Brandon is his name and talking is game...

Brandon has been saying some pretty funny things lately. There are still unfortunately times that he has a great story to tell and I can only understand half of it. Thank goodness for speech therapy so I can understand that much.

Here is just a sampling of why he makes us laugh so often.

Let's start with....
This kid knows he is funny and knows how to keep the laughs coming.

The other day he was getting frustrated with a toy that was not working and said "Why isn't this working? It is getting me insane!!"

When he was watching Dora today he asked me very annoyed like "Why do they keep telling me to do things all the time?" "I don't want to do anything.!"

His latest name he likes to call people is "eyeball." Why you say? I have no idea.

He has been trying very hard to learn the ABC's song. He can name almost every letter in the alphabet and write about 1/2 of the alphabet but for some reason he cannot get the song down. Here is what we end up hearing..."A,B,C,D,Q,S,T,W,X,Y and Z. Now I know my ABC's next time sing with me." Just for your information do not try to correct him or he will get very upset and stop singing altogether.

Yesterday I was in bed rolled over under the covers and he couldn't see me. He called my name and I rolled over to talk to him.
Brandon says : "Why are you not downstairs?"
I say: "Because I haven't gotten out of bed yet."
Brandon says "But why aren't you downstairs?"
I say: "Because I just woke up."
Brandon says as he stomps out of the room: "You just don't get it!"

I still don't get it.

Brandon is darling, handsome, funny, annoying at times, impatient, pouty, whiny, cute, sweet, and lovable. I don't know what my life would be without him.

Trip to Las Vegas Blvd.

The kids had a field trip to the Bodies Exhibit at the Luxor hotel a few weeks ago. The exhibit was amazing but honestly a bit creepy and weird at the same time. At first Jake was a little scared to go in when he heard it was "real" bodies that were used. After he finally went in, he and Emma thought it was neat. Brandon didn't really understand much and I even caught him covering his eyes a few times because he was scared. After the field trip we decided to look around the Luxor and check things out. We took a few pictures in front of some of the cool statues etc. in the Luxor.

We also walked over to the Excalibur and went down to the basement to play a few games and got totally ripped off. The cost to play the games vs. the possible prize you win is such a rip off. The kids had fun though so I guess that is what counts.

Of course we had to get a picture in front of SpongeBob.

That was our little mini-adventure to Las Vegas Blvd. Not too exciting but better than nothing. Maybe one day we will go again and check out some other places.

Cub Scout Blue and Gold Dinner

Jake joined the cub scouts when he turned 8 last year. He has not been able to attend any activites or any pack meetings because he has been busy with wrestling. However, he has been working on his Bobcat badge all this time. Jake was finally able to attend his first pack meeting because it was held on a Friday night. The pack meeting was the annual Blue and Gold dinner. The theme was "Happy Birthday". Each cubscout had to make a cake and decorate it to go along with the theme. Jake came up with his own design and I helped a little (I promise) in putting it together. We used 3 cakes mixes and 5 containers of frosting.

Here are a few pictures of the cake making process from start to finish.

Making the cake...

The cake before being frosted...Now the cake frosted....Finally the finished product....

The cake was suppose to look like all the cubscout badges a cubscout could get and also celebrate the Boyscouts 100th birthday. I think it turned out great. It was one of the biggest cakes there. Jake got the "biggest badges cake" award. After dinner the cubscouts and their families played a few carnival games and broke a pinata.

The hightlight of the evening was when Jake received his Bobcat badge. I also received a pin that looks like Jake's badge. It was really cool to have my "boy" receive his first of many cubscout/boyscout awards. We are all really proud of him.

This is a picture of Jake carrying the pack flag. It was his first time.

Jake and I showing off his bobcat badge and my new pin.

Way to go Jake!!

Quick trip to Utah. BRRRRR!!!!

We went to Utah the week of January 21-24th. We first stopped and visited with my dad and step mom. My sister in law and her 3 kids came down one night for a visit. The kids had fun playing in the snow, building snowmen, and going for a ride on the 4 wheeler with Grandpa Milo. We made chocolate snow and had a great time.

