Preschool At Home

This week is my week to play teacher. I was a little nervous monday night when I realized I was going to be home alone with six 3/4yr olds plus one 12 mo. old for 2 1/2 hours. Luckily we all survived. There was no whining, crying, or fighting from any of the 7 children yesterday. The kids all had fun. We started off playing with balloons. Our theme of the day was our bodies and how it can move.
Emily of course wanted to join in on the fun.
We had popcorn as a snack while I read the book The Very Hungry Catipillar. We talked about the healthy/sometimes food that we all eat and what it does to our bodies.
What must my little Emily be thinking?????
The kids are learning the letter "C" this week. So there project of the day was making catipillars. Who could resist painting parts of an egg carton green. Cheerios for the eyes and twirling pipe cleaners for the antenna's. After all was said and done the day was very successful. Hunter and Maddie can hardy wait for tommorrow when they have school again. What fun project will I come up for tommorrow??

Emily's 1st Birthday Party

Has it really been a year already? I'ts amazing my baby turned 1 yrs. old TODAY!!! It also means that I've been blogging for almost a year now too. WOW Emily's birthday party was suppose to take place at a picnic table on Mingus Mnt. but due to our very wet weather we decided to have it at home instead. Instead of having a cookout we opted for good ole' pizza. Suprisingly Emily left her bithday hat on almost the entire time.
This is Emily's birthday cake. A little ladybug for our little lady.
With the help of dad the candle was finally blown out.
Emily did not know what to do with all the packages that was placed in front of her. Good thing for her older siblings and friend Jaxen or she would have never been able to open them.
Her favorite gift was HER VERY OWN baby doll. Happy Bithday my little Emily.

Emily's 1st Birthday

Happy Birthday Emily!

We have survived our Summer...

We are finally back and we are not going anywhere for a very long, long, long time. Our summer travels started the very last weekend in June when we went to Las Vegas to see my brother Travis who was on a short leave from serving in Iraq.

The kids and I went on to Hurricane Ut where we stayed for 2 weeks. Kory met up with us at his family reunion and then we went farther north for a week for my sisters wedding. We had a blast that week up north. We stopped in and saw Lance and Tosha Arnout and Cade and Natalie Preston. Both families use to be in our ward.

We came home for 2 weeks and then went back to Utah just for the weekend for another reunion on Kory's side. One week later Kory had to go to San Diego to measure a job so the kids and I tagged along. Hence these fun beach picts. The very next weekend we once again went back to Utah for a family reunion on my side. We have been gone all summer. We've been home a full week now and I can't tell you how nice it was to fully unpack the suit cases and put them away. It feels great to know we are not leaving again for a very long, long, long time.





Hunter was trying to dig for treasures. He loved digging a hole and then watching the waves make his hole completely disapear.








Madelyn loved running from the waves. She was the 1 st one in the water and the last one to get out. Even Emily loved the water. It was a bit cold at first but she did get used to it. It was too cute to see her crawling after the waves.

Preschool...

This past week was the begining of Preschool. Both Hunter and Madelyn were so excited to start.
There are 5 moms that rotate hosting "Joy School" at each of our homes. Which means I will teach these 6 little kids once every 5 weeks. We just began week 2 and so far so good. My kids are loving school. They ask every morning if it's a school day.
With all the creative and fun projects who wouldn't have fun. They have painted with their toes and their hands .
And we can't forget the good ol' melting crayon trick. They thought this was the coolest thing.

I hope their excitement of going to school will continue. I can't believe how fast time flies. Hunter will start kindergarten next year and I will probably do Joy School again with Maddie.

It's been a long time being home with only one child. Having both kids gone for 2 1/2 hours twice a week, whatever will I do with myself?

Canning Beans

When we came home from Utah last weekend we had with us two 5 gallon buckets and 1 box of Pears, 2 boxes of apples and a garbage bag of beans. The kids helped me snap beans one evening and then while they were at Pre School the next day I canned them. We ended up with 17 pints of beans.

The beans were pretty easy, now for the harder part dealing with all the apples and pears.

