"

Taking Turns

On Friday we went to Scheels which was pretty cool.  We had fun on the Ferris Wheel and checking out all the interesting photo-op places.

I love how Rob has his hand on Hewitt's head while he is talking to him.  Very Rob.

Loving Liv's outfit and pose!

We were excited to discover the enormous (and inexpensive) ice cream cones in the food court!

I am sad I didn't take more photos!  I didn't get any of the kids with their Peterson cousins this time around.  I think the adults were too busy visiting.  Needless to say, it was a great and busy trip.  I got sick our last day (Saturday) and ended up staying home in bed while Rob took the kids to see their cousins.  Rob's sister took some really cute photos of the kids playing:








The kids were really sad to leave--especially Liv.  She crashed on the drive home (and didn't throw up!).

Vacation is exhausting!

It seemed SO WARM here when we got home.  I really like being away and on vacation, but must admit how wonderful it feels to come home.  I felt so great on Monday (after 24 hrs of being on antibiotics for strep) and being settled back in.  The younger kids decided it was it was officially summer and decided to go for a swim:

We had our pool drained and cleaned (floor and tile), and it looks so much better.  I think these shots of the kids are so funny.  I was surprised how long they lasted in that cold water!

These two!

The kids all headed back to school--crazy to think we are in the 4th quarter already.  Tosh was thinking he was moving into second grade for some reason and said, "You mean I'm still in first grade?"  It made me laugh.

BIG NEWS!  Tosh got all "E's" (excellent) on his report card in the behavior section!  That was his goal and he did it!

An EXCELLENT student!

Hewitt was a total lifesaver the other night.  He made my day by having such a great attitude while doing (several) extra chores for his stressed-out mom.  When I thanked him he said, "Now that I have all this good karma, I can go do something I want to do."

One of my favorites right here

My friend Alecia and I took Liv and Addie to an awesome park in Mesa that I had never been to before.  It has a splash pad and all sorts of big things to climb on.  My older boys would love it!  I'm excited to take everyone there.  My Dunning family might be interested in going the next time they visit, especially because it is very close to the scout shop! :)

I caught a couple of good photos of these cuties:

It was still quite cool to be playing at a splash pad, but Liv was having so much fun that the cold water didn't bother her.  She could have played there all day:

Last Saturday was our Pinewood Derby.  Hewitt and I had fun coming up with an idea for his car--Legos!  I asked my brother for advice and he suggested cutting a wooden dowel  into little pieces for the top.  Rob took Hewitt over to our home teacher's place (Kent Warner) to cut the wood block and the dowel.  Rob tells such a great story about covering Hewitt in a sleeping bag and him holding a laundry basket to catch the tiny wood pieces after Rob would cut them.  He would yell, "Hit me.  Didn't hit me," after each piece was cut.  It sounds hilarious--wish I had photos or better a video!  The car turned out great, and was in the top half of the pack so we were fine with that.  

Hewitt earned a special medal for "Most Creative Car"

Now that I'm the primary counselor over cub scouts, it has given me an excuse to wear my mom's sweet den leader shirt from the late '70's (I refuse to change the patches on it, nor does anyone think I should).  I had several stake leaders admire my shirt and one of them said she is going to make one herself (love the bright yellow with the sweet tie).  

After the derby, Rob replaced our sprinkler box (with a little help from me and the boys).  It's not all that often he does such 'handy' work, so it's good to document. :)

I think those are most of the highlights from a busy and good March. 'Real' summer will be here before we know it!