Another first day

Can you believe it??? My baby (well, one of them) is going to Preschool!!!!

Dallin was SO excited for his turn to go to school this morning. He kept asking me... "Is it time yet?? Is it time to get in the car??" I was a little worried last week thinking about this day. Dallin has a shy side, especially in new situations and sometimes this shy side can last awhile. I was so surprised today as he jumped out of the van and ran to the front door of his preschool (the kids are supposed to go in on their own). I could barely get him to stop long enough to snap this one picture. No tears were shed. I was so happy. And he was MORE than happy.

After I picked him up, he kept talking about how fun it was and all the great things he did - holding the flag for the pledge, reading an apple man story, eating apples, making a craft... on and on. He was so proud. I am so glad that he is able to have such a positive experience. Thank you Ms. Annie :).

When we got home Dallin decided we needed a way to celebrate. So he announced... "I know! We can make banana pie!!" And so that is just what we did. Dallin and I made Banana Cream Pie. Yum! Dallin was even excited to be able to pick the pie crust... I let him get the individual ones :). He was pretty excited!

Way to go Dallin! We are so proud of you! I can't believe you are growing up so fast.

First Day of School

I just can't believe it is already that time of year again. Abigail was so excited this morning to head off to school. I was excited for her, too :). Still a little teary, but excited.

Dallin was not so excited, but I think once preschool starts he will be more willing to let his buddy go for the day. Abigail knew Dallin was upset this morning ... and I as rounded the corner to Dallin's room (to tell them it was time to go)... I found Abigail and Dallin sitting together on his bed reading books. She told me she was trying to make him happy :).

What a wonderful girl she is :).

I hope she has a fabulous day!

The Last Week of Summer

Monday: Beach Day with the Ward

We had a great day.... until the storm rolled in :). The wind was blowing so hard the kids were being pelted by sand and I had to chase down the boogie-boards at least 3 times across a field. So needless to say we didn't end on a high note, but we still had a great day. It was an adventure :).

Connor loving the water.

He loved wading out in the water until it was up to his shoulders and just walk around ... or "swim" in his words :).

Dallin playing with another boy in the Ward.

Tickle Torture/Water Fight

Silly kids

Abby taking Connor for a little swim

Tuesday: The Zoo with Friends

The gang

Matthew, Jacob, Dallin, Connor, Abigail and Emily

Friends are Fun

Putting Pennies in the "Bird Bank"

Loving the Dinosaurs... especially the one that squirts "spit"

Squirting the Dinosaur Back

Wednesday: Temple Day

A friend and I swapped watching kids at the temple so we each could participate in Fill the Temple day. It was a much needed trip for me and the kids did surprisingly well :).

Thursday: Neighborhood Pool

We felt so lucky! We timed things just right. We went to the pool in the morning and played for about an hour and half... until the kids were REALLY ready for lunch. Then we headed home... about 10 minutes after we got out of the pool it started pouring buckets of rain!!! Lucky for us we were dry and in the car :).

Meet the Teacher

We were so excited to find out that Abigail had been placed in Ms. Wang's first grade class. We have only heard great things about her as a teacher. And we are really excited for the new year with her. Abigail (and the entire family) was able to visit her classroom and meet her teacher. Abigail is really excited to start school. It was fun to see where she will be spending most of her time this next year :).

Friday: Beach Day 2

We had great plans for our last major beach day of the summer. The weather looked like it was going to cooperate. (and it did) We arrived mid-morning ready to play. Everything started off as a normal beach day... but quickly things changed... the kids kept coming running out of the water screaming ... it's itchy.. it's stinging!!! What?!?? We had never experienced such a thing. The other mom we were with and I even ventured out into the water to check things out. I looked at her ... she looked at me... do you feel anything?? I didn't, but she said her skin was stinging! Crazy! I still haven't really been able to figure out what was really going on.... but they definitely wanted to go home and that is not normal. So there must have been something. So... our beach day ended a little earlier than usual. But that was okay because I Daddy was coming home a little earlier than normal too. :)

Pool Time with Dad

After dinner we headed to the pool with our Dad. The kids sure do love playing with their Dad. He is pretty fun :). On the way to the pool we spotted a turtle in the road. So, of course, we flipped around.. picked up the turtle... put him the back of the car... and drove to one of the little "lakes" in our neighborhood. The kids had a great time checking him out and putting him back in the lake :).

After this pool party fun we decided to head to the neighborhood Pool Party/ Movie in the Pool. It was located at another one of the neighborhood pools. The kids had a great time swimming/ hanging out in the water and watching a family movie. Popcorn, lemonade, and swimming... Friday night was a success.

Saturday: A Day together as Family

Most of Saturday was a normal day... birthday parties to attend, house to clean, workouts to be done, running a few errands ... you know the drill. Saturday was an especially hot day, but we did manage to find a new park and have a family picnic in the evening. It was nice to be together under the tree canopy.

Sunday: Prepared for the Big Day

Sunday was a quiet day. Church.. naps... dinner.. and preparing for the first day of school. Abigail was able to receive a special father's blessing. I am so grateful for the opportunity we have to witness and experience priesthood blessings in our home. What strength, comfort and peace we can feel because of these blessings.

When I finally put the week's events down on paper... it makes me tired. But I am so glad that we did each and everything. I am so grateful for the time I have with my children and husband. I am so grateful for the memories that we share. Each are special to me.

