Cute kids sayings

Bryce has been waking up in the middle of the night for the last couple of nights. He comes in and has to lay by mommy and daddy until we make him go back to bed. Usually he ends up back in our bed at least one more time 10 - 15 minutes later. We have told him in the past that if he wakes up to roll over and go back to sleep. Cheri was reminding him of this idea when he lights up and says "ok mommy when I wake up I will roll all the way back to my bed" with a that's great idea mommy grin. He was thinking that it would be a great idea to lay with mommy and daddy and then instead of walking back to bed, he could roll on the floor all the way to bed.

Ryan also had a funny moment. He talking about a dinosaur show and said something about Broccoli-o-saurus. Mommy said you mean Brachiosaurus. He said yea Broccoli-o-saurus. Well they are vegetarian and like eat vegetables.

Thanksgiving

We had a great time having Thanksgiving in Idaho. Dinner was great since we had the kids eat in the garage while the adults ate just inside the door. My dad's house has great insulation so when Thanksgiving dinner is cooked, the house gets really hot. My sister had the idea to open the garage door to let the house heat up the garage. It felt very nice and the kids could be messier (just spray it all down with a hose) and noisier.

From 2008 11

Thanks to cute Kaden who was a super nice cousin. He pushed Bryce on the swings a couple of times. Bryce referred to him as "his friend."

From 2008 11

I probably played a little too may games on the computer for Cheri's sanity. My brother Paul and sister Maren play an online linked game Lord of the Rings. It was pretty fun.

The kids made some cute Indian headbands.

From 2008 11

From 2008 11

From 2008 11

From 2008 11

Ryan doing some peace moves?

From 2008 11

crazy Indian!

Today was a great adventure. All three boys have been throwing up. Bryce doesn't seem to get what is good for his stomach. Right after throwing up he is ready to eat and drink whatever. On the way out of the Wilkerson Center at BYU after he threw up ,he didn't think it was fair that mommy got a big drink and he couldn't. We could let Ryan eat or drink whatever he wants because his stomach tells him he doesn't want any.

Bryce Mouse

When we were getting the kids quite for prayer time, Bryce says out of the blue "I'm a mouse" as he holds his ears out. Bryce says some pretty cute things. I took a picture so the other kids got in on the action.


Ryan is a big collector of any and all toys (Almary is too for that matter). I have to laugh when he tries to carry everything. Usually someone else is coerced into helping but sometimes he can carry everything as seen in one of the pictures in the slideshow below.

It is always fun watching Tyler walk. I have to laugh when you see someone so short walking. He can walk as far as 20 feet without falling but most often will fall a couple of times. He is now over 20 lb (20lb 6 oz) at the last doctor's visit. All of the kids got their flu shots. Almary threatened to be a difficult patient but she pulled through in the end. She has been know to need assistance when getting shots (1 doctor and two nurses). I can image that would make the shot hurt more when flexing like that.

Not much going on

Not much is happening. Almary was a super good girl for getting her tooth pulled. She had an abscess in a baby tooth from the permanent tooth pushing on it. The prescription made her pretty loopy before we went in and then she had nitrous oxide (laughing gas) at the dentist.

Not too many pictures to add.

From 2008 10

This is Tyler's morning breakfast view. The kids pull him up to the counter to be closer to them but he really can't see much.

From 2008 10

Halloween

The kids had fun getting hopped up on sugar. Almary was a fairy princess, Ryan was a T-Rex (the best one we could find), Bryce was an aligator, and Ty-Ty was a pumpkin. We also have four new blonde daughters. See the pictures below for more information.

From cell phone

From cell phone

From cell phone

From cell phone

Other cell phone pictures

Saint George Vacation and Zion National Park

We had lots of fun staying in Saint George over the extended UEA holiday. Mark went camping with the scouts at Zion National Park Friday and Saturday and then the family went down to Saint George Sunday through Tuesday. All the kids need for a fun vacation is a swimming pool and a little bit a cartoons. We did a hike in Zion NP on the way back since we had a pass from the camp-out. Tyler was a little hesitant about swimming at first but soon loved it. Ryan and Almary are turning into very good smimmers and Bryce is at the old Ryan stage - a constant hold onto a parent finger in each of his hands.


