This Boy

 Trenton had his last track meet tonight.  Yea!  So to celebrate, (or more so I didn't have to cook) we went to Taco Bell for dinner.  Can I just tell you, Preston and Taco Bell don't mix.  I'm never going back, unless we go through the drive through.  As I've mentioned before on this blog, several times in fact, Preston is a busy bee.  He has a hard time sitting still.  So less than 10 minutes into our dining experience, he managed to lock himself in the bathroom.  What's the big deal, you say?  Well, there was no key hole or anything to be able to unlock it from the outside.  Let me ask you, who makes a lock like that?!  After several minutes of trying to calm him down enough to at least have him try again to unlock the door, to no avail, I went up to the front and explained that my little boy had locked himself in the bathroom, couldn't unlock the door, and was there any way they could help me get him out?  The Taco Bell employees all looked at me dumbfounded.  You see, there is no key for that bathroom door.  I went back to the door to hear the weeping and wailing of my youngest son, thinking we were going to have to call the fire department to come and break the door down.  (Luckily there is a fire department right across the street from the Taco Bell.)  But one of the employees somehow managed to pop the lock open, with his belt no less, and my little boy was saved!  

He must have learned his lesson to not run off and lock himself in bathrooms because he stayed on the bench after that.  His lesson learning was not over yet though.  I guess he still had another lesson to learn, and that is called, "Do not use the top of the Taco Bell benches as a balance beam, or you will get injured" lesson.  You see, Preston goes to a gymnastics class once a week, (which I'm starting to wonder if it has been more beneficial or harmful?) and he thinks that everything has been made for him to jump, balance, climb, or do flips from.  Hence the bench becoming a balance beam.  So, yes, he ended up falling.  I managed to just barely grab his arm before he went crashing to the floor, but my grabbing his arm ended up swinging him around into the bench, mouth first.  It totally bent one of his front teeth back, and he has a huge sore on his gum just above the tooth.  It doesn't look pretty.  I think we'll be calling the dentist in the morning.  But I think he did learn his lesson because he sat on mama's lap the rest of the time we were there (which wasn't long btw. I couldn't take any more lessons).

Braces Boy!

Last week, I took Colson in to the orthodontist.  His dentist recommended that I take him 6 months ago, but, being the procrastinator that I am (although not nearly as much as I used to be), I just recently made an appointment for him.  So we went in for a consultation last Tues...

and today he came home with braces!  He has been anxiously awaiting this day!  Seriously.  I thought he was going to explode, he was so excited when he found out that he not only was going to get braces, but that he was going to get them so quickly.  When Trenton got home from school this afternoon, Colson could hardly wait to show him.  He told Trenton, "Just call me Braces Boy!"  Hopefully he'll keep his enthusiasm through the whole treatment!  ;)

Cute as a Button, Even Though

This boy has a bit of a screaming problem.  If anything bothers him, he screams.  If he gets frustrated, he screams.  If he's mad, he screams.  You get the picture.  Well, on Friday, I was busily going about my day.  I happened to look at the clock and noticed it was a little bit after noon.  Then it occurred to me.  I hadn't heard Preston scream once all day!  As the afternoon wore on, I kept listening for it.  I was sure that at any moment he would find something to scream about.  He lasted until just after 4:00.  Which, by-the-way, is just after his two older brothers get home from school.  Think there is any correlation between the two?  I am curious to see as the weeks of school wear on.

First Days of School

Each one of my 4 kids started school on a different day this year.

Colson started 4th grade on Aug. 16.  He was so excited to go back to school!  He is such a social kid.

 Preston started preschool at Miss Jen's Joy School on Aug. 17.  He has been waiting all summer to start school!

He gets to go to school with this cute bunch of kids.  And I get to go every Tues. and help in his class.  They are seriously so cute!

Vivi started school on Aug. 18.  Her first day of Kindergarten!  Her teacher's name is Mrs. Winkler.  The first week, Vivi had a hard time remembering her teacher's name, and kept calling her either Mrs. Twinkles, or Mrs. Winkles.  Too cute!

Trenton's first day was Aug. 23.  He started Middle School this year!  He is loving it so far.  When I asked him if he wanted me to drive him to and from school, or if he would rather ride the bus, he chose the bus.  He's getting so big!  And I'm feeling so old!  Shouldn't I still be 24?  And not old enough to have a child in Middle School?  Such is life.

And this is the first time in I don't know how many semesters that Trent didn't have a first day because he's done! Done! Done! DONE!

After 13 years of taking lots of classes, a few Major changes, and more classes, he has finally finished!

We got all of the family together and went to celebrate at a new restaurant downtown, Japoix.  (Pronounced Ja-pwah)  Super yummy food and amazingly beautiful atmosphere!  (I highly recommend it!)  Colson took one glance at the menu and knew immediately what he wanted... Frog legs and Le Duck.  I kid you not!  That's a frog leg he's eating there.  This kid is definitely adventurous and not afraid to try anything when it comes to food.

We are so excited that Trent has finished school, and that we can move on from that phase of our lives.  Next up, MBA. Way to go babe!  Thanks for working so hard to get it done!

Well, we are excited that a new school year has begun, and we can't wait to see how the kids learn and grow throughout the coming year!

Cousin Trip 2010 Contd.

After several days of fun here around town, Janet and Steve took the girls down to Colorado Springs for a few days.

 They had lots of fun at the North Pole,

and rode lots of rides.

They saw many different animals at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Vivi's favorite was the Hippos.  She was still talking a week later about how well she could see them.  She just couldn't believe how clear the water was!

