Layla's Orchestra Concert

This evening, we arrived at Salk Elementary to support Layla at her first orchestra concert, where she played the violin.  Unfortunately, our small girlie was put in the back row and we weren't able to get any pictures or videos of her performance.  The concert included her group, the 4th graders and also two other groups, the 5th graders and 6th graders.  So we had to sit through the entire concert before Layla was dismissed.

As little brothers do, Zackery had the hardest time sitting still and being supportive.  The picture included shows the self-portraits Zackery took as he entertained himself.  I told him, "Zackery, please listen to concert!"  He responded with the series of photos in the collage.

Thanksgiving Fun

Zackery played basketball while he waited for Thanksgiving Feast

Fall Feast

Photo Share

Layla supporting her favorite team!

Mom said no to dessert.   This is the face she got.

Grrr...I'm the Hulk!

They insisted on trying on hat and getting pictures, too.

Zack Speaks Post-Tonsils

10.4.12 - Goodbye Tonsils

Mommy and Zackery left for Phoenix Children's Hospital at 5:45 a.m. to check in by 6:15 a.m.  Zackery was just excited that he didn't have to go to school.  When we arrived, he was hesitant to put on his hospital clothes, but soon calmed when he got to play with the itouch and go to the  toy room.  He played a game of Chutes and Ladders with Mom and another pre-op child.  He also attempted Operation.  By 7:30 a.m., the male nurse summoned us back to our room, where they gave him some liquid sedation to take him down.  Within 15 minutes, Zackery was acting goofy and could hardly keep his heavy eyelids open.  He attempted many times to lift his head up and he tried to grab the bars on the bed to lift himself up, but the medicine won. I had to keep reminding him to just lie down.  Around 8:00 a.m. Daddy got to the hospital.  Dad had made sure Layla got on the school bus okay.  At 8:15 a.m. the anesthelogist came and wheeled Zackery away.

 

Even though the surgery was considered minor, we were still so worried as parents do. However, 30 minutes later, the doctor/surgeon had come out to tell us the tonsils were gone and Zackery did wonderful! We began our wait to see if he could go home. The doctor was considering an overnight stay just in case (due to Zackery's medical history). We got to go wait with him in his curtained post-op room, as he snored his last snores. The nurses let him sleep the anesthesia off and soon started trying to wake him up. He was tired. But he drank some apple juice for us and ate an orange popsicle.  He also managed to smile for us when we took pictures and quickly off to dreamland he went.  We waited for about 3 hours before Zack finally decided to get up and breathe well enough for the nurses and doctor to feel comfortable.  By 1:00 p.m., we were driving into our driveway at home.  He slept the rest of the day, which was probably good for him so that he didn't have to feel any pain.  He's still amazes us with his strength. 

 

Back to School

August 6-7: The kids' auntie Shawna came and watched Layla and Zackery while Mom and Dad were working.  They really enjoyed their time with Shawna, who surprised us by running a tight ship while we were working.  I'm glad she came and helped us out.  It was our pleasure to have her with us.  Somewhere in this process, Layla became a One Direction fan.  There were lots of Fan Signs laying around her room.

August 8: First Day of School for my 4th Grader (gasp!) and my Kindergartener (double gasp!)
Layla went willingly and excitedly.  Zackery, on the other hand, was anxious and angry.  The morning to get him ready was a horrific event.  Nonetheless, he begrudingly got there.  Come dismissal time, his attitude had changed and was looking forward to a new day at school.  Since it was a difficult morning, no cute pictures were taken.  What I eventually got was a 2nd day of school pic!  I'm just glad his attitude has changed and they both enjoy school.  Mornings are still a bit difficult, but I blame myself.  They inherited the "not-a-morning-person" gene from me.

So summer is over!  Everyone's back to work and back to school! :/

First Week of August Flashback

August brought many changes in our lives.  So many changes that busyness clouded mom's ability to post.  Here is my attempt to fill in the blanks.

August 1-3: Layla and Zack were enjoying time at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Their trip included time at the lake for fishing.  Their first time ever!  According to the reports, Zackery enjoyed throwing rocks in the lake and was very curious by the caught fish.  Layla was terrified, once she figured out how slimy the fish were and didn't go near the lake, but stayed on the sandy banks.

August 3-5: TsinSiKaadnii/Kii'yaa'aanii Family Reunion Time in Iyanbito, NM - Mom, Layla and Zackery went back to Iyanbito, NM for our family reunion.  We all had a great time.  The kids played in the ditch, slid down the red sandy hills, and got extremely dirty.  Mom enjoyed visiting with all the cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents that came out.  She thoroughly enjoyed playing volleyball all day, laughing, and even walking in the 5K.  We're so blessed that our family organizes this event annually.  It was just what our souls needed before work and school started.  Where was Dad?  He was in Mesa; working hard as it was a weekend he had to work.

