Busy Summer

Cub Scout Camp.

Cub Country. Fort Cub Frontier.

First year they went to Cub Scout Camp together. 

Brigham City Temple.

Connor & Kim at Space Camp in Ogden.

Connor at Space Camp.  He loved it!

VanCott law firm summer party at the Utah Museum of Natural History.

Law firm party at Utah Museum of Natural History.

Another Fun Run Finished

The boys completed another Fun Run at Draper Elementary.  The school ended up raising $18,000 for PTA programs.  We are so proud of these two.  Running isn't really their thing, but they finish and always try their best!

First Day of School 2012-13

Today is the first day of school for Connor and Ian.  Connor is in third grade and Ian is in second grade.  They are both continuing the Chinese dual-immersion program at Draper Elementary.

New Teachers

The boys met their teachers at Meet the Teacher Hour today at Draper Elementary.  I love the excitement that's in our house right now.  The boys can't wait to start school on Monday and see all their friends.

Connor starts third grade and Ian starts second grade.

Days of '47 Parade Float Preview

Tonight for Family Home Evening we went to see the floats that will be in the Days of '47 Parade on July 24.  It's become a tradition for us and it's so fun to see them up close!

Keeping Cool at Cowabunga Bay

We spend every Friday at Cowabunga Bay water park in Draper.  We especially love going with our friends, the Longs.  Here is Connor chatting with Reagon and Rachel.  We are experiencing unusually hot temperatures this month and the water park seems to be one of the few places we can really enjoy the outdoors.,

Developing Their Talents

Last night was a fun night for our family.  We had two activities going on at the same time.  I went with Ian to his spring art show at Draper City Hall.  He has been taking a weekly art class through the Draper Arts Council.  He has such a talent for art and is so creative.

Kim went with Connor to his first swim team lessson.  Connor has joined the swim tree at the Treehouse Athletic Club. He will be swimming five days a week from now until August!  He claims he is "part fish" and loves to swim.  We hope this is something that will keep him active during the summer months!

Such Handsome Boys

The boys are growing up so fast and turning out to be such handsome boys. Ian wanted a suit jacket for his birthday coming up in a few weeks; we think it's because Connor got a suit for his baptism and he's feeling a little left out.

Karate Lessons

The boys had their introductory class today for karate from Master Lee. They start their lessons on Monday.

Annual Bowling Activity

Every year during Winter Recess, we go bowling. This is the first year I actually won -- even beat Kim. I have posted the scorecard as proof (not that my score is anything to brag about). It's a fun activity and we always have such a great time as a family. Recess is over tomorrow and the boys start back to school. It will be good to get back into the routine of school and work. Here's wishing for another happy and healthy new year ahead!

Winter Recess Fun

Today is our first day of Winter Recess. After running a few errands and going to Golden Spoon, we baked cookies to correspond with our family home evening lesson tonight.

Fun and Games

We had snow on the ground and nothing much to do today (a rare thing for a Saturday afternoon), so we decided to play JENGA -- Connor got it from one of his friends at his birthday party. The boys picked it up very quickly and I was the constant loser. I cherish these moments of fun -- something as simple as playing games with my three favorite guys!

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Two of the boys' favorite things in all the world are balloons and face painting. This week we went to the Days of '47 Parade preview at the Southtowne Expo Center. It's always fun to see the floats up close and vote for our favorites. Besides looking at all the floats, the boys got both of their favorite things. Here are their creations.

Cowabunga Bay

The boys have spent the past month "earning" their trip to Cowabunga Bay. It's a waterpark located right here in Draper. They have been asking to go the last couple of summers. Today was the day. Despite the 95 degree weather and our sunburns (even after three different sunscreen applications), we had a great time. We met Pepper and her three kids there and they showed Connor and Ian the ropes. It's really a fun place and the boys are at the perfect age to ride all nine of the waterslides.

Summer Swimming Lessons

The boys just finished two weeks of swimming lessons at The Treehouse. Their teacher was Abby. It's amazing how much progress they made and how much more confident they are in the water. We plan to take another round of lessons later next month.

Chinese Program: 字的演变

Today was Connor's first grade Chinese program -- "A Year in Chinese. " It was so great, and Connor did such a wonderful job. He has absolutely loved his teachers this year (Yung Smith, Chinese; and Debra Snow, English). We are so proud of him and all that he has learned this year. Ian will be in the Chinese program next year.

Happy Easter

We had a great Easter and hope all of you did too. Saturday was filled with two Easter egg hunts. Then on Sunday, Aunt Charlotte, Uncle David and cousins Blaine, Kyle and Erin spent the day with us.

Sweet's Candy Tour

Yesterday I took the boys and our neighbor, Reagan Long, to tour the Sweet's factory. Sweet's makes all kinds of candy that it ships throughout the world. They are best known for their salt water taffy. The kids really enjoyed it, especially wearing the hair nets, the free taste testing and shopping in the candy store. Afterward we surprised Kim and took him some of his favorite flavors of taffy. This week has been Spring Recess. The boys spring clean in the mornings and then we do something fun in the afternoons. They've been such good workers all week! We've had a great week!

Handsome Rogues

This is Connor and Ian in their 2011 Easter clothes. Thought I'd better take the picture early in case it snows on Easter Sunday (that seems to be the trend this Spring). They are such "handsome rogues" as the Coltons would say. They look so grown up all of a sudden!