Riley gets contacts!!

Today Riley learned how to put in and take out contacts!  He did really well! 

On the way to the appointment I asked if he was excited?  He looked at me funny and said, "No, not really".  (teenage boy) --  I said, "You should be... or you might just be back in your glasses!!"  He explained that he was excited (he guessed), but that he just didn't think it was that big of a deal.  (teenage boy, trying to play it cool) --

Later when we were called back for his appointment the contact specialist asked, "So... are you really excited??"  Riley looked at me funny and gave me a smirk and said, "Yes, I am".  --BOYS!!

good to be home ??

So it is Monday.  The day after we got home from our big trip.  Our big trip in cooler weather.

It was a little rough going out for errands in 109 degree weather.  AND tackling the laundry. 

WELCOME HOME HEFLINS!!  :)

Demolition Derby in Logan

Our last night in Logan we went to a demolition derby.  I have never been to one of these before and didn't quite know what to expect.  It was an exciting night!  All of the cars ramming into each other... it was a sight to see!  The kids Loved it!  We laughed and cheered!!

Preston would scout out which car he should cheer for.  He would ask everyone, "which car are you rooting for?"  As soon as we were all set as to who was rooting for which car, the derby would begin.  SMASH, BANG, CRUNCH!  Preston's car always seemed to come out on top!  It really was Amazing! 

I loved watching these cars demolish each other...  and then I look up and see the beautiful Logan Temple.  It was a bit of a clash for my brain! :)

This is the only shot I got of  Riley.  He enjoyed the derby, as you can see from this picture.  I had to sneek this pic.  He was being a teenage boy in true form, and was a little bugged with his mom taking pictures.  Ha ha... caught ya smiling!!

This was "halftime".  We had read in the paper that at halftime they would let kids chase a greased pig.   

-SURPRISINGLY- Wyatt wanted to chase the greased pig SO BAD!!  There was a $50 award to the kid who caught the pig, and Wyatt just knew it was going to be him!  ---Unfortunately, there was no greased pig.  They called out the kids to the mud pit.  They all ran around like crazy monkeys.  Dancing to some loud music.  And then it was over.  No pig. 

Here is Wyatt.  The LAST kid to leave the arena.  Disappointed?  Yes.  He later said, "That's all right, there is always next year!"  What a good kid!  -- I would have loved to see him chase a pig!  Can't even imagine it.  ... Maybe next year :)

This poor suburban... being towed off the field with no back tire and a bent front tire and crunched everywhere that could possibly be crunched!  I thought his phrase "I NEED HELP" said it perfectly!!  Oh this was fun!! 

Thanks Nana and Papa for a really great time in Logan.  It was great to see your little piece of summer heaven! 

We hopped in the car about 9:30pm after the derby and drove all night.  I don't know how Vince does it...  We made it home about 9:00 in the morning.   It could not be an easier ride for the kids.  They go to sleep at night and wake up at home!  Traffic is little to none.  Stopping only for gas and quick bathroom breaks if need be.   

--We are thankful to be home after a wonderful 2 weeks on the road!!

Mmmmm heaven!!

This tomato is the size of a softball!!  It is huge!  We have been watching it grow with great anticipation!!  AND It delivered!!!  -TWAS DELICIOUS-!!  Home grown tomatos...  nothing better!

Just for DOCUMENT sake

Brenna 6 years old.

I cannot tell you HOW MANY times I have cleaned Brenna's room with her.  Showing her how to separate Polly Pockets from plastic food / doll house furniture from "jewlery".   She has baskets to house the different toys in her room, and on occasion, she can clean up her room to perfection!  This was not one of those days!

It was as though she dumped everything she owned, and then when asked to clean up, she shoved every article into every drawer and dark place she could find.  I thought for a day or two what an amazing job she had done on her room.  But then as it always does, the truth came out... of her nightstand, that is.  I opened a drawer one day to find this.

Is that our house phone I see in there?  With a dead battery I'm sure.  I then opened another drawer...  And another...then, the motherload,  --I looked under her bed--!!