Illumfamily at St. George

We usually have hiked the Angel's landing hike every time I visit Zion but since the scouts needed to do a 10 mile hike we choose Observation Point (8 miles round trip with over 2,000 ft climb) with another short hike. It was fun to look down on Angel's landing which is still my favorite hike.

Scout camp-out

Getting Ready for Halloween

We found a good deal on a dinosaur costume for Ryan. Cheri and I were very happy about it. It is a little big but will work. All of the kids wanted to wear it. Bryce got a crocodile costume that can be seen on last week's blog slideshow.

Bryce was super cute. He modeled how he prefers to wear his underwear - backwards. This is the only way you can wear it and see the cool cars, choo-choos, etc. He also has one onesie that he snapped on the outside of his shorts. Of course I had to take a picture.

Tyler is still crawling with one gimp leg - he likes to be ready to sit up at any moment. We found out today that he crawls better with some slippers on. He always stands though whenever he can.

Ty-Ty First Unofficial Haircut

Ty-Ty had his first haircut compliments of his two brothers. Ryan said he wasn't really cutting but Bryce at least really did much to his mother's dismay.

From 2008 10

From 2008 10

Conference was great. Thanks to Eric and Julie for a fun Sunday afternoon session. Ryan said conference is great with caramel popcorn.

Sleep over on the Trampoline

The kids were super excited to sleep on the trampoline even though it was predicted to rain. The weather said 30% chance on Friday, 40% Friday night, and 80% on Saturday but we tried anyway. About 5 in the morning it started sprinkling enough for Daddy to carry all the kids inside. Other pictures include setting up the trampoline which turned into a nice gymnast set for the kids and Bryce's new costume for this Halloween. Earlier when we asked the kids to get warm pajamas on for sleeping outside, Bryce came out from his bath with just his costume on. I asked him to put some warm pajamas on with the costume and he said he did. I am sure it would have felt quite breezy in the nether regions, arms, and legs.

Backpacking with the Scouts

I went on my first backpacking trip since I was a scout a couple of years ago (or maybe 20 years). Luckily it was just 1.3 miles although all uphill (no not both ways). It was really fun and pretty. I will just post one picture since most are not of me or the family. Some of the boys sure liked to pack heavy. It was a good learning experience. Two of the boys forgot the poles to their tent. It was fun helping them solve their problem with rope.

From 2008 0927 Pine Hollow

Other news:

Cheri and her sisters, Julie and Kristi, got to attend the general Relief Society Meeting on Saturday night in the conference center. It was such a great experience and a wonderful spirit. They really had fun with their girls night out!!
Mark would like to comment on his guys night out enduring hard work and dedication so their wives could attend the Relief Society meeting. A few games and movies were played and a little pizza, to help lighten the load.

Tyler is crawling like crazy and getting so big. We are hoping we are finished with ear infections, but he has an appointment with the ear, nose and throat specialist in a few weeks to see if we should put in tubes for him.

Thanks to Eric and Julie, we got the trampoline which we are trying to set up in the backyard. Needless, to say the kids are very excited. We might sleep out on it this weekend in our sleeping bags.

Fishing, Ryan scores a goal, Bryce potty trained, Ty-Ty crawls, Almary B-day party

We went fishing last weekend at Salem Ponds. It is a nice pond with a park. Daddy forgot the worm hooks so we didn't catch anything. Yesterday we went fishing at Cabela's kids day. All of the kids got a hat, hot dogs, and drinks and then went fishing in the swimming pool like pool. Ryan caught a fish and the others really wanted to. Other news: Tyler is officially crawling, Ryan scored a goal at his game last week. Daddy only got a picture of him almost scoring. Bryce is potty trained even through the night. He even gets up in the middle of the night to go potty and then goes back to bed. We always know he is up in the morning when we hear his door open and then him going potty. Almary had a fun Hawaiian luau party. They played plenty of games including: limbo, pass the coconut, and relay game (andrew looked pretty cute in the grass skirt and shell lei running across hot lava).

