Weekend at Aunt Stacy's

My kids would live in the pool if I let them (at least Austin and Allison would). Once it hits spring they start counting down the days until we visit Aunt Stacy's next because they can have several whole days of swimming.

This was Asher's first time swimming. He didn't hate it but he didn't love it either. He pretty much has this stoic expression on his face the whole time.

Abigail loves the new bathing suit her Uncle Ed picked out for her. She said "I likes having big muscles." Chris said she looks like a purple ninja turtle. :)
Austin and Allison have no fear. They jump, dive, fall, flop, splash and smile the whole time.

Dega-sitting.

My sister, Gail and her husband, went out of town for a week and asked if we would babysit her chinchilla while she was gone. I was happy to say yes because my kids would love a pet but have very mean and selfish parents who would never say yes to something permanent. But we would be happy to do it for a week and give it back. :)

So here is Dega. I am sad we didn't get more pictures. My kids loved watching him run in his ball and feeding him his dessert every night of a single raisin. However they did not want to clean up around his cage everyday.

Look at that cute profile!

Here we are giving Dega a bath. That kids thought it was so funny watching him shake in his dry bath. Yes, it may look like he is getting dirtier but he is, in fact, bathing.

Water Play!

Summer is great! The kids can finally get out of the house and play, play, play! I love how creative they get with anything they do (inside or out). No matter how stressful life seems to get, they always seem to have so much energy and happiness in them. I guess that is one of the many reasons we are supposed to "be like a little child," right? And that is why we have them, to teach us to be better people. I love the little lessons that my children teach me every day about myself. As much as I don't want to sometimes admit my weaknesses, I see them in them and want to quickly change myself so they will change themselves. Wow, this post quickly changed from just plain old pictures to some deep life reflection. But sometimes, I can't help but look at these sweet pictures and their smiling faces and be reminded of how great life is and how much better I want to be. My children make me want to be a better person. Hopefully they make you feel the same way.

Just chillin'. I love how much my kids love each other and are best friends even after they have just yelled at each other. They truly are a great example of forgiveness.


I love this picture of Abigail, even thought I cut off her eyes. She tends to be my more serious adult-like child so when I see her really having fun and smiling it makes me happy.

Allison on the other hand is pure joy. She is constantly a ball of energy and happiness. She finds joy in everything she does and is so imaginative.

Wrapped up like little bugs, drying off. I love capturing moments like this when they aren't looking and posing for the camera but showing just how naturally creative they can be.

It started to get really windy, so here is Allison making a "flag."

Catching Up!

Just when you think your life can’t get any busier, it does. Somehow you manage to get everything done that needs to get done…everything that is, except blogging. We are a little behind and I don’t see it getting better anytime soon. I have started this post several times and keep changing it because I get interrupted and then life changes and hence the post needs to change. I am determined to get it posted CORRECTLY, today! Get ready for picture overload!



Scout Expo
A couple of weeks ago we attended the Scout Expo with Austin. It was a lot of fun for the kids.

Austin got a bulls eye on the knife throw.

I was mesmerized by this eagle. It has been a long time since I saw one up close and she was simply majestic.

While the kids and I were going around to all the activities, Chris stood in line for the zip line for 1 HOUR and 45 MIN.! We must really love our kids! They really wanted to go on it so we made it happen. SPOILED, I tell ya!

Allison was so brave, I thought she would get up there and start crying but she loved it. Now, if we could get her to ride a two-wheeler...

Austin loved it too!

We also stood in line for 45 minutes for face/arm painting. Allison got a guitar on one arm and a butterfly on the other.

Abigail was so shy that she just got a heart.

Austin sawed some wood and then got a bear claw print branded into it.

Preschool Graduation

We loved, loved, loved Allie's preschool this year. We had a preschool co-op with four other people. The kids loved going and I really enjoyed teaching once a week. The kids really are the best of friends. Their preschool graduation was so cute. They performed a couple of songs and did a graduation cheer. I still can't believe she starts Kindergarten in a few months!

In-Tune

Some of Chris's cousins started a performing group/show choir in Cedar City. It is supposed to be from ages 5 and up but Abigail knew all the songs and dance steps so they let her do it too. They performed at the Cedar City Business Expo a 50's themed program. They did so good and were soooo cute! And of course, my kids were the best! :) Stay-tuned for more pics of their summer play.

