Huckleberries and a hike

Things are going well here in Oremland. We picked tons of tomatoes this week and need to make them into salsa or tomato sauce (feel free to come get some if you need any). We also have zucchini and yellow squash overtaking our property (That much less lawn that needs to be mowed). Christian is growing like a weed and eats like starving grizzly. He's starting to smile a little more, but has a good knack for stopping when the camera comes out. School, work, preschool, primary, and the rest of life is keeping us happily hopping.

This morning we had crepes with huckleberry sauce. Clara (our little bear cub) would eat all of the huckleberries off of her crepe and then ask for more without eating the crepe. We made her eat the crepe before having more, which she did promptly. It was a great feast.

Yesterday we went on a hike up to Battle Creek Falls in Pleasant Grove with Aunt Mel. It was a perfect length (about 3/4 of a mile). The best part was the feast of popcorn, apples, and gummy worms once we got there. Clara stomped around the entire creek, but Nathan was scared of the cold water. It was very refreshing.

We went to Foothill Elementary's Fall Festival. David got to be in the dunk tank. Nathan had first dibs on dunking him. Luckily the water was pretty warm. The wind did make it a little cold after being dunked. Nathan and Clara enjoyed the air pressure rocket launcher. Nathan was talking about it for the next two days and had figured out how to build one. He even designed it on a piece of paper. We might have to build one (birthdays are coming up!).

preschool and potty training

Grandma and Grandpa Boren visited last week for a couple days. Nathan got to spend a day with Grandpa, Daddy, and Uncle Stephen, building the set for Aunt Mel's upcoming play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," at Lehi Jr. High. Grandpa also brought his chainsaw and cut down the diseased tree next to our garage. We loved having Grandma and Grandpa visit, and were sad that we couldn't find an excuse to get them to stay longer! That's how it is when you have to share your wonderful in-laws with 6 other siblings.

Nathan started preschool this week. He is teary-eyed and dramatic when I drop him off, as if we're saying goodbye forever. "Goodbye Mom"...chin quivers..."I love you"...sniffle..."Good bye"...waves as he slowly backs away..."Goodbyyyeee." It could break a person's heart, but he comes running with a big smile on his face when I pick him up. He insists that he doesn't like preschool at all, but I think it's just because he's worried that he's missing all the "fun" with me and the other kids while he's gone.

Clara has been resistant to potty-training for the past several months, but suddenly this week, she has decided that she wants to be done with diapers. She's been practically accident-free for several days now. Hooray!!! David and I have had almost nothing to do with it. She has potty-trained herself. (And for those of you who know Clara, you understand why it wouldn't work any other way!)

Swimming at Aunt Mel's pool

Set-building at Aunt Mel's school

Christian smiles for the camera

Timber!!

Woofies Dog Food is the Best!

Nathan and Clara are back home after spending the past week at Aunt Jessica and Uncle Brian's house in Logan. They had a blast playing with cousins. We missed them, but it was nice to have some time to rest and settle in a little better with Christian. Aunt Jessica has guaranteed herself a place in heaven for taking care of 6 children under the age of 8 for 7 days.
Babies are so cute during bathtime! It's especially fun when they are small enough to fit in the kitchen sink. I like not having to lean halfway into the bathtub. Christian loves getting his hair washed. (Well, I guess he likes getting his head washed, since he is pretty much bald.)
David's family will appreciate this movie clip. David has been reading Beverly Cleary's "Henry Huggins" books to Nathan and Clara. Nathan seems to identify with Henry, a boy who is pretty well-behaved, but is always getting into trouble that is really not his fault. We've all been reciting the "Woofies Dog Food" poem from "Henry and Ribsy."

Nathan or Christian

One of these pictures is of Nathan as a baby and one is of Christian. Which picture is of which little man? Look at the picture below for a hint.


Christian is still trying to figure out that he is supposed to sleep during the night and stay awake during the day. Sherrie, Christian, and David have a nightly party. Woohoo!

Nathan and daddy made a make-shift tee for tee ball. Nathan's pretty good at slamming the ball. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Manwill for the bat and ball.


