Pioneer Day 2014

We took a little trip for Pioneer Day this year.  We drove down to Provo the night before and stayed at the Marriot.  Ben met us there after he got off of work.  The kids thought this was the best thing ever.  We got pizza and ate on the patio, swam, and jumped on the beds.  

We woke up the next morning and met all of Ben's family for the Temple to Temple 5k run.  All of his Dad's siblings, lots of their kids, and grandkids were there.  It was a mini family reuion.

After the race we went ate at Village Inn, then we headed further south to Mona and played in the water.

It was so much fun, and so great to see the Dawson family.  We don't see them nearly enough.  The kids were so spent.  Being too excited to sleep in a hotel, walking 3 miles, and swimming all afternoon did a number on them. 

swimming lessons

I put the four oldest in swimming lessons this summer.  Hailey was in the same class as her cousin, Kael.  Carly was in the same class as her cousin, Beau and friend, Grace.   Luke and Abigail were together with friends, Ben and Abby.  It was so much fun and I couldn't believe how much they improved just during the 2 weeks.

The only bad thing about lessons...  Hailey thinks she is a world class swimmer now.  Several times we have been at a pool and she just cannon balls into the deep end.  She always has to be rescued.  She is a little daredevil with no fear.

Hailey was the only girl in her class, and I think she likes it that way.

Hailey and Kael entertained themselves really well while it was the other kids' turn.  I think they were pretending the pool noodles were horses.

Beau and Carly waiting for their turn

I looked forward to swim lessons as much as the kids did, because I got to visit with Shannon, Erin, and my Mom.  It made the time fly by.

Hailey was so brave, I loved what a little fish she was.  

The other kids swam too, I just didn't get pictures of them.  Probably because by that time, Hailey was out of the water, so I had to keep my eyes on her.  You never know when she's gonna dive in.

Birthday

I had an awesome 31st birthday.  

Ben and the kids made it so fun.

We started the day with breakfast that Ben made.  The kids all gave me some fun little gifts.

We fed Isaac cereal for the first time.  He didn't love it, but he does now.

Ben surprised me with Wicked tickets!  

The kids were so sad that Ben had to work on my birthday.  But we went and had fun anyway.  Shannon, Beau, Kael, and My Mom all went to the Aerospace museum with us.  

Hailey and Kael are such cute little buddies

"Mom, I'm gonna pretend that I'm really flying"

tired Ike sleeping during the rocket workshop

We were lucky and we got there right in time to build rockets

waiting patiently for our turn to shoot off our rockets

When Ben got home from work, we went out to dinner, then came home and had cake and ice cream with the kids.  I love that Ben made me a cake.

A week later, we went to Wicked.  We loved Wicked.  

It was amazing, and I still can't get the songs out of my head.

Ben got us 2nd row seats.  We kinda worried when we got there that it might be too close, but it was perfect.  We could see down to the orchestra from where we were sitting.

It was amazing. 

 I loved the play and hangin with Ben.  He is the best.  Grandma Sharla volunteered to watch the kids, so it was nice that we didn't have to worry about them.  It was perfect.

Church History Tour

Anytime there is a Jazz Clinic, Ben asks me to bring Luke down to S.L so that they can go after he gets off work.  The girls always love to do this, because then we go do girl stuff while they're doing boy stuff.  But before all the girl/boy stuff, the kids and I went on a little Church history tour.  First we went to the Beehive house and had a tour.  The kids liked it, but they were mostly interested in the fake food that was on display in the rooms.  They kept asking the sister missionaries if they were real.  At the end of the tour the missionaries talked about all the delicious food that we could get next door at the Lion House, so that was our next stop.  After that we walked around Temple Square, then to the Church History museum.  I had never been to the museum, and it was lots of fun for the kids.  After all of this, we met Ben and the boys went to the game, and the girls and Ike went shopping and had ice cream.  It was such a fun day with the kids.