Splash fountain and camping

We found a splash fountain (okay - so I knew where it was and led everyone to it) :)

The kids got pretty wet.

Then we led them to some hot dry pavement, where they littered their bodies around as they sought hot spots to warm up with.

And then, later that night, all of the kids hung out at the hotel swimming pool - with grandpa, aunts and uncles, and cousins.

After church and dinner on Sunday, we headed to the family reunion, and the girls got to spend the night in grandma and grandpa's cabin the first night.
Here we are ready for bed!

Family shots

My husband's entire family came for the baptism, and for a family reunion afterwards. Here is about half of the family - trying to get it together for a family photo. A little crazy!


While many members of my family planned to come out, for various reasons, my parents were the only members of my family who were able to make it. We were so happy to see them, and grateful that they were able to come.

Later that evening, we headed up to one of our favorite resort areas. Here's one of my husband's favorite statues:

Post baptisms

Because our daughter's birthday is only one day apart from one of her friend's they were able to be baptized during the same baptismal service.
Here they are together just before


Just after her/their baptisms

Baptism

We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Last weekend, our daughter made the decision to be baptized. She's been so excited about it.
Here she is just before her baptism.

She and I

She and her Dad - who had the opportunity to baptize her.
(I love that this photo almost looks like a family portrait with Christ as a member of the family)

Last day of school #2

I just found some photos on my husband's phone that I didn't have.
On the last day of school, the kids (and parents) get to watch a slide show of photos of the kids throughout the year. Then, starting with the graduating class, the kids all march out.
Here's our very excited daughter


My daughters grade got to meet together and sit in a circle, and in open forum, got to thank each other, their teachers and the staff, and mostly share their feelings regarding the year they just accomplished. It was pretty interesting. Not many parents piped up, but our daughter shared two or three times, and then started giving me the Eagle eye...trying to ellicit something from me.
Truly, we are so grateful for all of the staff at their school these past many years. We will be very sorry to leave them all.

This year's teacher has vied for the favorite teacher status. We are really grateful to Mr. M. He definitely made learning fun. Bowling, helicopters, mentos in coke - you name it - they had a blast learning!

In art, some of the kids have an opportunity to paint their own ceiling tiles. Here's a collaborative work from this year. If you can't tell...it is a gecko.

Moving along

I've been a little busy lately.
It's going to get worse.
I'm already overwhelmed. And then some whelmed on top of that too.

1 month ago, my husband and I were in South Carolina interviewing for a new job (I didn't interview - I house shopped).
The next week, he was in Florida, interviewing for another job.
Both jobs were offered, we accepted the Florida job.
I know..sun, sand, Disney..kind of a no brainer. Did I say sun? Apparently it is suicidal to move to Florida in July. Yep - that's the kind of people we are. Crazy to boot.

I just wanted to let everyone know that if they don't find me here in the next month, I'll be packing/cleaning/painting or freaking out.

We are trying to rent our home and praying that everything will work out - both here, and in our new abode where ever it may be. Thanks in advance for your prayers!

Chances are, I'll pick back up once the move is over and I'm re-settled.
On to new adventures!!

Before and After

First Day of School 2010

 

Last day of school 2011

 

First Day of school 2010

 

Last day of school 2011

 

They were actually on time for the first day. Unfortunately, even today - they were late!

Candy Bar & Deco

While I essentially only had a day to plan this party out, here's some of the deco.
I think the kid's favorite part was the candy bar.
Get it?...candy...bar

I thought it was clever at least.


I found directions on how to make these cool daliahs on Martha Stewart.
I love how they turned out!

We decided to add a little more frosting to the giant cupcake later on.

Yesterday was SUPER windy, and I wish I'd taken some pictures, but I was running a million miles a minute and didn't get a chance.
I bought some thick dowels, and cut out large posterboard circles - stapled them together and stuck the circles onto the dowels.
Tied a ribbon around the stick, and placed 2 foot high lollipops all over the yard.

Pinata & the aftermath

After a while, the pinata had to be pitched.

Finally - here's the aftermath. It was a little scarey. I was really glad my husband came home half way through the party. I don't think I'll ever do a party without another adult there. I was fairly frazzled.
We invited a little girl who JUST turned 5.
At one point she decided to hide and for 5 minutes and we couldn't find her. We searched every room in the house, outside, at the park, everywhere. Everyone dropped everything to search for her.
Finally we found her.
Hiding in the kitchen curtains.
It was a little frustrating.

sUgaR aNd SpIcE

We had a sugar and spice birthday party for our youngest yesterday.
They did a relay game with sugar cubes and cinnamon sticks. Racing to transport everything from one side of the room to the other - using a plastic spoon. Then, they had to work together to build something out of the materials.

