Recital.

We had a special night with Bennett and Owen last week.  It was Bennett's spring piano recital, so Jason and I decided to take just the two oldest out on the town.  We really did it up by going to Chuck-O-Rama (or Chuck-a-Grandma as Ingrid calls it).  Seriously, we knew the boys would love it, and they did.  The only problem was that between endless wings and slushees and rolls and more wings and the recital butterflies, Bennett had a big old tummy ache!  And we showed up to discover that he was first thing on the program, and he got even more nervous still!  But I do think it was for the best.  Getting your piece over with allows you to enjoy the rest of the program a lot more.

 Bennett played two pieces this year:  Minuet and Trio and Largo.  He was so nervous at the beginning, but once he got rolling, he did awesome.  I am proud of him, remembering how scared I used to get before a recital.  Bennett is very gifted musically.  I wish I were better about encouraging (forcing) him to practice more.  I feel like I walk a fine line, wanting to encourage his musical talent, but not wanting to make him hate it in the process.  I really love his teacher, Launa, and know she is amazing because every time he walks out of her house after a lesson, he is bright and smiley, confident and ready to try harder.

What a super fun night out with these awesome young men.

Jake.

Jason is working on a project called "The Many Faces of Jake."  Seriously.  He has always cracked us up with his facial expressions, but also with his self-expression in dress and personality.  Here are just two examples of how Jake is just so Jake.

He wears this hat ALL THE TIME, and I love it.  I also love that he and Harper are such buddies.

Devil horns and a twizzler-pretzel necklace.  Oh, and muscle shirt.

HI-YA!

This is totally how our neighborhood rolls.  Ninjas out on patrol, and Ruby in her pretty clothes.  

Look Who's Walking!

On Finn's third birthday, Harper started walking!  She was wearing her bathing suit, and I think the grass was itching her enough that she just stood up!  She had never done that before, and then she just started taking steps.  It was so exciting!  I love it when my babies can walk.  And just look at that smile!  She was so proud!

Here's Ruby, her next-door BFF.  Ruby is such a great little babysitter for Harper.

Finnegans

Finn turned 3 on May 13th!  Three was a big deal for him, because it meant he graduated from the Up-to-3 program at USU where he has been attending Little Aggies preschool and getting lots of good help with his speech.  It is so amazing to see how far he has come.  I love listening to him talk.

When he started the program in January, noone could understand what he was trying to say beyond a very few basics like no, mom, dad, etc.  Seriously, not even I could understand what he was saying.  He often communicated with us by playing charades.  We really had to guess what he was telling us as he acted it out.

It did wonders for him to meet with people who are experts in articulation,  who understood his special challenges with forming words.  We as his family became so much more educated on how to help him as he progresses in his language skills.  This experience was so good for me personally as well.  I feel like a grew closer to Finn and felt a deeper compassion for what he feels when it is so hard for him to express himself!  I have been more patient, and I have been so proud watching him try again and again to say certain words or sounds.

I wish I had recorded the first time he said his name right.  He had always said his name was "Pinn" since he struggles with the letter F.  In his articulation class, where moms and kids  practice sounds together, all the kids say their name as part of a song that goes "Pickety, pickety bumblebee!  Will you say your name for me?"  Finn said, "Ffffinn!" and everybody cheered! And of course I shed a wee tear, because that's what I do.

After spending time watching Finn in his little preschool class, and being able to attend his articulation class with him, I have really begun to understand what a special little boy he is.  He is different.  He is beautiful and sweet and good, good, good.  That's not to say he doesn't have mischief in his eyes, but he is so smart and so observant.  He is so eager to please.  So quick to say sorry, so quick to thank me for the littlest things.  How I love you, Finn.

Finn with Teacher Megan, who he always tells me is his friend.  "My fend, teeta Megan?  She nice."

Here is Finn opening birthday presents with Bennett.  Three year olds are so cool- every gift, no matter how big or small, is totally the most amazing thing they have ever seen.

On Finn's birthday, we got to go to the American West Heritage Center with Bennett's class for a field trip!  Here are Finn and Jake helping to tell a story.

Finn and recently returned missionary, Bo Reier.

