Niagra Falls

We started our Saturday with a late breakfast 

at the Pancake House. I chose the dutch baby. It was huge,

but really good. After we ate, we drove to CANADA.

My first time out of the country. :)

While trying to find parking, we got stuck behind a Niagra

City truck with two workers - one smoking, and the other

using a small crane on the back of his truck to SLOWLY

lift a garbage can up and out of the truck and onto the ground.

We thought it would have been easier to toss the thing

over the side of the truck, but later on, Spencer and Brianna

tried to lift a garbage can. Turns out they are heavier than

they look. After spending time at the falls, we drove around

Niagra Falls (the city) in search of Canadian Candy.

Once we got back to Buffalo, we grabbed take-out from

Grover's Bar and Grill (cheeseburger soup and regular burgers),

then came home and watched hockey/Xanadu/basketball.

Here are the pictures from the falls - when we first arrived, 

it was cold, rainy, and dark. After our journey behind the falls,

the weather had warmed up and the sun had come out.

A movie was being filmed at the falls today.

Spencer and I noticed the sign warning about the filming, 

but Mindy missed it. While Spencer and I were trying

to decide what they were filming, Mindy was feeling so 

happy for the Canadian policemen because they'd

gotten to draw their guns (she says it doesn't happen often).

Eventually we realized that she wasn't in on the filming

and we shared the secret, along with a good laugh.

She says she wasn't worried about getting shot, she 

just assumed someone had jumped and the police were

checking things out. Later on, we saw a different scene

(with fake blood on the ground) being filmed and spotted

the female cop from the earlier shot taking a break.

The Maid of the Mist doesn't start service till later in April,

so Brianna bought tickets for us to go on the

"Journey Behind the Falls."

It was amazing to be behind the falls and to see and to hear them.

As we left (with our Tim bits and hot chocolate), 

a seagull walked right up to us. Spencer tossed the bird

a tim bit, which it gobbled up immediately.

Then the bird came back for more, even though the first

donut hole was still visible in it's throat.

Undaunted, Spencer threw another tim bit to the bird.

The seagull carried it around in it's beak for a minute,

and then swallowed it whole. In the bottom middle

picture, you can see two large bumps in the bird's neck.

Brianna researched seagulls a little when we got home

(we were worried about the bird) and learned that the 

bird is mostly likely going to be fine.

Phew.

Ralph Wilson Stadium and Mercy Flight

Today, Mindy and I got to tour the places where

Spencer and Brianna work.

First up was Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Bills.

We saw the locker rooms, walked on the field,

met Spencer's co-workers and saw his desk.

We also saw lots and lots of equipment, a couple of

swimming pools, recliners, weights, two practice fields,

and some conference type rooms. It was awesome.

Later on, we visited Brianna at Mercy Flight

(which we saw from the plane as we landed yesterday).

She showed us around the offices, living room,

kitchen, bed rooms, computers, and the helicopter hanger.

We even got to sit in the helicopter (I was afraid to touch anything because 

I didn't want to mess things up), and tried out some night vision goggles.

We picked up some pizza for dinner, and then watched

the end of the Sabres (sad) hockey game.

Utah to Buffalo (via Baltimore)

Mindy and I made it safely to Buffalo!

This is exciting because we get to spend the week with 

Spencer and Brianna, and also because this is my first time

going east. I've been to Jackson, Wyoming quite a few times

with my family, but I think that is the furthest east I had been

before today. The flight from SLC to Baltimore was long,

and the one from Baltimore to Buffalo was short,

but we didn't have any difficulties along the way.
Spencer met us at the airport, and Brianna had everything
ready for us when we got to their home.
She even had mints on the pillows. :)

And tonight we went to Duff's for Buffalo Wings!

Homesick

Mindy and I are on our way to Buffalo this morning. 

I'm going to miss these cute kids. 

And their Dad.

all photos by Raquel

The Soccer Saga

Jonah had another soccer game last Saturday.

I was able to watch, while John stayed home with

the other kids. It was a beautiful morning and I took

some pictures of his new moves - backing up a field

or two before an in-bounds kick being his favorite.

The best part of the game came just after I took this picture.

Jonah somehow missed the ball, and ended up sitting on it.

He sat there, smiling and laughing, as the other players

tried to kick the ball out from under him. Although I was

right there, camera ready, I didn't think to take a picture

because I was too busy shouting for him to stand up.

Finally the other coach/referee made his way across the 

field and pulled Jonah off of the ball, still smiling.

At half time I asked him WHY he wouldn't get up.

