AH.......SUMMER!!!!

Anthon, Lauren, and Micaela swimming at their Aunt's house on Memorial Day...Thanks Aunt Christie and Uncle Keith, we had so much fun!!!

The kids with their friends Halle and Hunter as we fill up our pool. We....I guess I should say "I".......keep upgrading our above ground pool every year. This one is 48" deep and 18' round. It'll have to do until we get our in-ground pool!

Cute Lauren. The girls are on the swimteam this summer, so they're in their swimming suits and goggles every single day.

Anthon ready for a plunge. He was diving perfect dives off the diving board. The kid has no fear....sometimes I wish he did!

Our 3 baby ducks. The kids all wanted ducks, so they used their own money to each buy one. We raised them, and then released them at the park. They were cute, but sure were a stinky mess. Anthon and Micaela chillin' in our garage, watching the little ducklings. You can see Anthon still has on PJ's on. Gotta love summer.

Summer is by far my most favorite time of the year!!!! I love everything about it!!! I love walking past the windows and seeing the flowers in my yard and all the pretty colors outside. I love to wake up hearing the birds chirping outside my window. I love being able to sleep in!! Talking with neighbors late at night on the sidewalk while the kids run and play on the grass barefoot. It's such a happy time of year. So there's a few pictures that show how we've been livin' the happy summer life!

Mother's Day

I felt very loved on Mother's Day. Matt called my mother without my prodding, and invited her to Sunday dinner. I'm so glad I have such a great mother, and they we were able to spend our day together! We sat down to a yummy meal at this table, with a centerpiece of beautiful flowers that Matt brought home the day before. He made us his yummy steaks, garlic mashed potatoes, watermelon, and chocolate cake. I had to bite my lip when a lady at church said that her husband was going to make pancakes for the kids before church that morning, but she asked him to hold off and make them after church for lunch since it was Mother's Day. She said she'd have to wait and see if he'd follow through. I didn't dare tell her what the menu plan was at our house, or how I was going to be pampered. (Matt actually makes dinner every Sunday, though. It's our best meal of the week. He's a much better cook than I!!!)

I feel so blessed to have 3 beautiful, happy, self confident children that teach me so many things about myself everyday......and especially teach me about what is really important in life! I'm glad I get to be with them for eternity, and my awesome husband! The people that mean the most to me in my life! My sweet children were so excited to give me all their cute little presents that they made at grade school and pre-school. And all their sweet little cards. Anthon decorated a white pot-holder at pre-school. When I opened it up and commented how well he drew a flower on the hot-pad, he kind of looked at me funny and said, "It's a little bag". It kind of did look like a small purse or something, kind of funny that all along he thought he'd decorated and wrapped a small, white purse for me. It's fun to see them so excited to give me their little tokens of love and appreciation. I love them!

Grandma and Grandpa are Serving a Mission

Sometimes it can be a real chore to clean out the kids school backpacks. But then there's times where you can find a real treasure, too. This is something I pulled from Micaela's (1st grade) school bag last week.

(this picture was drawn on the back of the letter)

We do love and miss Grandma and Grandpa (Matt's parents) and pray that they are safe while they are serving the people in Africa. We are very proud of them and grateful for their wonderful examples!

Oh, Boy!!!

I thoroughly do enjoy our little man of the house. He's now 4 1/2, and full of personality! But he sure is a different type of species compared to the girls.

Recently Anthon had fun playing on the playground with a little neighbor boy. It became time for Anthon to come inside. This is how Anthon said goodbye to his friend: He smacked him on the back and said, "Bye, bye ballerina!" Then the little boy laughed with a deep belly laugh and said, "Bye, bye......and called Anthon some type of 4 year old name. Then Anthon laughed and chased after him and tackled him down and yelled, "Bye, bye poopy pants!" This banter went back and forth a couple of more times. I didn't know whether to correct them or just laugh since they both were getting a kick out of it. Could never imagine my girls doing this... EVER!

