I'm too lazy to go all the way downstairs and get the camera to post pics but wanted to post a quick blog since it's been over a month! I have been trying to take the kids out "adventuring" more now that they are all big enough and the weather is beginning to dry out (I think mother nature forgot we are southwest desert with all the moisture we have been having!). The last two adventures were hiking the Diamond Valley Volcano and touring the Bloomington Caves.

I am not sure that anyone should attempt to climb straight up the volcano instead of taking the path! I made a mistake of letting the boys lead the way and we somehow wound up heading straight up hill....in a mass of tiny volcanic pebbles the process was terribly slow as I would step up 8-10 inches and slide down 6-8 inches - slow going to say the least! finally we made it to some shaded snow and got some traction - then the fun of going down! Although it was a fun afternoon with the boys I can safely say next time around we will be sticking to the trails!

The Bloomington caves was a wild experience! It has been several years since I ventured to them, before life with kids anyway and I had forgotten how tricky it can be. While fun to take the kids down and let them wander some of the larger pockets there are some really tricky paths (more like tiny crevices to squeeze through). Adding a picnic lunch made the day disappear and while the boys can't wait to come again I think I will be waiting until I find a pair of knee pads - there is a lot of crawling involved when it comes to caving!

I will post some pictures next time!

Caleb is piling on the activities. Basketball started this past week and although he hasn't spent alot of time drippling a ball until now (I take full responsibility or that as I have never been a big bball player) but after wrapping up a four month long football season he is in great shape and picking up on the game quickly. He is getting pointers from Dad on more and more things lately -it seems I am losing my little boy as he now chooses to hang with Dad when possible (sniff sniff!)

In addition to basketball the much anticipated Pinewood Derby was this week. They have gone high teh with computerized tracks, big screen automated time recorders and more. The boys loved hearing their name over the speakers and seeing it up on the screen, Caleb was involved in a few "demolition derby races as twice another racers car jumped a seem in the track and taxied down on his car, but he was a great sport and was glad to come in first in one heat. His brothers were both very suportive with Cooper by his side most of the night (can't wait for his debut next year).

Jayden was so enthralled with the whole thing, he stayed in one spot all night - right next to the track. (Of course after the races were done he pulled out a couple of hot wheels from his pocket and tried to send them down the track)

Caleb worked hard on his "silver bullet" car and was happy his car made it down the track in one piece (last years car lost a wheel before the end of the night) and his brothers were happy to find a table full of cookies at the end of the night.....so alls well at the Chadburn house tonight!

Golf Anyone?

This was a new adventure....handing the kids metal clubs and a hard ball is just asking for trouble! After realizing we were risking life and limb to assist Jayden in any way we decided to let him just use the club backwards and whack at the ball instead of trying to teach him how to do it. Suprisingly once Mom and Dad left him alone he did pretty well.

Cooper is a natural at everything he tries. After watching Cooper pull off a couple of hole in ones, we debated on the possibilities of getting him signed. Anyone know of any miniture golf sponsership openings? The funny thing is of all three boys he is the one that cares the least about winning - as long as he can do things his way he is happy.... drives Caleb nuts!

Caleb ended up being the score keeper and follows the rules to the "T". While the rest of us started goofing around towards the end, he was still faithfully marking his score down at each hole, not wanting to cheat.

After a few hours (yes it took almost 2 hours to play 18 holes!) we ended up at the park with some pizza to let the kids run the rest of their energy down. It was a beautiful day and got us out of the slush that is still Diamond Valley as the snow slowly melts.

Went hiking and survived!

Saturday afternoon we decided to take the boys hiking. The only quick spot we could think of with no snow or mud was Pioneer Park right above St. George. The kids had a blast running around the hills and Jeremy didn't even have a heart attack watching as the boys got a little too close to the edge.

We have learned that Cooper is a regular mountain goat and Caleb can figure out how to get to the top of any hill.... unfortunately we also learned that Jayden thinks he can do whatever his big brothers can do! Poor Jeremy spent the afternoon two steps behind him trying to avert disaster!

Ringing in the New Years

New Years Eve was 'Rockin' and thanks to Tragon (sorry T couldn't resist!) I have the pictures to prove it. We headed down to the annualSt. George first night for a few hours with some friends. The kids saw the lights, climbed the rock wall and were ready to take the party back to our house where there is heat and a fireplace. As always, Jayden posed with his crazy faces when her wasnt busy climbing the wall with Dads help.

