Halli's 3rd Birthday!!

I was so excited for Halli's birthday this year, it's more fun when they "get it"!! I took her to the party store to pick her theme and after walking up and down the aisles changing her mind several times and listening to big brother tell her what was cool and what was not, she finally decided she wanted a Dora Party!! She was so excited to have her friends come to her house for her birthday!! She had a blast with her friends! It was fun watching her on her special day! When her friends would give her the present they brought for her she would say, "you can have it!" She finally caught on that she has some pretty nice friends who brought those presents for her! Halli received lots of nice gift from friends and family! She loves them all, but she has been caught the most pulling her Dora the Explorer backpack around and being Fancy Nancy!! I think I may have to buy one more backpack because little sister also likes it!! Hope you had a very special day Halli! Mom, Dad, Jaden, and Raggie all love you! You are a stinker, but I can't imagine life without you!! Keep smilin' little one!!

Kindergarten Graduation

Jaden had a great year in Kindergarten! He made lot of friends, had a few girl friends, had and gave a few hugs, received a few kisses, and learned a lot!! The kids put on a very cute program for their graduation celebration! They said a few poems, and sangs some songs! Afterwards, we went back to the classroom to visit and enjoy some snacks. I can't believe the year is over and I can't believe I am going to have a child be in the 1st grade. I tell myself I am so ready for him to grow up, but deep down it makes me sad that my first born is getting to be such a big boy!
Jaders...I hope you continue to like school and try your best, you can do or be anything you want to be if you just set your goals high! Keep reaching for the stars!! I love you and I am so very proud of you. I know you will go far in life!!

Favorite Teacher

Jaden's Kindergarten teacher was amazing!! I was so worried sending him to school hoping that he would get a teacher that was good with him and I guess I got lucky!! He is my social butterfly, good thing or bad?!! Well, not so much in class when others need to stay on task!! He is not only a social butterfly he is a multi-tasker!! He knows how to chat, and sing while getting his work done!! I love him to death but he really needs to learn to be quiet! It was no surprise to me when his teacher told me, he is the same way at home!! It seems he has always got to be making some kind of sound! I hope his teacher next year is as patient with him as Mrs. O'Shields! Oh, I failed to mention that not only did Jaden like his teacher, but my girls adored her also!!

Sprinkler Park

The sky was clear, the sun was out, and the temp. was well into the 70's so we headed to the Willis Tucker sprinkler park! The kids had a good time playing in the water but the toys were a bigger hit this trip! I don't know why I didn't get a picture of Jaden, he was having a blast on the merry go round! All the kids love that, just watching it makes me want to hurl!!

First Family Camping Trip

For our first family camping trip we headed to Ensign Ranch! It was a great place for our first camping experience! I liked that I could walk maybe 1/4 of a mile and go to a potty that flushed and wash my hands in running water, there were even showers, that is if you wanted to take an ice cold shower!! I did tough it out most of the time and went to the port a potty, they freak me out, but I needed to try my best to be a "true" camper!! The kids had a blast and I quickly got use to the fact that they were going to get dirty! We ate good food, had more s'mores than I should have, played by the water, went on nature walks, rode horses, and played on the water slide! The kids did really well, even Raggie! Everyone wants to go again, even me! Did I just say that?!! Oh...I almost forgot the best part. While packing up to leave, we discovered the truck battery had died due to watching a movie too long without starting it up! Note to self...don't do that again!! We had to have one of the Missionaries come out and jump us!! That was another nice part, it is church owned so if you need help you just have to take a walk to the office and there you will find lots of missionaries, mostly older couples!

No more Naps!!

I think we have reached the stage where Halli is done with naps! :( I dread the day this happens!! When 5 o'clock hits the beast comes out!! I guess putting her to bed even earlier than 8pm is an added bonus, but boy does it make for a super long day!!

Mother's Day 2009

I was so lucky to be able to have my mom here in Seattle for Mother's Day! It has been a while since I have been able to spend Mother's Day with her. I love my mom, she's super great!! I think what I love most about my mom is her willingness to do anything for anyone! Another thing is her cooking and baking talents!! Geez I wish I could get the bread thing down!! She definitely did not pass the bread skills on to me, poor me!! She's not only a good mom but a good grandma to my kiddos!! It's hard being far away and not able to see grandparents more frequently but when we do see them the time spent with them is quality!!

Ride the Ducks

Grandma Linda came to visit us in May and we decided to do something we have never done here in Seattle, "Ride the Ducks"!! It was so much fun!! So, it's a land and sea tour on a rig they used in WW II called an amphibious vehicle. Coast Guard certified maritime captains drive these crazy things while telling about the historical sites and on top of that, they put on quite a performance! We danced in our seats, sang songs, laughed at jokes and the kids had a great time blowing their quackers!! It was pretty neat to be riding down Highway 99, exit off and drive down into Lake Union, float around a for awhile, then drive out and hit the Highway again! I think the rigs top speed is 40 mph! It was a fun time and the kids had a blast! Jaden and Halli still ask when we are going to go Ride the Ducks again!!

It got a little bit windy for Halli, so she decided to pull her hood down over her face! Pretty comical!