What could be cooler than throwing a tomahawk for your third birthday?

Bennett, Finn, and Jake.

We had a mini impromptu neighborhood birthday party that afternoon.  Thank goodness it was sunny for once this spring.

Finn and our CUTE neighbor boys, Darius and Cruz.

Cute line-up for the slip-n-slide.

Owen bouncing the little kids.  (Right before we decided that was a really bad idea.)

Hot dogs.

Finn really wanted an "efanent" for his birthday, and Jade gave him one.  Yay!

Singing happy birthday to himself.

Celebrating at Grandma's with Clara.  This was before Grandma realized she didn't have enough candles on the cake for our big 3-year-old.

Happy birthday, big boy!  I don't know what you wished for, but I have lots and lots of wishes for you.

Soccer Season

Soccer season seemed strange to me this year- probably because of the weather.  We had so many games cancelled and rescheduled- sometimes 4 a week- that the season seemed really short. Owen had awesome coaches, who were both his coaches for Jr. Grizz basketball as well.  They are excellent teachers of the sport, and they arrange and rotate all the kids in such a way that everyone has a chance to try everything.  There are a couple of star players on the team who could easily score all the goals and play defense as well, but they were really good sports, and gave everyone a chance to play- very impressive for first graders.

Owen enjoyed playing, especially the day he played goalie and had a few very nice saves.  He was beaming with pride, and said it was the best day ever.  Nevermind that before the game started he was upset, being irrational and saying he was the worst soccer player ever in the history of the world.  He over-reacts and cannot be reasoned with sometimes, and I have no idea where he gets that.  Ahem.

Good job, Owen.  You really are so awesome.

Odds and ends.

Tonight was a big night of blogging catch-up.  Here are some photos that didn't fit into any one specific event like Cami's wedding or Harper's birthday, but which are noteworthy nonetheless.  

I just wanted to preserve the nightly chaos during the brushing of the teeth process.

Evelyn came for a visit, so we painted.

Harper and a monster truck.

BEFORE

AFTER
What a handsome boy!

Cutie pants.

I just like this.

Grammy Deb came to visit!  She is starting a new job in June, and wanted to come visit before then.  YAY!  It was so fun to have her- the kids loved every minute of it.  Finn is still asking me when she's coming back.  It was a busy time while she was here, but she jumped right in to all our activities with gusto.
We took advantage of the lovely weather by going  to the Willow Park Zoo.  "There are a lot of birds in this zoo," Jake said.  He is right.

Look what a cute Grammie she is!

Harper was being a little over-bearing with her cute cousin, Blue.  Hence the teary eyes.

Baby cousins and their dads.

Meet Mrs. Hauenstein!

My little sister, Cami, got married last week!  Congratulations to the bride and groom!  

Here's the lucky fella, Luke, with Cami and Blue (Jaime's baby).

Cousins Shaelynn and Nicole and Aunt Carolyn with Cami at her bridal shower.

Jaime and her BFF Anne.

Gorgeous Codi Ann, Blue, and my Mom.

Cami and Shaelynn.

Kate and Clara.

Yes, it was a flamingo shower because yes, Cami really likes them.

The back of our car- filled with cheesecake, on the way to the wedding!

Little nieces and nephews singing "You Are My Sunshine."  SO cute!

Cami and Harper.  (This is Harper's face if anyone but her mom tries to hold her.)

Kitchen helpers: Grammy Deb, Clara, Kate, Codi & Margie.

The candy bar.

Post-ceremony dog-pile.

Shhhhhhh, this is Lee's new girlfriend, Natalie.  She is amazing and we love her so very much!  But I think Lee's trying to play it cool at this point.

Naomi out on the porch of the Ben Lomond Stake Camp, where the wedding and reception were held.

The hanging of the pom-poms.

I will never make another pom-pom as long as I live.

Brothers.

Cutting the cheesecake.

Katherine and Harper Katherine.

Harper and Jason relaxing on the deck.  (Jason performed the ceremony.)

Stealing berries in the kitchen.

Holy handsome boys!  Even Jake, with his traditional weird camera look.

Congratulations, Cami.  Love you so much!