Money

How do you teach your kids about money? I love it when Josh buys stuff after he has earned money for it. I let him do little chores for money that he usually spends as soon as he gets a little bit on gumball machine toys. We were at Thanksgiving point the other day and it was so hot. I purposely didn't bring the stroller because I wanted the kids to get some exorcise so they would be worn out at night and sleep better. We got to the backside of the gardens and were all thirsty so I went to get us a drink out of the vending machine but didn't have the right change. Josh thought I was just being mean and couldn't understand why I wouldn't get them a drink. That day when I got home he worked so hard to earn $2 so he could get his own drink the next time. We went the next day and he made sure to bring his little ziplock bag of quarters. When we got to the back of the gardens he was so excited to get his own drink.
I just loved seeing him work so hard for his own little things he wanted. I don't mind buying him little drinks, etc., especially under the circumstances but it was pretty cute to see him work for what he wanted.
What is a good balance. And how do I keep him from wasting his money on cheap little gumball toys and save it up for something better?

BUZZZZZZ

I buzzed them. I don't know why it was so hard to finally do it, but I was very pleased with the results, no more having to worry about doing their hair because it looks all raggedy. A summer tradition begins.

Morning Smoothies

Almost every morning Dave makes us Smoothies for breakfast (berries, bannanas, oatmeal, yogurt, milk) and I love him for it. Thank you Dave. And almost every morning Ammon gives himself a smoothie mustache and then pronunciates very slowly, "mustache". He knows how to put one on himself nice and thick. Then Joshua tries and although he doesn't get it on very thick he does manage to give him self a smoothie uni-brow without even knowing it. You crack me up boys.

Crazy Aunt Shauna

Crazy Aunt Shuana came for two weeks too. She is older then me although I am much more mature then she is. She lives in Vegas and has three cute kids and a nice husband. We had a lot of fun together and since she was here for so long we had plenty of sister time and even got in a sister date, that's were my mom watches all the kids and we go and have fun. Fun for us, a lot of work for my mom. I reciprocated and watched all the kids for them too while they went shopping for the day. So what do I do when I have all the kids at my house all day? Good question, I had no idea, so we improvised and made a fun list which included:
-teaspoon water fight
-water race
-egg race
-crab race
-cushion olympics
-make cookies
-chalk and bubbles
-free play
and anything else that comes to mind. Our long day turned out to be a lot of fun. I figure I better bond with these kids now if I want them to listen to me when they are all punk teenagers trying to figure life out. Here they are lined to do tricks of the couch cushions. Love you guys.

Hulme Boys

Oh I LOVE these boys. The 'Hulme Boys', Josh's four boy cousins from Arizona. They came to Utah for a week while my brother Ben and his wife Tiffany cruised the Mexican Riviera. I think that we for sure had a lot more for then they did. Between the zoo, dino museum, animal farm, Seven Peaks, kite flying, Jump-on-it, boys sleep over, Father-Sons outing/Girls night out, and a mini-family reunion at Brandon's baptism our week was quite full. Jon and Meggan (yah Meggan is having a girl!), came for the baptism, so did Shauna and her family. Twice my boys fell asleep for the night before 6:00 during the whole cousins extravaganza. Tons of fun, totally exhausted by the end. Come back soon Hulme boys.

...when you say goodbye I say hello...

So, you are probably all wondering why I've begun blogging again after not posting forever.... my computer is fixed!!! I broke it and got the piece I needed in the mail today and have been sitting in my lazy boy with my laptop on my lap just smiling and smiling as I have the necessary luxury of having the internet in house once again. So hopefully I'll be better at commenting/posting again. The memory card on my camera is filled to the max because I haven't been able to download to this computer, so I'm sure an onslaught of postings will be coming at some point this week. For now I'll just continue smiling ear to ear as I enjoy my internet time once again, maybe I'll even pay my bills since I have access to my bank again, research next years fam. reunion (in San Diego, I'm in charge, any ideas?!), read all of your blogs, catch up on the news/weather, and back up this computer (I thought all my pictures would be gone). See ya all