Gag me with a .....

We are trying something new at our house: eating healthier dinners. Somehow I've got to get Ben to eat more than pizza, quesadillas, peanut butter sandwiches, cereal, toast and sometimes mac-n-cheese. Besides chips and candy, that is really ALL he will eat. He won't touch a vegetable unless you count ketchup and the closest thing he'll come to eating fruit is a juice box.

The rule is that he has to take two bites of dinner. If he doesn't like it I will make him something else. As it is the first week, I've been really careful about making things that he ought to like. He likes pizza and macaroni so a pasta with sauce dish should be ok, right? No way. The first night he totally gagged and spit out the pasta and chicken on the table. Every night has been the same amount of drama. He seriously won't even come to the table if I put a vegetable on his plate--even if the plate has sections and there is no possible way that either of the peas can touch his roll. Really.

Tonight I tried manicotti. He likes cheese. He likes non chunky pizza sauce in small amounts. He did eat the garlic bread (he really likes garlic-explain that to me). It took me about 30 minutes and some pretty serious threats just to get him to take the two tiny bites.



I am not sure how long this little experiment will last. It grosses me out just watching him try. Why can't he just eat something and like it?

The Eight Year Old

Turning eight is a big deal. Ben will be baptized next month and he gets to start Cub Scouts. Fortunately, his first den meeting was also on his birthday. He has been looking forward to this day for a long time. He even earned his Bobcat badge tonight and will get it at next week's pack meeting.
Ever since this, everyone wants a "layer" birthday cake. Unfortunately, I am out of the layer cake business. I made an easier, yummier cake instead. It still has layers, which is how I sold Ben on it, but the layers are chocolate cake, fudge, sprinkles (special request), chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, chocolate cake and frosting. I didn't invent it or anything and I am fully aware that it is less than stellar to look at, but dang, it's good...so, so good.
Here are Ben's answers to his 20 questions we answered on his special birthday Family Home Evening. I scanned it because I don't want to type it out but mostly because I want to remember his writing and bad spelling. (Speaking of awesome spelling, re-read Ben's birtday sign above..how I wish I could say Matt made it.) By the way, Matt got the most answers correct. Although Zack and I would tie him if we could/should get to count Apples to Apples for his favorite board game. We were right, he was wrong.

8th birthday treasure hunt

This is mostly for my mom's viewing. She is the queen of clever rhymes, and just cleverness in general. Here is my meager attempt. This morning we started celebrating Ben's birthday early. He's barely awake...
Instead of the usual stack of presents he went on a treasure hunt. First clue, on a pack of gum, Chew...choo..choo your way to your next clue... (clue hidden in the toy train stuff)
#2 On a package of Reeses peanut butter CUPS--When you are thirsty and need a drink go find your clue near the kitchen sink. (Clue in the cupboard with the cups...ah ha--credit goes to Matt for this one).
#3- For this next clue, do what I've said and go to the room that is red. (Ok, the room isn't really red, but we call it that because of the couches. )
#4 Now we're tired. Let's take a rest and maybe find a clue on a spare mattress. (Not my best rhyme).
#5 Wii like to play and have some fun. The controllers go here when Wii are done.
#6. I SAW a clue here. (No rhyme, just a play on words.)
#7 The birthday boy is turning eight with eight gifts to help him celebrate. The last one isn't far away, look in the place where Dad likes to play.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!!

Sand dunes & waterfalls

Is it strange that in all our trips to Idaho this is only the second time we've been here

with all this sand?

Climbing up is hard.

Jumping off is fun.

Next time Zack plans to bring a sled. And some drinks. And more energy.

See the Tetons?

While we were in the area, I decided to go to Mesa Falls. It haven't been since college and Matt questioned my ability to find it. It's not rocket science. There are signs. There also used to be a trail so you could get closer to the actual falls. From this lookout you can see them, just not very well. Lame. We probably should have driven to the upper falls. Zack was not happy about our view.

It was still worth the drive. We may not go back to the falls, but I'm pretty sure we'll hit the dunes more often.

Fulfilling the Dream

Zack likes combines. He's always liked them. A lot. But somehow we have never been able to make it up to visit Grandpa during harvest time. Instead, Zack has settled for playing with his combine toys, climbing in it in the shed or watching the home movie Grandma filmed for him.

Thanks to a late harvest over Labor Day weekend, he was finally able to take a ride on the buddy seat (which is much less bumpy than a back hoe seat),

and harvest the barley

and even watch it unload. Finally!!

Wow. And to really make a day of it he got to ride in this, (or at least be in it when Uncle Bruce backed it up a few feet).

He'd like to know why we don't use this when we go camping. It has a big bed.

Such a lucky boy.

Everything August

Alright, the rest of August, here we go....

Short arm cast:

No cast (dry skin & everything):

The end of this:

and this:

Who am I kidding? That will never be over. At least it's not all day...

First day of second and fifth grade:

Snowbird hill climb champion:

Kindergarten soccer:

Rain gutter regatta:

Winner: boat most likely to be eaten by a shark

First Rage game (& win):

First day of kindergarten:

(indulge me here, he's my baby)

I think that's it. At least that's all I have pictures for.

California Cousins

Every day I have plans to update the blog, but I just haven't been in a blogging mood. I'm still not, but I have nothing better to do so here goes. I am going to post all of August. How fun.

We hardly ever get to see Max, Abby, Charlie & Leanne. The kids were totally surprised when they showed up. We went crazy with activities. First up, was $2 Tuesday at Thanksgiving Point. It was really busy but still fun. We waited in a long line to get into the Dinosaur Museum. It's the perfect place for boys to visit.

Charlie refused to walk, but at least she's light and she says the funniest things.
We've never been to the gardens. I had no idea this water feature existed or I would have been better prepared. It was hot enough that the kids dried of quickly.


The beauty of the gardens was not lost on these two.

They all loved the mazes,

waterfalls,
and hanging out with Nana.

We were so worn out we didn't even attempt the farm. Later that night Matt & Leanne took the kids to the canyon for a cook out. Check out Noah's hair. This is precisely the reason he CANNOT have longish hair (unless he's going to create an 80's tribute band).
The next day we hiked to the Timp caves. I love this hike, it's so pretty. But it's also stressful with the little kids because they don't seem to worry about falling off steep cliffs. Abby and Zack led the whole way up.

This is a cave, just not THE cave.

This was the big news on the hike-a rattlesnake eating a chipmunk. Gross, yet strangely fascinating.

Water break.

At the top, I promise. The nice man who took our picture neglected to include the sign that says it. You'll have to take my word for it.

Inside the cave:

The long walk back. For some reason, going down seems to be more stressful and tiring than going up. On the last day we went downtown to walk on the moon,

to walk on Mars,

and to get soaked.

I just like this picture of Max and Ben. Even though we went a bunch of places, the best part of their visit was watching them have so much fun hanging out together.