Oh, what do you do in the summertime?

 

We don’t have a “real” pool but the kids get good use out of our little wading pool.  I put Benjamin in there and he was pretty sure he was one of the big boys.  He loved it!

Benjamin got a little daring and starting reaching to the grass, he almost went out on his head!

 

Austin and James spend a lot of time under the shade of the tree, digging in the sand/dirt.  Benjamin would love to be out there too, but he can’t be trusted.  He likes to eat leaves and taste rocks.

 

This summer, we decided that we needed something fun for our backyard.  Trampoline won.  And of course, blue and orange.  So far we have all had fun jumping.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there won’t be any trips to the ER.

And of course picnics.  This one just happens to be a pancake picnic, but we like all sorts of picnics.

Before the summer is over, we hope to do more things like more swimming, camping, biking, etc.  We’ll see how much we can fit in!

Father’s Day

I didn’t get a mushy post put up about my husband and dad.  But I truly am lucky.  I pretty much have the best husband ever.  And my dad is amazing.  I also got an awesome father-in-law when I got Cam.

For father’s day, we got Cam a picture frame that holds a picture of each of the kids like the ones below.

 

Then for dessert after the Father’s day dinner, I made these fun hamburgers and fries.

The hamburgers are cupcakes with brownies and frosting.  Fries are sugar cookies.  Cam wanted a Big Mac, so his has 2 brownies.

Read, Read, Read

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.  Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.  ~Groucho Marx

Cam and I both love to read.  It seems that the love of books has been passed down to our kids.

Austin has become a big time reader.  Usually once a week we go to the library and he gets “chapter books”  like the magic tree house.  Most of the time he will have read 2-3 of those books before the day is over!

James is “reading” the children’s encyclopedia (it is a favorite at our house)

 

Below are Austin and James “reading” my anatomy book from PT school.  Then spent a whole day looking at that one.

 

Benjamin loves books too.  Right now he LOVES to empty every bookshelf he can find and look at the books and occasionally tear out the pages.  (Still learning the finer art of reading)

Graduation

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
William Butler Yeats

 

Austin finished kindergarten and I think, did a great job.  He loved to go to school and really loves learning.  He is already asking questions that I have to look up the answers for.

 

Austin with Mr. Green, principal/administrator

Austin’s teacher, Mrs Olsen.

Leila and Austin.  Leila lives in our subdivision and they rode the bus together.  They have become pretty good friends.

To the moms in my life

Happy Mother’s Day! 

 

 

My Mom:

A beautiful woman, both on the outside and inside.  I have learned so much from her.

My mom has always been a great teacher.  She has taught me many informal lessons; being a wife, mother, friend, neighbor, community member, etc. (and even grandmothering even though I’m not to that point yet).

 

I am thankful that my kids get to feel her love and learn from her.  We are so lucky to have Mimi!!

 

My mother-in-law:

She is a very kind and generous person.  I have enjoyed being adopted as her daughter.  I have learned so much from her and love that my kids get to have Marnie time too.

My grandmothers:

I love these women and miss them dearly.  My Grandma Ahman (top picture) has been gone since I was a young girl.  However, I do have memories of her, and they are great ones.  She was a loving grandmother.  I got to spend a little more time with my Grandma Baker and learned much from her as well.  They were both practical, no-fuss kinda women.  I love that.  If I grow up to be just a part of what each of these women was, I will have achieved much.

My sister:

I’ve always said that she left me behind to be raised with 3 brothers.  And she did.  But that doesn’t mean she hasn’t influenced who I am a ton.  I have always loved and looked up to my sister.  She is a great person and a great sister. I have spent a lot of my time trying to be as cool as she is.  :)  And someday, we plan to live together as old women.  She’ll be the grumpy one and I’ll be the crazy one. 

My sis-in-laws:  

  

These are all really great women. (Top to bottom:  Ashley, Kylie, Kim, Kathleen, Ambra, Liz-almost a sis in law)  I am lucky to be “sister” with all of them.  I hope they men they are married to (or soon to marry) realize what amazing catches they all are.  They have all taught me so much through their examples and how they live.  These really are great women and mothers/future mothers!

 

Happy Mother’s Day to you all!   How lucky I am to have you weaving in the tapestry of my life!

Easter

For Easter, we spent the weekend at Papa and Mimi’s house.  And in usual good grandma form, Mimi had a Easter egg hunt for the kids.  Oh, it was fun.  I got to help hide the eggs, that was fun too.

 

Austin and Josie racing to find their eggs (each kid had a certain color they had to find)

 

James

Yes that is snow against the fence.  It snowed the day before.  Yuck.

James taking a break to check out what was inside the eggs.

Austin, James, Josie, Kaitlyn and Calvin

The rest of the weekend was spent eating Easter candy, visiting and watching General Conference.  It was a fun weekend.

Austin’s Birthday (March 18th)

Austin is 6!  We had cake and icecream.  Pops was able to come visit and spend sometime with each of the boys, that was a fun treat.  Then on Friday, we hit Chuck E Cheese.  It was a fun day !

Dinosaur cake (as requested)

Pops took Austin and James on a bike ride.  They loved it!

 

Just look how much you have grown!!

Newborn

1 Year old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

5 years old

6 years old

You have grown so much.  You are a sweet boy and a great big brother!  We LOVE having you in our family.

Happy Birthday Austin!