Father's Day Campout

Group picture with LeRoy; Mike behind the camera.

At Fawn and Sandra's invitation, Kate and I took our families to join theirs for a weekend. Once the initial "hey, how are ya" greetings were done and the tents were all set up, we gathered in the pavilion and around the fire to eat.  A camp fire has a way of breaking down awkward barriers and once our kids and husbands started chattering together the next two days were spent in hysterical laughter, water fights, swimming, diving, basketball, scooters, shooting, Rhino tours, glow sticks, burning marshmallows, hiking, and the occasional swatting of hissing cicadas.

Taming the three-wheeled scooter was top on the agenda.  That was a tricky ride!  We all learned how to swing our hips in a balanced left-right rhythm to pick up speed and gain clapping and giggles from those watching.

 When our thighs were sufficiently shaky from the scooter workout, we watched while the others played basketball.

As we gathered around the warm fire pit, the conversation led to the diving board at the lake and Mike dared Bret to jump in, fully clothed and in the dark. He even bribed him with $20.  Mike had never met Bret but he soon learned that Bret doesn't walk away from a good challenge, especially with money attached. He did allow Bret to change and then this poor college student immediately got up, grabbed his shorts and we all walked to the lake to witness the insane bravery.

Not to be left out, Mike's son Landon also took the challenge and got $20.

The next day, the lake was the place to hang out.  The older kids went out in a canoe for a while and later they took the younger kids for a smooth, calm glide through the water.

Brooklyn did not want to be left out.  We thought she was mad because she wanted to get into the water so Kate stripped her down to her diaper which calmed her for a minute but as soon as she got in the water she was again mad because Kate wouldn't let her walk clear out into it.  We wondered if she also wanted a canoe ride so Kate started to put the life jacket on her.  As soon as she did, Brooklyn calmed down. And, she got her canoe ride.

Bret was trying to convince Derek and Justin to dive in the lake so I gave a little nudge waving a $10 bill at them.

Derek was not going to let his cast stop him from water play.  Since he was four weeks into his six week wearing of the cast, we didn't stop him.  After a few dives it was so soggy that we walked over to the tool shed and found something to cut it off with.

When he took his cast off we could see a straw marked etched down the back of his hand and across his wrist.  He kept a straw tucked down inside his cast as an emergency fix  for sudden annoying itches.

Not wanting to be outdone, the little boys begged to jump in the lake IF I also gave them $10.  I agreed, not really thinking that they would do it, and with encouragement from the whole camp they looked right past the fear and focused on Bret and LeRoy at the bottom.  I held my breath until they were safely back on shore.

Their only condition was that Erika had to do it also.  Later, she confided in me that she was terrified but didn't want to show that to the boys and she was so impressed with their bravery that she set her own fear aside.  I was so proud of her!  That is a mother quality!  One that I have yet to find when it comes to water.


When they had all had enough of the water they moved on to shooting.

 Fawn took these pictures while I stayed at camp with Brooklyn.  Mike B. laying on the ground teaching his son.  Mike H. standing behind his son, teaching in a very hands on manner.  LeRoy gives his son a gun and tells him to be careful.  I fully believe my boys have angels walking with them.

Later in the afternoon we took a hike up to the water tower on the hill.  When we got back we left our tired hikers at camp while Mike & Kate, Mike & Fawn, and LeRoy & I went on Rhino rides so Mike could show us the entire landscape, water ways, and the incredible work he has put into the campground and surrounding land.  We ended at Mike and Fawn's for a tour of their beautiful new home.

Among all of our activities there was food.  Yummy, delicious, finger-lickin' good food!

The highlight around the fire was Mike's big camp chair.  That thing was huge!  So big that the small ones couldn't get in it by themselves and the adults had to practically jump in.  It did make for a nice snuggle place.  Kate, Mike and Brooklyn proved that.

  Brooklyn's crush on Nathan became very evident as she set up the mini chairs, gathered blankets and escorted Nathan to the chairs.  If he left, she would squeal and pound on the chair until he came back.

I'm not sure who enjoyed the game more, Brooklyn or Nathan.