They went and saw the Will Rogers shrine.

They hiked around Garden of the Gods,

had their faces painted,

scootered,

went horseback riding,

and just had an all around good time with their grandma and grandpa Stock!  Thanks Janet and Steve for being such fun grandparents!

Cousin Trip 2010

The last several summers, Trent's parents have taken two grandchildren at a time for a fun little trip.  Trenton and Tristy had their turn two summers ago, and Colson and Trey went last summer, so this year was Vivi and Taryn's turn.  Vivi was ecstatic!  She LOVES her cousin Taryn.  With the cousins living in Texas, we don't get to see them a whole lot, but when we do see them, Vivi and Taryn have the best time together!

They started their trip with a little visit to Build-a-Bear.  They of course got matching bears.

They took a drive over to the temple.  The girls wanted to see where their parents had been married.

They played at the park,

had some pool time,

went to the zoo,

had pedicures,

and manicures,

danced their pants off at a concert,

and played in the fountains.  And all of this was before the the real trip even started!  Spoiled girls, I tell ya!  But that's what grandparents are for, right?  More on the rest of the trip later.

County Fair

The county fair was here a couple of weekends ago, and since the fairgrounds are right behind our neighborhood, we thought we'd make a Saturday of it.

The first thing Trent noticed as we walked in the gates was the Mutton Bustin', and of course he signed Preston right up.  Preston was all for it, until he saw what it actually involved.  They went to put a vest and helmet on him, and he kind of freaked out.  I won't lie to you... After seeing some of the falls the other kids had taken, I was secretly glad that Preston lost his nerve.  Trent, on the other hand, was totally crestfallen.  He was looking so forward to seeing his kid take a digger off the back of a sheep.

So, we moved on to something a little safer instead... The Merry-Go-Round.

You can never go wrong with the Merry-Go-Round.

We made a little mistake on the next ride though.  I didn't take into account Trenton's motion sickness and the effect that all of the spinning would have on him.  Needless to say, after the ride was over, he was looking a little green for the next half hour or so.  I was the one who had the luxury of sitting next to him, and I must admit, I was a little worried I was going to walk off the ride wearing his lunch.

If I never see this ride again it will be all too soon.  I used to be a huge fan of roller coasters.  I loved them!!!  Especially the ones that would flip you upside down.  I don't know what has happened to me over the years, but I found out at the fair that I don't much like them anymore.  Especially the ones that flip you upside down.  All I know is that when we were suspended upside down, my harness didn't feel as snug as I would have liked it to, and I was sure that at any moment it was going to flip open, and there I would be, plummeting to my death!  I haven't been that scared in a long time.  All I could see was my children without a mother and my hubby without a wife.  I know.  I am totally over dramatizing, but those are the thoughts that were going through my head on this ride.  So we moved on to another safe ride.  The Ferris wheel.  Did you know that the first Ferris wheel was built for The Chicago World's Fair in 1893?  I found that out when I read "Devil in the White City" several years ago.

They had a fun little kid section full of rides for just the little ones.

Preston loved all of the rides that were just his size.  The best part is that there were no lines.  He just went from one ride to the next without any waiting.  Loved it.

We couldn't go home without a funnel cake.  Yummo!
As we were getting ready to leave, Preston said to me, "Mom, I'm ready to ride the sheep!"  Of course.  Thank heavens the Mutton Bustin' was over for the night, or Trent probably would have signed him up again!

Golden State Park... It Exists!!!

We took a little drive up to Golden State Park a few weeks ago, which by-the-way,  my brother (who has lived in Golden the last 2 years) swore did not exist.  I kept telling him that I knew it did because I had been there before.  But my brother, who is always right (at least he thinks so) just would not believe me.  Well, of course it does exist, and I have pictures for proof! ;) 

But don't worry.  My brother's ego was not to be deflated.  He is certain he is still right because I told him it was Golden State Park, and the sign says Golden Gate Canyon State Park.  (A minor technicality, I say. ;)  Anyway, we spent a day picnicking and hiking around.

Steve had some fun showing the kids how to knock down trees.  They were making quite a racket!

Trent found a nice walking stick along the way.

We saw some beautiful flowers.

All in all, a wonderful day in Golden State Park!  ;o)

Milestones and Celebrations!

We are still alive here at the Stock home.  Things have just been unbelievably crazy and busy lately!

This boy had his fifth grade commencement and is moving on to the 6th grade!  What the?!?!  When did that happen?!

He also had his Hip Hop recital.  He did an amazing job!  A little posing with his Hip Hop teacher, Brock.

He also started mowing the lawn on his own this summer.  YAY!!!

This boy had his Hip Hop recital too!  It was awesome!

This girl had her ballet/tap recital.  She did so good!  We love her dance teacher, Miss Heather.

She also was able to experience her first visit to the new American Girl store.  Yeah, she loved it!

Cousins Mya and Peyton got to come too.  The girls had so much fun!  (Including the grandmas and mom. ;)

She also learned to ride her bike like a champ!  Way to go Viv!

Grandma Chapman came for a visit, and we got to celebrate her birthday with her.

We got to spend some time down at the reservoir with the cousins.

While there, Preston discovered some goggles in grandma's swim bag.  He loved them!  Although I'm not quite sure why... The way they squeezed his ears looked downright painful!

This man of mine celebrated his 35th b-day!  He also got a promotion to Regional Manager.  Way to go babe!

This boy here...

Snuck off with the camera...

Again.  Apparently he likes the self portraits.

And this gal here has gotten to be a part of all of the above.  She has enjoyed being able to spend so much fun, quality time with her loved ones.