September & October

Hyrum insists (and his assumption is correct), "School is SO LONG!"

After surviving those long seven hours of school, we celebrate their freedom with friends and a snack.

Each morning Hyrum zips his imagination into the biggest pocket of his backpack (because "the small pockets are not big enough"). He's working on focusing while at school and only gets to take his imagination out during recess and when he gets home. Once home, he unzips that backpack pocket and out pops his huge imagination ready for play.

 While the kids are at school Charlie and I hang out in the silence of an empty home. He sleeps on the window ledge while I work and he jumps down on the stool when it's time for a break or the boredom has hit him hard enough that he needs a treat. After ignoring him while working one day, I looked over to see him with his nose on the wall. I have no idea what he did wrong but he put himself in timeout!

Charlie is just as excited to have the boys get home from school as I am! His tail sets into a wagging craze as he pals around with Hyrum during imagination time.

I had attempted to find out what Charlie's whining was about and finally just left the back door open for him. He dragged his bed out the door and down the stairs. Was my puppy trying to run away? Evidently, he just wanted his comfy bed for a little sun bathing.

How can I resist this cute little beggar?

I don't.

As much as we attempt to celebrate our freedom each afternoon, we do have chores.

There's never a lack of laundry, yard, house and work chores to be done.

Even the pets do their part.

For about a week the boys worked on loading up all the scrap wire to take to the recycling center for a little extra cash. Brock helped occasionally, not realizing this was actual work. On the final day, they loaded the remaining scraps, headed to Idaho Falls and came away with $900 to split among them. They far exceeded their hope of a "little extra cash" and promptly padded their savings accounts and started planning for their spending cash.

It isn't all work around here.

Hyrum's soccer season took us right into the bitter chilly winds of fall.

 I love his cross-eyed look!

Justin's cheer schedule found us at football games on the weekend, many of which were attended with umbrellas, blankets and full winter wear.

The boys each enjoy their weekly scout meeting.

And finally, Sunday . . . a day of rest from all the crazy of the other six days of the week.