Tyler had another Doctor's visit. His aortic arch is still looking good. His valve is the same to slightly better that the last visit. I asked the doctor more about what the units are on the numbers she told us. It is the pressure difference from before and after the aortic valve in mm of mercury (mmHg) The measurement this time was in the low 30's. normal is below 20. If the pressure difference is 60 - 80 requires correction.

Ryan Soccer and a trip to the zoo

We had a fun weekend! Ryan had his first soccer game where he did a lot of spectating while on the field supposedly playing....he enjoyed watching the others play and did actually assist one of the girls on his team and made a goal. Mommy is the assistant coach, which is fun to play again after almost 20 years of not playing soccer. After his game, we headed off to the zoo. We have a yearly membership so we feel like we need to get our money's worth. It makes it nice to feel like you don't have to see everything. Almary and Ryan loved being the map readers and guiding us through the zoo. Almary's favorite animal was the giraffe. Ryan's was the leopard, we watched a show where it performed. Bryce's was the white alligator!


Alligators at the zoo









Animals


Ryan's bike wreck


Almary's first day of school (looks very excited right!)


Soccer Ry-Ry


Coach Cheri and soccer Ryan

Videos from Hawaii

Manta Ray Night Dive

Cheri Snorkeling


Manta Ray close up


Night Dive fish


Night Dive Squid


Sea Turtle

Kona, Hawaii 2008

Cheri and I just got back from 9 days on the big island of Hawaii. Thanks to Grandma Illum and Dan and Reiko for watching our kids during this time. We went on eight scuba dive trips and snorkeled four times. We did a day trip to see the wet side of the island with its beautiful waterfalls and flowers. Cheri is now a natural scuba diver. She stayed down longer than I did because of air (she uses a lot less). We saw many different kinds of fish, morray eels, octopi, sea turtles, and other undersea life. We almost got to see the lava flow. The lava flow was actually going into the ocean further to the east for the first time in eight years in a way more visible than normal. However, the flow went underground on its way to the new island being created just southeast of Hawaii two days before we went to see it.

The trip was so fun but, as always, it went by way too quickly. It was fun to spend time with Cheri's siblings and spouses (except Kristi and Clayton but we're willing to go back anytime)and parents.

Multiple Events

Getting caught up with the blog. We went camping with the Grandpa and Grandma Illum in Idaho Falls area. The kids had fun in the water. On the way back, we were able to go to the Twin Falls Temple open house with a good neighbor (Thanks Boothe family). We also visited Shoshone Falls.

Cheri and the kids went to Phoenix for a week and a half. During this time Mark worked on demo of the tile and carpet and replacing with laminate. Then scout camp was the last three days before picking everyone up at the airport. The kids sure had fun swimming every day and their swimming skills show it.

















Construction stuff from Lowes or Home Depot












Bryce getting into momma's mascara. He thinks it is for the lips.



Scout Camp







Cheri modeling Almary-made sticker necklace

Scout camp-out

Mark went on his first camp-out with the scouts last weekend. They camped up Diamond Fork Canyon 20 minutes up Spanish Fork Canyon. It was fun. The hike the next day was very hot. A couple of the leaders cooled off in the waterfall and none of the scouts or leaders got in the hot springs. It was 95 ºF.


Hot springs in Diamond Fork Canyon



Waterfall above hot springs


Mark poking through the waterfall

Visitors from down south

We have been having loads of fun especially the kids. Coey and Katie, cousins from Phoenix, came to visit. They have been to the zoo, the dinosaur museum, Monster IMAX, Art museum with art crafts, cooking smores and hotdogs up American Fork Canyon, and other activities that I don't even know about (sorry this is Mark reporting who didn't get to go on many of the activies. These were only reported to me). Almary just prior to the cousins coming participated in a choir camp. She looked like she didn't pay attention some of the time but still had fun and looked super cute. She was missing her arms for part of the performance but luckily they turned up later.

The art museum activity had loads of fun activities including face painting and making your own pot. For more updates, we will need to talk to Cheri. Until then enjoy a couple of pictures.


Almary choir


Art girls


Pottery Coey & Almary


Pottery Katie


Pottery Ry-Ry


Pottery Bryce


Cool double rainbow