Summer Fun

We've been keeping busy while Dan's been out of town.  I let the kids paint themselves pet rocks - Eileen's is a hampster, Anna's is a mouse, Aaron's is an alien.  (Evie's changes depending on who she last talked to)  

Eileen and Anna also built lego houses for their pet rocks.  

I was taking pictures of the kids rocks - and James wanted in on the fun - but all he could find was play-doh.   So here he is showing off his lump of play-doh.

Wednesday was our last choir rehearsal of the season and it went long - even for a tech-rehearsal!
Thursday was piano lessons as usual - it's really neat to listen to them play - it's amazing how quickly they are getting good!

Friday, the kids finally managed to get piano lessons done so that they could go to the zoo.  We got there around 1 and somehow managed to hit perfect timing to watch all the fun shows.  The kids even got to pet a snake and a little alligator.  We had fun wandering the zoo and looking at all the animals - Eileen had fun showing off how much she knows about animals!

Here are the kids pretending to hide in a penguin hole.

Friday night, we had Eric and Lydia come over and play while their parents went on a date - we all had a blast playing, eating hamburgers, and making (and eating) cupcakes.  I got paid in funnel cake!  mmmmmm

Saturday, we picked up Heather and headed out to Kid Spree - we bumped into lots of other friends there too.  The kids had a blast - we were there from 10:30 to 3:30 and still didn't do everything - but the kids had a great time doing what we did have time for!

They built bird houses

Played musical instruments (I was amazed at how well they did - they were able to get good sounds on all the instruments!)

Rode Ponies

Climbed all over emergency vehicles and other big trucks

Got to meet some animals including this bearded lizard and some birds of prey.

 And tons of other stuff - they made slime, won prizes, ate junk, played in sand, painted paper chickens, petted animals, went on big slides and such.  I took tons more pictures - but really this is big enough already!!!

Dan got back home and met us at church - the kids all really missed him and had a blast climbing all over him and playing with him.  Poor Dan was exhausted after a long trip working 16 hour days - but the kids cut him no slack!  James really missed him.  During church, I had to change his diaper and after I said - "ok lets go back to nursery!"  Even though he really likes nursery - his answer way "no i go find daddy!"  He wasn't whining or fussing - but he wanted to be with daddy.

James' vocabulary is growing rapidly - earlier this week I asked him to go to his room so we could get him dressed he said "no, I'd rather go downstairs"  LOL - how many 2 year olds talk like that!  Also after asking him if he wanted to go outside, he said "I wanna go outside any thousand times"

Summer Craziness!!

Monday was Labor Day.  With Dan home - we got ourselves a new grill, (Thanks mom and dad!) and invited a bunch of friends over to hang out and eat and get wet!  Heather provided the slip n slide and pool and water balloons, I provided sponge water bombs, the Putnams brought water guns, and we all had a blast!!  

As we were getting everything ready - the kids were playing outside, I was mowing the lawn and Dan was working on the Macaroni Salad when Anna (who was swinging) fell and got her arm twisted in the chain.  It looked bad enough that I wanted to take her to get it checked.  We headed to the ER where they were very kind and mercifully quick.  Thankfully, her arm was just bruised and all she needed was a bandage and ice pack - thankfully no broken bones.  She made sure before we left that she was still going to be able to get wet at the party.  

The day was hot and beautiful - perfect weather for a water party - the food was good, the company was GREAT and we all had a great time!  

Tuesday and Wednesday passed in the normal manner - choir, fun around the house.  Thursday, all insanity broke loose!!!  We had an extra kid - we were babysitting a little girl and the kids all loved her and played with her making it easier for me.  As we were leaving the house to go to the little preschool-graduation party for Evie's preschool group, I found that the van had a flat tire - not just a little low - totally flat.  Dan came home and put on the spare and took us to the park for the party, then took the van to get the tire fixed.  After it got fixed, we headed over to piano lessons.

All the older siblings were out of school, so the kids all had a lot of fun - Aaron had a blast with his long-time friend Brigg - whom he doesn't get to see as often as we would like - but they still are best buds when they get together!

It was another hot, sunny day - so we played some games with water and sponges.

Friday, we had the little girl again - for the afternoon only this time.  I went visiting teaching in the afternoon to Amanda Clarke - I'm looking forward to getting to be her visiting teacher!  And again in the evening to finish up.  Ashley wasn't feeling well so we brought her some soup and rolls and ice cream.  :(  

Saturday, the lawn needed mowing again - Anna decided that she wanted to help :)  She found that it's a bit harder than it looks when mommy does it.... She managed to finish a 4' x 4' section before she was too hot to go on. 

