Dallas Weekend

One of the nice things about living here is that we are within driving distance of a lot of places.  We can drive up to 8 hours in any direction and can visit Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico.  We decided for Memorial Day weekend to visit Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.  It was a quick trip but we packed a lot in.    

We went to Six Flags for half a day before rain closed the park.  We'll definitely need to make a trip back. 

Cowboy Stadium and the Rangers ballpark are just down the street from Six Flags so we drove by.  Cowboy stadium is HUGE!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We also drove to downtown Dallas to see the "Grassy Knoll" where Pres. Kennedy was shot.  I was too busy looking and forgot to take a picture.  We also went to Ripley's Believe-It-Or-Not.  The boys thought it was okay.  There was also a mirror maze there and they preferred that.  The boys are old enough now that rode trips are fun and not too much work. 

New Office

Robert opened his new office this month.  He is now on the main thoroughfare of Garden City.  It's a much bigger space--with a reception area, office, conference room, storage room and bathroom.

 

Mud Fight

On the boys' first full day of summer break, we turned on the sprinkler for them to run through.  After two hours of water collecting in our dusty, grass-less yard, the dirt became mud.  It was too tempting for Matt not to play in it.  Adam and Gavin quickly joined him. 

THEY WERE A MESS! 

We had to hose them down before coming into the house.  Then they quickly showered, after which I cleaned the tub.

 



Gavin's Birthday Party

We told Gavin he could invite his friends to a birthday party.  However, his birthday falls right around Mother's Day, graduation, last day of school, etc and so it's hard to find a time that works for most people.  I decided this year to make it very simple and easy.  We had the party at the McDonald's play area.  We had it on a Tuesday, during lunch.  We bought happy meals and cupcakes for the kids and let them play.  It was perfect. 

 Gavin and Eli Kentner

 

 Gavin was given some Hot Wheels--very exciting for a 4 year old boy.  Here is sits with me and his best buddy, Russell Mills, with his mom, Kim.

 

 Gavin's friends that came were Russell Mills, Kate Kentner, Eli Kentner, Kash Provost and Travis Archibald.

Matt's Awards Assemby

I'm so grateful that all of our boys do well in school.  Matt's last day of school (May 22nd) included an awards assembly.  Each year his school does a running program during the spring semester.  Matthew got 5th place this year, running 72.5 miles.  He was the top 3rd grade runner.

 The students that ran at least 60 miles got a ball of their choice.  The top 5 finishers also got a medal.  Matt is the front row, third from the right.



Matt also got an award for getting straight A's all year.  He is in the top row, first on the right.  He is actually smiling.  He told me it's because his friend, Bryce Carter, who is next to him, told him a joke.

Adam's school didn't have an assembly but he, too, earned straight A's all year. 

Our Caped Crusader

One night after dinner, while I was doing the dishes, I heard Gavin go out the front door.  After I finished cleaning the kitchen I went to check on him and this is what I found.

 

 

 

New Bed/New Room

A right of passage occurs in our family when a 4th birthday is celebrated.  The boys get to move up from a toddler bed to a real bed.  Gavin was just as excited as Adam and Matt were when they turned 4.   

 Gavin wanted to make sure he had all of his stuffed "aminals" on his bed as well as his Thomas the Train wall stickers.

 Here's Gavin with his favorite "bear-bear".  He can't live without him.

In April, Robert and I went to Denver for an overnight stay.  This was to attend the temple and look for office furniture.  We didn't find any office furniture but instead bought stuff for the boys.  Matt and Gavin got new bunkbeds, shelves and desk.  When I look at these photos there seems to be a lot in their room, but it makes me happy.  It is decorated how they want it, with the things that they like.  Sure, I could dictate more how their room looks and how it is decorated, but I like giving them the freedom to express their own personalities.  And really, in the long run, it doesn't matter if their room looks like a Pottery Barn catalog.

Gavin's 4th Birthday

Gavin is 4 years old!

His stats:

Height:  3 ft. 3 1/2 inches tall

Weight:  37 lbs

 

He is VERY happy to be 4!

 I like this picture of Matt and Gavin.  They are typically quite affectionate with each other.  And Matt's smiling--that's a rarity for a photo.

 Gavin is now really into Legos, especially the mini-figures and was happy to receive them as birthday gifts.  Even now, three weeks later, he tells me thank you for the Lego presents for his birthday.

 

Gavin's Birthday Activities

Gavin's 4th birthday was May 10th.  We were in Cheyenne for it.  We went up there for two reasons--1.  to celebrate Gavin's birthday

2.  to go to Oma and Opa's house one last time before they move to Colorado.

 

We went to Chuck E. Cheese.  This is always a treat for the boys. 

 Look at this birthday boy.  He is never not in the mood to have his picture taken. 


One morning we went down to the Cheyenne train depot.  We took a trolley tour of old Cheyenne. 

Gavin likes going down to the train depot to see the trains coming in and out of Cheyenne.  The morning we were there we saw an entire train full of Army tanks.

Easter

We celebrated Easter in Garden City this year.  Robert's parents and brother, Eddie, came to visit for the weekend.  The boys always love when grandparents are around.

 

One of the favorite Easter gifts were fake mustaches.  The boys had a lot of fun with these.  Another Easter memory is Matt writes a note to the Easter bunny to ask for more Peeps.  So, each year he has been receiving two packs of Peeps.  

Pinewood Derby 2014

Adam and Matt participated in the pinewood derby in April.  This was Matt's first one.  Neither of them were thrilled to be there.  I don't know why--just a bad case of  "party-pooper-itis". 

 At least Gavin was excited to be there. 

Science Fair

Adam participated in the 5th grade science fair.  And won it!  He initially wanted to build a maglev train---that is a magnetic-levitating train.  When I did a bit of research to learn what a maglev train was I learned that there is only one in the world--in China.  And the Germans and Japanese are still working on the engineering to build one.  I told Adam there was no way I could build one.  We then talked to his teacher and he too told Adam he needed to "dumb" down his project.  So, Adam's second choice was the make and test different metals as electromagnets.  He tested zinc, iron and steel.  Iron nails are no longer made so we had to track down some antique ones on Ebay.  He worked hard on his project, and we're proud of his efforts.