boys weekend

Ryan and I had Carmen's boys for the weekend while she and Kelly took Zach to NYC for his HS grad trip. I was surprised that the boys wanted to come stay with us old boring adults.  But, they seemed excited about it.  It was an enjoyable weekend, after we got over one major hiccup on the second night they were with us.  They decided to take their skateboards and ride around the neighborhood.  I was on the front patio watering the plants, and about 60 seconds after they left I heard a bunch of commotion.  I didn't think anything of it at first, but then after about 15 seconds, my mama bear instinct kicked in, and I ran down the front stairs and down the street so fast, only to find Hyrum holding up Caleb like a crutch.  They were walking toward me, and Caleb's head was gushing blood.  It was a doozy.  Needless to say, it was 9:15 pm, we arrived at LDS ER at 10.   After three point five hours, one cat scan, and 8 stitches in the head, we arrived back home.  We all hit the sack about 2 am.  Caleb doesn't do anything small!  I am just SOOO grateful that he is OK.  That he has no brain injury, no long term or residual side effects, and that hopefully he learned a HUGE lesson about wearing a helmet... ALWAYS! 

The Doctor ordered one day of rest, with no activity at all.  So, that is what we did.  I drug them out grocery shopping with me on Friday, and they helped me with Dare so that I could get a few things done on my day off.  Dare loves those boys, and they were a lot of help with him.  I am sure they hated shopping with Auntie Hannie, but they were good sports about it.  We made up for it the next morning, and took them on a hike up Adams Canyon. 

grad

I am so proud of Zach.  Here he is on June 3, 2014 right after his High School Graduation from Corner Canyon HS in Draper.  He was a part of the very first graduating class from this brand new school.  Each of the graduates were given pendants that said "first class".  I thought the double meaning in that phrase was pretty clever, and very true.  He is first class, in the first class.  He has been through a lot in his short (almost) 18 years of life, and I am so very proud of him for sticking in there, and doing what it took to get that diploma.  Now, his life can begin.  And, he has his first "admission ticket" to the adult world, and on to more growth, wisdom, and endless possibility.   

I still cannot believe this day has arrived.  He gave my heart it's very first tug on the mama heart string. Even though I am not his mom, I am a mama bear.  And, I cannot believe this cub is so big and grown.  I'm not gonna lie, I shed a few tears while I watched this all go down. They were happy tears.  Sad tears.  Proud tears.  

I love my Zacho.

a branch

 Once upon a time there was a tree branch.  It was a very large tree branch.  It  was part of a tree that belonged to the neighbor.  But, this one branch decided to take residency in the Baileyhood.  And lean right over the cement pad which housed the garbage bins.  Many birds occupied space on the branch.  These birds liked to poop.  Right on Hannie's head while she took out the garbage.  She was not happy.  Mr. Bailey and Papa Foutz decided to remedy this problem for her. 

 In an effort to pull the tree branch away from the house as it was being cut down, a rope lassoed around the branch and attached to the truck was in place. 

 It fell too fast. 

 The rope plan failed.

 But, the branch removal was a success!  And, very slight damage (that has already been fixed) was done.

 After, Mr. Bailey took the time to build Hannie a fence to shield the garbage bins from the street view. 

He is a good (and handy) man.  He made two ugly problems go away. 

 Just a pic of the beauty that Mr. RHB has cultivated in our front yard.

 Simply. Loving. This. Time. of. Year.

backyard play

Just a little backyard fun with Daddy. I remember when my dad gave me wheelbarrow rides.  Every kid needs to have this great memory!  Dare LOVED it!! 

 

Our Walnut Tree finally got it's face.  We decided to call him "Wally: our keeper of the walnut tree" 

Some say he's creepy.  I say he's funny.  And he makes me smile every time I glance up at him from the back patio!  

 Dare is obsessed with the dirt in the planters.  He eats it.  I guess it's....Protein??  It actually looks like he's gotten into a bag of oreos every time I catch him in the act.  Such a funny lil boy.  And, then there are his daddy's gloves.  He loves loves the gloves. 

I had to take a photo of these cute little things.  I had a pair of white ones when I was little.  They crack me up.  I love Salt Waters.  They are the best!  I bought them a touch too big on purpose so that he could wear them through the summer.