summer days

 

So far this summer, we haven't had to try too hard to keep busy.  I guess life just picks up the pace the older my kids get. 

We've been on a few hikes, mostly up on North Ogden Divide.  The kids love to bring notebooks and to take breaks to draw the scenery.  We also have to take frequent snack breaks.

 

 

 

 

 We always find one day during the summer to go to the Hogle Zoo.  Everytime we go, we all talk about how we need to go in the winter instead.  It was hot!  Jess, her kids, Shannon, her kids, Grandma Barb, Grandma Dixie, my cousin Natalie, and her kids, and Uncle Blake all came.

 There were some tears over the zoo stroller until we found a way to squish them all in.

 

 All of the kids except Natalie's little boy Will.  He didn't want a picture.

 Uncle Blake is such a good sport.  Carly does not leave him alone.  She begs him to carry her everywhere.  Which is hard sometimes, because all of the kids love Uncle Blake... they all want a turn with him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I kept trying to get a picture of all 8 grandkids... but people kept walking in front.  You can barely see Carly on the very left over there.  We have 4 girls and 4 boys.  Until October when Jess and Matt will be adding another boy!

 

When Hailey gets nervous, she covers her ears, even though the gorilla didn't make a peep!

 

We love spending time with cousins!

Memorial day weekend and Hailey's 3rd bday! 2013

Our holiday weekend started out Saturday, with Abigail's horse ride with the Dawsons (it needed it's own post)  followed by a BBQ at my parent's house.  My Dad's life long friend, Dan, came out from California to visit.  We've only met Dan once, so we got together to hang out with him for a bit.

 

 

BFF's



Some good laughs

Cute Shelley

 

 

Since my parents live across the street from the Plain City cemetery, we always walk over the visit our loved ones.   



My sweet Aunt Marie

 

 

My Grandma and Grandpa Jenkins

Kael only wanted to be in the picture if he could sit on the grave.  I'm sure my grandparents thought it was adorable :)

 

Sunday was just a regular day of course, we went out to the Dawson's for a delicious dinner.

Monday (memorial day)  also happened to be Hailey's 3rd birthday!

She woke up so  happy!  So just kept saying,  "I'm the birthday girl, I'm the birthday girl"  The other kids think she's just the best little sister and they spoil her.  Every time she wanted something, the kids made sure she got it, because it was her bday.

 

She is the world's happiest girl.  Of course she has her moments, but usually she's so happy and smiley.  

 

She loves to make silly faces.

 

My sweet kids

 

We had a little breakfast, since we were going over to my parent's for a waffle breakfast that day.  I think Hailey got a little nervous with all the singing and shouts of Happy Birthday and maybe the lighting of the candle.  She just wanted her mama, which is why she's pointing at the camera, crying.

 



 

Some of the men ( Jed, Blake, Ben, Matt,  and Larry)  had an early morning bike ride.  They met up with us at Mom and Dad's for waffles.

 



After breakfast, we went to Jerry's to grab some flowers and plants.

 

Monday night, we had  a little party for Hailey.  Grandparents and Uncle Blake were in attendance.



 

 



All she wanted was a Cinderella doll, she was so happy.

 

 

She got lots of cute clothes and fun toys.  She was a happy girl

Abigail talked Blake into climbing up on the slide.  He's such a good uncle, he'll do anything for the kids.  Especially when the kids tell him to shoot their Mom with a nerf gun from the slide.

And yes, the baby duck blanket tied to the slide does make us a bit white trash... but it's shade.

 

 

The grandpas

Hailey and Jake

These two are best little friends.  Jake is our neighbor and they're always yelling for each other.  Hailey will walk around the yard yelling, " Where's my Jakey friend?!"

Carly loves to snuggle up with Grandma Sharla and listen to stories.

 

 

 

All about Hailey-

 

Favorite food-  mandarin oranges with cottage cheese
Favorite book- all the Fancy Nancys

Favorite show- curious george

Favorite toy- dolls, puzzles, Luke's legos

Favorite activity- riding bikes and going to the Grandma's... She'll ask everyday, "we going to Grandma Sharla's and Grandma Bars'?"

 

 

 

Some Hailey stories

 

She is independent!  She has to do everything for herself, she's obsessed with being a big girl. 

The other day, I was holding her hand at the store.  She kept trying to get away.

Hailey (yelling)- " I just want to.... I just want to.."

Me (frustrated/ angry voice)- "what do you want?"

Hailey- " I just want to run away!!! I want to run away!"

 

 

She always says, "No, I will hold my own hand"  and then she clasps her hands together

 

 

In sacrament meeting, she yells, "too tight!  too tight!"  If I grab her from running out of the pew.  I'm sure everyone thinks I'm squeezing her from the way she carries on.

 

I was downstairs and Ben was upstairs.  He said, "Meg!"  I was on my way up so I hadn't answered yet, so we didn't have to yell back and forth.  Hailey was next to Ben and she said, " We don't call our Mama  Meg.  We call her Mama.  Mama!"  I guess she didn't think that I would answer to Meg.





Abigail rides a horse

 Abigail has been DYING to ride a horse.  It started at Christmas, when the doll she received came with a horse book.  Then we started reading the Little House series, and she became even more in love with horses.  We have some that live in the field by our house and she would beg to ride them.

  Grandma Sharla searched for a place, and got Abigail a horse ride.  When Sharla told her, she jumped up and hugged her for a long time.  I think she was trying not to cry, she was so happy. 

 

 

The man that was in charge of taking the kids around was named Terry and he was the most friendly guy.  He showed the kids how to saddle and take care of the horses.

 

 

 

 

They got to try out two ponies.  The one Abigail is riding was named Queen Elizabeth.  The kids liked her the most because she liked to be a bit wild.

 

Luke's riding Charlie

 

 

Carly was super excited for her turn, and not a bit nervous.

 Hailey loves her Grandpa Larry

 Hailey's turn!  She was NOT excited... obviously.  She clung to me.

 I let go and acted excited about it, hoping she would also be excited.

 She was not

 

All better

 

Abigail is in love.  She asks when we're going to buy her a horse...

 Cute baby horses

This was the place that we went to.  They were awesome and the kids loved it.

 

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for such a fun day!

 

p.s. Ben was here too, he decided to be the picture taker that day.



Abigail's kindergarten graduation- May 2013



This school year went by SO fast!  Abigail loved kindergarten.  Whenever she had a day off, she was sad that she couldn't see her teacher.  Mrs. Jennings is the sweetest teacher, and was so good to Abigail. She couldn't wait for her graduation, she kept telling me how much they were practicing their songs, and how good they sounded.

 

beautiful Ab and her beautiful grandmas

 

 

She told me she was a little nervous to be in front of all these people, but she hummed a primary song to make her feel better.

 



I love this girl!

 



with her awesome teacher, Mrs. Jennings.

 



Abigail was really lucky to have her 2nd cousin, Jenna, in her class this year.  They are only 2 weeks apart, they look so much a like, and they're good little pals.

 



 

Abigail and her good friend Kaitlynn