As Luck Should Have It

Today, I decided that instead of showering and jumping into my 3rd set of PJ's, I would get myself showered and take the kids out of the house. They've been ever so patient with me being lazy around the house this week, I rewarded them with a trip to the city library. When we arrived, the designated event hadn't started (some dog show) so we looked around and found the area for the city culture passes. As luck should have it, there was a pass for the Phoenix Zoo that allowed for 2 free admission. Layla was so excited, she jumped at the chance to check them out and take her mom and brother to the zoo. There were huge clouds covering the sky and it seemed like a great idea to venture off to the zoo. Although, it was HOT and HUMID, we had a joyful day! :)

Zackery and Layla checking out the elephant.

Elephant Close-Up

Some cool animals we got an up close and personal view of

Zack: Can we get in the water?

Finally, after many failed attempts, Layla sees the Andean Bear

Zack: Look Mom! A beautiful leaf!

Layla:  Look I can drive!

Some much needed water relief, after 45 minutes of walking

Layla: Eww, I'm digging in the Komodo dragon's nose!

I didn't notice until he was running around, that his swimming trunks were on backwards.

R-E-L-I-E-F!

Having a great time in the water

The giraffes in the "savannah"

Zackery: Look! The giraffes!

The only animals who looked like they were okay with the heat today.

Still smiling after surviving the Phoenix Zoo

Self-Portrait

Layla captured Layla with colored markers on 7.10.12

Guilty as Charged

Crime:  Breaking three different Wii games by scratching them beyond repair

Sentence:  Zackery cannot play the Wii game for three whole days.

The news was just too hard for him to handle and tears came streaming down his face.  It was the fairest sentence for a 4-year-old to comprehend.  In the end, he wanted to hug it out and went into his room and fell asleep.  Tough life lesson for this guy.

Time for the Fair

PRCA Rodeo in Window Rock, AZ

Cotton Candy

My favorite color, mom, Red!

The Boye's had some fun going to the rodeo during the July 4th Celebration in Window Rock, Arizona.  Zackery mainly enjoyed the sweet treats and Layla enjoyed the rides so much she was nowhere in sight for any pictures to be taken.  Thanks to Grandma Norma for providing us with wristbands so Layla and Zackery could enjoy the rides and thanks to Grandpa Art for buying the kiddos cotton candy.  Zackery ended up eating half of the cotton candy in about 15 seconds. Mom ended up having to hide the rest of the package in order to space out the candy for the duration of the rodeo.  We enjoyed the fireworks display on July 5th in which Layla lost her voice from oooh-ing and aahh-ing through the entire show.  We mainly enjoyed visiting our family during this time. 

July 4th Fun

We were blessed with family time for July 4th.  As a family, we helped Layla and Zackery's nalii with the butchering of a sheep; which was the first time ever for both of them.  Layla even got her hands a bit dirty by helping out all her grandmas in the process. Zackery kept a safe distance away from the vicinity, giving a cautious look now and then to what was going on.  In the end, the feast that followed was well worth the hard work we all put in.  Zackery was shocked when he realized that the stew he was eating was sheep meat, hesitated for a moment, but shruged it off and slurped up his entire bowl of stew with frybread.

I think the kids really enjoyed spending some much needed time with their nalii and their dad's side of the family, which sometimes we are too busy to do.  They were able to fit right in and get all the bit dirty that the rez area has to offer.  I think they bonded with aunts and uncles they hardly see and they even got to meet some cousins that they've never met.  It was such an awesome time for all of us and to remember how big our family actually is.  I'm so glad we got to take some time to visit our Coan side of the family.

Zackery's quotable:

Zack was trying to spit his gum out and says, "Look!  I spit my gum in the desert." 

Mom: "This is not the desert, Zack."

Zack: "What is it?"

Mom: "Hmm....(perplexed, what do I call this area?) It's the rez!"

Zack: "Oh.  I spit my gum in the rez."

Layla helping out with the butchering.

Layla smiling while she works.

Layla taking direction from her grandma.

This is interesting.

Look Mom!  I made a cake!

What a great day!

Jay, what are you doing?!

Zack: "I love you Layla!"

Tag Teaming Chores

I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with letting my kiddos take part in helping me with household chores.  They were more than happy to help me with loading the dryer.  In fact, they almost killed each other to help me.  In the end, they worked together to get all the clothes in the dryer and Zackery was proud that he could touch the start button.

Taking a Time-Out

On June 10th, we took a moment out of our drive home to take a tiny hike so that Layla and Zackery could stretch out their legs and have some fun.  Zackery took a great liking to throwing rocks in the lake.  Layla had a great time looking for rocks for her brother.  It was an awesome time to just enjoy each other's company.

Tiara by the lake

Dad having a moment with Zackery and Layla

Looking for rocks to throw

Look!  Splash!

A short lesson on skipping rocks

Posing Layla

I Love the Lake!