Crazy Cooks in the Kitchen

Cousins Everywhere

Our new tent was wonderful!  We had extra room not only for sleeping but for backpacks and shoes with room left over.  The best part for Derek was that he could actually stand up in it (thought it doesn't appear that he could from this picture).

We had such a great time that we are all making arrangements to do it again next year.

Group picture with Mike; LeRoy behind the camera.
Adam & Sandra with Tanner, Chance, Dane & Rhyse; Mike & Kate with Korben, Logan, Brooklyn; Bret & Erika; LeRoy & Kimber with Derek, Justin, Nathan, Hyrum; Mike and Fawn with Levi, Morgan, Jaden, Billie, Kyson; Mike & Ruth with Justin, Landon, Lexi, Josh, + 2 boys.  

June

The end of the school year also brought the end of the piano year for Nathan.  He was disappointed that he wouldn't be having lessons during the summer so I found a music camp that he and Hyrum could attend together.

They had Quaver Music Camp each Monday for six weeks.  The first day they were introduced to their team and with their team created a cheer that they did each week.  They learned about the grand staff, note value, rhythm and rests, and music science where they learned to play 3-note and 4-note songs on water glasses.

The final day was spent doing an Amazing Music Race to review all that they had learned.  In preparation, Hyrum spent a good hour doing practice treble clef "loopy things" so that he would be ready for the grand staff chalk-a-thon.  The finale included yummy popsicles and a carousel ride at Porter Park.

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Swimming Lessons at Rexburg Rapids

As very beginning beginners they were scared to even put their faces in the water but by the end of the session Amanda had a hard time keeping their faces above water.  Hyrum loves to be in and under and splashed with water.  Nathan tolerates it and tries to be as brave as Hyrum.  It was a good experience for them and comforting to me that they gained breathing and floating techniques in the water.  The boys used their own spending money to buy Swedish Fish and a water jug to make a thank you gift for Amanda.

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A few pictures from Vivien with her own descriptions...

On a Sunday evening with her sister, Noemi:  "By 5pm we still haven't eaten, just breakfast. We were so hungry OMG !!! Didnt even know were to go eat so after hours we decided to go to Tesco for food. I got a roll and a buttery thingy (google says *spread*) no knife to get it on the roll so we had a car picnic, dipping the roll in that spread :D felt like we were on a car trip for a day and thats everything we got. It was fun haha ! and delicious :D"

 "After a year... I HAVE MY DRIVING LICENCE!!!! okay not yet, I have to go to the police station first but I passed the test. Happy happy happy!"  This was no small feat considering the training/test cars are stick shifts; not automatics.

Spending a day with Jakub:  "He has a motobike/scooter which was a new experience for me and kinda scary first but it was fun! Except for the helmet which killed my hair and my head felt claustrofobic in it :D 

More travel pictures with Jakub and a picture from January with the first missionaries that she met in Slovakia (both of which were from Utah).   This email is one of my favorite from her because I can feel her excitement in the day.  It reminds me of when she got home from Prom and sat on the bed chattering away in her excitement or the hyper days that we bounced around from topic to topic.  I love being able to read her smile in the writing.  I'm so thankful for those two Utah boys who could take a little of the comfort of her American home to her.

Oh my heck!!!! I dont know where to start! I dont remember when I was so hyper and happy and excited last time! Probabs in the US :D

We finally agreed on going skiing!!!! We have a hotel booked. I am so excited! I am off school the last week of February (spring break) and we are going skiing!!! We agreed we will be the crazy minions on the track muhahahaa

Today I was with Jakub. Haha he is one hyper kid!! He also loves travelling. We are gonna be travelling buddies!! I had so much fun with him. We went around Galanta so many times we decided to come to my place. After a while we were like okay its time to go out and somebody rang the bell. Then my mom comes that 2 guys are looking for me. They dont speak Slovak. I was like what?! Weird. I dont hang out with hungarian guys and they would just speak hungarian. So I went to the door. I FREAKED OUT. Like in a good way. Like how the heck is that possible?!