We also had another little girl come and play at our house while a friend was packing and moving.  I sent Dan to help with the moving and then I watched their little girl to keep her out from underfoot.  She was a total sweetie and we all had fun together!  

That evening, Dwayne and Nicole came over to make jelly!!  We had a fun evening together (we always have fun with them) and made a TON of jelly - and we have a long ways to go before we are done!!

Dan left for the airport again as I hustled the kids off to church.  He's going to be gone the better part of the next 2 weeks :(  We survived today though - only 13 more to go...

Free at Last

For some strange reason, the school district decided to give the kids Monday off for a teacher work day - 2 days before the end of the school year.... So we took the chance afforded and went to the Museum of Nature and Science.  The kids never seem to tire of that place - there is always an old favorite to visit or an exhibit they haven't seen but want to.  They had a blast as usual.  Our friend Heather came with us to help out with the kids and to have something to do out of the house.  My little scientists loved doing experiments! 

Tuesday morning, Aaron had his Kindergarten graduation ceremony - he was once again on the academic honor roll.  He had a blast and then he got to come home with us after - since that was the end of school for him.

We then dropped Evie off at preschool and then I took the boys to the park to say goodbye to a friend.  They are moving out to California and we will miss them!!!  We all had fun playing together one last time.

Wednesday was nuts.  I went to go pick up Eileen and Anna from their last day of school and was sitting in my car in a hail storm/tornado warning waiting to pick up the girls (who they thankfully would not let out of the school until the tornado warning was over)  for over 45 minutes.  All that white stuff on the grass behind Eileen in the picture is hail....

After the last day of school - the kids came home and had a blast splashing in the puddles and getting soaked!!

Anna was especially goofy....

Dan got back late Wednesday night and stayed home Thursday and Friday - we worked on cleaning up the house and having fun together.  There was supposed to be a Daddy-Daughter camp out on Friday night, but the weather was so bad that it was cancelled - so we set up a tent in the front room for the girls to camp out in.

Saturday, we went to a graduation celebration that Aaron's friend Ethan was having at his house - we had a fun time hanging out and chatting with them - and they live really close which is nice, so hopefully the boys can still hang out even though they won't be at the same school next year.

Countdown

Well the kids are counting down to the end of school - they are in the midst of all the fun things to be done at the end of the school year.  Projects, Field Day, field trips, and parties.

Anna had a class project on Michigan due this week, Eileen had her science project due this week and Aaron had a field trip.  The girls had field day on Friday, Anna had a poetry reading on a poem she won an award for.

It snowed on Mother's day and the whole next day too - I can't believe that there was 3 inches of snow on the ground less than 2 weeks from the end of the school year.....

Monday we made cookies for Family Home Evening.  The kids had a blast cooking with Daddy!

Like I promised before - a pic from our prom last weekend!  

Dan took off on another trip this week :(  we all miss him, but we have had our friend Heather over here hanging out and keeping us busy.  The kids had a blast chatting with him on Skype tonight - James kept wanting to put his face right into the screen near daddy's face.... and they were all trying to talk over each other - it was kind a insane, but fun!  

This week has also been rather rough for another reason.  My great aunt has been battling cancer for over 3 years now and at the end of last week she went into hospice and we all began waiting.  I went out to see her Monday evening - she was already past the point of consciousness - but it was really nice to spend time talking to her kids and remembering her and saying goodbye.  She was like another grandma to me - she and my grandpa (her brother) had been close and she was always a fun smiling face at family events.  She was also a kindred crafter - it had been so much fun living near her and talking about projects and seeing what she was working on and showing her what I was working on.  The kids loved her - she had an amazing doll collection and would organize a "Dolly and Me Tea Party" that the girls and I went to last year and LOVED.  She passed away on Friday and it's hard to imagine what it will be like to not see her at the cabin and at Bagna Caulda and to chat with her about what she is working on next.  But this is the Aunt Joan that I will always remember and love.   

We've had a fun week - at least we did once everyone got healthy again.  Eileen was home sick for a day and a half but thankfully got well just in time for "Immersion" a fun couple of days at school where they get to pick a fun subject and study it for a couple days with kids from all different grades.  Aaron was home sick on Monday and James was iffy for a couple days - but we seem to have finally beat the sickies....  Eileen spent most of her days at home reading and resting - she is happy for hours with a book - I had to twist her arm to do anything else.  

One of the other things i had to twist her arm into doing was her science project.... sigh... she and I are going to have to have a long talk before her next science project about how to to science projects....  Or maybe I'll just have grandpa come out here and help her.... :)

This pic is just in here because it's so darn cute!!!!  