He said that he didn't want the other team to 

get the ball and score a goal.

Oh, how I wish I'd taken a picture of him.

He was so happy. Sitting on that ball, with 9 players

gathered around him, trying to kick the ball out from under him.

Jonah has soccer moves never seen before.

Once Upon a Time . . .

. . . one of Bentley's friends said,

"Hey Bentley, let's sign up for storytelling night.

We can tell a story together!" So they did.

And after one week of rehearsals, the friend quit.

Bentley endured nearly two months of rehearsals

by himself, and last Thursday, he performed his story

twice for other kids and lots of parents and families.

His friends came out to listen to his story, and Ruby

had fun following the big kids around.

Mindy wrote up a "true" story that Bentley memorized

and shared. It's about an alligator in an Idaho gutter.

I posted pictures of the real alligator here. (near the end of the post)

You can watch Bentley's performance here.

Sweet Success

Somebody used the toilet on Sunday!

And on Monday the whole family got doughnut

to celebrate the milestone!

Unfortunately, now that he has had a doughnut

he's lost interest in the toilet. I guess we will

try again in a month or two. More doughnuts!

New York to Utah

I didn't get any pictures when Spencer and Brianna

were here last week, and I tried to rectify that today.

Spencer, Brianna, Mikey, and Jenny came over

after church and we got to spend some time together.

Brianna learned how to battle Kung Zhu warriors,

Milo and Ruby played the letter game with their 

New York Aunt and Uncle, the grown ups got to

sit and talk a little, and Spencer fenced on the Wii with

Milo, and then played NBA Jam with the three older boys.

Just before Spencer and Brianna left, the kids wrestled

Brianna, and I got a few shots of the couples/brothers.

Then Ruby and Milo went outside to play in the SNOW.

We're so glad we got a chance to spend time with Spencer and Brianna.

New York is too far away, but we are looking forward to seeing

them again in May - this time in a place with NO SNOW.

The Start of Spring Soccer

Jonah's first game of the spring soccer season was 

this morning. He was super excited, and relieved

that his team is GREEN. He and the other boys

on the team were hoping that they would be 

allowed to pinch their opponents, but the adults

vetoed that idea. The morning started out a little

chilly, and as the game went on, it became

colder and windier by the minute. I was one of the only

mothers to not layer a long-sleeved shirt on my 

soccer star, but Jonah was tough and denied

feeling the cold at all. (He didn't object near

the end of the game when I covered him up with his jacket, though.)

U8 Soccer in our non-competitive league

is a little different from any type of soccer that

I've seen or heard of. We have about 10 boys on

each team, and there are usually two games

going on at once for each team - 5 players from

each team on a field. This is nice because the boys

get to spend the majority of the time actually playing.

This morning, the teams seemed a bit uneven, though.

Jonah's group was getting smashed by half the blue team,

while the other half of Jonah's team was crushing the

rest of the blue team. At half time the blue team

switched places, and things seemed to even out.

Probably the most exciting part of the game

(except when Milo tried to play goalie)

was near the beginning of the second half when 

JONAH SCORED A GOAL!!!

What a great way to start the season!

Now, we just need to get Jonah to stop with the fake

kick that his Uncle Greg taught him. 

Whenever he got to kick in, or off, or whatever,

he would try to fake everyone out a few times

before he actually kicked the ball. By the end of the

game I was not the only parent shouting,

"Just kick the ball, Jonah!"

Thanks Greg.

Celebrating Jonah

Day One - Kung Zhu party with a few friends

Day Two - Building with Dad, pizza and cupcakes

with uncles and their significant others.

Day Three - Time with Spencer and Brianna
(but I don't have any pictures to prove it), lunch at
JDawgs (after lunch at school), cupcakes and presents
with our family here at home.

Day Four - Lunch date with Mom,
and Mindy's card arrives.
(note to self - Do not take Jonah to lunch on a
school day, he will not want to go back to school.)

Celebrating Jonah - other years
birth story
1st Birthday - here and here
2nd Birthday - here and here
3rd Birthday - here and here
4th Birthday - here, here, and here
5th Birthday - here and here
6th Birthday - here and here

Seven

He's been celebrating all weekend,

but today was the big day.

Our Jonah turned 7.

Happy Birthday sweet boy!