Now we are ready for some regular routines at our house :).

Summer Space Fun

It hit me earlier this week that we only have 2 more weeks of summer! That is it! As I thought about it further... it wasn't just the end of summer... it was the end of having all my kids all the time.

Part of me is ready ... ready to not be homeschooling this year... ready to have more individual time with my boys... ready to have more time to clean my toilets... but the other part of me is not.

I am going to miss taking ALL the kids to do fun things whenever I want and not just when school is out... or only taking two of them instead.

I am going to miss listening to Abigail and Dallin playing upstairs while I pay bills or work on things on the computer - I love hearing them inventing new games and playing things like house and city. Dallin is really going to be lost without his buddy. Hopefully Connor will be able to fill that role and maybe I might hear things like cars, dinosaurs, trains.... rougher sounds :).

I am going to miss my big helper. Abigail really is the biggest help around the house. She runs and gets things for me, helps Connor with things - like getting his shoes on or grabbing him a snack. I have grown accustomed to someone else helping do these little tasks each day.

And believe it or not ... I am going to miss watching Abigail learn. It really has been fun this year watching her grown and learn new things. Being able to be right by her side as she sounded out her first three syllable word and learned to count by fives ... the excitement and pride in her eyes :). Or the fun we had reading new stories and creating projects from them... coloring, painting, science projects, etc.... you get the idea. I know there are other things that I am teaching her each day about life and the gospel... but it was fun learning the "academics" with Abigail too.

So.... with all of these feelings... I have been trying to cram in all the fun we can manage.

Monday - the splash park

Tuesday - Costco (not exactly normal kid fun, but mine enjoy it... and sometimes you have to add the necessities in your schedule)

Wednesday - the beach

Thursday - the Space Center

Tomorrow we might have to take the day off and actually clean the house :).

Hopefully next week will be pack with more fun as well....

Here are some pictures of our fun today at the Space Center...

Kiddos enjoying touring the space shuttles and space suits

Lunch Break outside on the grass with friends - we were so grateful to have some cloud coverage :)

Seeing the BIG ROCKET!

Group Shot

Connor, Shep, Abigail, Dallin, and Ella

Connor having a good time.

It was a great day! We were so glad we finally made it out to the rocket and learned that you don't have to take the tram to get there!!! Hooray!! (Taking the tram is quite the adventure with the kids... waiting in line... seeing some other stops that don't really interest them... waiting some more... then seeing the rocket) An employee at the Space Center shared with us that you can actually drive right to Rocket Park! You look like you are going the wrong way (only for employees), but they will let you in! Amazing! Why didn't we know this sooner?!?!? Learning this trick made for much happier (cooler) kids and happier moms.

Today...

Today was a good day.

6 kiddos piled in my van.

A closed freeway and a long detour later ... we made it to the beach.

The camera battery was dead. No pictures.

Oh, well... I think I have at least 300 pics of the beach this summer :).

The kids played hard - building sandcastles, boogie boarding, swimming, and splashing.

The kids were happy.

I was happy.

It was another fun day at the beach.

I am going to miss these summer days.

Recycling

Reading under the flowers.... her favorite part.

Now our Princess sleeps in a jungle... a beach jungle :).

Happy Birthday!!!

It's official... Abigail is 6 years old!!!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

We love you!!!

We have had a week of celebration this year for Abigail. Due to John's conference schedule he was to be gone on Abigail's actual birthday, so we decided to celebrate a couple days early as a family. The day began with the traditional birthday decor and birthday breakfast. Abigail requested a "pancake with a face" this year for breakfast. She even gave me instructions on how to complete this task (I added the strawberry hair for fun -- can't always only follow the directions)

We had a yummy breakfast followed by the opening of some of Abigail's birthday presents.

Here she is pictured with some of her new books... she was so excited to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She began reading it that day. :)

The kids and I knew we had to do something fun during the day to celebrate... so we headed off to the pool. We even tried the deeper pool in our neighborhood. The thought of which is a little scary for me, but the kids did great. We all had a great afternoon.

Daddy came home a little early (thanks dad!) and we headed off to Red Robin for birthday dinner (Abigail's choice). She really loves being sung to and getting a special treat on her birthday :)

But the fun didn't stop there.... we walked a little ways down the sidewalk (Red Robin is located in an outdoor mall.. so we walked down the Mall a bit)... until we came to the "splash pad." We attempted to keep the kids dry (well not soaked), but I lost ... John convinced me to just "go with it... and let go." :)

Pretty soon.... they were all SOAKED! Soaked and Happy! What a great way to end a birthday. Soaked, happy and eating ice cream :).

Friday we celebrated Abigail's birthday with friends. Abigail decided she wanted a Luau (Hula - in her words) Party. We had lots of fun ... sand crafts, games, pineapple cakes and smoothies. Abigail had a great time. Thanks to all you came and made her day a special one.

Here is the gang ...

Samuel (what a good sport - the only boy), Abigail, Emily, Kaori, Ily, Ella, Micaela, Samy, and Elle

Happy 6th Birthday Abigail!

We love you!

We love your laughter, your caring personality, and your sweet smile. We love how we can always find you with your nose in a book or playing with your brothers. You can always brighten our day. Thank you for always taking care of your brothers and for being such a good girl. We are so blessed to have you in our family. You are such a special girl. Hope you had a fabulous birthday Abby... because WE LOVE YOU!