Also, he's ADDICTED to the Wii, computer and television. He doesn't like to play with toys, and would much rather be entertained by electronics (again, totally different than the girls).
He HATES to shop! Come on, that's my life....my source of entertainment. I have to bribe him to even go to the grocery store with me. It's getting very expensive for me to take him anywhere:) And places like Hobby Lobby......forget it. Just the idea of the place, he throws himself on the floor in a tizzy(sort of how Matt responds if I ever make him go to a craft store with me...okay not really, but I think he'd rather go to the dentist!)

He asks everyday if we can have In-n-Out for lunch. He loves hamburgers. And steak is his favorite food! He'll eat a whole steak by himself!

He loves to punch, wrestle, put people in headlocks, and hit them with swords and dart guns.

Yes, he is extremely different from the 2 girls......but ya know what, I adore my little guy! He's extremely sweet.He's the cuddliest little kid. Did I mention,I LOVE HIM TOO DEATH!! He still wants me to hold him, and cuddle him, and he tells me I'm his girl. He gave an amazing talk ( for a 4 year old) in Primary last Sunday. It was about Joseph Smith. He told the story in his own words and then bore his own testimony.

Yes, he has me wrapped around his finger!

I hope he turns out....and that he grows up to be a kind, responsible and caring adult!!! Wish us luck...we need all the help we can get!!!

For the Love of Dance

(Lauren's group-Lauren is left, middle row- with their dance instructor. Jessica is an amazing ballerina, and was the lead in many shows at Ballet West prior to becoming a mother)

Lauren had the opportunity of dancing for a Stake Women's Fireside (8 years plus) last month. It sounds a little strange, and very nontraditional, but it turned out pretty amazing. They had dances, which were coreographed to church music, intermingled with narration and testimony. Lauren was in a ballet group which danced to Consider the Lillies. The Fireside was well attended, and held in the Cultural Hall. It was held 2 evenings.

Before each performance there was a devotional held for the participants and parents. This Fireside was our next door neighbors idea. She was a Ballet major at BYU. At the pre-fireside devotional she talked about how we can serve our Savior and Heavenly Father in everything that we do, even when we're dancing. And that she wanted to use dance in this manner. It was a novel idea and concept, and I'm glad Lauren had the opportunity to experience it.

Moving up a Grade Level

I get kinda sentimental when school starts. Maybe it's because I have to acknowledge that my babies are growing up. Lauren started 3rd grade. She seems so old.......and it seems official that she's now a "tween". (Lauren standing in line, waiting or the bell to ring on the first day of school. Two of her very best friends are in her school class.)

Micaela started first grade. The girls are so excited that they were on the same schedule.They get to go to school together and walk home together. And the first few days, Lauren thought it was fun to see Micaela in the lunchroom and at the recess. Now she wonders why Micaela and her friends "have to follow her around"? But, luckily all of Lauren's friends love Micaela, and all of Micaela's friends like Lauren. Micaela thinks it's cool to hang with the big 3rd graders.

AJ started a little pre-school in our neighborhood. It's just 6 children. It's 2 days a week. He's getting too big! (He did get a haircut right after this picture :)

Cute Micaela getting situated at her desk the first day of school. I can't believe she's a first grader. She's always been our tiny little girl, so it seems strange she's a "big first grader". She's adjusted so easily to first grade and staying all day. She's made lots of friends and her teacher is amazing.

Micaela in the mudroom at school with one of her best friends who's in her class.

Lauren loves the "bright colors" that all the stores have right now. I think those of us who experienced them in jr. high, it's a little strange to see our children wearing the 80's clothes. Lauren's our little fashion diva. She loves clothes, jewelry and shoes.

My children are growing up way too fast. But I love getting to stay home with them, having the flexibility to volunteer in their classroom, go eat lunch with them in the cafeteria (already done it once) and be there when they come home from school. I love the people they are becoming. They're kind, considerate, thoughtful, and becoming very responsible. Sometimes I wish I could freeze them, and make them quit growing, and keep them little forever. But then I can't do that, so I may as well enjoy the ride as they continue to mature and grow.

4th of July Celebrating!!!

