End of school Highlights

The end of the school year always brings excitement for me. It still brings back memories of all the feelings I had as a child when summer was approaching. This year we had a few more additions to the already excitement that was going on around here. Here are some of our highlights!

Kate is the "lead" in the kindergarten play...

Mrs. Frog.

 Kate didn't even tell me she was the lead. A few days before the play she is going over the whole scene with me and I realize she is the main character! I was so excited that my my quiet little Katers was picked to be up front on stage and wasn't scared at all! (she definitely didn't get that from her mother!) She did such a great job and knew her part perfectly...which was a lot! Great job Katers!!

 Kylie and Kate...kindergarten graduates and b.f.f.'s.:)

 We love Mrs. Williams. Such a great kindergarten teacher. We're gonna miss her!

Macy's first piano recital.

Just two weeks after starting piano lessons, Macy was in her first recital. She was extremely nervous but did a great job and is loving piano. We were so proud of her!

Macy's dance recital at the Smiths Center. 

"Footloose"

Our little ballerina. She is quite the poser.

It was beautiful and amazing in the Smith Center. Macy did such an awesome job. She was front and center the majority of the dance. She is loving ballet and is doing great!

St. George

These posts may be a little out of chronological order...which may drive me nuts but I'm not sure how to change them around and after posting some of what we did over the summer, I realized that there were some things I hadn't put on here yet that I want to have and remember the fun memories with my kids. So out of order but a good one none the less...

St. George with the Hanseens.

We decided to make Memorial weekend a little getaway with our good friends the Hanseens. We headed up to St. George where we enjoyed some good food, swimming, hiking and playing at the splash pad and carousel. We also got to see some family when we stopped in at the Jibsons and went to church and then enjoyed some swimming in their new pool. All together it was a really fun, low key weekend. We love St. George!

       Drew in Heaven. Driving a firetruck all by himself. I think I need one of these at our house!:)

                           The famous Pizza, Pasta Factory spot.  Love these three little kiddos.

     Hanging out at Uncle Ron and Aunt Janet's on Sunday. The girls HAD to try out the pool!

                                                        I could get use to this view.

 Besties. These girls always have so much fun together.

 Love my girls. And even more, I love how much they love each other.

 We went on a fun hike up Red Cliff canyon. There was a little stream along part of the path and at the end was a pool of water that some of them (Tye, Ashlan and Allie) braved and slid/jumped into.

 We made it!

 Hangin at the water park.

 Oh how I love this little face.

 Drew and Elise engaged in some conversation.

The gang at the end of the day.