In the first picture the little boy on the left is Christian and the little boy on the right is Nathan.

New Baby Boy!

We're proud to announce the arrival of Christian Alan Boren. Christian is the name of one of Sherrie's ancestors who came over from Norway back in the 1800's. Alan is Sherrie's dad's name. Christian came at 6:45 a.m., July 31, weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and measuring 21 inches. Sherrie was scheduled for an induction that very morning, but Christian decided that he wanted to come on his own terms. He had a little trouble breathing when he first came out, but after a few hours in NICU, he we doing grand. When he first came out the doctor commented, "Wow! He's really strong, and has some spunk!" This ought to be fun! We feel very blessed and are grateful for all of the love and support we have felt from everyone.






July 31 was a busy day for us. Besides Christian's birth, we got to take Clara in for a second x-ray on her hand. Nathan accidentally jumped on her a few weeks ago and one of the bones on her hand was fractured. The July 31 x-ray was a follow-up to see if it really was broken. Sure enough, it is, and she gets to wear her cute green splint for the next month. Green is her favorite color, so all is well.


Nothing like ice cream with cousins. Yum!

We spend a lot of time playing pirates. When sneak around the house while the pirate music is playing, and we get close enough to the pirates, we barrage them with our pretend banana peels, butter, peanut butter, and anything else that will make it hard for them to catch us. Tons of fun! Who needs a gym membership!

Nathan and Clara dressed up for our ward's pioneer day parade. Nathan decorated his own bike.

It's a good thing they're cute!

HELP!!! I need some advice!
My precious, cute, darling, sweet children have a hard time being reverent during Sacrament Meeting (to put it mildly). With David's new stake calling, he will not be sitting with us much in church anymore, AND we will soon be joined by another precious, cute, darling, sweet child who will need to nurse during Sacrament Meeting.
Today was the first time David missed Sacrament Meeting to visit another ward. I have realized that I am not up to the challenge unless I get some inspiration on how to occupy them. They are good kids, but they both are very active and energetic. I spend lots of time pulling them out from under the benches and trying to keep them separated. They also crave one-on-one attention from me. They don't really like looking at books or coloring (unless this includes throwing crayons and coloring the benches and hymnbooks). I made some little "Jesus books" that help for about 2 minutes until they start ripping the pages out and I have to take them away. They also purposely make noise and disrupt for attention. I refuse to bring tons of toys and food. We have found that those things create more problems than they solve anyway. We have the kids "practice" reverence at home after church when they've been disruptive. (They have to sit on a chair being quiet for a certain number of minutes.) We have rewards for them after church when they do behave well. I try to help them get involved with what the speaker is saying, what the song is about, etc. I play soft church music as we're getting ready for church. Basically, Sacrament Meeting is an agonizing time for them and me.
Maybe I'm just being too idealistic. I see other moms sitting by themselves with young children, and they don't seem to be struggling. How do they do it? Do they have easier kids or are they superwomen or have they figured out something that I don't know? I don't want to spend the next five years of church out in the foyer. I'm not expecting perfection. They don't have to sit completely still and never open their mouths the entire time. I don't want them to dread or resent church.
So this is where you come in: What has worked for your kids? If you don't have kids, think back to what worked when you were a kid. This "mom" thing doesn't come naturally for me, and I am out of ideas. I would appreciate any words of wisdom you could offer.

Any day now...

Our kids have short legs and no hips. (They also have no say in which pictures I post!) Here is Clara, losing her pants while running gleefully down the street, away from Grandma Manwill. Luckily, Grandma always has a camera ready when grandkids are around. The pictures are blurry because Grandma was running behind Clara, shooting pictures as fast as she could.

Our camera was thoughtful enough to live until David's Africa trip was finished. It died last week. We hope to have a new camera before the baby comes. I'm technically due in 3 weeks, but it looks like baby is planning to arrive before that, possibly in the next week. (Of course, they told me that with Clara, but she stayed put until two days before her due date. Then again, Nathan surprised us 3 1/2 weeks early.) I feel like I'm in limbo. I can't really make any plans or commitments, but I don't want to sit around doing nothing for the next few weeks.