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