Somebody turns 40!

Thursday evening as soon as Talmage got home from practice, he and a couple of the Priests went and helped Jeff Middleton load a trailer of hay.  I love to see the evidence of hard work!

James hasn't ever enjoyed fresh raspberries on his birthday before.  #40 must be special.

For the last couple months, I've been secretly planning James's 40th birthday celebration.  I really tried to think of what he would want to do for his birthday.  It seemed pretty clear, he would want to spend it with his family.  So, thanks to family in Utah, we planned an afternoon of boy fun with his brothers and nephews and dinner and hanging out.  I didn't tell the little kids until after he left for work on Friday, and for the first time in a long time, I actually pulled off a surprise.  I knew it would mean more time in the car than in Utah for him to make it back by Monday morning, but we did it anyway.  The time in the car together without interruptions was a treat as well. 

Not everybody who celebrated made it into the picture, but it was sure fun to be there with them.  James has a wonderful and incredible family.

While we were gone, Cole and Laryn were gracious enough to shuttle and herd our kids around.

Bryant at his Cross Country meet in Connell. 
Photo compliments of Mayela Poulson.

Rex and Lyle initiating James's birthday gift from his seminary students. 
I think Vard may be the photographer.

Talmage bought his first pair of real dress shoes on his own---getting ready for Homecoming!

Touchdown Rex! Touchdown Lyle!

Rex and Lyle got to be captains tonight at their game.  Must have been good luck.  They had one carry each and both of them scored a TD.  That was 2 of the 3 TDs for their team for the night.  Rex also pulled the first two flags of the game, and both of them had a diving miss or two.

This is what else these two little football players are up to---learning to read!  It can be kind of crazy reading two books at once, but when I have their attention, I take it!!

This was Talmage on his way to the Superhero Stake Dance.  Bryant was mortified.  When they actually got there, no one else was really dressed up, so Talmage took it off beforehand.  He finally grew into the chest strap!  (Taneil made T and B capes when Sariah was born.)

First Flag Football Game

Couldn't have been a more pleasant evening.  Grandpa, Cole, and Laryn came to watch Rex and Lyle's debut on the field.

Rex with his hands on his knees, Lyle on the right.

Rex pulled several flags, and I'm pretty sure he got Lyle's playing time in the first half.  (Rough being a coach of twins.)  They both had fun, and they both went to bed saying they

can't wait until next Wednesday (their next game).

Cleaning out the office closet today and found this.  Hyrum says, "What is that Mom?  A camera?"  Crazy to think they've never really seen something like a cassette player!!  There was another little one and it has a voice activated switch on it.  When I told Hyrum that he started talking to it like it was Siri.  So funny!

Jagger's Blessing

Trekked to Moses Lake today to be with Bergeson's for Jagger's blessing.  A growing family!

One of the things I LOVE about where we live is the sunsets.  

LOVE, LOVE! 

A picture can never do a sunset justice.  

I think it's because a sunset is more than something you see, it has a certain sense of awe that accompanies it.  I feel something when I watch a sunset.  Just like my kids, they always want me to tuck them in a night, they crave that loving, closure to the day.  They feel something when we say goodnight.  I think of sunsets that way.  It's God tucking us in, and saying good-night.  

Boy, he does it beautifully!

First High School Cross Country Meet

Last week, Bryant had a jamboree, but today was his first official high school cross country meet.  I went to Hermiston to watch him run.  I loved the fact that when he ran by me, he gave me a great big smile.  I really loved the fact that tonight he gave me a hug and said, "Thanks for coming to support me at my track meet today."

 

Caught Sariah helping Lyle yesterday.  Kind of funny for the girl who fights practicing. I've been very pleased though.  Most days, at least 3 of the 4 kids have their piano done before school.  It's wonderful!

Talmage's First Dance Date

I didn't get a real picture because Talmage picked up the Skittles on the way to school to ask Kennedi Christensen to Homecoming.  Bryant was to give the jar to Brother Kenworthy who was to put it on her desk.  Bryant said the wrong girl almost got asked!  This isn't the same poem he put in the jar, but the picture is the idea.  Then he wrote one letter of his name of 7 of the Skittles in rainbow order and she had to figure out who it was.  I think she could see a "g" and an "a" from the outside and guessed right away.  Talmage was so nervous that morning that he didn't sleep past 4:30.  

More "firsts"

On Saturday we tested our Foodsaver out and made our "first"pre-packaged smoothies.

Saturday afternoon was the "first" BYU football game of the season, didn't end happy.

Lyle is the "first" one to volunteer to husk corn, can you see why?

Rex is close behind.

Lyle lost his "first" tooth!  (Now they look like twins again.)

Our "first season" of grapes---a huge cluster!

"Firsts"

Some "firsts" in our family last Friday.

Bryant ran his first high school cross country meet.  I've never heard of such a thing, but the clock wasn't working!  He was pretty bummed.  He said he pushed so hard he almost threw up and he was pretty sure he would have PRed.  And it was HOT!  First day of September and it's 95 degrees.

Go Bryant!

Pretty big smile after that kind of exertion.

Talmage made his first solo trip to the temple, driving himself there from the high school, and then from the temple to Edgar Brown for his first night suiting up for the Varsity game.  James and I enjoyed the Friday Night lights and seeing number 24 with the team.  Chiawana beat Moses Lake.

Talmage is in the middle, #24

Friday Night Lights, Talmage on the big Edgar Brown

I also was able to be at the temple with Bethany McBride.  A big first for her too I guess.  She invited me to her endowment in preparation for her sealing at the end of the month.  She was a Beehive when I was Young Women's President in 2nd Ward.  She babysat both Talmage and Bryant!!