Help Wanted:

Nanny, friend, and shopping buddy needed.

Description: Looking for someone who is willing to feed, bathe, dote on and put my boys to bed. Joins me Wednesday nights while our husbands are at church meetings. Packs the swim bag, water bottles, treats and insists we are going swimming. Unloads the dishwasher. Shares good finds, ideas, and sales. Argues with my husband. Babysits on the spur of the moment. Always up for a trip to Target. Stays through dinner. Isn't afraid to tag along to activities with our friends and ward. Will train.

Preferable: No kids of your own and no other job.

Official Start date: 8/9

Why can't he wish for a sno cone?

As we were driving across town tonight I heard Bentley in the back, "I just wish I had my own iPhone."  And "Mom, I want an iPhone."

It continued for a little while before I joined with a "Me too."

I thought that would end the wish, but then he said, "Hey, I've got an idea! How about in the morning--Thursday morning we go to the store and we get you an iPhone and me an iPhone."

Not only is that probably not going to happen, but it is flat out not happening.

Science Camp

I decided to do a little science camp for Bentley this summer to fill in some of the void left by Joy School ending. We invited some friends to join in on the fun too! Chod was very jealous that we had it while he was at work, but managed to be our guest speaker for a couple of days.
 

What we learned::

  Day 1: Buoyancy. We played sink or float and played with ice cubes

  Day 2: Color. We mixed red, blue, and yellow combinations and painted.
  Day 3: Physics. We learned about gravity and friction and static.
  Day 4: Body. We listened to our heart beat, learned about germs and the 5 senses.
  Day 5: Science in the Kitchen. Made volcanoes, Diet Coke fountain, corn starch goop, and pizzas.

Stephens Reunion: In It to Win It

Bentley has been looking forward to this weekend for a long time--our annual family reunion at Bear Lake. He's been dying to get to a beach and the cousins, grandparents, and staying in a cabin only add to the excitement.

Our weekend was full. We visited Minnetonka Caves, saw Bandito Rides Again at Pickleville, ate at LaBeau's, went geo caching, watched old home movies, spent an afternoon at the beach, played Minute to Win It, and celebrated Dallin's birthday. We ended with an auction using the Larry Loot we earned playing games!

We can't wait to do it again!

Grandma's Camp: Year 2

Bentley spent the weekend at Grandma Camp and came back as a pirate! He had so much fun hanging out with his cousins (Well Hudson at least. I hear he punched Dalanie and they're still not friends.) and Grandma and Grandpa. Before he left I told him #1 No having fun at Grandma Camp and #2 No laughing at Papa. He assures me he had fun and he laughed at Papa. Every morning they got a new treasure map that led them to a new treasure to play with. Grandpa captained the ship to Pirates Cove where they caught polliwogs. Dalanie walked the plank and fell in! It was everything he dreamed it would be.

Grandma sure knows how to wear a boy out. Bentley says she wouldn't let them sleep, she insists that isn't true of course. He crashed on the way home and has been all talk of pirates since waking. Tonight for FHE he taught the grown ups how to dress like pirates.

And next year (if he's potty trained) Lincoln gets to join in the fun! If that isn't incentive enough, I don't know what is!

Can't stay away

There's an addiction Chod can't quite kick. Every year after he finishes the race he's trained for (1/2 marathon, marathon, Ragnar) he swears he will never run again.

So, Thursday morning while he was laying in bed he announced that he and running were divorced. I was a little skeptical--I've heard it all before.

As he was putting on his running clothes later that same night I reminded him that they were divorced.

"I think we might just be separated. I'm going to go see if we can work things out."

He says they still have somethings to work through and isn't sure they will really stay together. But all his talk of "next year" leaves me believing they'll work it out.

Running is a hard mistress to leave.

Like Father Like Son

Bentley is doing a speech clinic for a couple weeks this summer to help with his S and L's. I didn't imagine it would be pain free, but I did expect it to be a little better than it has.

On the first day he refused to look at the therapist and buried his head in me. He later told Chod, "I don't do things I don't want to do." And he didn't.

On day two he looked and talked, but unfortunately he answered "Lincoln" to everything.

"What do you wear to bed?"  Lincoln
"What do you brush your teeth with?"   Lincoln
"What do you put on your toothbursh?"  Lincoln
"What do you like to eat for breakfast?"  Lincoln....get the idea?

On the way home I asked why he answered like that. "Um, I just thought it was funny!"

His speech may not improve, but the opportunity to discuss doing things not because you want to, but because you should and being the class clown have definitely been touched on.

Time to Pass

Normally, I would say I'm on top of things. Without reminders I could return library books on time, buy a new gallon of milk before we ran out, get bills paid on time, keep appointments straight, and remember birthdays. I kind of prided myself in not dropping the ball. But lately that has all changed, and I can barely keep my head above water. Really.

• Forgot to pick up Bountiful Baskets last Saturday. I had ordered 3.
• Have paid $2.60 in late fees at the library. That's a lot for me.
• While heading to the temple on our anniversary (July 1) Chod pointed out that our recommends expired on June 30th.
• Went to buy more ink, only to find my Staples Rewards expired the day before.
• New nephew was born a month ago, and I still haven't mailed his gift. I started it months before he was due.
• Slept through my alarm for 1 hour...well only 57 minutes. Set for 5:20, woke up at 6:17 and it was still going off.
• Takes me weeks--months even to get thank you cards written. Getting them delivered is another story.
• Check protection kicked in because we were $.16 short in our checking account. I should have just transferred the money. 16 cents!
• Forget to return phone calls.
• Lost an envelope holding almost $900--made up of checks + cash. Still haven't found it.

Moral of the story: Don't trust me with the ball. Or your money.

Only Boys Ride Horses

Bentley joined in on the Stephens Boy Horse Ride yesterday. We almost didn't go because Friday he was running a fever, but knew that if he woke up feeling better Saturday morning he would be so mad. So we went. He has been so excited for the ride all week. As long as we kept ibuprofen in him, he seemed fine and lasted the entire horse ride.

 
It wasn't a very long ride, but with 4 boys who had never ridden before it was just perfect. They rode in Harriman State Park. Chod says next time they won't be sharing a horse, because Bentley is a saddle hog. He was all decked out in his boots and spurs and Wrangler shirt.

 

 
He had fun with his cousin-friends and his Grandpa Stephens. He insists that out of all the horses his was the fastest.

5 + 1 = 6

CS + NP = True Love Forever

Happy Anniversary Chod!