Joe...Oreo...Ceasar

So, Tuesday morning Grandpa sent Bryant out to "take care of" a magpie that had fallen from a nest.  Out went the mighty hunter with his BB gun.  In came a new pet owner.  He couldn't do it.  Now, for three days he has fed his bird every couple of hours...at least.  On day ONE, his name was Joe, the next day it was Oreo, as of tonight it is Ceasar.  We're reading a book entitle Rascal, about a boy who catches and raises a raccoon.  Boys, boys.

We've got raspberries, raspberries, raspberries.  It's been nice and cool this week for picking but we're headed for the 100s when it's not so pleasant to go out anytime of day to pick.  Rex is super particular about carrying his own bucket and picking into his own bucket.  He does a great job.  Lyle doesn't have the same respect for Rex's raspberries.

With all the rain, the sweet cherry crop has taken a hit.  A couple years ago we picked buckets and buckets of sweet cherries for free.  This year, I splurged $8 for 3 lbs. for a family treat.

Sariah had her first swimming lesson today.  It reminded me of the year we did "mommy and me" lessons together.  She's come along way.  She was freezing but learned a lot in a 1/2 hour or so.

Tonight was Talmage's first mutual----A DANCE!  (James was there as the candid photographer)

He's the one in the back with the girl in red pants.

This is the text I got from one of the mother's of some of the other kids:

"Kudos to Talmadge!  My kids day he is the best dancer!  They loved his moves and his outgoing personality!!"

I'm so glad he was himself!

At lunch today when it was just he and I and we were talking about tonight he said, "I sure hope none of the girls there are dressed inappropriately."

All of a sudden, MODESTY took on a whole new meaning for me.

Mother Daughter

This weekend, members of the General Women's Auxillaries came to town.  Friday night was a meeting for all women 8-years-old and older.  I took Sariah anyway.  She felt so special, and more important, she felt the Spirit.  During a musical number, she turned to me with teary eyes, a little surprised and embarrassed I think.  Afterwards when we were talking about the Spirit she said she felt like Jesus was right there and she wanted to reach out and touch his hand.  It doesn't get any better than that.  I came away mostly with impressions about things we can do in our family.

I think this part made Sariah feel especially special.

 

 

It was really late, but afterwards we went and got new church socks.  I thought for sure she'd fall asleep, but she chatted the whole way home.  I told her again about the time when she was about a year old and I was pushing her in the swing in the back yard, her tiny, blonde pigtails flying in the wind.  I had a very distinct feeling of joy and pure contentment.  Knowing we planned to continue our family I didn't know what it meant at the time.  I told Sariah Friday night, I've come to realize that feeling must have meant Sariah would be my only girl and yet she would bring me complete joy and contentment.

Hairy business

Yesterday was our anniversary.  When James told me he needed my help he promised me it would keep me laughing for the next 13 years.  I have to admit I was laughing so hard I cried.

 I guess I'm still laughing...

 

The primary chorister used a wig today to get the kids to sing.  (They sang as well as I've ever heard/seen.)  Tonight she sent me this picture.  I didn't even know it was taken. 

Like father, like son.

A Deacon

This is from my journal entry today:

Today Talmage was ordained a Deacon.  Bishop asked him to bear his testimony to our family before he was ordained.  He bore a solid testimony.  We are so pleased with him.

Tonight he spent quite a while with Hyrum listening to the children’s scripture stories.  Often he’ll ask me what he can do to help.  Almost always when I ask him to do something he’ll do it cooperatively.  Yesterday, we planted the last of our 288 pumpkin starts.  He and I were working together for a large portion of the time and it was a delight.  He enjoyed working and I couldn’t have been happier.  He has a knack for plants and gardening.  For his birthday, we gave him a red clothes hamper and a box of TIDE and a box of dryer sheets.  He was excited about that responsibility and preparing to be ready for a mission.  He is developing his musical talents and enjoys it.  Tonight, he called his violin teacher and arranged for some summer instruction.  On the evening of his birthday party, I was up late working on some pillows for Jenks’ reception.  After he came home from dropping everybody off, he took a shower and then came into me and knelt beside me.  With the most sincere and heartfelt eyes, he said, “Mom, I’m really grateful for all you do for me.”  I LOVE THAT BOY! 

This week, James and I will take him to dinner, talk to him about this stage of life and give him a temple recommend holder and a pocket-sizedFor the Strength of Youth pamphlet. We’ll take him shopping and let him pick out a wallet and teach him how important those two items in his wallet are. Next Sunday he’ll have his interview for a temple recommend. 

He chose mud pie for his birthday cake.

Birthday Party

Since we had the laser guns, I thought it would be a good time to have Talmage's birthday party.

