Quick Review of the Spring I Didn't Blog 2012

So I'm doing some serious back-tracking here.  Good thing sending out a Christmas letter keeps me committed to blogging! :)

#5's fifth birthday...his request was a pair of overalls.

#5 the week after Christmas

Mike's Aunt Dennie made hats like this one for each of our boys.

 Soccer time!  #5 is in the back row on the left

 We camped outside...

 ...and inside (#4 and #5)...

 ...and outside some more.

 #1 got working on his Eagle project, building raised beds for our local elementary.

 We had back-to-school night; here's #4.

 #2 had his 12th birthday.

 The finished product of the Eagle project, which went incredibly well.

 And more outdoor camping...

 ...complete with games and singing and dutch oven dinner.  Mike is quite the dutch oven cook, so we love every chance we get to eat outside.

 #2 and his Dad got to go to UT for general conference to attend his first priesthood session and also fit in a ton of fun in the process.

 #1 also aged...the big 14!

 We had two surgeries early this year--one tonsils and one sinus.

 #4 also played soccer.  He's in the middle here.

 Homemade jam!  I had forgotten that I'd ordered two flats of strawberries.  When it arrived at my front door, I said, "I know what we're doin' today, Ferb!"  Yeah.  I've gone from quoting scripture to quoting "Everybody Loves Raymond" to quoting "Phineas and Ferb."  Maybe time to quote some favorite scripture again!

 #1 (in glasses) performing with his tuba

 #4 (an elephant) in his school play

 #s 4, 2, 1, and 3 at the Dallas, TX, LDS temple

 Last day of preschool.  What an immense blessing it was to teach preschool last year!!  I am so grateful that the Lord helped me be brave enough to take that challenge on because I will always cherish the experience, not only because I got to know my dear friend Trisha, but also having that time with #5 (2nd from left) was just a treasure and a blessing.  Plus, most of the kids left our class as beginning readers, very well prepared for kindergarten.  It was gratifying to see them be so successful!

 Graduation (#5 4th from left)

 #4's birthday party was everything bey wheel.  We even created this pinata to match the theme.

 We had our third--yes, I said THIRD--flood through the ceiling.  Luckily, this one was light and easy to manage.

 Swim lessons galore!  I barter piano for swim lessons, so we have some great swimmers in the family.  This is #3 waiting for his turn to show off.

 Also #3 at Twilight Camp for Cub Scouts.  Mom volunteered at the crafts booth for the week and #s 3 and 4 both got to attend.  Plus, Dad stayed with #3 for the Webelos campout at the end of the week.

 #5 celebrates his birthday during the summer since it's only 5 days after Christmas (we just do family cake and ice cream on his actual big day), so we had a pool party.

His favorite present was this scooter, and he got right on it to practice and be prepared for KINDERGARTEN.

LeBaron Family Reunion

 Our LeBaron Family Reunion was at Aspen Grove, a family camp put on by the BYU alumni association.  Participants commit to standards of dress, speech, etc that support our family values.  It was wonderful.  At the opening ceremony, #1 is holding #5, who caught one of the Frisbees!

 This is actually the Lamoreaux Family t-shirt that mom designed as a copy of the extended Lamoreaux family reunion t-shirt from 20 years ago.  #1 is doing his age group cheer.

 All the LeBaron cousins

 #1 had so much fun.  He loved that he spent at least half his day with his age group doing things like hiking, crafts, rock wall, swimming, RISK, games, etc., but still had lots of family time.

 I "threw a pot" for the first time ever.

 #2 was constantly with these darling girls and -- a milestone -- came home with their phone numbers

 Lots of outdoor family games...here Pops helps #5 at the hula hoop ring toss (Dad is up the hill)

 Here Pops earns us extra points by getting in the garbage can we have to fill with water.  #3 is coming in to pour more water while #5 looks on.

 I spent lots of time painting with kids.  Here #s 4 and 5 paint with 3 cute cousins

 They had a ropes course that was about 3 or 3.5 stories high.  You climbed a pole with random chinks in it, transferred to the rock wall, then continued around the trees on wires.  Here #2 navigates the course.

 #s 2 and 3 love to fish!

 This is #4 on the rock wall.  This little boy is a crack up, unless he's getting lost just after dark on the very first night...

 #4 opted for Battleship instead of swim time most days.  His group leader was a champ and patiently played with him just as long as #4 was interested.

 There was a rousing 3 way basketball game (which I'm sure Mike won -- here with brother Rob)

 LOVE this picture of Nana!!

 #s 4 and 5 at the family dance with #5's group leader, Ali.  #4 asked if he could call her Ali Gator so he would always remember her and told her she could remember him because so many people use his name for their dogs (REALLY?  Where does he come up with this stuff??)  Ali said she'll remember him, too, because she'll name her first dog after him.  When we were going to pack instead of going to the dance, #4 told Mike he needed to go because he and Ali like each other so much...  :)

 #3 rammed the bottom of the pool with his chin.  The pool won.

 They had a minute to win it night, and #1 got to participate

 Walleyball was a big favorite--Earl went, too, but here are Pops, Rob, and Mike

 The boys got to use a lathe to create their own pens.  I opted for more kids craft time, but would have loved to cram this activity in, too.  The pens turned out sooooo cool!

 More family water activities...Uncle Rob was terrific helping the boys participate while I stayed dry manning the camera.

 This is Mike eating crow because he had just pushed "Simon" (#4's group leader, who was a judge during the water games pretending to be Simon Cowell...Mike got caught up in the crowd's jeering  (:  ) into the pool complete with wallet and cell phone.

 Each age group learned a song from a different country.  Can you tell where #3 learned his song from?

#1 was "Proud to Be an American."

Quick Stop with the Moultries

 Sandra's backyard is every boy's dream--swing, water fountain, darts, fort (I'm sure it started as a "playhouse" before my boys got to it  (:  ), basketball, soft grass...  Here #5 pushes #2 on that swing.

 #4 just chillin' on his 8th birthday

 Water fight!  So it turns out that if you save water bottles after you've drunk them, you can use a pin to poke tiny holes in the lid and re-purpose them as the perfect summertime weapon.  Sandra's good ideas never end!  #2 with Sandra's niece.

 Just hangin'.  No better feeling that I know of--friends and family, just relaxing together.

 Mike with #1, who determined himself officially too old for the water fight (he's a mature teenager, you know...).

 #4 was baptized!  It was an absolutely beautiful experience.  We felt the Spirit very strongly and felt the love and unity of family.

 #2 and cousin Porter spoke at the baptism and taught beautifully about baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We went out for lunch at IHOP after with Sandra, Nana and Pops, the Brown family, Gram and Pops, and the Hamilton family.  The Stovalls headed off for new adventures.  Thank you so very much to Sandra and her family for hosting us--their support was amazing, and we are so grateful!