The Spring Reserve

Our ward is doing 'Fun'day Mondays this summer to keep the kiddos busy. Yesterday we went to the Springs Preserve. This was the first time I took the kids. I always heard about how cool it was but our weekends are always full with games and birthday parties. This place really is too cool. There were so many activities I couldn't believe it. We will definitely be frequenting this place!

Andrew refused to participate in the group shot. Oh well. Remember this stage when you always have to give someone bunny ears. Leave it to the boys.
This was a fun water activity in the playground
After we took this shot. We were informed by the security guard that the kids are no longer allowed to climb the rocks due to too many injuries.
I had to get at least one pic on Jalyne climbing even if we were breaking the rules.

Andrew could have spent the whole day playing with these balls. We had lunch on the balcony of the cafe and it was gorgeous! You can eat lunch outside and see the whole east side of the valley. Beautiful! Thanks ladies for organizing this day!

Our Favorite Rylee

Rylee came over for dinner on Sunday. She babysits for us when Nathan and I want to go out for a longer period of time and we don't want to worry about the kids. She's been coming over since Jr. High and now she's graduating from Sierra Vista High School. She's too great! We all adore her and the kids have too much fun when she's around. This time she brought her boyfriend. Okay Rylee, thumbs up! Just continue to CTR. We Love You Rylee! Keep up the good work with School, your Job, your Family and your Life! We're always her for you!

Kylin was counting the seconds till she arrived. Andrew made me jealous when he wanted her to hold him and I was standing right there.:( He was only 'scared of Rylee' for a couple of minutes.:)
See You at Graduation!

very creative

We went to a birthday party today and this was pretty creative. Under the whipped cream is a piece of double bubble gum. The first person to get to the gum and chew it and blow a bubble won a prize. The catch is that the whipped cream does something to the gum and you can't blow bubble's. Too funny! Try it!

This was another fun thing. For each kid at the party, the mom (the same person who did my teacher gifts) made vinyl letters and names. They turned out cute! Amazing right!? I am to exhausted to think of super cute, creative, fun activities for birthday parties. The party is enough and for all of you that come to those lame parties, you understand.

Riel's Back

Riel came back from S. Korea for the summer. I just realized that I didn't take a picture of him. It's because I realized that I am in love with his little girl Kirsten. She is so dang cute. Well, Riel dyed his hair auburn i guess. Not my favorite of his looks but oh well. I watched Kirsten tonight and she had a good time playing. This car is always a kid favorite.

And this is how the night ended. I tried to bathe her with everyone else and she hated it. I dressed her up in Andrew's pj's because she didn't come with any. Then after playing for a minute she decided to go to her car seat and go to bed. Can you believe it. My kids never would do anything cool like this.

School's out for Summer

This year absolutely flew by! Taylor's teacher actually let her give him a hug. That is a rarity! She taught him to have a greater love of reading and writing. He wrote a bunch of fun stories this year and read huge chapter books like: Holes and all of the Fablehaven's. Amazing. Reading was something his 1st grade teacher use to have to bribe time to do with sports books.

Jalyne had a lot of fun in Mrs. Kase's class with all the incentive programs. She enjoyed all her friends and was really able to improve in Math and Writing.
Normally I just take the kids to good old Target and let them pick out a piece of jewelry for their teacher. This year I really wanted to do something fun. I was given these really pretty glass frames for a christmas gift from one of my mom's friends. I didn't think that I would ever use them so I had a friend make me some quotes in vinyl to put on the frames. The first one says They may forget what you said, but they will never forget the way you made them feel. I did this for Jalyne's teacher because all Jalyne needed to have a good day was a compliment or a pat on the back. The next one says I touch the future. I teach. I did this for the other two teachers. I thought that everytime they looked at this, they would be reconfirmed in their efforts as teachers!

I stuck pictures in the frames and walla. We wrote a little letter and put it in a bag with tissue paper. I told them they could take the pictures out and just keep the frame.

I love it!

as much as i loved their teachers

My New Friend

Andrew and Kayden finally got to play together after 2 yrs. They had fun playing in their own 2 yr. old boys way! This is the son of one of Nathan's good friends. These guys need to hang out more often and then when they're older, they can marry Jared's twin girls.

Kylin's 4th Birthday

Our Little Polly Pocket Turned 4 Today!

This little girls that I use to carry around and people thought was a doll has turned out to be quite the little lady. Papa treated her to a Chuck E Cheese Birthday Party.
She's not even scared of Chuck E Cheese any more.

A couple of her friends.

After about 5 tries, this was the best picture
I could get of three 4 yr. olds

I have to admit, Walmart has the funnest cakes for a good deal.

Each cake has a cute toy the kids can keep.

This was Andrews:

This was Ashlyn's:

The kids love it. It's easy on the wallet. We're all Happy.

Old Friends

Ashlyn made this great friend 'Lily' in kindergarten while her dad was here in vegas finishing Orthodontic school. They had the best play dates and park days!

We miss hanging out with you guys!

Ashlyn's Poetry Day

Ashlyn and her teacher Ms. Pasier.

She's the best 1st grade teacher! All my kids have had her. She's like family. This was a fun way to end the year and invite all the families to the school to see what their children have accomplished this year. Ashlyn recieved 2 awards:

Exemplary Attendance and Straight A Honor Roll.

Way To Go ASHIE!

Silly Things Andrew Does

I adore this age and if you can't tell, this little guy. Little kids explore and have the best imaginations. I wish I didn't care as much about what I wear and what I look like.

Andrew as 'BATMAN'

Andrew found Daddy's shoes
Here he has Jalyne's hat and Taylor's shoes and baseball mit