Flat Stanley

Two day's before the end of school Emily was given a packet with Flat Stanley from her cousin Rachel. We only had about two day's before we needed to send our pictures back so that they could be shared before Rachel's last day of school.  

Life was crazy with the typical "end of the school year" craziness. Flat Stanley did help fold clothes and made a trip to our local library.

Flat Stanley also went to school with Emily. 

We didn't do a lot but we did try and Emily had fun with her little tag along.

Wedding Cake

My little sister, Hanna recommended me to a friend to make her wedding cake. I think it turned out very pretty. I even made the cake topper. Thank goodness for glitter and glue!

2015 School Field Trips

This year I spent every Monday in Brayden's classroom. Brayden's teacher was not my favorite and really, really needed help. I was the only consistent parent that came to help and lots of the room mom's responsibilities ended up on my shoulders. Wanting to be with my other kids too I made it possible to go on one field trip for Brayden, Emily and Madelyn.

Madelyn's field trip took us to Zion. We were hiking  Emerald Pools. 

All three fifth grade classes attended.

Silly girls!

At the 1st upper pool we were able to walk behind the water fall. It was refreshing to feel the water spray on us. It was kind of a warm day but could have been much worse.

At the 2nd Pool there wasn't much water and was in the full sun. We didn't stick around very long.

The 3rd pool was much better. The only thing that could have made it better was if we could have waded out in the water. 

Madelyn's 5th grade class.

Together we made it. Happy I was able to go. It was fun day.

Emily's class walked to our local Orthodontist. Being we were walking I didn't take my big heavy camera and missed out on taking pictures of us. Next time I will borrow Madelyn's smaller camera to take along.

Not wanting to make the same mistake of not having a camera I took Madelyn's along for Brayden's field trip.  I think my one and only selfie on the bus!

 The bus dropped us off at our local grocery store Lins.

The kids were given hair nets to wear and a plastic bag to collect goodies. We saw a lady decorating cakes, saw the huge oven that the cookies were baked in, walked into the huge freezer full of ice cream and saw the big doors where the food was delivered at. 

Our 2nd stop was at McDonald's across the street. The kids were given a cookie, got to play on the play ground and then we went on our tour.

We saw how order's were placed, where the french fries were baked, where the ice cream was kept and how the dishes were washed.

Our 3rd and final stop was the fire department. The kids got to climb up into an ambulance. The paramedics talked about what they do and how they help people. Out of the blue one of the kids started throwing up. All of us adults where standing out of the ambulance and no one knew who it was. As I walked around the side I discovered it was Brayden who had gotten sick. He puked all over the inside. The other kids thought it was great to watch the paramedic turn on a hose inside the ambulance and wash the puke out of the truck and down the drain. I was so embarrassed! 

After listening to the paramedics we saw the firefighter's. They showed us their gear they wear, got to touch their hose, put on a hat and climb through the truck. Being Brayden had gotten sick I called Grandma who came to our rescue by picking him up and taking him home. I stuck around for the rest of the field trip being I was still in charge of 5 little rambunctious boys. 

Fun field trip!

Kite Festival 2015

When we lived in Hurricane four years ago for that one school year a friend told me about the annual Kite Festival. We went had a lot of fun and I always said we'd go back even though we lived in Alton but it just never happened. I was so excited when my kids brought home their reading log paper's for this year's annual event. 

Grandma Grow hadn't passed yet and my cousin Autumn and her son Gabe where in town. Uncle Mark and Aunt Robin were also around so they with me too. The kite festival is free. Everyone brings kites and flies them down on the field. Rides required tickets which were a dollar each or if the kids brought their reading chart they could get 10 free ticket's (that's $10 worth), a kite or a book. My kids all chose the tickets.

The rides were fun and great for their ages. The problem was the lines. Oh my goodness. Madelyn stood in this line for an hour. 

Only 4 could go at a time and swung them upside down. I think it would have made me sick if I had been on it.  

Hunter and Gabe were able to "fight" several times. 

This one didn't seem to be as popular which was great for these boys who were able to play this over and over again. 

The one ride that all 8 kids wanted to participate in were these big blow up balls. I stood in line for

 2 1/2 hours. If I had known that I would be standing in line for that long I don't think we would have done it. I stood in line while passing out tickets to the kids to go do other rides. The kids were able to run around and enjoy themselves while I stood there and tried to watch and count heads but not get out of line. 

Finally.... it was our turn I was impressed that the kids were able to spend 5-7 minutes in the balls. 

Next to the balls were a few blow up slides. Kylie begged and begged to go down them. Madelyn, Kylie and Emily climbed up and slid down.

About 1/2 way up Kylie changed her mind and wanted to come back down. I yelled to Madelyn to just keep going. I think Kylie was a little scared. 

After the rides I was hot. I had been standing with no shade and needed to cool down. So we bought $2 snow cones for everyone. The highlight of the afternoon.

Mark and Robin took their granddaughter home about an hour earlier than the rest of us. I was still standing in that dang line. After investing so much time in it and being near the front there was no way we were leaving until after that ride.