THEY WERE MISSIONARIES!!!!!!!! Can you believe that? I asked them how did they find me. They said something about the temple square I dont know I was just amazed I didnt even know my own name. I got a Slovak book of mornom!!!! But I feel so bad cause I thought they just handed to me to look at. But they gave it to me. And I didnt even thank. I had it in my hands then I went to get my phone and I put the book down. But I thought they grabbed it. They I found it. Its mine?? I feel bad. But its cool! And so weird in Slovak :D they werennt here for long and I had Jakub over and poor boy his english isnt too good so he was just like sitting there. I started to talk to them in English automatically. But they knew Slovak. And they also read from the book. It was so cool! Althought we talked about their life in Slovakia mostly :D I asked them if they eat rolls :D and one of them said that he likes KOFOLA (you know that thingy which makes me hyper :D) and bryndzové halušky - its our traditional meal (I dont like it) like hot dogs in the US hehehe

IT WAS SO COOL!!!!! I dont know if you have anything to do with it but if you do THANK YOU! If not THANK YOU anyway that you taught me about Mormons and your church and I had this oppurtunity today!

They didnt stick around too long but we exchanged phone numbers and the guy told me he will let me know and they can come. I am excited!

They are like 25 missionaries in Slovakia. These guys were from Nitra. Its like 35 minutes away, I dont really go there, its not my city :D They even gave me a little paper thingy on which I have the street and the time when is the church. So cool! You have got to come to Slovakia and come to church with me!

I am just happy :-)))) I love this feeling I wish it would last forever! It was just a perfect day. Skiing, Jakub, US people :-)

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Cousins, Cats and Kimber

These little cousin pairs are adorable!  Hailey and Hyrum are a perfect giggly pair and Brooklyn has a major crush on Nathan.
Though the cats are supposed to now be outdoor only animals, the kids sneak them in for hairy hugs.
I joined our Relief Society for a hike up R Mountain.

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Derek is 18!!!

But, he is still our {very tall and intelligent} little boy.  I asked him several times what he wanted for his birthday and he couldn't give me even one suggestion.  The "Mr. Fix It" shirt in duct tape font was an easy choice since he really is our family fix it man but it didn't seem enough.  When we were at Kate's house and he saw the talking minion he blurted out, "please get me one of these".  So, he got it for his birthday.  And, he was thrilled.  It goes perfect with the minion posters, t-shirts, key ring and hat that he has collected over the past year.  See?  Still our little boy.

He requested homemade pizza for his birthday dinner. His minion cake was covered in white chocolate ganache (white chocolate is his favorite) and the minions (though they turned out a bit creepy - not my best work) were pure fondant.  He was in sugar heaven.

3rd Annual Cousin's Weekend

April 2014

Reunions with relatives that we knew only by name inspired us to spend quality time getting to know each other better.

An idea blossomed to have a weekend for the female cousins in the hope that we could come to know each other better as we spent time together just being girls; with the responsibilities of wife and mother briefly set aside.

Each year brings us closer as friends rather than merely cousins on a first name basis.

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Each person brought something to share with the group. Even though Robyn couldn't make it she had cupcakes delivered from her favorite bakery.  Before our evening gift exchange our basement was turned into a mini women's expo.  A few of us offered our favorites for others to experience.  Sandra shared an introduction to the personalities and ideas from "Dress Your Truth".  Fawn gave massages while Melisa provided the supplies for a Mary Kay Silky Feet soak and Shantay offered Mary Kay facials.

Kara guided us through a stack of magazines to make a yearly collage or vision board.

In our favorite colors we created vinyl "Be*You*tiful" blocks to celebrate our individual beauty.

The food was delicious and plentiful.

The chatter, along with laughter and tears, was non-stop into the late hours each night.

Kyson, Rhyse and Christian tugged at our motherly heart strings as they wooed us with smiles, giggles, and cuddles.

We have overcome the formalities of a reunion and gone right into silly faces, belly laughs that leave us in tears, sharing our intimate joys and struggles, and exchanging recipes to fatten each other's recipe books. I can't wait for next year!

Graduations 2014

Hyrum's graduation program was themed Big Big Dreams.  They each got to dress up in the career of
what they want to be when they grow up.

Hyrum walked confidently up to the microphone and said, "my big dream is to be a chef 'cause I like making food".

My baby has graduated from kindergarten!

Mrs. Ivers and Miss Rigby

I am still in denial that I will be all alone from 7:45am to 2:40 pm on weekdays starting in August.
Even when Justin went to first grade I was pregnant with Nathan so this is new territory for me.


