Sunbathing

Don't you remember doing this as a kid? Heck- I remember sleeping on the carpet in the sunshine as a teenager. Felt SO good!

Miss Independent

I guess when Mom's busy Little Addy can get her own cup for a drink. I caught her climbing...

CA friends in Utah!

We were SO excited to be able to have a couple friends come visit in June from California. First the Marriott's and then Ragans! It was so fun and our kids loved seeing old friends!

At the Ice cream /penny candy store (that was really 3 cent store):
I took the boys over to see the creations this guy in town makes with pop bottles and shells and anything else he finds to create things. They thought it was pretty cool!

Playing dress-ups:
At the city pool:
Visiting the temple:

Thanks for coming to see us!

Nathan Randoms...

Nathan worked so hard on his derby car, only to have it bubble up on the paint job just hours before. Not to worry, Supermom to the rescue...Dad wasn't home, so Mom went and bought more paint, sanded it all down to the wood herself, and helped Nathan spray paint his car over again...got done JUST barely in time. WHEW!Mrs. Frischknecht (my AUNT) was Nathan's teacher this year. This is at the May Festival. We both LOVED having her as a teacher. Gotta remember to put her up for an award somewhere. She's AMAZING!
Nathan was a hoot in the May Festival. He really performed well and people asked me after, "Oh- is this one your son? Boy- he's a good dancer. Cracked me up!" Here he is doing the sprinkler move:
I about died when I realized he was dancing with a partner! They even did the tango, which I cracked up on. They told them to make a serious face during the tango, and it was funny!
Nathan's Birthday cake...Turning 9.
LOVE this kid!

Branding cows...

Bradley and the other boy cousins worked hard all day to brand and innoculate the calves. It was a good experience but when I went out to take a picture and see if they were done, I couldn't stand the smell. I guess I still have some "city girl" in me.

Syd's 12th Birthday...

Sydney had a really fun birthday party. She chose a "cooking" theme which was really fun in our new kitchen. I made aprons and chef hats for all the girls (except Sydney told me there were only 12 girls- forgot to count her. So I have to make her one later). These girls had a lot of fun together. Don't ask me why one of the girls has a spiderman mask on...I think they found the dress up box while waiting. I asked her if she didn't want to take if off for the picture and she said no. Crazy!

They each made their own lasagna, loaf of bread, and mini pie.

That's a lot of loaves of bread!
We had a couple of games- one was naming the kitchen utensils guessing game, and the other was the penny-flour game. I only figured we'd do it once, thinking they may not like it, but they had a blast and asked to do it several more times. It is where you mold flour with a cup, put it on a plate with a penny on top, and go around with everyone having to take a slice of flour without making the penny fall. The one that makes the penny fall has to dig it out with their face and teeth. Funny!



On the Sunday after her birthday, we had a combined family birthday with Andrew and Mathew. I tried a fondant cake, which worked out pretty well. Sydney loved it and said it was her best cake ever!
Can't believe she is 12! In honor of her big birthday, here are 12 things I love about her:

1. She is very thoughtful of others. This year she has been sticking up for the underdogs at school.

2. She is very spiritual. She can recognize the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.

3. Sydney is a good friend to others.

4. She still snuggles with me.

5. She works hard in school and gets straight A's.

6. She is a lot of fun and can be crazy at times.

7. If you have never heard her when she has a giggle-attack, you are missing out~

8. She has a heart of gold and won't kill bugs or spiders. She loves all animals.

9. This girl is very helpful and good with the little siblings.

10. She still enjoys dress-ups, dolls, and other girly things. I don't want her to lose that, but realize it is just around the corner.

11. Very independant and responsible. She always remembers things she needs to do and places she needs to be and reminds me.

12. LOVE her strawberry hair!

Loving Cousins.

These 2 cousins LOVE each other and can't get enough of playing together. We just wish we were even closer (they live an hour away)...

Memorial Day fun

We decided to start our summer fun off early with a trip up north for MEMORIAL DAY. We started with a hike up Timpanogas Cave with our friends, the Richins. We thought it was going to be snowed out, but we were one of the first after they scraped the path and let us up. Worth the hike- so fun! The kids had a great time and enjoyed the bit of snow we had.

Then we went to The Pie Pizza restaurant for a giant pizza. The kids just wanted pepperoni. We ate way too much! McKenzie sat right behind a boy in her Snow College band and they both freaked out seeing each other. It was funny.
Stop to see Mike's Dad's grave. Wishing we had stopped to grab some flowers, but seemed to be in a hurry.

That night, we had tickets to "Seussical the musical" at the Hale Center Theater. It was so colorful and funny! The kids loved it. (So did I). I love the theater in the round and this theater is so intimate and fun. They really put on a great production!

Much more summer fun to come. Can't wait.

Spring Break photos... Southern Utah/ Zion's National Park

Our Condo we rented: So MUCH nicer than a hotel.

Cove Fort Volunteer showing us a wooden toy the kids got to take home:

St. George:
More of Cove Fort- so windy that day!

Indian Petroglyphs in Southern Utah. A lady came by and explained the mountain goats and other figures. She showed us how to tell how old the petroglyphs were. She and her husband were experts and hired to take pictures.





While the big kids/men were hiking up Angel's Landing in Zion's National Park, Jen and I and the kids took a hike we thought was short...but it wasn't too short- especially with little kids. We ended up at a little wading stream and rested there before we went back. It was fun though!

St. George temple

Our Summer fun plans...

A friend from college asked if anyone made plans for the summer with their kids. Here's mine I put together this week with the idea from The Crafting Chicks:
http://thecraftingchicks.com/2011/05/summer-fun-chart-and-photo-journal.html

Mine's not quite as cute, but the same idea. The kids were SO excited to think of all the fun things we are going to do this summer. Can't wait! (But I need a couple of days after school gets out to relax first.)