Labor Day, Happy Birthday to Ryan & A Few Other Things

We spent Labor Day in Burley this year. The first night we stayed in a hotel so the kids would be able to swim. They love swimming with their cousins when we all get together. The weather wasn't the warmest so it was a simple solution.

Everyone swimming in the hot tub

The next day was a little warmer so we went over to Julie's to enjoy some outside water activities. They set up this tarp and put some and water on it for the kids to slide down. Logan rode down with Kristi, El was brave enough to go alone, and Bay went a few times then went to go find grasshoppers with the boys.

After the sliding we headed down to the dock for some jet skiing. Julie took the kids out for rides. This is one of my girls favorite things, it was the first time Logan really remembers going out on one, and we was in love I had to pry him off so the other kids could have a turn.

Logan trying to drive

Ellie and Allie with Julie

Bailey and Jaeli having a ride

Where are the men?? Labor Day weekend is also opening weekend for College Football, therefore the men are pretty much non existent. They did manage to fit in an early round of golf before kick off. 4 months to go!

On Sunday we went out to Ryan's dad house for dinner, he and Dee always put on a great spread. This is the first time all the girls were able to get together and wear their Easter outfits.

Totally Picture Worthy

So cute, love all the variations of this adorable outfit

At the beginning of the summer our neighbor Jon (a John Deere lover) gave Logan a John Deere movie. Logan had started noticing tractors and was particularly fond of the green and yellow ones, Logan was expressing his love to Jon one summer evening when Jon informed us that he had a Jon Deere movie. He let Logan borrow it, and overnight Logan's love turned into a full blown obsession. We were not aware that Papa's lawn mower was a John Deere so imagine Logan's excitement when we walked into the garage and saw this......

Papa even had a hat

He sat on this thing for an hour

We had a great weekend in Burley, it is always a good time hanging out with everyone.

Loggy and Daddy looking at tractors in this book. I think I lost this book at Applebees the night before Laney was born. I called but they couldn't find it. Hum.........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!

Ryan getting ready to enjoy his Blueberry Crumb Cake

I tease him that he always picks the ugly cakes for his birthday. He says he doesn't care how they look, he likes the way the taste. I found this recipe on Pioneer Woman over the summer and it quickly became one of his favorites. Served with caramel ice cream and he is a happy man.

Dinner at Cheesecake Factory


Happy Birthday Daddy we Love You!

I was happy when I found out Laney would be born in September. Everybody has a birthday buddy now. Ellie and Logan in May, Me and Bailey in July, and Ryan and Laney in September. If you have anal tendencies like myself you understand that this is cool. Having her born in October would simply not do. We must even it all out. Good thing it worked out, if not it would have bothered me until the end of time :)

Every year our awesome neighbors the Peterson's put on an outdoor movie. It has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. We all look forward to it every summer. This year we were favored with a little Scooby Doo. It wouldn't be summer without it.

Another season of soccer occurred this fall. Bailey had the same coach, who is awesome, and her 2 other friends that she has been playing with forever. It was a good season she worked hard. It finally paid off in the last game when she scored TWO goals. Everyone was so excited for her. I tackled her after the game. I think she was embarrassed :)

Good bye summer. I always miss you. Our life is about to change. Another little one. Hopefully by next summer we will have a grip on it all. We shall see!

Friday May 29th

Friday was a very eventful day but definitely a fun one. We hit the temple for a session before the craziness of the day began. Afterward we headed over to Ellie's school for her Pre-School Graduation. She was so excited all morning long and it was so fun to see their class all dressed up in their matching shirts. I can't believe this day is already here. Ellie was our baby for so long it is crazy to see her getting so big.Walking In

Getting All Lined Up

Ellie and Ms. Heidi

It was a very cute little program. They sang all of the songs that they have been singing at school everyday. The always do the Pledge of Allegiance and then sing God Bless America followed by the books of the New Testament (advantage of sending your kid to Christian preschool), the days of the week, the months of the year and a couple of other cute songs. Then their teacher Ms. Heidi gave them their diplomas. I cried a little and then I cried a little more when I looked at her report card. Her teacher said what a sweet girl she was and that she is always kind and respectful and is definitely ready for Kindergarten. What else could you ask for? Congratulations little Miss Ellie. You are getting so BiG!

Ellie and her cute friend Brinley

OuR LitTlE GrAdUtE

After graduation it was off to Costco again for more milk and then a quick stop at the office to check the progress of everything. Its looking pretty good.

Its then time for Bailey's presentation on the Dusky Dolphin. All the 2nd grade classes were assigned an animal habitat, Bailey's class got the ocean. Then each student had to pick an animal to research. Bailey chose the Dusky Dolphin. They had to do research in books and on the internet and then type up a report and make a poster or diaraham. Bailey chose a poster, she picked all of the pictures that she wanted and helped me type up the facts. They had to know a lot of information about the animal and then present it to others for a couple of days. They presented to other classes and then on Friday they presented it to the parents. She did a really good job and knew all of the facts really well. It was fun to see what the kids had learned. It was a fun project for her.