This is Brandon running away after he threw a "snowball" at Emma.

Emma and Jake's snowball fight in action.

Jake's miniature Snowman. He later made a Snowwoman but I did not go back out ot take another picture. It was way to cold by then.

These are the cousins. For some reason, Emma is not in the picture.

I did not even think to bring the kids hiking boots. I guess I didn't realize it was going to snow so much. So the next day when were there Grandpa Milo fixed Jake up with some "snowboots" Which was actually Jake's feet in his shoes in Grandpa Milo's boots. It worked great.
This is Grandpa Milo getting Jake already to play in the snow with his new "boots".

Jake and Grandpa Milo getting ready for a ride on the 4 wheeler. Jake was freezing when he got back and he wasn't even gone that long.

This is how you make CHOCOLATE SNOW.

1. Collect newly fallen CLEAN snow.

2. Put some in a bowl.

3. Add chocolate syrup or chocolate powder.

4. Mix well and eat.

5. Enjoy.

Tastes like a fudgesicle. YUMMY!

Obviously Brandon is enjoying his chocolate snow. Another satisfied customer.

The weather was freezing but we still had visiting with everyone. I plan on going back in the spring when all the snow is gone.

Brandon's first day in Primary

Brandon finally graduated from Nursery and is now in Primary. He was not to excited about the idea. He really loved going to Nursery. Once I convinced him to go to Primary he just sat on the front row and cried. I am in the Primary presidency so he just kept looking at me and crying with his huge tears running down his face. We made a deal that if he ever gets sad he can just wave at me to make himself feel better. This little trick only works if I am in the room or NOT conducting or teaching sharing time. One time when I was teaching sharing time he just kept saying "mom, mom, mom," louder and louder. Last week after I was done teaching I walked by his chair and he said "I kept waving at you but you didn't wave back." So cute. He is really fun to have in primary with me. I can't believe he will be 4 this year.

Isn't he so handsome?

Kellie DeMille had her baby!!!

I am happy to report Kellie had a baby girl on February 1st at 12:59 pm. The baby weighed 9 lbs 6oz. and was 20 inches long. Her name is HAYDEN GRACE and according to Kellie has the same darling cheeks that Taylor has. Kellie will be home on Wednesday.

BTW...I am blogging this for Kellie until she can get home and do it herself. Apparently Jason has not called anyone else to tell them the good news so we are spreading it this way.

January...

Ok I am so sick of seeing my Christmas post that I just had to post something else pictures or not. The month of January turned out to be a fairly busy one I guess. Busy enough that I did not have time or find time to download (or is it upload) pictures and write a post or two.
So here is the lowdown on the Summers' family happenings in January.

Emma officially started home school. So now both she and Jake are home with me and we all love it. We are having a great time with all of our adventures, new things we are learning, and our extra free time. I do have to run them to the school 2x a week for G.A.T.E. and a 3rd time for Emma to go to choir. We also went to the Bodies Exhibit for a field trip last week, which was gross but intersting.
Also, Brandon goes to a playgroup 2x a week and speech 2x a week so I feel a bit like a taxi but that is fine with me.

I was also busy planning the Primary quarterly activity. It turned out great and I think everyone had a good time getting to know their teachers and classmates.

Matt had his 35th birthday. We celebrated with his family in Utah.
The next day Jake had a wrestling tournament in Richfield, Ut. We spent most of the day at the tournament and some with Matt's family. The kids and I went up to Utah a few days before the
tournament and spent some time with my dad and step-mom. It snowed while we were there and the kids had fun playing in the snow while I sat inside drinking hot chocolate. We also made chocolate snow and it was awesome. This I took pictures of so I will explain it later.

I had my first mammogram. This I did not take pictures of...you are welcome. It was just a routine exam but a weird experience indeed.

Brandon got strep throat last week but got a shot of penicillin so he got better fast. Thank goodness.

That pretty much sums up what I have been up to in January. I know it may not sound like much but it was enough to keep me busy. Even as I speak my kids are calling for me needing something ASAP. I love my life....really I do.