Derek graduated with honors on May 29th.

Top left: Jacob, Allyn, Derek, Sierra, and Sierra  ~  Top Right: Nathan and Derek

This tall young man will always be my little cuddle boy.

Derek has been accepted to Utah State for fall 2014 but has already filled out the deferment information so that he can serve a mission first.  His summer is being spent working overtime hours as an apprentice electrician with LeRoy and Levi.

Tumbling Through May

May had my head spinning!  Every date on the calendar was packed causing us to do our best flips, flops, and tumbles just to keep up.  Some minor things were forgotten or purposefully overlooked but overall we took it day by day enjoying our full schedule.

Airbound Gymnastics Recital

Bottom picture: Justin and Michael, one of the kids he coaches.

Justin and Nathan absolutely LOVE tumbling!  Nathan has progressed at the same rate that Justin did seven years ago but he has also picked up a few of Justin's tricks because Justin coaches him at home.  Justin has also spent the last few months coaching a beginner boys class which has been perfect to give him more time around gymnastics without putting the full stress on his joints.  He has missed doing to full apparatus routines but doesn't miss the extra pain associated with it.  Taking one class a week to keep up on and learn new skills, combined with coaching, gives him the best of both worlds.

Justin's routine at the recital was crazy!!  I think I held my breath the entire time.

The quality is terrible (thanks to my first gen, cheap, digital camera that is not really intended for distance video) but if you watch the tumbling pass on the tumble track in the background you can see Justin's glowing body flipping back and forth and back again.  He is amazing!

Justin and Nathan with ValaRae - each at age 8 - at their first gymnastics recital

ValaRae helped Nathan and Camdyn put together a routine for their school talent show.

2nd Grade

The tumbling and jumping goes on outside of gymnastics as each summer day is spent on the trampoline,
occasionally in costume.

It was entertaining to watch them from the window but when I went out to take pictures I laughed right out loud.  As they would bounce into each other they would holler banana split! and if they fell they would call out smashed banana! while doing a fruity death scene.

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My daily costume usually consists of a ponytail and cozy socks.  With summer in full swing I felt it was time to get rid of the elastic hairstyle and doll up my toes.

Letting go of four inches left my natural waves bouncing free.

Erika and I had a toe party at her apartment.  The result was coral twinner toes with our own version of daisies and dots. Not bad for beginners.

I guess we do look alike.  Except my toes show the wrinkly signs of a few extra years.

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Hyrum still maintains that he wants to be a chef.  He even finds books at the library that include recipes and then we have a kitchen date to try out his new found recipes.

When his creative kitchen juices are flowing he pulls ingredients from the pantry, cupboards and/or refrigerator to blend together his very own snack.

Apples, peanut butter and marshmallows.  Recipe for "Delish" (as he named it).
He's still trying to convince me that he's old enough to cut apples on his own but his chubby little hands wielding a knife
is just too much for me at this point.  I'm not ready to let my baby go.

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Derek has been studying sleep disorders in school and came home with his self diagnosis.  We have always know that he has a hard time falling asleep and is a sleep walker and sleep talker and he usually complains that he is tired no matter how early he goes to bed but after studying about sleep patterns and disorders he was determined that he has a sleep disorder (and I don't remember what it's called, just the symptoms).

Around the same time I got a Fitbit which tracks many things including sleep.  Just to see how well he really does sleep, Derek wore my Fitbit to bed one night.  He has not had any caffeine for a few days, went to bed at a decent time and, as usual, he was tired.  The next morning his results shocked us!

The poor kid is right.  He probably never does hit REM stage.  As he describes his dream patterns it seems that when he should be in REM stage and be in a deep enough dream/sleep state that it practically forces his body into a type of paralysis to rest, he acts out his dreams.  That's when he wanders the house, fights the enemy of his dreams, laughs at his dream state conversations or carries on conversations (and Justin is witness to all of this).  We're not sure at this point what to do about it but it gives us a start point to have it looked into.  We don't want him to go on a mission and never sleep while he's there.  He and his companions need more energy than that.

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The final 2nd grade project for Nathan's class included geometry, measuring, sewing and oodles of parent supervision.

