Preschool Graduation and lots more!

It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to upload pictures, and we’ve been having such a fun summer; so there’s lots to post!

First, Madilyn’s graduation.  It was very bittersweet for me.  I love seeing her grow up and become her own little person.  She is so loving and caring; always worrying about those around her and wanting to help them.  She makes me and her dad so proud!  I took my big camera to the graduation, and didn’t think to bring our small one.  BAD IDEA!  Our small one is our video camera too!  So I wasn’t able to get any video of her graduation.  But she did a great job performing her part and singing and dancing.  This is what her teachers read about Madi when she went up to get her certificate:

“Madilyn is always so excited to come to preschool.  She always has an exciting detailed story to tell us everyday.  Madilyn likes to dance with streamers at preschool.  Her favorite food is strawberries and pizza.  She love the Cinderella movie and the Dr. Seuss books.  Her favorite song at preschool is Five Little Pumpkins.  Coloring is Madi’s favorite rotation at school.  She wants to be a doctor and artist when she grows up.  Madi is going to have recess to get ready for Kindergarten”. 

Here’s our little graduate!! 

Doing the dosie-doe with a boy from her class!

Swim lessons!  Both of the kids did GREAT!  Max does great putting his face underwater.  He loves looking around with his goggles on.  And he’ll swim to the wall unassisted if he’s a few feet away from it. 

Madi is really turning into a good swimmer. Her teacher said she should move up to the next level (even though it’s for 6 and up), because she “has the skills to do it”. :)  Her teacher was awesome.  She loved him and he was a way good teacher. 

Summer just wipes my kids out.  This is pretty much how they are at the end of everyday.  Haha.  Love it!  So much better than winter when we’re all going stir crazy. 

Madi is always wanting to wrap up gifts for people.  It’s usually random things from around the house (remotes, hair brushes..).  So we had this big box lying around, and I saw her sneak off with it downstairs to her bedroom.  About 15 minutes later she’s bringing it up and it’s my “birthday present”.   I thought the bow and post it were so cute :)

Here are my presents!!  My shoes, nail flowers, and a measuring tape.  Haha, I love her. 

One of the best things about summer?  Sprinklers!!

It’s cold!

Independence Day

We had a great time at the parade with family.  And then headed off to Marcus and Ashley’s, where they made the YUMMIEST Crepes.  We had ones with strawberries and nutella, and blintzes with ricotta and home-made blueberry sauce.  Yum. 

One last picture.  Madi came up all dressed and ready for day!  This outfit was so funny :)  She looks like she only has one leg here.  Haha

Usborne Books

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Long time, no post

I’ve had some pictures I want to post, but unfortunately our hard drive is completely full.  Every last byte.  So I can’t even upload the pictures that are on my camera.  Good news is, we got a new computer with a HUGE hard drive (YAY!), bad news, it’s not up and running yet.  As soon as it is, I’m gonna get some pictures on here!! 

We’ve been having a fun summer.  Lots of Lagoon, swimming, more Lagoon, lazy days, playing with cousins, and more!  My parents just flew in yesterday, and we planned a big surprise party for them.  All of their kids and grandkids were there, and they had NO idea.  It was fun jumping out and yelling “surprise”!!  Although the kids about tackled Grandma and Grandpa, thankfully no one was hurt :).  Haha. 

Tomorrow, we’re heading to Oakley for the rodeo and dinner with the family at a campground.  The next day is the concert in the park with fireworks, and the day after that is the parade.  Lot’s of fun days ahead!!  Let’s hope the kids can handle it without meltdowns (from pure exhaustion :). 

Spring is here!!

The weather has been SO beautiful for the past few days!  What a difference it makes in all of our moods.  Happier kids and happier mom :).  We took a field trip with Madi’s preschool to This is the Place Heritage Park.  I hadn’t ever been there before, but I decided I wish I could live in a place like that!!  I mean, not in the “olden” days, but just with the quaint dirt roads, shops, picket fences, and tree-lined streets.  Absolutely beautiful! 

Petting little goats. 

“Choo-choo!!”

Max hard at work plowing in the fields.  I cannot believe how much work the pioneers did.  Just day to day non-stop work!!  Even the kids. It must have been exhausting. 

Winding up to smack the rug…

A few of Madi’s little friends from School.  She’s already SO sad preschool is almost over for the year.  She tells me all the time how much she’s gonna miss it. 

We had Madi’s dress rehearsal for The Ice Queen today.  She had so much fun and I’m so proud of her.  She was WAY excited to run into her cousin Katelyn at rehearsal! 

My little snow-bunny!

Can I just say how much I LOVE this picture of my baby girl!? 

Cute little friends watching the big girls perform.  A tiny bum in a tutu is about the cutest thing ever!  Madi is on the right. 

Camping in Moab and Easter with Family

We’ve had a great couple of weeks!!  First, we went camping for the first time with just Mike and I and the kids.  It was fun…but let’s just say we learned a few things:

1. Always bring Benadryl

2. Bring matches (don’t rely on bbq lighters, because on a breezy cold morning, they won’t light)

3. Bring lots more WARM clothes and blankets

It was supposed to be a 2 night trip, but after the first FREEZING night (it got down in the 30’s), we headed home instead of staying another one.  I grew up camping a lot, and we’ve camped in the High Uinta’s before, so I knew it can get cold at night.  But never have we ever been THAT cold.  We all slept fully dressed and the kids slept in their hoodies with wool blankets over their sleeping bags.  My sweatshirt had a hoodie that I pulled tight over my head, but poor Mike’s sweatshirt didn’t have a hoodie; so he slept in his baseball cap just trying to keep his head warm!! 

Also, during the days it was about 75 and sunny.  So we all had to wear sunscreen.  My poor Max had yet ANOTHER reaction to sunscreen.   Basically it was a repeat of this reaction from a year ago in St. George: 

It’s kinda hard to see, but it’s a bumpy, itchy, hot rash.  So far he’d only reacted to that one sunscreen we had put on him last year.  He was fine the rest of last summer with the Coppertone and Banana Boat stuff we used.  Well, I got a new and updated version of the Coppertone spray, thought it would be fine…and NOPE!  He totally broke out again.  At first I was thinking maybe he was just allergic to any of the misty spray sunscreens (which would stink because they’re so convenient!), but last year I know I used a spray on him.  I’m thinking it was the Banana Boat one.  So I’ll have to go on a sunscreen hunt to find which one he can use without breaking out.  Poor guy. 

So basically, after a freezing night, an itchy and rashy boy with no Benadryl, and no fire the next morning (we couldn’t get it started no matter what..); it was time to pack up and leave!!  So while it wasn’t quite what we imagined, it was still a fun quick trip and we did do some fun hikes :). 

Heading on a little hike behind our campground

Mmm, s’mores and roasted Starburst!

What we hiked to see: Landscape Arch

And now for EASTER!!  Mike’s dad flew in late Friday night and spent the weekend with us.  It had been about a year since we’d seen him, so it was really great.  Ashley and Brian also came down with their boys and we had a great weekend all together.  Ashley and I did a little Easter Egg hunt for the kids and it was SO FUN.  The kids loved it and it was nice to get outside!!

Me with my 3 favorite people.  Max is, of course, mid-chew :)

My new favorite picture of the kids!

My handsome boy in his Easter suit.  Why does his shirt have to come un-tucked every 10 seconds?!  Haha

My kids had SO much fun with their Grandpa.  A year is way too long to go without seeing him!!