Middle School Game Night, Spring Piano Festival and Easter

Nathan had a Mother and Son Game Night at his school. However, I already had tickets for a conference in Utah so I had to find a replacement.

To quote Nathan, "every activity is better with Levi and Daymia there!"

Among other games, they played life-size human Foosball, Connect Four, Hungry Hungry Hippos and Angry Birds.

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After months of practicing, the boys were both ready for Spring Festival at BYU-I.

They both played their memorized pieces in front of judges with confidence, and I was so proud of their hard work and courage.

Our tradition after piano festivals is to get a treat at Cocoa Bean.

Depending on the weather, and our cravings, we get either hot cocoa, specialty mixed drinks or cupcakes. It was a specialty drink kind of day, but we always appreciate a good cupcake poster.

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Easter traditions seem to fall second to General Conference and Nathan's birthday, but Levi and Daymia are good to at least hide eggs for the boys and occasionally we get in a little egg coloring.

Keeping it simple. It's all about the time together, not the eggs.

Due to the wind and rain, we fair weather egg hunters kept the fun inside. We weren't positive on the number of eggs that were hidden, so even three weeks after Easter,we were finding eggs around the house. Luckily, we only use cheap plastic eggs filled with coins or candy instead of real, hard boiled eggs, so each find was a new treasure of a holiday often forgotten and well in the past.

Snapchat

In an attempt to keep their mom current, my kids have downloaded Snapchat on my phone. Laughter and insanity has ensued.

I quickly learned that filters could make me feel all perty and put together, 

but there are days where no amount of filter is going to fix my hot-mess self.

It's been fun to "play Snapchat" with my littles . . . 

and my bigs . . . 

and even with my animals.

It's good for sharing quick notes,

and love notes,

or showing off skills,

and serving as evidence of adulting.

Snapchat can catch the glum and glitz of any moment,

or really, any expression throughout the day.

Punny Conversations are limited to a picture and a phrase but not limited at all in humor.

Knowing that my boys were on a very limited budget and wanting to give them a feel for having a storage, I gave Derek and Justin a challenge. They were given a dollar amount with the assignment to set a menu, make a list, fill a grocery cart and stay within budget. It would then load up their shelves and refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

They followed through on each detail and I was thrilled to get these in response. I also got a video of Justin tossing cans from the grocery bag on the counter to Derek standing in the pantry as they unloaded their stash and loaded it onto the shelves. Another view showed me a packed freezer and loaded fridge. 

I do appreciate a clever way to stay in touch with my peeps (does using that phrase keep me current?), but my biggest gripe with Snapchat is that I have to screenshot everything and I have one chance to get it right. Miss that chance and the moment is gone, poof, into thin air. Videos? One chance (maybe one replay) to watch and then it's gone. For someone in their 27th year of photo documenting and storage, such disposable photo treatment is torture!

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

While wandering the clearance sales at Porter's, I came across some cute pillowcase kits. An idea formed in my mind and pretty soon, we were sewing.

Nathan did part of the sewing but mostly offered encouraging support and shoved pillows inside the finished cases.

Hyrum was determined to sew one entire case on his own and he did it!

We chose to deliver them to a group called Sleep in Heavenly Peace because they build and provide free beds to children who are sleeping on the floor. The new bed sets include a mattress, sheet set, pillow and pillowcase. After looking them up online, we found a date that they were having a build and we showed up with our completed pillows.

Later that day, we saw on Facebook that the picture they had taken was now posted online. A short time later, a bunk bed set was displayed at the health fair and there on the bottom bunk was the pillowcase that Hyrum had made.

A couple of months later, I received a message from the manager at Sleep in Heavenly Peace, informing me that he had again included them in an emotional post. There again, the boys pillows were seen in the pictures.

It was a great project to do together and it was fun to see it ripple throughout a couple of months with us wondering about the six kids who were now sleeping with brand new, made-with-love pillows and cases. It was also good to regained an appreciation for the simple things that we enjoy (like pillows) that others may not have.

New Homeowners: Levi & Daymia

Levi and Daymia called one Sunday morning and wondered if we could go look at a house with them. With afternoon church, it was easy to step away and tour a house in Idaho Falls. As we walked through, it felt like theirs. With new carpet, freshly painted walls, an updated kitchen and bathroom, and a plethora of potential that Daymia could easily transform into their home, we were impressed!

After almost a month of paperwork and financing, a one-day move from the third floor of an apartment building to a moving van (a very long moving van that tested Levi's driving and parking skills), a panicked Ferguson (cat), and a quick unload at the new home, Daymia posted on Facebook on March 26th that the house was all unpacked!

