Home Show…

Every year I try to make it to the home show. It keeps getting harder and harder. First my kids were all babies. I remember toting Lindsey around in her carrier looking at homes. Then they got too big to chase for many year I had a toddler or in some cases three to chase so I went at night alone. This year I figured the twins might do okay if we only stopped at a few homes.  So Grandma and I loaded the girls up and drove out to the homes.  First thing we discovered was that the home show had been affected by the economy their weren’t very many big homes and many were sparsely decorated.  Regardless we still had plenty to see…

This house had an insane amount of bee’s outside.  Hailey observed this and decided it would be okay if you couldn’t go outside ever if you lived in a house that big.

It was about half way through our tour that Hailey asked me why everything was so clean.  I was quick to tell her that no one lived in the house and that is why it was so clean. She seemed thrilled with that realization and wanted to move right in.

We had such a great time with the girls because they noticed every little detail and were absolutely excited and thrilled about everything. It is the best age and this year they made the tour more fun than ever!  I just love these girls!

A field trip…

In August we took a field trip with our primary children from our church to the church history museum downtown.  We had recently been there as a family so I wasn’t sure what to expect from a tour.  I am happy to report that a tour is night and day different.  We were separated into smaller groups. Our group first got to dress up as pioneers and then sit around a camp fire and were told stories.  It was so fun!

 

Upstairs they were broken into groups to do a treasure hunt and then the clues were all put together to reveal important messages…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last part they learned about measuring tools used in that time.  When they followed the directions we were brought to important landmarks that revealed a message.

 

It was a educational, well done field trip- all totally free! 

Some of the cute kids who are in our church. My job at church is to work with all these kids. I feel so lucky to be in there with my kids while they are still this age and to watch all these kids learn and grow in their understanding of the Gospel! 

Lagoon…

Aunt Holly got us free tickets to the local amusement park. Though we have been to lots of amusement parks in California we hadn’t tried Lagoon. The kids had an amazing time, and so did the adults!

 

Holly did not love roller coasters so she took the twins off on other rides while I went thrill seeking with the older two. Jacob and I thought Wicked was the best ride in the park (Lindsey wasn’t willing to try it).

 

The greatest part of our trip was getting bounce back passes to come back in the next two weeks for $10 a person!  So we brought Alan back in a few weeks…

This day started out rocky for the twins. They both were crabby and crying for almost the first hour!

After some lunch and water they were able to ride the ride with a smile. The bat was their favorite ride.  I was really excited with how many bigger rides the girls were willing to try. Hailey was pretty fearless and Sydney came along.

 

My  last rapids ride ever. I got so soaked it was miserable!

 

Eventually we got hit with a huge thunder and lightening storm ( here the girls are waiting it out in some shelter).

 

We had a blast! On the way home I looked back and got this shot of Jacob trying to play his psp go (he blinked).  The girls were pretty tired! 

Thanks so much Aunt Holly- For the passes but most of all for the fun and help with the kids. You are the best!

Triplets

These three cousins are just a month apart and they absolutely love each other.  We had a great summer doing swim lessons, the water park and a few movies too.  On this day I took the girls to see Marmaduke.  Cute movie.  They were so excited when Cali showed up in the same outfit.  At the movies everyone thought they were triplets and they loved that! It was so much fun!  Aren’t they cute girls?

Diving….

Although we usually do these sports all winter long too they are so much better in the summer.  Who wouldn’t prefer to get it done early in the morning and being outside, especially for diving- its much better as you can have access to the tower.

 

This summer Jacob made major strides in diving. Last year he would barely jump of the lower platform of the tower (5 meter) but this year he jumped and began diving without a problem. He also jumped  (without issue) and dove off the 7 meter (though not as easily) and even jumped off the 10 meter as well.   I am so proud of him!

 

These are tucks (part of a tight flip)…

Diving the 5 meter

Jumping the 7 meter

  

This is a syncro dive. Jacob loves this!

We had a great summer at the dive pool!

Eclipse and a new smile!

June 4th I got my braces off! After 17 months of pain and irritation I can tell you it would be worth twice that! I highly recommend the process. The pain and the annoyance were worth my straight smile in a heart beat… 

 

A few weeks after we went off the midnight showing of Eclipse. It was so nice to go brace free and show of my new smile!

We had a great group.  I loved the movie!

Thanks girls!

Swimming lessons…

We were very lucky to secure Michelle my favorite swim teacher and friend to teach the kids swimming again this summer.  It doesn’t get easier than having a private teacher in a private pool.

Jacob wasn’t thrilled I made him take lessons this year after all he does know how to swim.  He just needed fine tuning to get the strokes down really well. Michelle did so amazing with him this year.  All his  strokes were great but especially his breast stroke, it was really impressive by summer’s end!

 

Sydney and Hailey learned to swim without floaties this summer and really came a long way too! Hooray its such a relief to not carry all that crap to the water park or pool! Now if they could make it without going to the bathroom every five minutes we would be golden!

Lindsey is on the swim team so no lessons were needed for her.  She was pretty happy to swim or relax while they went on!

Back to school….

Summer has been so fun I just wasn’t ready for it to end but ready or not it was time to start school… The drudgery of schools schedules, homework (for four kids!) and sports is not easy!