After the presentations Bailey's teacher sent us home with some of her work from the year. It was fun to look through everything and see her progress and the fun projects they had been working on throughout the year. I really like her teacher. It was her first year but I think she did a great job and really cared about these kids. Bailey is going to really miss her. Then the kids gave all of the moms who volunteered in the classroom this year a flower pot they had decorated with cute flowers in it. I love being in the classroom and am happy that I get to do this.


We headed home for a couple hours and then headed out to Bailey's end of the year soccer party. They always do it at a pizza buffet place which the kids absolutely love. The dessert pizza is their favorite. I have really appreciated the effort of her coaches this year and they have decided to return in the fall. Bailey didn't even hesitate when we asked her if she wanted to play, they will get new uniforms to I don't know if they will keep the same name, but until then.... GO TIGERS!
The kids spent the rest of the evening playing outside, their very favorite thing to do this time of year. We are on the edge of the mountian time zone so this time of year it stays light until almost ten o'clock.....summer really is just around the corner.

The crazy month of May.............cont'd

May 19th (Tuesday)
--Why do babies poop at the worst possible times? Being on time is really not one of my greatest characteristics, but I swear the gods are against me most of the time too. Even if I am about to be on time, crap happens (ha ha). Logan had a blow out, totally late for my meeting, sweating by the time I get to the meeting, don't realize until half way through the meeting that Logan has a fever. Great!
--Give Logan medicine he sleeps for like 5 hours, feels a little better I think.
--Take Bay to her soccer game. Ryan stays home with Loggy. The team Bailey plays are huge and undefeated, over the past few seasons they have throttled us Bay says"mom those girls look like 5th graders" I agree. Tigers play AWESOME. They kept up with them. Bay played like an all-star, she was all over the field. At the end of the 3rd quarter it was 4-4. Tigers got tired......4th quarter was a blow out. Still so proud of them they played great.
--Loggy's fever is back. More medicine.

Notice the other girl in the photo, I am sure she is a sweet girl, but I may need to look at her birth certificate, Bailey isn't the tallest girl in the world but some major size difference!!

May 20th (Wednesday)
-- Loggy's fever is 103....yuck. He sleeps all day. I alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen......still 103. Its so sad when you know they don't feel well and can't do anything. He doesn't want me out of his sight. Just clings on my leg when he is awake. Fever lowers a bit. Need to run a quick errand for his b-day. I just hold him the whole time so he won't spread his germs or pick up any others.
--Make cupcakes for the Tigers last game. Take Bailey and her friend Gavin to the game, Ryan stays home again. Bailey played great again. Tigers win!! Soccer is done!!!!

Go Girl

--Fever back up to 103. Call Dr. Nurse tells me to go to the ER if it reaches 105. More medicine...........finally at 3:30 a.m. the fever breaks YEA.

Hopefully he is on the mend, tomorrow is his BIRTHDAY!

The crazy month of May.............cont'd

May 11th (Monday)
--I volunteered in Bailey's class today for one of the last times. I cannot believe the school year is almost over. It really has flown by. It has been fun to watch these kids grow over this past year. 3rd grade seems like such a big step, I hope Bailey is ready. I am so glad I am able to be in the classroom and be a part of her day. I love seeing her in her environment.

May 12th(Tuesday)
--Ellie had to get her kindergarten shots today. She new it was coming and she told me that she wasn't going to cry. She asked me throughout the morning, "is it time for my shots yet" She had a good check up. She only gained 2 pounds last year, so now that Logan is on whole milk, Ellie is too. They had her put on a little gown so she could listen to her heart and check everything out. They gave her the shots in her legs, 4 of them. She held my hands and squeezed them tight. After the second one her face got kind of red and she looked like she was going to cry, but she didn't. She was very brave!! She earned her one special treat at the store afterward. She also had a nasty infection in her big toe. We had to soak it, and all of that good stuff, but a bucket of water and Logan is a bad combination unless your outside. So poor Ell had to stand in the bucket up on the table. The toe is finally getting a little better. Thank heavens for antibiotics because this time of year, keeping her feet clean is pretty much impossible.

Ellie's 5 Year Stats are: Weight 34 pounds----Height: 40 Inches


May 13th (Wednesday)
--A couple of friends of mine from the gym started a weight loss boot camp. It is a great program and has really helped people loss some weight. They decided to add the nutrition component to the boot camp and asked me to be their guest speaker. It was fun to wear that hat again. It has been awhile, but I really enjoy doing it. Plus a little extra cash is always nice too.