Daymia's mind and Pinterest board were full of ideas! Shortly after moving in she built some shutters, hung a wreath, and updated the house number to bring the exterior of their new home up to date with the Pinterest worthy interior that she had so beautifully decorated.

Throughout the coming weeks, I would get update pictures of newly decorated spaces. Using decorations that they already had, speckled with a few new ones, she turned even the bathroom into a place of comfort and homey beauty.

Her birthday gift from Levi a few months later was to purchase a shelf and decorate a blank wall that had been waiting for the perfect interior design. As always, she nailed it!

Another space that she had an idea for but couldn't find the right bench for, was the large window in the living room. On Derek's visit home, he was thrilled to put Daymia's idea to paper and saw.

My brother in law Derek @derek_edwards505 hit it out of the park again with this project I threw at him! He built me this beautiful 7 foot long bench and I couldn’t be happier with it. I’ve been loving slowly making this new house our home 💙 — with Derek Edwards.

A springtime move gave them a couple of months before the yard would need some attention, but soon the thick green grass was taking over and they had to face the reality of yard work. Their new homeowner's budget was stretched again as they purchased a lawnmower, hoses and other supplies.

Derek was also put to work in the yard during his visit. I couldn't help but laugh at Levi's comment on the picture he sent me. His memories of visiting Grandpa Fullmer all include some type of outdoor chore from weeding in the summer to hauling wood in the winter.

Hyrum's 10th Birthday

I'm not sure where March went. I'm not sure where my baby went. How has 10 years passed already? He was thrilled to be grown up enough for double digits. He mathematically figured out that he is now the square root of 10.

Hyrum is considerate, thoughtful, and kind. When I asked him what he wanted to take to his school class for his birthday treat, he immediately responded that it needed to be peanut free and gluten free. He wasn't concerned about picking his favorite treat; he was concerned about everyone being able to have it.

It took a little research because I still wanted to make something that Hyrum would love. When I came across these homemade chocolate pudding cups (not from a box), I knew I had a winner. Hyrum loved them and the class loved that he shared them.

For Hyrum's birthday we went to Fat Cats for a round of glow in the dark mini golf.

We didn't keep score, just used the time to be silly and be together.

Speaking of silly, this boy is a hoot! He can turn any situation into a comedy with his expressions, dance moves and comments, and a good outfit makes it even better.

His creativity occasionally makes its way to paper, especially if it's assigned in school. At the Hibbard School Art Show, Hyrum's name was drawn for a free paper pack for future drawings.

Pizza, Playing, Pets

Personal pan pizzas made at home while listening and dancing to The Greatest Showman and still hanging out in pajamas seems like the perfect way to end a wintery day.

Pizza done family size with a variety of toppings also ends any day well.

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I have learned, through raising five boys, that the imagination often plays gender neutral.

But, even the prettiest of wands can be turned into a weapon.

We have not a speck of bowling skill among us but we know how to have a great time!

However, the boys do have great basketball skills and they very much enjoyed spending a couple of months playing in the city leagues.

Because of their ages they were in different leagues so we were running from one school to another for overlapping games. Hyrum is used to playing with all the older boys in our neighborhood so he struggled with the immaturity of his age group. Nathan's team was great to let him in on practices and gave him hope for future seasons.

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Charlie is pretty easy going, especially with Harrison flaunting his seniority around.

At 14 years old, we pretty much let the old guy have his way. When Harrison plopped himself down on the edge of Charlie's bed, Charlie thoughts that all the room he would want. A few stretches later and Charlie moved to the couch while Harrison curled himself into a comfy crescent and snoozed away the afternoon.

I've watched Nathan and Hyrum fight over the bathroom sink for brushing teeth but this was a first to see Oliver and Harrison fighting over the faucet for a drink.

Charlie's fluffy ears make the perfect messy bun!

With the trampoline frame as their training platform, Hryum and Oliver pretended to be in the circus.

Justin has admitted that he didn't fully understand how much he appreciated the unspoken love of a pet until he left home and returned months later. A fact that was proven when he actually paid to adopt not only one but two cats during his first semester of college.

 It never fails, when he is home he is a magnet for pet cuddles and shedding fur. It's nice to see him relax into them, setting aside the stress of school, work and training.

