THE "THREAT" of SPRING

Okay, I know I haven't kept up my committment of keeping the blog current, but here is some highlights from the last little while when we were sure Spring had sprung. Mother Nature teased us a little, and we took advantage of the warm weather. As I look out at a blustery April day, these photos, taken less than a month ago, keep me warm with the hope that Winter will soon be over!

Good friends and warm weather at the park!


Joshua & Taylor Gerrard


Daniel is taking Luke for a little spin!

You can't hear it, but Adam is adding his own

motorcycle sound effects!

Enjoying the sunshine along with the elephants!

A sunny Saturday afternoon at Hogle Zoo!


Adam & Daddy on the Zoo Carousel . . .

Not sure who is having more fun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!

The first part of the year is a busy birthday time for us. Adam just celebrated his 3rd birthday and Joshua just turned 7. I can't believe how fast they are growing.

Joshua celebrated 7 with cake and ice cream with Grandpa and Grandma and a party at Holladay Lions Rec center with friends. I think it ended up being a three day celebration!

The only thing Josh wanted was his very own dry-erase board and a zillion markers. Especially the ones Heidi has (?) Needless to say, he got his wish! Grandpa & Grandma gave him this awesome easel that he spends hours at creating and drawing. It makes the scooter we gave him pale in comparison. Happy Birthday . . . we love you Josh!

Our baby is now 3! Crazy how time flies so, so fast. The only thing he wanted was a fire truck with a "guy" to drive it. Happy Birthday Adam . . . now on the the potty training!

A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY!

I said I would never do it . . . but never say never! After months of begging, pleading, whining, listing everyone in the world that has a dog, and pretty much just all out obnoxiousness, the Ball family has added a new member. (Unfortunately not the kind Grandma Barbara would like). As of Christmas 2008, we are officially dog owners. I can safely say that four out of the five of us are not only dog owners, but dog lovers as well. I am getting there.

meet Marley - - pretty cute, huh?
she is part mini-dachsund/shih tzu mix

Daniel was so excited and a little bit shocked since we told him that we would "talk" about getting a dog in the spring or summer. It was a pretty great Christmas morning!

***After quite an extensive blogging break, I am going to try to keep up our blog at the begging and pleading from family in NC. It's important to us that they can be a part of what our little family is doing, so I have re-committed to update more frequently.

LIFE CAN BE A ZOO!

Our cute neighbor, Cora, surprised us at the beginning of the summer with a membership to the zoo. Now, even though I feel like I live in a zoo sometimes, I haven't actually been to the zoo for a while. The other night, they held a "members only" evening in which they were having the grand opening of the new carousel so we decided to go and see what it was all about. What a great time! The boys loved being there and were especially excited to see the "Ghost of the Bayou" (the white alligator). It was so fun to be together as a family (and getting along relatively well) on a warm summer evening!

Taking a peak at the giraffes from their eye level!
I think this bear has the right idea!

After a while, Adam was more interested in the popcorn than the animals!

The Ghost of the Bayou . . . is Daniel trying to climb in?

Editorial Note:

I'm not sure what I did, but my posting about our trip to Lava went under the date of June 9th. SO... if you haven't seen pictures from our fabulous trip, scroll down a bit!

AMERICAN HEROES

On June 3rd, the third grade at Oakwood put on a special program called American Heroes. I can't even describe how incredible it was. The kids sang some of the most beautiful, heartfelt songs describing all different kinds of heroes. The most touching part was when they sang a medley of songs from the different branches of the military. While they sang, audience members who had served or are serving in the military stood up when their song was sung. When they sang the song from the Air Force, one older gentleman stood up all dressed in his uniform just as proud as could be. It sent chills up my spine. My friend Liz and I were on the verge of tears the whole time. The kids did two performances and one mother was so touched after seeing the first performance, that she hired a videographer to film the second one. Of course, as a very proud mother, I bought a copy. (I'm sure it will be for rent very soon!) Those third grade teachers had every child singing every word so clearly and proudly. It was truly an inspirational experience! Way to go Oakwood third graders!

A RAINY FIELD DAY

It never fails . . . it is either blistering hot or pouring rain on the school field day. This year we got pouring rain. Traditionally, field day is outside on the lawn, but the p.t.a. mom over field day did an absolutely fantastic job of adapting to the inside. Instead of "lightning" on the basketball court, we shot dodge balls into garbage cans in the hallway. The water relay race turned into an obstacle course in the gym and even the huge blow-up slide fit inside. The kids still had a blast despite the rain and field day went off without a hitch! Whew!

Some of the 6th grade boys dragging a soaked slide into the gym.

Josh and kindergarten pal having some sliding fun!

Adam has to be a "big kid" too!

HOT LAVA ROCKS!

With cold temps outside the water and hot temps inside, we spent an awesome weekend just over the border in Lava Hot Springs. The weather didn't hold anyone back from having a really great time and keeping 45 people happy isn't an easy task. We spent the time swimming and eating and eating and swimming. Who could ask for more? The boys absolutely loved it. Adam keeps asking if we are going to "swim-swim?" more. We definitely hope this becomes a neighborhood tradition!

Adam is trying to curb his enthusiasm on the drive to Lava.

Trying to ease into the Hot, Hot Pools

Adam and his good buddy Fisher.

It's about half the temperature outside than it is inside!

A Mozart in the Making

Daniel has been taking piano lessons from his Grandma for almost a year now, and he recently performed in a Spring Piano Recital . . . "A Musical Menagerie." His animal addition was GOOFY MONKEY and he was really awesome. He just marched right up to the piano, sat down and played like a professional. Now, if getting him to practice better was that easy . . . anyway, we are so proud of him!

"WHEW! I'm glad that's over!"

MEET THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE BALL FAMILY!

After a weekend of relentless begging and pleading, we gave our permission (mostly me-James, not so much) for Daniel to bring home a chick that was being hatched at school. We actually asked for two, but not all of the eggs hatched and each child was only given one. You might be wondering why there are three in this picture . . . apparently chicks do better when they are not alone. So, James took the boys and headed to IFA to find ours a sibling or two. With advice and help from our good friend and chicken lover, Liz, we have managed to care for them for 6 days now. It is fun to see the boys care for something and they have been pretty good about changing the water and food and paper. They really have been pretty easy to care for . . . so far.