How are 6 year olds so sneaky?? 

Bryant's First Dentist Appointment

Today was Bryant's FIRST dentist appointment.

When I called to make appointments for our family, they said now would be a great time for Bryant to meet the dentist.  They would just count his teeth and show him around the office so he would become familiar with them.  It would be a "happy" visit.  :) 

So back to today...
I talked up the dentist big time!!  How fun it was.  How nice they were.  How you get a token at the end which buys you a trinket toy.  How IF he was a good boy, we would go wherever he wanted for lunch afterward (he picked McDonalds).  --He was going with it--

Brenna wanted to come with us, you know, to show Bryant how fun it was.  I had a plan in my head how this could actually work!  Bribery and coercion never hurt a 3 year old... right?

So we get there and he is fine.  We wait in the waiting room, he is fine.  They call us back, he is fine... until he sees the big dentist chair.  NOT FINE.  He starts to moan and make a painful face like I have completely lost his trust at that exact moment.  :(   I remind him how this is going to be fun. We will meet the dentist, and he only wants to see how many teeth you have...  The nice dental assistant starts to show Bryant the tool that shoots water and air.  I knew it was over at that point, I mean if we were bringing out the big guns already we were never going to make it!  I won't continue with the awful details.  Lets just say, the dentist never got to count Bryant's teeth.  In fact, I don't think he unclenched his jaw the whole time we were there.

I felt defeated by my 3 year old.   "We are not going to McDonalds today!", I announced, when we got in the car.  Brenna pipes in, "Then can we go to Panda Express?" (Her all-time favorite place to eat).  Sure, why not.  Bryant was a little sad about missing out on McDonalds, not really.  I felt somehow that there was justice in going to Panda Express.  (bare with me... It was a rough morning) 

So here we are.  Doesn't Bryant look happy?  (Look at those pearly whites making an appearance!!)  We ended up having a fun time and Bryant said FOR SURE that he would be nice to the dentist NEXT TIME!!  (sure).   

 At the end of our meal we open our fortune cookies.  (The kids don't actually EAT the cookies they just want me to read their fortunes.)       THIS WAS MINE.

I laughed and laughed... at myself!!  What was I thinking bringing Bryant to the dentist???  He still has a hard time going to Primary on Sunday.  -- He'll come around... it doesn't HAVE to be today.

So off we go, headed home to play with the hand balloons the poor dentist made for us.  Until next time.

before and after

We are WAY passed due for haircuts around here!!  I can always tell that it is time when we HAVE to spray water on and actually comb the hair.  Preston was not in the haircutting mood today (to say the least).  Although he doesn't mind going first so he can "get it over with!"  He really is a good boy!

Then there is little miss Brenna!  She has grown out her hair for most of this year.  But it is getting to that point where it needs a trim for sure and it is summer.  Ready for a shorter hairdo.  Brenna said that she wanted it by her chin.  So that is what I did.  After much time in the hot garage, I finally finished!  Cute.  Right?  She went inside and shortly after I heard a shreek and a shrilling cry.  She ran back in the gargage with huge tears and exclaimed that it was horrible and she looked like a BOY!!  It took a little while to calm this girl down, including time alone in her room.  After a while she came out with an apology.  She thought it was cute after all.   Fast Forward a little bit.  I was cleaning the garage...  #1  because I was already cleaning from the haircuts  #2  because I was already sweaty, and #3 because I'm crazy like that... and  I walk inside the house from the garage and find Brenna in the kitchen.With Scissors. CUTTING HER HAIR!   What are you doing?????  I had to take a few minutes to calm down and then took her back in the garage to hopefully FIX what I could.  Amazingly she only gave herself some layers toward the front and I was able to somewhat even them out.  I did my best.  I'm not a professional you know.  I do not have an after -AFTER picture.  My brain turned off when I saw the scissors.  She has done this a few other times (when she was much younger).  I'm wondering if we have learned our lesson on --NO scissors on the hair when you are 6--!!??

Oh this has been a dramatic day!   But, Alas, we have 5 children with 5 heads with shorter hair!  Amen.