I LOVE SUMMERTIME!!!! So, of course I love the 4th of July. We love to pack as much celebrating into the day as possible! (Much to Matt's chagrin.) This year was no exception. This is what we did THIS year! We started celebrating July 3rd with a neighborhood party. We made a trip to Partyland and bought all the red/white/blue decorations we could find and found a way to put all of it on their bikes.

Then they were in a bike parade that started at the park north of our house and ended at the park south of our house. Lauren with her friend, Hunter.

Anthon felt like a celebrity. He thought he was the coolest thing ever, riding in his decorated red car. He really cruises in that thing! I think he kept bumping into the back of everyone else. They weren't quite going fast enough for him!

When we got to the park there was yummy food......

And cool treats (Micaela posing with her good friend, Halle)

And giant inflatables. This is Micaela (left) getting ready to go down with Hunter.

Lauren had fun cooling off.

Anthon got to the top of the slide and got scared. He wouldn't go down the slide, but he wouldn't climb back down, either. We made a neighbor boy grab him and take him down the slide so he'd get out the of the way of the other kids trying to come down. This is Anthon pouting because he was mad at the neighbor boy.

Then bright and early on the 4th of July we went to the Provo Freedom Festival Parade. This parade is always gigantic and the kids love it (not Matt though, don't even ask him about this part of the day! He HATES parades!!!!)

Lauren and her BFF, Hunter, had fun using their digital cameras. I think Lauren got about 58 pictures of the firetrucks and police cars alone. 1/4 of the way through the parade her memory card was full.

Candid picture of Lauren being her cute self.

When Anthon saw all of the Mormon missionaries in the parade he jumped up out of his chair so he could give them a high five.

Sweet, cutie-pie Micaela.

Anthon waving at the floats. I had to get this on the camera. I figure by next year he'll be too cool to do this.

We went to the parade with my parents, Uncle Steve, cousin Haley, and the our friends. These are the girls good friends, Hunter and Halle. Cute Anthon is always surrounded by lots of girls.

Next we went to Nana and Papa's for breakfast (my parents). Anthon being goofy!

Micaela LOVES her Nana...........

.........and her Papa!!!! Papa playing a game with Micaela. He's always good to play with the kids. You'd never know he was 72!!!

Lauren enjoying her watermelon. Any type of fruit is her favorite type of food. We're still working on her table manners:)

Anthon and his best bud---Uncle Steve (my brother). He loves to be teased.......and Steve is good at that!

Next we went to see Uncle Nate (Matt's younger brother) who plays in a band (Bearproof) perform at a local city celebration. Nate plays the electric guitar.

Uncle Nate the Rockstar!!! Anthon wanted to wear his "Rock Band" shirt with the electric guitar because it made him think of Uncle Nate.

Next we went swimming and for a BBQ at Aunt Christie's (Matt's sister) backyard pool. Basically it rained all of the month of June. The kids would pray every night "Please make it stop raining so we can swim in Aunt Christie's pool". I guess their prayers were answered:)

Next we changed into our PJ's, and headed to Uncle Ben's (Matt's brother) house to watch the fireworks.

I think Lauren took even more pictures of the fireworks in the sky, than she did of the firetrucks and police cars in the parade.

Uncle Ben had the best seats in the valley for fireworks. We sat on his rooftop. You could see all the fireworks in the valley. And the kids loved being with their cousins.

Anthon was very nervous that he was going to fall off the roof. Once he figured out his Dad had a good grip on him, he fell asleep before the fireworks even started. Goes to show, we did pack as much as we possibly could into one day!

Of course, the girls weren't ready to quit yet. They were wondering what we were going to do next! Lauren, Micaela, Eve, Emma, Aunt Tiffany hanging out on Aunt Tiffany's bed after a long and fun day.

I feel very blessed to be able to live here, and raise my family here. After Matt's parents lived in the Congo of Africa for 18 months serving a LDS mission, I have gained an even deeper appreciation for the luxuries we have........such as clean water, traffic lights, garbage pick up, medical care. I'm glad to be an American!!! :)