A Break From Catching Up For A Little Comic Relief

This boy.  He is such a zany, goofy, nut, and is always saying the funniest things.  Like the other night for instance.  He and his sister were have a discussion about who is the boss at our house.  It was Vivi's opinion that Trent is the first boss, and I am the second boss.  Preston's response was, "No.  Mom is the first boss.  Because she's pregnant!"  I had to laugh before I ended up in the throes of an anxiety attack!  I of course am not pregnant, so who knows where he came up with that and why.

Shortly after that, Trenton asked me if he could have a cookie.  Being that I love to mess with my kids, I told him "no".  Without even skipping a beat, Preston said, "She's just kidding.  You can have a cookie."  He had a few other humdingers that night which my scattered mind has completely forgotten by now, but at least I remembered these ones.  I love the laughter and joy this silly boy brings into our lives!

Birthday Boys!

One more event from May.  I felt it deserved it's own post.

Trenton and Sean had a birthday!  They were born on the same day, just 19 years apart.  I don't know how Sean feels about it, but I know Trenton has really enjoyed sharing a birthday with his uncle.

We did things a little backwards this time and started the night out with the balloon launch.  We were on our way to Jumpstreet, and knew by the time we got back it would be dark.  The balloon launch is much more fun when its light out!

These boys were all so jazzed up, it was nigh impossible to get a decent picture.

Come on boys, just get together and smile for the camera!

For some reason, punching each others with the balloons was much more appealing.

And here it is.  The best we got.  Oh well, maybe next year!

After spending ten minutes trying, unsuccessfully, to get some good pictures, we finally got in the car and cruised over to Jumpstreet and let all these kids jump their brains out for two hours.

Then back to grandma and grandpa Stock's for cake and ice cream!  Trenton requested rainbow chip cake this year.  This was the first time in several years he didn't choose cheesecake.

Singing the birthday song.  The birthday song in the Stock family is truly a thing to behold.  It seems to bring out the opera in all the men.

You'd think we had put some trick candles on their cake or something.  Those things just didn't want to go out!

 "What the heck?!"

 It's funny how much these two look alike.  And they're both some of the skinniest dudes I know.  

 I'm glad we were still in Colorado for their birthdays because who knows when they'll get to celebrate it together again.

Happy birthday you crazy dudes!

More May Happenings

May is always such a busy month for us between birthdays, end of school year events, holidays, and the extras that always seem to happen.

Like having to take a saxophone to an instrument shop for repairs.  And the lovely man at the shop sent these two home with kazoos.  Oh boy.  That was a long forty minute drive home.

The sax was fixed just in time for Trenton's eighth grade band concert.  It. Was. Awesome.  The band teacher at Fox Ridge Middle School is amazing!

 Colson had his last 6th grade band concert that night as well.  It's amazing to hear the difference in their playing from the beginning of the year to the end.  They were amazing!  

Best little buddies.  I love how they are holding hands in this picture.  We sure miss living across the street from the Lee family!

Someone is a monkey!  She figured out how to get out of her high chair buckle, and that brought on a whole new set of safety issues.  As if we didn't already have enough to worry about with this girl and safety!

All winter long, this tractor was parked in the parking lot of the apartment complex we lived at, and being that Preston still loves tractors, he would frequently ask me to take a picture of him with it.  This boy would really like to have a tractor of his own someday.  I honestly won't be surprised if he becomes a farmer just so he can drive a tractor every day.

Guess who made another mess?!  She is so fast!  It takes her no time flat to make these kinds of messes.  And she usually does it while I'm busy and distracted cleaning up a previous mess she has made.  I am writing this months after this picture was taken, and I can honestly say not a whole lot has changed.  It is so exhausting, but I would much rather have messes to clean up than not have this cute girl.  I love her, messes and all!

Another move.  This time across the country!  The nice thing about this one is we didn't have to pack anything up or load the truck.  The only thing we ended up packing were the suitcases full of clothes we needed while we stayed with Trent's parents for a few weeks until the kids were done with school.

Vivian and I went to the "Women in Leadership" night that Mr. Kennedy helps put together every year.  These are just some of the friends from her class.  They were all so upset that Vivi was going to be moving so far away!  On more than one occasion they begged me not to take her.

Guys night out!  Trent's friends were so nice to take him out for some fun and food.

With all the changes, Lou had a hard time sleeping the first couple of nights at grandma and grandpa's.  "Shaun the Sheep" was the only way I got some sleep those nights.  Whoever dreamed up that show is one of my favorite people ever.  That show is what has made it possible for me to take showers, sleep, get a few loads of laundry done (okay, more than a few), and even get through the grocery store on several occasions without a major melt down.  To sum it up, this show has been my saving grace!  While she is finally branching out and watching other shows, for months she was faithful to only "Shaun the Sheep".  She still loves it though and comes back to it time and time again.  And who can blame her?  It is the funniest show around!  

Another airport goodbye.  As I look back, I wonder how I made it through everything going on during that time with this guy gone 5-6 days a week.  I'm so glad we don't have to do that any more!

This was a bit of exciting news.  The rain stopped long enough (it rained all Spring and Summer long here in Atlanta!) for them to be able prep for the foundation.  Yay!  One milestone down in the whole long process.

My girl and I, hanging out with all the kiddos at the park.  I've said it thousands of times, but I really don't know what I would do without this girl of mine!  Love her to bits!