May 14th (Thursday)
--I went to lunch with a friend of mine from college. We hadn't seen each other since our freshman year, but our kids ended up being in the same dance class. Crazy. Anyway it has been fun chatting with her every Thursday and enjoyed catching up more and letting the kids play.
--Donated blood. I am always a sucker for this I don't know why. I don't really enjoy it but I don't totally hate it either. I think it was for an Eagle scout project or something. Ellie has been pretty disturbed about the whole thing and keeps wondering when I will get the blood back. Hopefully never!
--Bailey's makeup soccer game from the rainy day a few weeks ago. Tigers won! Good game.

May 15th (Friday)
--Spent time at the office with Ryan trying to figure everything out. Lots to do.... so decided we needed lunch at Bajio :)
--Tried to get a swing set for like the 50th time, still didn't get one. Getting frustrated!
--Soccer game for this week was tonight. Didn't win, still a great game. The kids really don't care which I think is great. Kids played outside until it was dark. Summer is on its way.

May 16th (Saturday)
--Did a long run for the first time in a long time. Training for the Sawtooth Relay. Didn't die, yea!
--Ryan finally built some garden boxes, they don't have any dirt yet, but hey its a start.
--Went golfing for date night with Dave and Kami. I was a little worried about it, because I stink. It ended up being really fun. It was the perfect night to be outside. I can see why the game is addicting and humbling. When you hit a good shot you want to keep playing and are then quickly humbled. Hopefully I can better as the years go on.

May 17th (Sunday)
--My cousin got back from his mission this week and it was his homecoming today. We didn't make it so I fed the missionaries in his honor :) Most of my cousins on my moms side are girls so to have a missionary from our family has been exciting. He went to Milwaukee and spoke Hmong, I never even knew there was such a language .

May 18th (Monday)
--Went to Costco again. Logan is loving the whole milk. Been going through it like its our job.
--Tried to get a swing set again. Did NOT get one. May have a lead on a different one though, hopefully we can get it this week.
--Soccer tournament started tonight. It was dang hot!! 95 degrees at game time, Vegas was only 97 today, so I figure I can say it was dang hot. Bailey's face is still red. Tigers won. 2 games to go.

Some Random Things....

This time of year always seems to start getting pretty crazy. I love it though. Nice weather, park days, school programs, field trips, etc. Nothing really exciting has been going on but here are a few random pictures.....

ORANGE TIGERS SPRING 2009

Soccer season is upon us again. Bailey's team stayed together from last fall. Her coaches have really invested some time in effort in this team. It has payed off this year too. They have been playing really well and have won most of their games. It has been fun to watch them really start to learn the game. Bailey really enjoys it.

For Bailey's reading time last week, I agreed to let her read to Ellie. Ellie had gotten a new book about going to Kindergarten when she went to registration. It was so one of those moments that made me pause and just be so happy I was their mom. They weren't fighting, they were just snuggling together after bath time reading together. It also killed two birds with one stone, Ellie needed to read some stories to earn a pizza coupon at school and Bailey has to read every night. Hopefully I can get them to do it again and it will go just as smoothly.

We moved some bushes in our yard last week. Logan was wanting to help pretty bad. He LOVED the dirt and of course the water. He got caught in the sprinkles a few times, hence is wet shirt on the drive way behind him, he ate A LOT of dirt, hence the dirt all over him, and he cried and cried when he had to go inside. I think I know where we will be spending a lot of time this summer. I am happy to have the bushes moved I have been wanting to do it for a while. We did break a sprinkler while doing it, but everything turned out fine. Of course a huge thank you is needed to all of our neighbors for letting us use all of their stuff and helping with the sprinkler and watching Logan while we worked. Its so nice to have such great people always so willing to help you out. What a blessing.

Logan has really started turning meal time into mess fest. But it is pretty funny to watch him. He did put that cheese on his head by himself. He also loved smearing the oatmeal all over his face. Maybe it will help out his skin issues. Gotta love those blue eyes~

I can't believe he is almost a year old. He is 11 months in these pictures. Where did the time go? He loves eating those baby Cheetos, which Ellie informs me every time that they are not as good as real Cheetos. I tell her to quit eating them off his tray then. Maybe she will start listening.

Ryan went fishing last weekend at his grandparents cabin. He had a good time. It had been quite a while since he had been. They caught a few nothing he good keep but it was still fun. I am sure he will be going back again. My sisters came up to hang out. It was nice to not be hear alone and the kids always love having their cousins come. Logan and Jackson hung out watching Baby Einstein. The girls and Drew loved riding bikes and playing outside. The girls also love to get Drew into some of their dress ups and have a show. He is a good sport and always looks very handsome in the dance outfits :) I would post a photo but I think Dean would hurt me, so leave it to your imagination. Ryan is going out of town again this weekend, anyone want to come have a girls weekend?