Field Day and The Last Day of School

Allison and Abigail got to help the girls in Austin's class during the tug-o-war. The girls lost but only because there is about 5 more boys than girls in his class.

I had never seen Austin hoola-hoop before this day. He actually did really well but didn't place.

Austin got 3rd in the sac race.

We loved Mrs. Greenfield. She was especially nice to Allison and Abigail and would always let them play with things in her room and give them treats. She always included them in class activities and asked about them. We will miss her.

Keith's Graduation

When Chris and I got married, Chris' brother, Keith, was only 6 years old. Now he is graduating and preparing for a mission. Keith has accomplished so much in these last few years and we are so proud of him. Here are just a few of his accomplishments...

• 1st place in Bridge competition at the State Science Olympiad
• 1st place in Bridge competition at SUU Engineering Fair
• School Sterling Scholar in Trade and Technology
• Regional Sterling Scholar in Trade and Technology
• 1st place in State in Discus
• Lettered in Football
• He received over $100,000 in Scholarship offers

I love this picture of the three youngest of Chris's brothers and sisters. It truly represents their personalities!

My sister-in-law and I made this cake for Keith. I hate store bought cakes so this is our attempt at one that looks like one but tastes way better! One out of two aint bad...

Asher falling asleep

This is a video I found of Asher that I never posted but is pretty cute.

Asher - 10 months!

Our little monster is now 10 months old and driving me crazy. I can't leave him alone for one second and he is into something. Asher learned how to get through two childproof locks on the TV before we figured out how to finally keep him out. He still loves bathrooms and toilet paper (at least it has been clean toilet paper). We no longer have a need for sweeping or mopping our floor because he eats everything off of it and then drools enough on it that we just have to wipe that up and...wa-la, it's been spit-shined! :) I have had to move everything in the office off the first two feet of shelving - books, paper, magazines, etc., and in from the desk and table about a foot because he loves to reach up and gab everything off them. Let's just say he definitely keeps me on my toes. He is actually quite fun. He is very happy and determined. When we try to re-direct him, by moving him, not just out of the area but out of the room, he just looks up at you and smiles and crawls right back to where he was and what he was doing. :) I guess, those are both great qualities to have, right? I think my favorite thing he does right now is when he wakes up from a nap. He starts banging on the wall for us to come get him. He is so smart and thinks he is so funny, he actually laughs at himself especially when he knows he is being sneaky.

This is him getting caught in the pantry. Look at that face, he thinks he is so funny.

Allison thought it would be funny to put Asher in his toy box and push him around the house. He didn't seem to mind.

Going Green!

It's funny how a little green in the front of your house can make a huge difference. For starters, it feels like we live in a house now instead of a construction zone. Hopefully, we will have less dust, although, I doubt it since we are still surrounded by about 3 acres of dust. Next year we can actually build a snowman in the front yard. Chris wouldn't let the kids build one this year because he said we would just end up getting too muddy. :( Next I can start working on my flowers and bushes. So many choices!

Definitely the longest part of the whole process was putting in the sprinkler system.

Chris showing the kids how the sprinklers work...they actually seemed interested (for a minute, at least).

We have amazing family that always come to help. Here they are laying the sod. Between the three men and a little help from me and my sister-in-law we laid the whole front yard in an hour and a half! :)

I don't have pictures of Chris grading and compacting the yard but we seriously had the flattest yard around. We had several people ask how we did it....take my advice AND DON"T ASK! :)

BEAUTIFUL!!

Ballet class

Allison took her first ballet class. She took it through the rec center so there wasn't a long commitment, only a 6 week class. She can barely touch her toes but she still loves it. :) It looks like she takes after her daddy. Her teacher was perfect for her because she was really "cheesey" and animated and goofy, just like my Allie.

On the last day of class, the instructor told us it was "little sister day" because there were quite a few girls with little sisters that were always there watching. So, Abigail got to join in on the fun. Both the girls loved dancing together.

Bumps and Bruises

I am falling behind on blogging but here are some fun pics to hold you over...Austin and Allison both recently got some nice bumps and bruises. Austin rammed a big metal Tonka dump truck into Allison and gave her a beautiful black eye. Austin was goofing around and fell and hit the corner of the wall and got a nice size goose egg on the side of his head. Luckily, no permanent damage was done. :)


This might sound strange but when I was little, I always wanted a black eye...

This picture of Austin's head was actually after the swelling had gone down a little.