Lake Meade

We spent the last couple of days relaxing at the lake! Chris got a "mandatory vacation", so we decided to take advantage of that, we loaded up and off we went.

The first day was Chris and I and the boys. Chloe stayed the night with Amber and didn't want to miss her trip to Chuck E. Cheese. We missed Chloe, but we still had fun just the boys, and me! The second day we got there earlier and stayed later. It was so nice to be together with just our little family having so much fun!

Chris towed us around on the tube. Even Cooper gave it a try and liked, but didn't want to do it long. Nick loved it! He wanted to be tossed off, and if he didn't get thrown off fast enough, he would just bail. I think the kids favorite part was when we would stop the boat and they could jump off and swim. Day 2 Cooper was feeling really brave and he would jump off all by himself and swim back to the boat.

Jordan, Amber, and Mavrik came met us out there at dinner time and brought us some A&W. Now there was somebody else to drive the boat and Chris got to play a little too. Jordan tossed Chris off the tube a couple of times and then he gave wake boarding a try. This was the first time he was ever able to get up, so that was fun. Jordan and Amber took turns tubing and wake boarding with the kids and they had so much fun.
They are already talking about our next trip to the lake! That definitely was a great couple of days!!

Rose Park

Today we randomly decided to go play at the park. A friend told us about it a while ago, so we finally decided to go check it out. I love that it is all gated off and kind of hidden. We were the only ones there! We had Everett today and the 5 of them played so well together, I was actually surprised.

We spent a good part of the afternoon hanging out there. The kids ran from the water features to the playground and back a million times. They played hide-and- seek, tag, and Nick and I played a little one-on-one soccer. Fun times!! We will definitely have to go there again.

Summer

School is out for the summer!

(or 5 weeks at least!)

I am so excited that I am done running back and forth to the school 4 times a day. Now we can better spend our time doing things like hanging out in the pool all day! Nick and Ben got to go camping at the lake with Grandpa, so the rest of the kids and Amber, Juli and I spent our afternoon cooling off in the pool! (Will and Mavrik were there too, but they were taking naps during picture time!)

Last night we went to Outback for dinner and then bowling with Jeremy and Juli. It was a little late, but the kids still loved it.

Kindergarten Celebration

Today was Nick's BIG day, he is all done with kindergarten! They had a little performance that they have been working on for a while and it was really cute! Even though I saw it yesterday I still loved it. They came out singing "Riding the Walking School Bus" and then one by one they went up to the stage and said their name and what they want to be when they grow up. Nick said, "My name is Nick and when I grow up I want to be a cop". I knew that is what he would say, no surprise there! He is totally fascinated with them, and always points them out when he sees one. Hailey was second to last and when she got up to the stage she said, "My name is Hailey and when I grow up I want to be a mom". She is just my niece, but that immediately brought tears to my eyes. They continued on with their program singing "Each of us is a Flower", then we watched a slide show of pictures from the year, and finished with "May There Always be Sunshine" and "First Grade, First Grade". Even though Nick was a little nervous with so many watching him (he loves to sing when no one is watching!) he did a great job and I love the grin I get when I smile at him! The kids got their certificates of completion and enjoyed cookies and juice.

I am so thankful that Nick got such a great teacher this year. She helped him a lot and he loved being in her class.



And because it was a "special day" Nick picked Cheeburger Cheeburger for dinner. So my whole family joined us there to celebrate with Nick and Hailey. Way to go guys! We are so proud of you!

My little Man!

Today is Nick's "Kindergarten Celebration", so last night we went on a little date to get him a new outfit for the big event. I was helping in his class yesterday when his teacher told him he needed to look handsome for their performance. So after school we were driving home I asked him what he wanted to wear to look handsome, he said, "church clothes". Nick is a picky shopper. He wanted to have a plain white shirt, like his dad, and wouldn't settle for anything else. I figured he was going to be overdressed, but he didn't care, he was so excited to be like his dad!
We went to the mall. We went to a couple different stores, trying different stuff on. Nick was a good little shopping buddy! On our way back through the mall we stopped at a photo booth and had our pictures taken. I think that was the high light of his night. And he was even more excited that he got to have a set of pictures to himself.
On our way home we stopped at Golden Spoon for a little treat. Nick got a great big waffle cone full of yogurt and topped with gummy bears. When we saw a friend from the ward she asked why he got such a big treat, I replied because tomorrow is Kindergarten Celebration.
I know that everyone completes Kindergarten, but I am glad that I got to have some one on one time with him and make Nick feel special. It won't be much longer before he won't walk through the mall hand in hand with his mom. So last night was special for me too. As I watched his class practice their performance yesterday I couldn't help but cry. I can't believe that he is going to be in 1st grade next year! He is getting too old, but at the same time, I am so proud of the little man that he is growing into!

Red, White, and Blue!!

I love the Fourth of July. I am grateful to live in the land of the free! I am grateful for the brave who give their lives and fight for me! I am Proud to be an American!

I was a little disappointed when I heard that the stake wasn't doing a 4th of July breakfast and bike parade, so I decided to do my own! I made cinnamon rolls and Chris whipped up some yummy french toast and bacon and all my family came over for our own little feast! The kids had a good time playing in the backyard and then we headed to the front for a kind-of-chaotic bike parade. It was already really hot, but we looked awesome as we took our ride/walk around the block. Lots of fun!

Everyone went home to rest for the rest of the day. Nick and Ben headed off to San Diego with Jordan and Amber. They watched fireworks from the harbor and went to a Dodgers game on Sunday. The rest of us swam and BBQ'd at my mom's. We went to Jenny's boyfriend, Ashton's house for some fireworks. "The Spanish Trails Police" came and told us we weren't allowed to do fireworks, so we cleaned up and headed home. The whole drive home Chloe and Alex were watching the fireworks from all over the valley saying how lucky everyone was because they got to do all their fireworks. Poor kids! We got home just in time to watch our neighbor's firework show. They had some of the good stuff. And then it was off to bed!! It was a very long, FUN day!

Swimmy Day

The kids didn't have school today so we spent the day in the pool. Cooper had to have a nap in the afternoon, so I got to play with my little fishes for a while. Nick, Chloe and Alex are now swimming with no floaties! That is so exciting to me!

Jordan got done working early so he came swimming with the kids. He was throwing them and flipping them, and doing all sorts of tricks. It was so fun to see Alex get thrown into the middle of the pool and swim to the side all by himself.