Each child took scraps from home, then cut, measured, laid it all out and learned how to iron, use a sewing machine, and sew on buttons.  The final product was a place mat for each child to proudly display and use at home.  Nathan was thrilled to show me his finished work and then went around the house comparing his place mat to each table runner that I have made.  My crafty heart burst as he exclaimed that we are just alike! Our great grandmothers would be so proud.

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A senior at the high school was doing a photography project to show professionals at work.  He contacted LeRoy because he had helped him with a scout project and asked if he could take pictures of him in his electrical shop.

LeRoy thought it was just going to be a small picture handed in as a class assignment but when I went to the school for Derek's project citizen presentation I walked down a hallway of 11x17 canvas photos displayed by photography students and there was LeRoy's picture.

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Derek's final project for his senior year was to break his wrist.

Our family was gathering the ward Memorial Day flags and Derek hopped off the tailgate of LeRoy's truck.  With all of his science knowledge it didn't cross his mind that if he jumped off the end of a moving vehicle that he would need to run in the same direction of the truck.  Instead, he ran the opposite direction of the truck and it forced his 6'4" frame to stumble and fall back, catching himself on his wrist.

Initially, he assumed it was just sprained.  He is an expert in that area.  But, after going through his last day of finals and still not being able to move his wrist at all, he agreed to have an x-ray done.  The doctor wrapped his wrist in a cumbersome splint to allow the swelling to go down and we scheduled an appointment for Friday to have a cast put on.  By Thursday, the day of his high school graduation, he had had enough of the "bulky, incovenient, ugly thing and was not going to cross stage with it on".  He threatened to unwrap his arm for graduation and would still go in Friday morning for a cast.  I called the doctor and they agreed to look at it and if the swelling was down they would cast it for him.  He chose a red cast to match his red graduation robe.

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While the rest of us were winding up the school year, Vivien was looking at another month in school and she was not happy about that.

It's hard not to have her close to offer support or to have her part of our craziness, which, ironically, can offer comedic relief.  I'm proud of her for sticking with it, even through projects that take forever and math that only super humans (like Vivien) would understand.  High school is not easy but from what I've learned from Vivien, American high school is a whole lot easier than European secondary school.

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The first item of summer business was camping.  Derek, Justin, Bret, Erika and Aaron called Uncle Dean to set up a camping night in Menan at the Fullmer family homestead.

It's good for these young adults to do their own camping so that when we go as a family they have already followed through on their dangerous ideas like standing on a pallet over an open fire or sleeping in a tent when it's still in the freezing temperature range or taking guns with them.  That way, they tone it down to a G safety rating when we all camp together.  I do give them props for the meal planning.  None of this hot dog business, they go for tin foil beef and veggies from fresh ingredients.

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While the others were roughing it in the great outdoors, Nathan and Hyrum put together an indoor camp.

They slept on the floor of their bedroom for nearly a week.

Nathan's Baptism

May 3, 2014

Nathan could not wait to be baptized.  From his birthday on April 7th to his baptism on May 3rd, he counted down the days.  I expected him to be nervous but he just kept smiling and doing this little Tigger type excited dance, never once showing signs of worry about the water or being the center of attention.

He was the only one from our ward being baptized that day so it was just our family for the baptism and confirmation.  The bishop shared a few thoughts which were significant to our family and Nathan beamed as the bishop had him look around the room to see all those who love him and those he is an example for.  Nathan, Hyrum, and Nathan's friend Camdyn were the only primary age children there.  The rest of the group consisted of his teenage and adult siblings and their friends that have become part of our daily family.

He did a whoop and holler as he opened his very own "real" scriptures with his name on them.  Throughout the day he would go to his scriptures, read a little bit and carefully put them back in the case.  As he got ready for bed I heard him cheer from his room, "I'm FINALLY baptized!" and then he asked if he could read his scriptures until he fell asleep.


After the baptism we all went to Pizza Pie Cafe for lunch.  

Are those handsome young men the new PPC models?
Top: Nathan, Erika, Bret, Levi, Justin, Aaron (Bret's brother), Hyrum
Botton: Derek, Mom, Dad, Allyn, Chris, Sierra