Saturday evening, our ward Young Women hosted a grown-up prom.  They set up a fancy dinner and dancing and pictures and fun - lol - we haven't gotten our pictures yet - but i'll post them when I do - until they you'll have to be satisfied with a pic of the friends we doubled with - Dwayne and Nicole.  We had a blast goofing off and turning it into everything i remember church dances being when i was a teenage - except I got to have a guaranteed cute dance partner for every slow song!  Now we are recovering - lol - i'm a bit out of shape for dancing all night (or even just until 9:30....)

Today was a kinda momentous occasion for me - I have looked forward to getting to sing with my kids since the day Eileen was born.  Today for Mother's Day, Eileen and I sang a musical number at church.  Anna was supposed to sing too, but she grumped out at the last minute.  But it was still a wonderful occasion - It was wonderful to sing with my beautiful and talented daughter!  

Home Sweet Home

Well, we are finally home!  The kids had a blast with Aunt Tina (and were well behaved enough to not scare Tina off forever)  They went to a Skate City night and had a blast, they got to go to the library, jump on Aunt Tina's trampoline and hang out at her house.  

Evie got to roll the dice for a game at Skate City and even won a prize - she was so excited about it!

This weeks pictures are more interesting (meaning that they have people in them)   I don't do selfies :)  Weather was mostly overcast and a bit drizzly - but we grabbed our umbrella - snuggled up together under it and enjoyed Paris anyway!  Monday we moved out of the hotel and into a little flat just south of Sacre Coeur, then we set off to Notre Dame followed by the Pantheon, We saw the cutest little family of ducklings wandering around behind Notre Dame!  The Cathedral is just amazing!  Dan's favorite part of the Pantheon was the crypts.....

The next day we went back to the Notre Dame area to visit the Archaeological Crypts - it was really neat to see the beginnings of Paris - and humbling to think that that was over a 1000 years ago.  After we headed over to the Eiffel Tower - Dan and I waited in line to go to the top (took 3 hours and most of that was waiting)  the view is just incredible!  Then we took a little boat tour on the Seine.  That night we went to a production at the Hotel des Invalides.  It was an incredible light show about the history of France shown on the facade of the building.

Wednesday we went to Versailles.  We walked around the gardens then after another LONG wait, we went inside and were herded like sheep around the palace.  It was stunning - but the crowds were rather overwhelming.  After, Dan and I went back to the Hotel des Invalides to check out the museums there.

Thursday was a national holiday (May Day) which meant that a lot of things were closed - we took it easy in the morning, then headed over to Trocadero in the afternoon and wandered around - we hit a Chocolate Museum and then met up with the rest of the guys from Dan's work and did a Boat/Dinner trip on the Seine.

It was a fun close to an amazing trip!  The next morning, we started home.  A lot of hours later (lol - i lost count) we arrived home to some very excited kids who just about stampeded us as we walked in.

Dan and I spent yesterday working in the yard, and unpacking.  And dealing with some sick kiddos - James was sick in the morning, but seemed to mostly be feeling better in the evening.  Aaron woke up last night throwing up, but once again, seemed to be feeling better by this evening.

Now it's back to the normal - at least for a few more weeks until school gets out....

Paris and Camp Tina

Monday was a day of total insanity - trying to get everything ready to go.  Bright and early Tuesday morning, I headed to the air port for a VERY long trip.  A 4 hour trip to Toronto - a 6 hour layover followed by a very long trip to Paris.  I got in in time for lunch with Dan.  I took a nap, went out to dinner with Dan and then went to bed.  By the next morning - I was ready to explore Paris!  I spent the next couple days exploring - I went to the Jardin de l'Acclamation, walked along the Champs Elyse - just window shopping.  I spent a whole day at the Louvre.  I went the the Opera House and the Sacre Coeur and Montmartre.  Weather has been drizzly but nice.  Each day has been spent by me enjoying one of my favorite cities in the world and each day has closed with dinner with my amazing husband! 

Today, I took the metro and headed to church!  I really enjoyed the bits I could understand - some amazing lessons and some amazing people.  :). My French is very rusty, but it's slowly coming back bit by bit as I have made every attempt to use it.  I'm rather proud of myself and my mostly successful attempts at communicating in a language that I haven't really used in 9 years at least.  :).

Tomorrow, I get to show off the city that I love to others!  Pictures to follow later since I'm not easily able to transfer pictures from my camera right now! 

The kids are doing well with Aunt Tina - apparently only Eileen misses us though.... 

Happy Easter!!

This week has been fun and busy!  Dan and I have been getting ready for our trip - which still feels a bit surreal.  Dan left this morning - I head out on Tuesday morning.