Something inside me must have known I wouldn't get to see a sunset for months because I have a lot of sunset pictures from the months before we moved.  

 My Buds and I.  He was insistent that I wear this princess crown and that we have a picture together with it on.  Just looking at him with that smile, and the glasses… Melts my heart like butter it does!

Colorado

 I was scrolling through my photos the other day and found these lovelies.  There is nothing like a Colorado sunset!

 I took these just a few short weeks before we moved.  I'm so glad I did!  We don't see many sunsets here in Atlanta.  The foliage is so thick, you can't see much around it.  It's absolutely beautiful here in Georgia, just a different kind of beautiful.  

 Sunsets are one of the things I miss so much about Colorado.  I actually got a little teary when I saw these the other day, but then told myself to get it together.  Then later I had an internal struggle with the whole missing beautiful Colorado and family and friends, and decided to let myself have a good cry and get it all out.  I love it here in Atlanta, but there are some days I feel so incredibly homesick I don't even know what to do with myself!

 So until I can get back to Colorado and enjoy some more of these beautiful sunsets, I'll just have to enjoy these pictures for now.

Priesthood Ordination for Batman

Look at this boy.  Isn't he so handsome with his hair all nice and combed?  Just for the record, he hates his hair combed this way, but he was a good sport and let his mom have her way on this one Sunday.  It was a special day, so his momma wanted him to look sharp.  

In our church, twelve is a special birthday.  For the boys it means that they get to receive the Aaronic Priesthood.  A couple of weeks after Colson turned twelve, he had the Aaronic Priesthood conferred upon him, and was ordained to the office of Deacon.

Funny story about Colson's special day… Before the ordination took place, Colson had an interview with our bishop.  After the interview, our bishop asked Colson what name he would like to be called by when he would call him up to the pulpit in sacrament meeting.  Without missing a beat, Colson replied, "Batman".

Batman?

What the bishop meant was if Colson had a nickname he would rather be called by.  The only nickname he has ever really had, besides Bubba when he was a baby, was the nickname Ownie, given to Colson by his little sister, Vivian, when she was just learning to talk.  We have never called him Batman though, so I'm not quite sure where that came from.  Colson is always full of surprises! :D

So the bishop didn't end up calling him "Batman", but while he waited for Colson to walk up to the pulpit, he did tell the Batman story to the congregation.  After that, Colson did have the nickname of Batman.  For the rest of church anyway.  That boy cracks me up!

After church, my mom and brother and Trent’s mom and dad met us at our bishop’s office, where Trent ordained Colson to the priesthood. It was such a special moment. Colson was all smiles. We love him so much and are so grateful for the wonderful young man he has become.   

Kindergarten Program

I absolutely love the end of year Kindergarten program!  It is the cutest thing ever.  And these pictures are the only thing I have to show for it.  I thought I was videoing the whole time, only to find out at the end that my phone was still set to camera and not video.  I still feel sick about it!  But at least I have these pictures of my darling boy.

 I don't remember all of the songs they sang, but I do remember getting teary thinking of how much my sweet boy had grown over the course of the year.  Oh boy, it was all I could do to not bawl like a baby!  I have a way harder time when my kids finish Kindergarten than when they start.

Preston and Mrs. Winkler.  She is the most wonderful Kindergarten teacher ever!

Mother's Day Fun

We celebrated Mother's Day a day early this year since Trent had to leave for the airport at noon on the actual day.  We got together with the grandparents and uncles for a BBQ at mom and dad Stock's.  After some yummy food, we walked up to the park for some outdoor fun.  Pre warning, I went a little overboard on the picture taking.  I think I wanted to get as many pics as possible since I knew we wouldn't have very many family get togethers once we moved.  Anyway, here are some of my favorites.

It looks like gramps is trying to teach Colson how to fly!

These guys and their Cokes.

Swing wars!

Our little hissy-fit baby. ;)  Her daddy was only trying to keep her from falling and breaking her neck.  I know, so mean!

We can't help but make fun of her a little bit when she gets going.  Such good parenting, I know.  We gotta get our kicks in when we can!

I love this man, fat face pose and all.

All the mommas.

Throwing rocks.

I love the bluer than blue Colorado sky.  But not as much as I love this kid!

Buds, mastering the monkey bars.

These two are best friends.  Jillian thinks grandma Guercio is her own personal person.

Buds and grampy tossing the ball back and forth.

Trent tried his darnedest to get Dustin to smile for the camera.  All to no avail.

They're still friends.  ;)  I see a photobomber!  That Trenton is one sneaky dude.

Oh boy, I love this girl!

Best buddies.  Colson is ever so good to his little sis.

Trenton, trying his hardest to outweigh Dustin on the teeter totter.  Not going to happen bud!

And this girl.  Get her in a swing, and life is oh, so good.

Look at that smile!  She gets really, really giggly in the swing.  Oh how I love that laugh of hers.  Best. Sound. Ever!!!  I wish I could bottle it.

Lovebirds.

Gramps, always a kid at heart.  But that's why he's so much fun!

Finally, Dustin is more evenly matched.  :)

More tears.  She was so disappointed to be leaving the playground after only getting to play for almost two hours.  Why are her parents so mean?! ;)

I am so grateful for the many wonderful times we were able to spend all together as a family while we lived in Colorado.  I can definitely say that we don't have any regrets that way.  All of us were able, and always willing, to take time for each other and make memories together.