We had a treasure hunt (see previous post for clues) and they found cupcakes in the oven which they all got to frost for later consumption.

Of course, we had two or three cupcake incidents.

Here's the "big Cupcake". We were grateful to a friend who let us borrow her cake mold.

Treasure Hunt

We celebrated our daughter's birthday and the theme was "Sugar and Spice".
For one of the activities, we had a treasure hunt.
Here are the clues we used:

Let’s get started, here we go

A treasure you will find,

if you follow all the clues,

that I have left behind.

Ring Ring, Hello,…hello…, hello? If you need to find the phone, where would you go?

If you like to play a song, you’ll sit on me to play.   I keep your music safe and warm – hurry and don’t delay!

I’m a favorite toy, for boys and girls alike, I’m always found outside you know, and I’ll bounce you if you’d like!

If you’d like to watch a show, or relax a bit, you’ll have to climb a lot of stairs – I hope you are feeling fit!

If you push and pump with me, you’ll soar into the sky.  Your next clue is under me – I can’t wait to say hi!

If you’d like to dig a hole, or build a sand castle or two, climb my steps and there you’ll find your next awaiting clue.

Are you thirsty?  Do you need a drink?  On a hot summer day, I’m your pal.  Just stay outside and turn me on and watch me gush, oh wow!

  

Congratulations – you are almost there.  This is your very last clue.  You’ll need me if you bake a cake, but bring your hot pads too!

Once they got to the oven, they found a tray full of cupcakes for them to frost and decorate. 

The birthday girl got a JUMBO cupcake!  

Pics to follow. 

Trophies

Our daughters got several medals from this meet - and it was a very long awards ceremony.
We were SO excited since our youngest had smoked everyone on the vault. Then, they gave first place to someone else. We couldn't figure out what was going on.

Finally, the coach went over and they sorted everything out. Apparently, they had her birthday wrong and had her in the category with all of the kids 3 years older. She smoked their scores on the vault too, but they didn't announce her because by then, the mistake had been brought to their attention.
She and her teammate tied for first place on the vault for the entire meet!
They called her up and gave her her medals all by herself. A little traumatizing for your first event, but we got through it~

Our team took 1st place in the meet,with our oldest coming in 3rd overall. Not too shabby eh?

Here's the team trophy.

The team girls voted that our daughter should take the trophy home for the weekend since she kind of got overlooked there for a while. It was pretty exciting! And then they were in the newspaper too!

Another Gymnastics Meet

As promised, I found my camera - here are some photos from the latest meet.
This was our youngest's first meet ever. She actually did REALLY well for her first time. She got a 9.5 on the vault - out of 10. She and another girl on her team tied for the best vault score of the meet.
Here other events...well, they still need a little more work.


Here they are lined up ready to be announced.


While the judges were tallying the scores, they had a hula hoop contest. Guess who won?
Yep..that cutie in the middle. The girl on the far left came in 2nd but she used WAY too much motion.. Our kiddo has it down to a science and hardly even expends energy.
We asked where she learned to hula.
She responded - the Wii.
Yep, she hulas on the wii whenever she gets babysat while we are in the temple.
Funny girl.

This crazy tiger did an entire dance routine - splits, backhandsprings and all while we waited.
I'd never seen a tiger with such great moves!

Finally finished (almost)

After having this project on the list for six plus years, we tackled it!
We excavated our yard six years ago and put in a rock retaining wall. Above the wall we planted some trees and always intended to fill it in with sod, or bark or something, but never got around to it. The kids used it as their own personal digging area and mud pit, and excavation site. The weeds used it as their own personal space and gleefully filled it in each summer.
My husband and I looked at it and theorized how much it would cost to mulch it. We even went so far one year as to get the weed mat down, but failed to get the bark and mulch down before the wind ripped it back up.

We spent A LOT of time this weekend weeding.
Yesterday I threw down the weed mat, and instead of buying a billion individual bags, we had a nursery bring their big truck and drop a full pallet of compressed wood chips and mulch over the fence into the back yard.


Don't I look cute trying to staple down the weed mat..always love those candid photos my husband sneaks in...


See that big plastic wrapped thing? That's our 'bale' of mulch.

And wallah!!!...the final product. I'm so relieved to look outside and not see a big weed patch that I feel guilty about! Hooray!