So, the next day, we gathered up all his town friends and had some more fun.  We only have birthday parties with friends at age 8, 12, and 16, so two birthday parties is over the top for us, but James and I feel it is important that Talmage keeps contact with this group of boys since they will be a great influence and a lifeline for him when he gets thrown into Pasco middle school

sometime in this next year. 

Our crew + Trevor, Chandler, Carson, Titan, and Cameron.

 

We did the same thing the next day with his Basin City friends.

That afternoon, the family all got together for Father's Day dinner and used the laser guns down at Matsumura's. That was a lot of fun.

Day Camp

Our ward opted to do our own Day Camp this year.  As Cub Scout Committee Chairman that meant, I got to make sure it all came together.  We worked off a "Space Camp" theme and ended up with a day that I think everyone would agree was a "blast".

 

We had Dad come at lunch time and show us his telescope and talk about some astronomical things.  The boys got to look at the sun and see sun spots.  They also got to see this original copy of a July 21st (?), 1969 newspaper.

 

We had underwater puzzles in the "anti-gravity tank" (pool), obstacle course on the "space station", "moon-walking" (stilt building and walking), "rockets and craters" (campfire cooking), bottle rockets at the "launch pad" and a Star Wars mission with laser guns in the Galactic Empire.  I think it was every bit as fun as it sounds.

 

I had so many willing helpers and it came off without a glitch.

 

 

First Summer Weekend

It was a week of perfect days, and perfect evenings...except for Friday evening.

Father's and Sons at Grandpa's house.

The wind blew so hard, it knocked down the tent with all the big boys in it.  They spent the rest of the night on the living room floor.

I think they had fun anyway.

Talmage had his violin recital this evening.  He's old enough to get nervous in front of a crowd now, and I think it surprised him.  He's still amazing though.

Aubrey Eppich and Talmage

The end of a Memorable Year

Spending a year at Basin City Elementary has been a wonderful and unique experience for these three kiddos.  Where else do you get to have snowball fights at recess, build forts with the principal, hike over the hill at lunch to fish, and be part of a performing unicycle team?

 

This is the note James and I personalized for each of our children and tucked into a water bottle with lemonade drink mixes for their teachers:

 

Bryant has spent over 1000 hours at school this year.  As his parents, that is an influence on his life we don’t take lightly.  The last day of school is bittersweet as a student moves along his road of progression while saying good-bye to one who has had such an influence on his life.  We sincerely thank you for all the time and effort you have put forth in making this year such a great one for Bryant.  We hope you have a very “refreshing” summer.                   James and Makala Hales

 

 Talmage and Mr. Ledford

 

 Bryant and Mrs. Morris (you can see they have a very fun relationship).

Mrs. Isom and Sariah

On the last day, Sariah told me, "I finally got to give her a hug!"

The sixth graders got to have the 8 bounce houses to themselves after school on Wednesday.  Look at what a great sport Mr. Ledford is!

 

This is one thing I'll miss every day: 

6th Grade Promotion

It's not everyone who gets promoted from grade school twice.  I think Talmage would say that this year was well worth being in grade school one more year.

 

Talmage and Rex displaying certificate of promotion and Talmage's award for being the 6th grade's "Outstanding Writer."

What a handsome, grown-up boy.

(I dried up 4 markers on that banner!)

June 1st - First Set of Pumpkins in the Ground

About half of our 300 some pumpkin starts make it into the ground.

 

 The Crew

 

 Rex

 

 Hyrum

 

 Lyle - would NOT give me a smile, or even a glance.

 

Talmage

 

Sariah

 

Where's Bryant?  In his words, "Mom, I'm just not a farmer."

 

To his credit, he has done a good job helping to water them every day since we planted.

Queen for a Day

Thanks to Mom, I was able to go with Talmge on his all-day sixth grade field trip to WSU.

One of the reasons I wanted to go was to show Talmage how much I love him and make him feel special.  Instead, he did that exact thing for me all day long.  He watched out for me, he saved me seats, he even sat by me on the bus.  He really made me feel special.  It was a sweet experience for this mom.

 

 

 We went to a birds of prey demonstration, and to a chemistry and a physics lab. 

They were all really interesting and fun.

 

Talmage on a bed of nails in the physics lab.

Sling Shot, Tadpole, and Baseball

The three words Lyle has down pat.  Now that's boy for you.  He also loves motorcycles and helmets thanks to Uncle Vard, but an outsider might not understand those words when he says them.

 

 

And here is the true purpose of Costco double-seat shopping carts.....TWINS!

Memorial Day

 Paying tribute to those we love on Memorial Day.

(With Cousins Jhett and Reichert, missing Talmage.)

Lyle and his namesake, Irvin Lyle Taylor.