March Five

This time, I took the pictures on the 5th, and started to 

write the post, but it took me two days to finish it.

outside the school, just before we walked home

playing outside while I made dinner, Jonah thought I'd put the camera away

Updates:

Bentley - He's still on a reading kick. Last month he
read the Fablehaven books, and now he's back
to Harry Potter (he read the first one a few years ago,
but got bored partway through the second). He's
read 2, 3, 4, and is well into book 5. I'm so glad
that he is reading. He and his friends are into baseball
and he thinks he wants to try out for the Pony
league teams. He likely wouldn't be placed on a team
with any of his friends, and without friends we're
pretty sure he would stop liking baseball. We'll see.
If he insists on baseball, I am hoping for rec ball.
He is also making a lot of progress in piano,
and is doing really well in school. Hooray!!!

Maxwell - His Battle of the Books team,
The Golden Book Readers, won a couple
of battles, but didn't make it to the finals. Maxwell
seemed a little disappointed, but that didn't last long.
If he participates next year he will have a better idea
about how to prepare for the battles.
Max and his brothers have started training for our
school's 5K and Fun Run in April. These boys amaze
me. They seem to run almost without effort.
I hope it's something they will keep doing.
Maxwell has been so good at doing his homework
and even gets up to practice piano before school
without anyone asking him to. He can
be so responsible. It's awesome.
If I make a dinner that he likes, he gives me a hug,
and says, "Thanks, Mom." When I don't,
he shutters, gags, cries, and takes an hour to eat.

Jonah - Jonah's 7th birthday is next week, and I
recently took him to his well-check. On the way
to the doctor's office, we were talking about the
appointment and I reminded him that he might
have to give the doctor a "sample." He said he didn't
mind that part, but that he doesn't like having to figure
out which bathroom is for boys, and which is for girls.
He went on to say, "How do I know if it's a boy who
is 'poofy' or if the sign is a skinny girl?" I'd never
thought that the woman in a dress looks like a fat man,
but I guess to Jonah it does. I wonder if he has
made the mistake of walking into the wrong
restroom, or if it is just something he worries about.

He liked Kung Zhu pets long enough for us to plan
his birthday party around that theme, but he has
mostly moved on to new things. Soccer starts
next week, and he likes dinosaurs and chimpanzees.

Ruby - Ruby's favorite princess is Jasmine.
This is unfortunate because Jasmine hasn't done anything
new recently, so her merchandise is hard to fine.
(That might be a good thing for the parents,
but it makes for a sad little girl.) Ruby doesn't get
playgroups as often as she would like, and doesn't
get to go in the front yard by herself, or to go to
school like her older brothers do. The other night as
I tucked her into bed, she said sadly, "I'm just like
Jasmine. I never get to leave the house or to
see my friends." Poor princess.
She won't be poor for much longer, though.
Our friend and awesome photographer, Raquel,
wants Ruby's help with a shoot next week and
has offered to pay her $10 to participate.
This is 2 1/2 months of allowance, so you can bet
that Ruby is excited and that she has had a lot of
fun telling her brothers about her paying job.

Milo - I took Milo to school with me yesterday. Ruby
was at Joy School, and I am teaching Jr. Achievement
for Maxwell's 3rd grade class in the mornings.
I had taken Ruby the day before, and thought it might
be nice to take Milo (so John could work, and so
Milo could get out of the house). As we walked in,
Milo got high fives, knuckle bumps, and hellos
from the students (he is kind of a big deal). He sat
quietly at the front of the room for a little while, and
then started to wander. Maxwell's teacher sat down
with him, and they played with a lacing card and
some blocks. While the kids were working quietly,
I went to the back of the room to check on Milo.
Max's teacher looked up at me and said,
"He is really smart. Like, he is SCARY smart."
I KNOW.
A lot that Milo does scares me. He is really smart
and he is really mischievous. Plus, he has the
example of four wild older siblings to follow.
I'm bracing myself.

I really hope that at least one of our kids
is a low key teenager like I imagine John was.

No Limits

Last week I took the four older kids to see one

of their primary leaders perform with her band.

John, the 3 older boys, and I saw her last summer, too.

One of Bentley's friends was there, so he had

someone to hang out with. Maxwell enjoyed

sitting at our table and just listening to the music.

Ruby and Jonah, however, danced the whole night!

Jonah's dancing included crawling on the floor,

ninja kicks, jumps, and spins, and running back

and forth in front of the stage. Ruby's style

consisted of skipping, some hip shaking,

and holding hands with her friends and spinning.

They slept really well that night - they were exhausted.

top row, left to right

Ruby and her cotton candy

Maxwell, Bentley, and friend

Jonah crawling across the floor

bottom row, left to right

Ruby and Jonah dancing in front of the stage

Rachel singing and dancing with the kids in front

more Ruby and Jonah dance action