Farewell to Summer....

It's so sad to see summer end! But it's so great to see the kids off to school in the morning! This summer was SO fun! Although it was much different than we had planned (what with our trip out to Utah and all), we wouldn't take back any of it!

The boys got good and toasted in the sun, despite mom's constant spraying with the sunscreen bottle. They just hate that! Thank heavens for an alternative to the old fashioned rubbing....it's much easier to chase them down, then spray them as they run away.

Treyton officially learned to swim this summer, and was so glad he could go off the diving board and swim to the side. Aunt Wendy's pool is a good proving ground for that sort of thing! Brett can "swim like a frog", as Trey describes it. He can swim all over, but not with his head above the water. Cameron (he should have come with "no fear, no tear" stamped on his back) doesn't care if he can swim or not. He just jumps in. I had to save him - no literally - save him from drowning twice this summer.

Speaking of swimming.....We miss the Olympics already! The closing ceremonies were just tonight, but it's so sad!! The boys really got into watching Michael Phelps race, and even enjoyed the gymnastics. Hopefully, they won't try too many things they saw....

"I....am Michael Phelps..."

Treyton joined a local Cub Scout troop a few weeks ago, and has his first Den Meeting this Tuesday! I'm so excited for him to start into scouting! I have no idea what I'm doing, but I know it will be fun! The troop is a community one, but our Primary President is one of the Den Mothers, so they meet in our ward building. Very handy! If he attended only through our ward, he would be the only boy. I'm glad he gets to be part of a large group with lots of support.

Cameron starts Pre-K tomorrow at the

Trinity United Methodist Church.

He's so excited!! He's been waiting to go to preschool forever.

He'll go from 12-3:30pm Monday-Thursday.


(Trinity United Methodist Church)

Little Brettsky LOVES Kindergarten!!! He has a cute little teacher, and is so excited to learn how to read! He loves laying out his clothes for the next day every night along with Trey, and getting up at 6:30am. Breakfast is not his favorite, but I usually stuff a few forkfulls of pancakes or whatever in his mouth between his questions of...whatever! His favorite part of the whole day is riding the bus because, he says, "It has NO seatbelts!"

So between the gym, Cam's preschool in Hutch, the boys' school in Buhler, scouts, practices, and etc....

It brings to mind an old bumper sticker my mom used to have:

"If a mother's place is in the home..why am I always in the car?"

Tomkinson Reunion

The Tomkinson Family Reunion (my mom's family) was held in Fillmore, Utah at what we like to call "The Homestead". It's the same home my grandparents have lived in since just after they were married. The place holds a LOT of memories for 4 generations of kids! It has been labeled the "best reunion yet", and I'd have to agree. I really enjoyed it this year!! Adam was the only one missing from our clan this year. I've contemplated Photoshopping him into this picture somewhere....

Cam on the cable slide

Trey playing Badminton



Brett going for the gold during the Family Olympics

First Week in Utah!!

We almost skipped our yearly trip out to Utah to visit family this year! I'm so glad we decided to come! The first weekend proved to be a foreshadowing of what our entire visit would present: fun, family, and exhaustion! We traveled to Ogden to attend the FIRST Despain Family Reunion in 12 YEARS! Yes, the Joseph Despain family has not been all together since the early '90s. All the babies are now unrecognizeable teenage boys, and all of us gawky kids have grown up to have our own families! It was nice to see that one thing hasn't changed after all these years and added generations: the "Despain Nose" runs deep in our genes, and adorns most all the faces of our extended family!
Staci and I found some rather unusual ways to entertain ourselves involving the children's craft supplies.
It was great fun, but as you can see, also sort of....scary!! Ignore the blur - besides the fact that he was laughing, my dad (who was taking this shot) was also a little startled. NO, it's not photoshop! We are actually making that face!

I got to see my cousin, Christina Cook face-to-face for the first time since I stayed with her and her family in Ogden as a 12 year old, and toilet-papered a neighor's house with 64 rolls. Her oldest, and my youngest are the same age, and would be great friends is they ever saw each other again before they graduate from Highschool - note to Dad: tell your siblings you all need to get together more often!!
Everyone had a great time enjoying each other's company - I've never seen my Dad smile so much for so long! We stayed at Pres and Sheryl's house in whichever Jordan they live in (south, west, don't know!) , and visited Salt Lake City Temple Square. I haven't been there in about....9 years?! Alot has changed, and we really enjoyed it. My boys can't wait to go to their Primary classes and brag about being able to go to the Salt Lake Temple and see the statue of Jesus!
So thus began what would be our month-long invasion of Mom and Dad's house in Hurricane...good thing they have a basement!!

Our trip to HAWAII!!

My younger brother and his wife had planned a trip to Hawaii months ago, and when they found out that Adam had vacation time during the same week, they invited us along. How could we say no?!

We all met in Hawaii, and enjoyed a kid-free week full of sun, sand, and relaxation on Kauai. We kayaked, hiked, body surfed, snorkeled, swam, shopped, and just plain had FUN!!

Adam's mom came to stay with the boys while we were there, and ended up staying for a whole month. We always enjoy her stays, and it even brought on a week long visit from 3 of Adam's siblings. It was great!

Kari's Spring

Trey was not the only one who was glad to see school end. No more alarm clocks is more my style! Time to cut the boys' hair nice and short, and stow away the winter clothes for next year!

Playgroup started as soon as the water park opened on Memorial day, and we try to get there twice a week. I've been busy at home getting garage sale items ready for sale, keeping up with the daily pile of mud-soaked boy clothes I find on the porch every afternoon, and trying to entertain 3 rambunctious boys!

Adam's spring

Adam graduated from Hutchinson Community College in May with an associates in Fire Science. Finally! He's been picking away at it for the 6-7 years he's been a firefighter. While he's beginning his bachelor program shortly, it was nice to have behind him!

I finally convinced Adam to get rid of the 2 trucks he's had for a while now (that weren't really what he wanted), and get something he really liked. He got a new truck that he can really enjoy - and we can all fit in!

Adam's busy now that the weather is nice with finishing his ongoing house project downtown, and the other contracting jobs he gets around town. He's also busy trying to help me keep up with the mowing! It's a neverending job.

Cameron's spring

Cameron was so happy to have his brothers home from school to play with him all day long again! He waited and waited and WAITED for the little toads to start coming out. They eventually did, and he couldn't be happier! The other night I went in the boys' room after they were asleep to put some clothes away and found a little toad he (or someone else who isn't fessing up) had smuggled in to have a sleepover!