Batman Birthday Party

After having to post-pone Brayden's birthday party two weekends in a row. 

His much awaited day finally arrived!

He chose a Batman party. He did not want super heros, TMNT, nor avenger's but Batman only.

I'm making a wedding cake in 2 weeks and I wanted to try out the fondant like sheets you can buy now day's. It's not going to work for the wedding cake but it worked perfectly for making a city scene. I made the batman logo using the same type of sheets. Brayden loved his cake! 

 Braydens favorite snack was the batman watermelon and Joker's Juice, aka green hawaiian punch.

We played this game while we were waiting for everyone to show up. I hung up painters tape and then wadded up scrap paper for the kids to throw at the web. Our tape is very old and didn't stick as well as I'd have liked but a few papers did manage to stick. The kids didn't seem to mind. They just enjoyed throwing the balls. 

It didn't take very long for all 8 guests to arrive. These little ones are all friends from primary, our neighborhood and school. 

We have been having high 80's and 90's temperatures these past few weeks. The day before our big day it rained and rained and rained. The weather man predicted a 30% chance of rain for our morning and our high for the day was suppose to be 60. A little cold for outdoor water games I had planned. I made a few last minute changes, cleaned the garage and decided to have most of the games played in the garage. My house just isn't big enough for these little ones to run around in. 

Our 2nd game was stomping the bomb's out that Joker and left behind. I tied balloons to each person's ankle and let them go to town. 

Our 3rd game I had printed out several of Batman's enemies and glued them to paper cups. We hung them up and then gave each kid their very own silly string. At the beginning we had kids lined up on both sides of my hanger but with nothing between kids except for a few plastic cups they ended up squirting each other. It was the favorite game of the morning. 

Our 4th game was a scavenger hunt outside. I waited until the rain had stopped and hoped it would give us a little while before the next rain fall. The end of the hunt led the kids to the freezer where Mr. Freeze had frozen all of Brayden's super heroes.  

Everyone was given a squirt bottle with warm water and together they had to unfreeze the super heroes. 

The kids kept at it until it started to sprinkle and the wind picked up a bit. It got cold quick and it didn't help the kids were a bit wet from the water spray.

Following the water game we played shoot the villan.  

I had 3 dart guns that held 3 bullets each. They had to take turns shooting at the hanging balloons. 

After our dart game the rain stopped once more so 

 we quickly sang happy birthday and cut the cake.

The kids filled there plates with goodies and I sent them back outside to eat. Those that ate quickly took another turn at un-freezing those super heroes. 

 When the kids got cold again we came back inside to open presents. 

Super heroes, TMNT, nerf guns, legos and candy. 

This little boy was heaven. 

After all his friends went home he spent hours on the front room floor playing with his new toys. 

It was the, "best birthday ever", says Brayden. 

Grandma Grow's Funeral

On Saturday, May 2 2015 we laid my sweet Grandma Grow to rest. 

It was a beautiful warm morning. 

Her viewing was from 9:30-10:30 am. We had a family prayer and a chance to give her our last kisses goodbye from 10:30-11:00. Her funeral services began at 11:00 am.

During her services Autumn and I were able to give her eulogy. Mom spoke about the purpose of Grandma's life. Why was she here? What was her purpose? Grandma taught us all many things. For instance you never just pour syrup on your pancake. You start at the center and making circles moving outward you sing, around and around you go. Grandma taught her daughters how to sew. She helped/tried to teach her granddaughter's how sew and crochet. Grandma taught us the importance of the gospel. Grandma loved her scriptures. She knew that prayers were answered. She was always quick to share it with those around her. She was always a missionary. Following Mom's talk Uncle Hulen talked about the importance of  having eternal families so that we can all be together again. 

I had my camera slung around my shoulders almost the entire day. I didn't feel like taking pictures. Nothing really stuck out at me that said you'll want to remember me, take my picture. It wasn't until we got to the cemetery that I pulled my camera out. So here are a few I did get.   

In the back: Matt, Aunt Tamra, Dad, Aunt Robin with Elena

Front: GG Pa, Mom, Hanna

The paul bearers; Matt, Travis, Jonathan

On the other side was Uncle Jim and cousin Billy

Following the cemetery we headed to church for the luncheon. We then went back to mom and dad's and visited with one another. 

Travis, Great Aunt Barbara, Aunt Bonnie holding Briella, Ciarra, Grandpa Hunter with Jesse.

Grandpa Hunter and Jesse snoozing together. 

Uncle Jim, Aunt Bonnie, Mom

Later in the afternoon some us went back to the cemetery. We wanted to collect the flowers

Aunt Bonnie, Great Aunt Barbara, Cousin Shirley, Uncle Jim, Mom

Autumn and her daughter Faith and myself tagged along. It was fun to sit on the grass and remanence about our grandma, sister, mother and cousin. 

Grandma you will be missed but we know you are in a much better place. 

It must be such a relief to have your mind back and be able to communicate again.

We love you!