Luckily Lindsey loves school. The social aspect of all of it just makes her happy. She is also a great writer and loves learning (though she won’t admit that anymore). She got her first choice in teacher Mrs. Boyce and was counting the days and planning her outfit for her first day. I can’t believe she is in sixth grade and this is her last year in Elementary school!

Jacob is an easy going kid and seems happy no matter what. He loves his new teacher and seems to be glad with his friends this year. Third grade has come so fast!

Sydney and Hailey start kindergarten in a week.  I never have been one of those Mom’s crying sending their kids of to school until now. My babies are heading into the Elementary school years and I am no longer naive…Time passes fast and they will be grown up before I know it. It’s really hard this time around! To make myself able to do it I tried to take the girls to the mall the first day of school and they were so naughty I started thinking that those 2.5 hrs a day wouldn’t kill me after all.  First grade, however, don’t let me even think about that!

I must add taking an 11 year old school shopping near killed me off. She hated everything I suggested!  My sister reminded me that we felt that way with my Mom too.  I remember that, but told my sister, “but I have good taste”. I guess it just doesn’t matter anymore.  Somehow we ended up with a few new things and a rather large head ache!

  Jacob was super easy to shop for. If it says Tony Hawk or Quiksilver, or has any athletic theme he loves it.

Sydney and Hailey are the best. They love every single thing I buy, let me pick everything out daily, and always look cute in it all (this won’t last so I will enjoy it now).

 

I am sure it will be a great school year. Lately I have been wanting to freeze time. The age my kids are at is ideal. We have so much more freedom, they are all sweet and like  being with our family (no teens yet) – most of the time. But like it or not time keeps marching on. I am just glad its not lost on me that these moments are precious and that they will be grown up before I know it!

 

Wish me luck Monday for Kindergarten. I already have another kinder Mommy having lunch with me who is also sending her youngest off to school.  Might soften the blow a bit I hope.

 

Stay tuned for our summer updates. We have had so much fun and need to record it all. 

Fourth of July

We woke up early and went to my Mom’s neighborhood parade. The kids love it!

The family at my Mom’s waiting for fireworks.

 

Hailey fell in the road and literally got road rash on her face. She told me she didn’t want to put her hands down and scrap them up. I gave her a little lesson on protecting the face!  It’s been over a month and we still have a bright pink scar :(

If fireworks are legal in your area.  Putting them on a ladder really improves improves their view.

We had a great holiday!

Summer 2010

I am really behind in posting  but before I post our summer activities I want to record my feelings. This summer has been amazing.  It kind of reminds me of how when you look back at pictures and think, “ wow that was so fun” and wonder if you realized then how great it really was while you were experiencing it.  Except I realize it now that life is pretty great. 

We have spent our summer playing. My kids are older. They can go more places and do more.  Sometimes I wish I could freeze time.  I feel like my kids are at the best ages and stages.  Lindsey is not quite a teen so my kids all still prefer our family and spending time with us to being with friends.   It’s really great.

I appreciate that I have relaxed and lived more in the moments. The house isn’t as clean, we need to go to the grocery store all the time and we do wash when their are no more clean clothes. It’s the best way to survive.  Instead of staying home and forcing myself to stay caught up while going crazy we just do a little as we go and its been better.

 

I woke up last Sunday and it was August 1st and I felt incredibly sad. I know I am weird but I wonder if life will ever be like this again. Actually I know it won’t maybe it will be better maybe worse but it won’t be the same. My kids are growing up and its not lost on my that the moments were are sharing now, the memories we are making are finite and won’t last forever.

I guess there are certain stages so tough you feel you need to rush them to survive but for today this stage, this summer I am enjoying the moment.  Before long my youngest girls start Kindergarten and we will have four kids piled with homework and sports to run to. Life will be busier than ever.

 

Disclaimer- my house isn’t clean, my laundry isn’t done, and my kids do fight all the time like they always do.

Life can change in a moment

I have been following this blog over the last week really believing and praying for a good outcome which was not to be. I find myself as a mother overwhelmed for this Mother and Father as they prepare to move on and find peace. Reminds me to cherish every minute with our loved ones, never forget life is temporary and can change in a moment.
You can read more about it here...

Preslee

Girl's night

Alan took Jacob camping so I decided to plan a girls night out for my e little girls. Lindsey went to a carnival with a friend. The twins were so excited because they see me go out on girls night out and are always desperate to join. In fact they play girl's night all the time when pretending (we better warn their future husbands).

Anyway the girls chose a local bakery that has huge dessert case to drool over. It was a priceless time. Dinner conversation was the best part of the night Hailey said when she grows up she is never going to get her kids in trouble. Then she remebered she wants to be famous so she can't be a mother Sydney is quite sure she wants to be mother, but Hailey is very serious about becoming famous. I told her she could do both motherhood and being famous. I also asked her what she would do if her kids were bad? Sydney piped in that she might put her kids on time out but she would never ever yell at them. Hailey agreed. Oh my. The ladies behind me were laughing so hard.
As we drove home Hailey wanted to go to a store, a "make up store" which is Ulta. We picked nail polish. A real treat. I have thrown every nail polish away after so many serious disasters recorded here. I pray I won't regret it. The girls declared it the perfect girls night ever.
It's nights like this that reward me on my path of mothering. Being a mother to these girls. Innocent, excited and sweet. It's a gift today.