Patterson Family 1st Annual Camping/Wood gathering trip

Or we went up to the mountains, worked hard and had a lot of fun. While on this trip we learned that Conner really REALLY hates sleeping in tents (the nice people camping down the way from us learned this fact as well);

the next Harry Potter is named Wyatt (he walked around with his "wand" yelling Ridiculous just about the entire time;
little boys with cool new gloves will only haul wood for approximately 1 minute and then say one of the following: I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm bored;
a mom should not freak out about a spider crawling on her shoulder and drop the piece of wood she's holding on her child's head;
dad's get up in the early cold morning to start a fire to keep the rest of us warm when we crawl out of bed around 8 or 9 in the morning;

and that God has created such a beautiful world for us to enjoy. I am so grateful that we live in a place where we can enjoy the sun shining through trees, lighting an entire meadow in the early evening, deer wandering, elk grazing, bears staying out of our way, and meeting wonderfully nice people who come to check on us as the stars begin to twinkle and the last glimmer of sun sets over the hill.

My Little Helpers

My boys in training to be: a) great missionaries; b) responsible college students; c) wonderful husbands
It only took me about two hours to finish the dishes, clean up the swamp on the floor, and find dry clothing for the boys and myself but it sure was fun!

Lazy Days of School

This month Wyatt started preschool. He is in a class with five other kids and goes twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He has been anxiously awaiting the day that he too could attend school and so I thought the first day he would jump out of bed and be too excited to eat. However I went in to wake him up and he told me " I just need two more minutes, it's too early" even after I told him it was his day to go to school. Once he crawled out of bed though the excitement kicked in and he kept going over all the things he would learn at his new school. When we put his backpack on he headed for the door to catch the bus and once again I had to explain that he wouldn't ride the bus until Kindergarten. His reply? That's okay mom, you can drive me for now. But when I go to Kindergarten you drive me in the morning and I'll ride the bus home, okay? He has learned so much in just the two weeks we've been going and I'm grateful for the wonderful ladies who are helping my child learn.

Now for the true mommy moment (I haven't even told Brad this!): on the way to school that morning I was thinking WOW! I can't believe my little boy is in preschool which opened the floodgate of memories and I saw my tiny baby who has grown up too quickly (see photo below). Then I started thinking that in such a short time he'll be in Kindergarten and SHAZAM! the tears began and I sniffed all the way to the school. (I'll be honest, I'm teary now just writing about it!) My baby Wyatt 4 days old the day we came home from the hospital.

Saying Goodbye

My brother and his wife relocated to New Zealand in August for a year. Before they left we met them at my sister's house and had a chance to say goodbye. We took a moment for a photo op so Wy would have a picture to remember Uncle Jared and Aunt Brandi. Aunt Brandi, Kyle, Wy, Uncle Jared, Nathan

Post Sunday Drive

The fight begins: Dad buttering popcorn, child trying to eat popcorn.

Sunday Drive

Sunday drive around Red Cloud Loop

Brad's new toy

With all the mysteries in life that I just can't figure out there is just one that really, really gets my mind spinning. The mystery? Why it is that all of the things Brad just "needs" to purchase are so dang expensive ? I mean I know that this chainsaw is to benefit the entire family and has helped us cut enough wood to heat our house for the winter; I know it has brought great joy and excitement to my husband as he now has something else to monkey around with ; I know that it has a lasting potential but COME ON! One day I think I'll sell all of his toys at a yard sale and take that hard earned cash and buy something I really need: a day at the spa!

Look Mom! Look what we can do!

The sounds of giggling wafted from my bedroom one afternoon so I wandered back to herd the two little boys who know better than to play in daddy and mommy's room out of this designated no-children zone. Instead of finding them playing under the bed, in all of my books, or in Brad's shoes I couldn't find them but I could still hear them. So I moved towards the window and there they were playing in the cupboards under our bedroom window. Wy was so proud that he had taught Conner how to climb in and close the doors that I just couldn't be mad at them.

This brought back memories of packing up our house in Kuna for the big move to Utah. I was left to do all the packing as Brad was already here working and Wy was my 1 year old helper. While packing up our master bathroom Wy crawled in the cupboard under the sink and sat there. That was the first time he'd ever done anything like that and it was so cute!

Silent meditation

It isn't too often that we have quiet in our rowdy house. With two boys, well three boys actually, there is nonstop ruckus. However there are moments when I catch my boys sitting still and in what would appear to be silent reflection. I caught Wy sitting outside by his bike after he'd been riding for awhile and really had to fight the urge to ask him what he was thinking. Instead I snapped my photo and carefully shut the door so as not to interrupt.

Swimming Lessons

This year swimming lessons was an enjoyable endeavor, mainly because I wasn't 8 months pregnant and participating in the tot and mom swim class. Wy got to do this all on his own this time and did a great job. He put his face under water and swam, he jumped off the diving board, he drove his teacher crazy; now if we could just get him to float on his back! He was super excited to have his friend Kobe in the class with him and together they caused quite the stir.