Caleb's an old pro and rang the bell - Cooper decided to climb the wall without his jacket so it wouldn't get in the way.

As the count down came close Caleb was sure to round up all of the adults to come in and see the peach (what happened to the ball?) drop and cheer in a new year. Jayden made it ... but just barely!

All in all it was a fun night - if not exhausting staying up so late. I must be getting old...

Rare sight indeed

Yes, snow in St. George. Luckily I was able to make it to town early enough to snap a few pitures before the snow melted. The blue patch in the sky was the only blue we saw that day.

I am really going to get serious this year (thinking 2009 already!) about keeping in better touch. This blog is my New Years Resolution! Over the past few weeks we have been lucky enough to have some family visit. It has been fun to watch neices and nephews together. A highlight this Christmas season for our boys has been having cousins spend the night and playing in the snow! We ended up with over a foot at one point - it even snowed on Christmas Eve giving Jeremy and the boys their first White Christmas!

June means PARTY TIME!

Happy Birthday Avery! Yesterday we went over to my sisters to celebrate her daughters 4th birthday. Happy Birthday!!!

She adores her cousin Caleb and spent the first hour with her arms wrapped around him or sitting on his lap. Caleb has a soft spot for her as well and loves the attention she gives him ...

It was fun to see Tu Tu surrounded by a few of her 22 grandkids.... will they all out grow her!?!

The kids had a blast just running around the house and playing

Caleb and Baylee are finally learning what it is like to be the one climbed all over!

After a few presents the party is a success. Avery is one happy little princess!

Uncle! Uncle! I give in

Am I finally breaking down and hitting away at the keyboard to blog!?! I have avoided this for a while now for two reasons. I"m on the computer too much as it is for work and I hear once you start ...you can never stop. Yet here I am tying away!

This month has been a "milestone" of many at the Chadburn household. Kids are home from school and we have officially made it through our first week of bridge work. I was sick for a day or two and Caleb actually got on my case for not having his worksheets ready... don't really know where he came from, he is much too good of a kid to be from me!

I moved my office home this month as well. I am trying to lighten the work load for the summer while the kids are home but there are so many temptations to keep me from the den... never tried to make popcorn balls before! So many things to do away from my desk I will be amazed if I accomplish much of anything this summer. I have never really been able to stay home with my boys so I am cherishing every second of it! Who cares if we have to substitute steaks for macaroni right!?! In the end they won't ever remember the kind of car I drove or what clothes I wear - it's the memories we are making now that are going to be recalled.

Cooper graduated Kindergarten and has changed his mind about his future occupation. He is now determined to be an archaeologist and follow in Indiana Jones footsteps. The kindergartners all dressed up for graduation and now I can't get him to put down his "Indie Hat". He had planned on being a Cop but after tagging along on the cub scout field trip to the Police Station and hearing that they have to be tasered and get pepper sprayed, he has decided against that chosen career path (even though it means he cant have lights on his truck).

Jayden is turning 4 in a week! I cant believe my baby is going into preschool in a few months. He is such a mischievous little monster and makes life interesting. I cant seem to get one step ahead of the child. This morning he decided to "help" clean the baseboards and I stepped into the hall to squish my sock into a drenched carpet. He was dragging a dripping wet towel around the hall wiping off the boards. There was a full blown creek winding to the bathroom ending with a nice pond on the tile floor. Bless his heart, he tries to help out and is so independent that he jumps in where he sees something he can do. Needless to say, I shampooed the carpets and scrubbed all the baseboards today. (ok I'll admit it they needed done).

Now that baseball season is over and the kids are all home we have tried to start going over to the school a few nights a week and running. The kids have fun throwing frisbee's or playing on the playground while we try an jog around the track. Caleb and Jeremy have decided to run a 5k next weekend!!! Yeah, I have been working on them both for over a year to run with me, it is so much easier when you are accountable to someone else! Hopefully this will help me shed the pound or two (more like ten or fifteen) that I need to lose.

I am so grateful to be home to enjoy this time with my family. I have a pretty awesome husband and kids that I thank Heavenly Father for everyday. I had a very real reminder just over a year ago- time is the one thing on earth we can't save or earn. You get what you get and not a minute more... don't waste a second of it because you don't know when the hourglass will run out!