Anxious for Summer

"Mom, the water touched my uvula!" - Kimball

Ezra is the most chiseled, muscular little 6 year old I ever did see.

The boys playing baseball in their underwear.

This is why you're not allowed to eat corn on the cob with braces.

Dinner around the fire tonight, yum.

 

Celebrating 18 years

For our anniversary we went to see Riverdance which was uh-ma-zing!!! I mean talk about a super fantastic show, wow! Then we had dinner at a Brazilian grill while it down poured outside. After dinner we still had an hour before we needed to get the babysitter home so I suggested we go back to the car to take a nap. That's exactly what we did and it was marvelous. Aaaaaaand that is the difference between 2 years of marriage and 18 years of marriage, lol.

 

Random Photos

Now this picture may not look like much but it was worth celebrating! The past month or so I've been on a mission to figure out why Cora is sick all the time. I mean, since January to present day, these last six months she has been sick with chronic respiratory and cold-like symptoms. In April she was on antibiotics for an ear infection and the antibiotics helped, but the cold like symptoms came back four days later. ANYWAY, I took her to the allergist who did a blood draw to see where her white blood cell count is at and I believe she was going to look into autoimmune deficiencies/diseases. (Still waiting for those test results).

I didn't tell Cora she had to get her blood drawn and I didn't want to have to wait another year+ to piggyback it onto a sedation. So we walked right into the lab, Cora sat in the chair, and completely cooperated! No yelling, no crying, no fits, no apprehension whatsoever!!! This has not happened in 9.5 years without sedation!!!!!!! I think the key was that I didn't tell her what to expect. If she heard the word blood or if I explained what was going to happen I knew she was freak out, so I didn't say anything. Wow. I'm still in shock she did it and of course we had to get a treat on the way home to celebrate!

Get it, girl! Nothing like strong arm muscles trying to stir rice krispies.

Ezra's first lost tooth!! He was so excited and wanted to keep his tooth so he could put it under his pillow again for more money. He certainly tried but it didn't work.

For Memorial Day we went to a field to play baseball as a family and fly kites. Ezra and Cora found a spigot and sure had fun splashing around. Then we had dinner with our neighbors.

Baseball Season

Kimball had a great baseball season and was especially looking forward to it after playing catch and getting a special mitt from Grandpa Goofy. His team never did win a game but they improved so much over the season. They really had a great time and he got along really well with all of his teammates. I especially loved his coach - he made it all about having fun and improving skills.

His favorite position is still pitcher.

His got a sportsmanship pin because as he was going in for a catch, the ball bounced off his chest and got him right in the chin.

Spring and baseball season also means we can drive the Kharmen Ghia now that we finally have it back after.....7-8 years? Lance is in LOVE with that car!

 

Ezra Turned 6!

A very happy birthday to this sweetest caboose!!! Ezra asked for a dragon cake and the bakery at Safeway did not disappoint! Ezra is still all things movement and energy. He loves any kind of motion and activity but his favorite is running. He still likes cuddling with his Mama, loves Kindergarten, and Wasi. He's pretty chill but when he gets around his best friends, the wild in him comes out and it can be difficult to keep him reined in. He keeps himself entertained and has a great imagination. He's still in speech working on R, S, and Z sounds and isn't reading fluently yet but loves to put the letters together on his own. Man, I sure love this little squirt of mine!

On his birthday I surprised him at school with donuts for the class and got to eat lunch with him.

 

School Projects

Kimball got to do a science fair and his curiosity was if a baseball was dropped at different heights, which ball drops the fastest? He did a great job! The other elementary grades were able to attend the science fair as were the parents. It's neat to see all the different ideas.

Cora working on her science project.

I went with Kimball on his last ever field trip! I felt bad because I had been throwing up the night before and did not have the strength in me to go but my mom guilt got the best of me. I mean, it's his last field trip ever and I didn't want to miss that precious time with him. We went to Saltese Flats to do some bird watching and also talking about different insects living in the ponds there. It was actually pretty fun although it was hot.

 

Spring Break part 2

The second half of spring break was spent with all the Coxes. Lance flew in and the major surprise was that Kempton came home to surprise John and Donna for her 70th birthday. IT WAS AMAZING!!! Kempton and Bonnie flew in on Saturday night so I made sure the Cottage was stocked with food for them so they could catch up on sleep without breaking the Sabbath to get food. When Lance flew in we went with Kempton's family down the canyon to picnic, see the scenery, play on the playground. The next day they came over to Mom and Dad's where we just visited while the kids played outside. It was sure nice to visit and have access to fresh air and outdoor time.

Tuesday finally came and all the Cox siblings and most grandchildren went to Norm's. Kempton's family hid in the kitchen. We waited and as soon as Stephanie pulled up with Donna and John, we all started singing happy birthday. As soon as the song was over Kempton's family came walking out. Shocked was an understatement! The dinner we had catered from Norm's was so delicious and I think their chocolate cake was the best cake I've ever had!

Oh how I love my in laws!!

The next day at 1:00 Kempton had a zoom call with his bishop in DC. In Russia they don't have a bishop or any presiding keys. For church there are 16 individuals that meet together for worship services, I think all of them are diplomat families. Kempton's records are technically still in DC which is why Isom hadn't been ordained a deacon yet. Over a zoom call with the DC bishop and in the Cox's living room, Lance and Kempton and John all placed their hands on Isom's head to ordain him to the office as a deacon. It was one of the most powerful prayers I've ever heard! I mean the way Kempton used the priesthood through the proper priesthood keys by the miracle of technology, it was almost like listening to a patriarch or prophet. It was POWERFUL! Of course my heart was just bursting and I couldn't control the tears.

The next day all the Cox cousins who were able went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. This was Isom's first time in the temple and Kimball's second. I was very overwhelmed with the spirit and love in the temple. It was just an incredibly fulfilling experience!

The second part of Donna's surprise was ALL of the Coxes having a family reunion at the Pettingill cabin in Elba. We walked around the City of Rocks, swam a few times at Durfee's, played lots of games, ate lots of food, Bonnie did my makeup, and of course had an evening of unbelievable music!

Kimball chose to sleep in the closet, haha.

Bonnie did my makeup.

These next two pictures are so great. The Coxes are known for getting into laughing fits where they just cry and pee their pants. This time Kempton was trying to talk and Lance interrupted with a witty insult and the laughs followed for a good 45 minutes. These are pictures of everyone ugly crying because they were laughing so hard.

City of Rocks

The music is ALWAYS the best part of the reunion!

All of the Coxes minus Scott, Conrad, and Hunter.