Family Pictures

This is my mom and dad who just celebrated their 29th anniversary. Our family has grown in the past year in a half. We have had 2 grandchildren born and 2 in laws that we have welcomed into the family.
I am the oldest and we are dressed in white. My brother Jonathan was next. His family is dressed in blue. His wife Camille, 3 year old Carlaya and 18mo. old Noah. Travis is #3. He and his wife Christina are in green. Sheri is #4. Her and Jason are on the back row dressed in black. Everyone living at home is in yellow. My brother Matt is 17 and my sister Hanna who is 12. It' amazing to see all 17 of us together.

My brother Travis..

This is my brother Travis and his wife Christina. He is currently stationed in Iraq so we don't get to see him often. It was great to spend time with them.




This was the 1st time we met Christina. Hopefully we didn't scare her off. It was great getting to know her.



Travis with little Noah.












Travis and Jonathan. 2 of my brothers.

Parade

The kids and I participated in the 24th of July parade. This is my sister Hanna and another little primary girl pulling the handcart that Hunter, Maddie, Emily and cousin Carlaya were riding in.




Although the parade wasn't very long I ended up carrying all 3 of my children before it was over. Despite this HORRIBLE picture that makes me look like I'm 4 months pregnant. Which I'm NOT!!!! It really made me think of those that walked the plains. All those moms that had to carry their children along the way. I am so thankful for their sacrafice.



After the parade we all went to the park for fun and games.Hunter participated in the race. I was impressed with how fast he could run. Every participant recieved a quarter. Him getting a quarter was the highlight. I was very impressed with this celebration. They had cold soda, frozen capri suns, snowcones and bottled water all for $.25. I walked away spending $2.00 on 4 children. It was great.

Bridal Pictures

This is my 20 year old sister Sheri. She is the reason why my kids and I were gone for 3 weeks. She got married in the Mt. Timpanogas Temple this past Saturday. 2 weeks prior she went through the St. George Temple for her endowments. The week before that was her Bridal Shower. That was also the weekend my brother Travis and his wife Christina came for a visit.


I really like this close up. She'll never have another one like this.




Playing around we had some picts taken in her street clothes but with everything else. We thought it turned out kinda cute.























This is one of my favorites. I ended up making 9 of these flowered headbands for all the girls to wear at the reception. Maddie really loves her Aunt Sheri.

All Boy...

This of course is my little 4 year old boy. When I say boy he is all boy.
It rained while we were in Utah. Hunter discovered the drainage hole his Grandpa had dug to keep the water from flooding the basement.
He most definitely had fun...
Before he could come inside he was sprayed off with the hose.
After downloading this picture at a glance it looked like Hunter was peeing. But he's not. Look closely and its just the top of the board in the background. I'm to tired to replace this pic. with another one.

Horse Riding

While in Utah there were always plenty of horses to ride. At both Grandparents. Hunter loves to help feed the animals.
This trip even Maddie liked to ride the horse. Sometimes she doesn't want to get to close but this trip she did very well. Just maybe she's overcoming her fear of animals.
Hunter loves to ride. He anxiously awaits Grandpa's return from work so that he can have his turn at riding the horses.
This is Maddie with her cousin Carlaya being led around by their Aunt Christina.
Overall the kids and I had a wonderful 3 week vacation. It was great to get away from the everyday stuff. Now we are home and trying to get back into the routine of things.

Slip n' Slide..

We have grass to play on here in Hurricane, Utah ....
This is cousin Carlaya who is 4 months older than Maddie.


What more needs to be said then the slip n' slide was a big hit.

Bridal Shower

This weekend we went to LasVegas. My brother Travis who is stationed in Iraq is home for 2 weeks. He and his wife Chrisina (whom we have never met) was able to meet us in Vegas for a few days. My sister Sheri is engaged so she and her fiance Jason also met us in Vegas for a big family picture. We had 17 in all. I have tried posting this picture but for some reason it won't post.

With my sister getting married in 19 days (I'm not counting but she sure is.) we have something everyweekend. I didn't want to miss out on all the fun so the kids and I are now in Hurricane, Utah for the next 3 weeks.

While in Vegas my sister-in-law and I threw Sheri a bridal Shower.
Many friends from Henderson, Nevada came to support Sheri.












Sheri is doing her kitchen in red. She was so excited to recieve a baking set in red.












Whats a shower without a little lingerie.



















Future husband Jason was overlooking the shower. His favorite???? The blue silky nightie.