More Than Words Can Say

This little man stole my heart the minute he was born and just continues to make my life better everyday I have with him. There's no doubt I love my girls just as much but there is something about a relationship between a mother and her little boy. I can't even put into words the way I feel about this little guy. Of course he has his moments and I think I might loose it, but 95% of the time he makes me smile or laugh. I would just like to list some of the things I love about Drew.
1. His smile. Drew's big alligator smile covers his face and lights up the room. You can't look at him with his big huge smile without smiling.
2. His huge personality. Drew has had a sense of humor and a funny personality as long as I can remember. Since his first laughs, I could tell that he was going to be a lot of fun. I didn't realize that that little bundle (that wasn't so little) would bring so much joy to those around him. He has been a tease to his sisters, a jokester with his dad and a little ham for his mom since his personality started to show through at about 6 months. Drew will sometimes do things that make him seem so much older than the almost 2 year old he is. From the way he jokes around and teases his sisters to the sneaky little things he gets away with with mom, I am constantly amazed at this little man.
3. His soft side. Even though he is total boy, Drew has a soft side. He can be a little tender sweet heart, something I didn't know was possible for a little boy at such a young age. When Drew wraps his little arms around my neck and holds on like he's never gonna let go...my heart melts. I feel like I could stay like that for the rest of my life and I take every second of it in. I hope and pray that he stays the sweet little boy that he has been. Sometimes I will kneeling down and he will come up behind me and just hug me or get right in my face and kiss me for a long time. He has recently started to take care of some of his sisters dollies on occasion. He is so sweet and tender to them. Covering them with a blanket or laying them down with a binkie. Drew loves to carry around a school picture of Macy and one of Kate. A few days ago I caught him kissing "Katies" picture. Once again...melt my heart. Oh I love him!
4. His little noise. Drew is a man of many sounds. Number one being the constant hum/groan he makes when driving his trucks (which is 85% of the day). He also makes this noise when pretending to read and when he is really enjoying his food! Drew started making this noise when he was really little and was looking at books. I have gotten so use to it that I don't notice it as much but others always do and get a good laugh.
5. His love of cars/trucks. I love the complete turn-around from the baby dollies and pink to the trucks, balls and scoot toys. I love watching Drew play with his cars everyday and never get tired of it. I often smile to myself as I'm putting away his perfectly lined trucks or finding them in my purse. Yep, I have an all boy boy!
There are so many things I love about Drew. Even the little things that make me smile. Here are a few more.
His little cowlicks that stick up like a little chick. His love of his binkie that makes him seem like my baby for a little bit longer. His love for his sisters that adore him right back. His chubby cheeks. I love going into his room to get him from his nap and his little grin that peaks out from under his binkie. His love of airplanes and helicopters in the sky. His birthmark(s).
The list really could go on and on. There is so much I love about this little boy. But it's almost more than I can even put into words. Here are some of my favorite pictures .

Swimming Lessons

For the past three summers the girls have been lucky enough to take swimming lessons from this cute girl...Jessica. She is THE BEST! She took Kate from being a wall flower in the pool to a fish and Macy from being so-so to the next Missy Franklin (that last part may have been a bit of an exaggeration).  But really...she is the best! My kids love her and Drew was lucky enough to have her for his nursery teacher for the summer. She is a cheerleader at BYU and so we only to see her during the summer and some holidays. The girls think she's pretty neat stuff...and she is.

Summer Hilights

 Reunion buddies.  I got to take the kids to a family reunion this summer and Kate and Caitlyn became best buds immediately. We only got to make smores one of the nights because of fire danger in the area. The girls took advantage and LOVED them some smores!

                                          Enjoying some Claire time. Can never get enough.

 Macy and Kate both adore their uncle Ty...and it's easy to see why. We <3 p="p" ty.="ty.">

 We were so lucky to be able to go to this awesome guys farewell. By far the best farewell talk ever given (and I'm not bias at all). It was awesome and we love being with the Cardons...yes Body too.;)

                                                                  Love this picture.

 The girls and I enjoyed the best strawberries we have ever eaten just up the street from g & g Reeds house. The best part was getting to pick them ourselves. They were oh-so juicy!

 The girls loved going outside to help grandpa with the garden. We had just ran to the dollar store and got some silly string. When we went out to "help" grandpa one night, they surprised him with this.

                           Baby shower for Claire. It's not often that we get a "sisters" picture.

 4th of July at the cabin. We always enjoy our time over at the cabin. The kids love being with their cousins and enjoy being able to play outside...something thats hard to do back in Vegas!

                                                                     "Look at me!"

        Rhino rides...a favorite of Drews. We found out it's also a nice way to get him to sleep! :)

                                                  My little shaggy blue-eyed cheeto boy.

                                                   Enjoying the beach at Bear Lake.

                  The kids first rodeo in Laketown. The small town feel is such a fun change.

           These guys are inseparable when they get together. Macy, Kate, Ellie and Lexie.

                                              Family photo time. I love the 4 people so much.

                      Lovin some creamies at grandmas house. And i'm lovin that budha belly!

                                                 Drew loves story time with grandma.

 We don't like this part...saying goodbye. Our time with grandmas and grandpas goes by way too fast!