Justin's cats are rather skittish, especially the momma cat, Belle. I seldom saw them when I visited because Belle was always hiding and Gus was usually near her or hiding under a bed. However, after spending the night there, I woke up to find them both snuggled up with me. I cautiously reached for my phone, careful not to frighten them, and quickly snapped a couple of pictures, knowing that at any sound, they could both bolt.

Happy Valentine's Day

Grandparent's and siblings were blessed with this cute homemade valentine from Nathan and Hyrum.

Strings were strung and the boys had fun! Their exclamations at the increased difficulty since last year was very satisfying since I only had two strings to run this year and needed to put all my best pranks into it.

We all enjoyed animal cuddles, a few sweets, and lovey story time at the end of the stringy adventure.

The boys and I took Levi and Daymia a basket of dinner and a big ball of yarn (nestled with treats tied randomly throughout yarn) for their evening entertainment. I loved Levi's excitement at being able to participate in a tradition from his childhood.

On a random day in February, LeRoy received messages from both Levi and Justin. He wondered if I had prompted it because they came a day apart and at the same time, but it came spontaneously from them.

It's wonderful when our children start to see the best in our quirks and personalities.

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The Valentine Lion

Hyrum is not particularly fond of stuffed animals. He tries to be because Nathan would sleep with an entire bed full of them if I let him, but he doesn't attach to them. Over the last several months he hadn't been able to sleep well and kept ending up in our room on the floor like he did from ages 2-6.
It always frustrated LeRoy that I would let him sleep on the floor at my side of the bed but I didn't know what to do other than force him to just "get over it" in his own bed, which I didn't see as building a healthy nighttime routine. He finally grew out of it around age 6 so I was surprised when it came up again when he was nearly 10.

We had moved the boys downstairs into the empty basement so that Papa wouldn't have to do the stairs when he was here for Levi's wedding. They were really excited about it and it lasted for about four months. Then Hyrum started crying nearly every night that he wanted to sleep with me or at least upstairs on the couch. He would usually end up there during the night without us knowing and then Nathan started to get frustrated that he was downstairs alone. After a couple months of this, I moved them back upstairs.

It didn't work. He still cried and went into a panic nearly every night at bedtime and even with me reading with him, praying with him, snuggling an extra long time with him, he still could not sleep. I researched the subject and tried teaching him breathing methods, thinking tricks, calming patterns and though he gave it a good effort, they didn't seem to work. I talked with teachers, asked probing questions about friends at school, strangers, activities he had been too. I wasn't finding any reason for this happening. He wasn't even complaining of bad dreams, just that he couldn't sleep. He would literally stay awake for most of the night. I know because it was keeping me up as well. The days were becoming tough with exhausted emotions and he couldn't focus during school because he was so sleepy.

When I was looking for items for their end-of-string treasures, this lion caught my attention. He was meant for Hyrum. I initially thought it odd and brushed it aside but the lion kept popping into my thoughts. I knew I couldn't give Hyrum a stuffed animal without giving Nathan one because Hyrum wouldn't care and Nathan would be sad. So, I created their treasures around this little lion.

I soon realized that he wasn't just a stuffed animal, he was to be a protector of sleep. After our string treasure hunt and stories, I explained that when I saw him, I knew he was meant for Hyrum. We discussed qualities in a lion: strong, brave, protector, and in our imaginations, cuddly. I also told him that the kiss lips on the lion represented me; a gentle kiss on his head to give him comfort. I also explained that I had chosen his valentine book specifically for him because it was about a mom who loved her little cub and I testified that Heavenly Father loves his little Hyrum even more than I do.

Shockingly, he fell asleep without tears and slept through that night with his arms held tight around his lion. Not every night was perfect but over the next month he got to where he no longer fought sleep and did quite well. A few months later and his sleeping struggles were a thing of the past.

Hyrum still isn't attached to a stuffed animal. He continued to sleep with the lion right up until the day school ended. Now he sits on the bookshelf by his bed, seemingly unnoticed but with his purpose complete and a glance of appreciation from me.

Birthday Boys: Levi & Justin

2000 - Levi age 8, Justin age 1

As the boys birthdays came in January 10th and February 9th, I found myself looking through old scrapbooks and found this first glimpse of their futures.

Our budding computer geniuses are now flourishing in 2018. Levi and Justin are my go-to tech team. I don't understand a word of their coding/tech/computer language and possibly only half of what they explain to me, but I trust them completely! I'm so proud of these men!

2018 - Levi age 26, Justin age 19

The computer got much smaller but the boys have grown in many ways. They are both establishing successful adult lives and I couldn't be more proud of the men they are becoming!