On Thursday morning, Evie had a preschool field trip - we went to a place called the "Great Plains Conservatory" The kids got to check out Teepees and see lots of animals and had a great time.  It was so funny to watch James hunched over trying to sneak up on a bunny - he was surprisingly stealthy...  There was also a fun sand and water area that the kids had a blast digging in and making sand castles.

Friday, Dwayne and Nicole came over to watch the kids while Dan and I went to my concert. Doug and Newell and Becky also came!  It was a fun evening!  

Saturday we had some friends over for an Easter Egg Hunt - the kids had a blast!  Nothing better than finding eggs, eating candy and playing with friends!!  

 That evening, I had my final Easter concert - Grandpa came - it was so good to see him!  This concert series has been so amazing - it's been so awesome to sing with these directors and this group!

Sunday morning - Dan took off, then I packed the kids into the car and we went down to Grandpa's church for a presentation in Grandma's honor - it's always amazing to see how many lives she touched.   Then we headed back to church so I could direct the choir for the Easter Program.  They did so well!!  It was a wonderful program with wonderful talks and music.

Icky Sickies!

We started the week off with 2 sick kids.  Anna was throwing up in the morning and so she stayed home from school, and Evie spent most of Monday throwing up too.  By the end of Monday, Anna was going crazy being stuck inside resting and was ready to go back to school the next day - even building this impressive block castle couldn't entertain her all day - both did get a lot of much needed sleep though.  

Evie was still throwing up the next day, so she skipped preschool.  By the end of Tuesday, Evie was mostly better - which was good, because cleaning up all that throw-up was making me sick!  At one point on Monday, Evie comes up to me and says that her tummy isn't feeling good - so I tell her to quickly run to the bathroom.  Does she run to the downstairs bathroom - which is very close?  No - she decides that she has to run all the way upstairs to throw up.  Had she gone to the close bathroom, she would have made it - but instead, she threw up all over the stairs and all over the upstairs bathroom floor - before finally getting a bit into the toilet....  Sigh....

By Wednesday, we were feeling better - no throw up (YEY!)  and getting back to normal.  We babysat a friends daughter Wednesday and Friday afternoon.  The weather was beautiful this week (well until today) and the kids all spent as much time as they could outside!  The little girl really took to Anna - so much so that when she got bumped and started crying, she wouldn't let me comfort her - she only wanted Anna.  James was really funny with her too - she's about 6 months younger than James and James was insistent on showing her everything and helping her do everything - he was very gentle - but kept trying to gently nudge her or lead her to where he thought she should be.  

Friday was so beautiful that we went to the park after I picked up the kids from school.  We spent most of the afternoon there and just enjoyed the warm sun!

Saturday we were busy and that evening was the Chorale's first Easter Concert.  It went really well.   Nicole came with me to watch the concert - it was a lot of fun!  It's been really neat singing with the choir this season - the directors are amazing and have done so much to make this choir incredible!!!

Family Fun

Well, we sent Sandi off this week with lots of long sad faces.  We got to enjoy Monday with her, then took her to the airport in the evening.  Since the weather has been generally good (with a few exceptions) we have been enjoying the outdoor weather.  I took James out on his little tricycle - he went SO slow that we only got about 3 houses away before we had to turn back because it was getting too late!  He walked himself along and stopped every foot or so to count things (1-2-3 rocks!  1-2-3 flowers!)  or to point things out to me (car mommy!  rocks mommy!  trees mommy!)  

Heather came over on Tuesday to console us for the loss of Aunt Sandi and to hang out with us for awhile.  Wednesday we went to the library - we have banned the kids from checking out books - but we still like going to story time and seeing our friends.  Tayanna was actually excited to see me when I got to her house to pick them up!

Friday night, Newell and Becky came over - we left the kids with Jacob and went out to dinner, then played games at the house for awhile.  I always enjoy seeing Newell and Becky - but especially so when we get to chat about our upcoming trip to Paris!!!!

Saturday and Sunday were General Conference.  We all really enjoyed it!  Eileen actually sat and watched/listened to the whole thing - knitting the whole time!  It was so cute to watch her.  :)

Between sessions, we took advantage of the beautiful weather - Anna tried to help Aaron learn how to ride a bike.  It was so sweet to watch her trying to help her brother!

Sunday evening, we had friends over for dinner - we all had a great time eating and chatting - then the kids ran amok - going crazy and climbing all over Nate.  James and the kids discovered horsey rides - and they all want to give him horsey rides - he holds on to their hair (ouch!!)  and says "giiddy-uuup!"  His balance on their wiggly backs isn't so great - so he doesn't stay up long - but it's fun to watch anyway!