Swimming lessons 2015

This was by far the best year of Swim Lessons.  

 We scheduled it to coincide with Jill, Holly, and Tayna.So we had 12 kids all doing it at the same time. The kids loved having their cousins in their class and the moms loved chatting for the 45 minutes every day for 2 weeks while they swam.

 Emma and Marty were in a class with 2 other kids. Marty was always a little worried about his mom leaving him in there, so I would drop him off. He didn't seem to mind that at all!

They mostly were just getting use to the water, but I think Emma will be able to move up a level for next summer. Everyone just loved her swim cap. Thanks RaeAnn!

Taylor, Grace and Thomas were also in the same class, but Grace did not pass off her level this year and Thomas did. 

She was mad about it and insisted that she is never going to do swim lessons again. I'm pretty sure that will change by next summer.

Thomas really did excel this year. He got really good at diving of the diving board, and treading water.

We were so glad that Taylors could squeeze this in while there were here for a few weeks.  Fun memories!

Summer baseball

Right after school got out this year the kids started baseball for the whole month of June. 

Thomas played first basemen really well.  He got a couple really good outs.  It was fun watching him.

Being up to bat was a lot different for him.  They used a machine to pitch and it was just very inconsistent and much faster than coach pitch.  By his fourth and final game he was getting the hang of it.  I wish they had them play more games.

This year both Grace and Thomas decided to participate. Grace was on a coach pitch team and she did really well.

 She told me she liked baseball games more than practices because you can talk while you wait to bat.

They both had good experiences and want to do it next year, so that is always a great sign!

Easter Sunday 2015

The neat thing about Easter this year was that it also fell on a General Conference.  It made it a very spiritual, uplifting day. We enjoyed waking up and listening to conference, and then spending the day at home doing traditional Easter activities.

 After the afternoon session of conference we headed over to Taylors' house. They made a delicious traditional dinner that we all enjoyed. After wards we headed outside for some hard boiled egg fun!

 This post has a lot of  pictures of Emma. She was wanting to participate in each activity, but required adult supervision. Grateful for lots of helping hands from family with our four young children.

 For those who preferred baseball Grace was happy to pitch an egg or two.

The kids loved finding the eggs. It always seems like the kids have to get in on the action too, because a few always go missing.

 Emma would find an egg and then eat it.  Not sure how many she consumed that night.

Grace refuses to take pictures, but as long as I threaten or bribe her with candy we manage.

Cousin Jordan is always so excited to see our family.  It's so sweet, and my little ones love all her attention. Poor James keeps getting these sores on his face. We haven't nailed down what is causing them, but for now he looks like the cutest Joker on Batman!

Emma turns 3!

Emma, Emma, Emma! How to put into words everything about this little girl!

 

Her personality is such a sweet one. She has a very stubborn side as well, so it's a weird combination, but she knows when to pull out the sweet side when I just can't take her stubbornness any longer!Emma loves baths. She has taken them a lot in our laundry room sink, and I love using less water. However one days she flooded the room completely, so much that it was dripping to the basement. Nolan has since shown me how to turn the water off under the sink so we won't have that problem anymore.

 Emma likes me full attention. She yells mom for me twice to get it, and when it doesn't work, she says "Ashley" until I respond.  Emma loves Disney collector on Youtube, and has just recently discovered FROZEN, and can't get enough of that either. Her speech has grown dramatically, but unless your really focusing on her it's hard to get exactly what she is saying. Sometimes I hear her singing the frozen songs while she plays, it's so cute.

 Emma has been deathly afraid of motion, even sitting on a swing terrified her. We've since gotten swings and I am happy to report not only that she's overcome her fear, but loves to swing now. Every night before bed she likes us to sing in order, Izika Zumba, Jingle Bells, and Recite Johnny Johnny poem with her. Her random selection cracks me up. She loves playing with dolls and princesses, so that is what she got.

For her cake, I knew I wanted to try those barbie cakes where the cake is the skirt. Nolans parents were going out of town during her actual birthday so we celebrated a week early and it was a lot of fun. The Darin Harpers came over too for some cake and ice cream. Emma wanted to light and blow out her candle over and over. The cake was okay, definitely not my favorite one I've done.

Emma loves her Gradparents. Everytime we get in the car, she says, "Papas house?" And when we get back home and haven't made a stop to a grandparents house, all heck breaks loose!

A few days after celebrating I thought it was time for a hair cut. This was a big one, and she looks so cute. We're both happy to not be doing her hair before each meal time, and combing it out so much.

Oh Emma Jean I love you so! This year went much smoother with your tubes in your ears and tonsils out. I hope 3 brings more chatter out of your cute mouth, and you master using the potty!

Spring Break 2015

Having two kids in school really makes spring break feel like a big deal than it has before. Thomas had written a report in school about what he wanted to do for spring break. It went something like this, "Sleep in, Play the Wii with my mom, and play with cousins." I couldn't argue with that plan. We started it off seeing cousins before they left for Hawaii for the week. 

There is a really cool island you can kayak to by Nolan's parents house. The water is still and shallow around it and the island is completely soft sand.

 The water was cold, but it didn't stop James from completly falling in a few times, and not minding it one bit.
The kids spent 3 hours there, it was so fun.

Following that we decided to kidnap the Taylors and have them spend the night. Emma didn't make this shot, but I think I could do 7 kids.

 The next day we went to an annual party Malta has. It is always a hit with the kids. Unlimited bouncy house time, cookies, and a yummy dinner. We left there and went to Logan sans Nolan. We played at the park with 2 families that are the greatest friends. There was a lot of park playing this spring break, and I gotta say I about have a heart attack keeping track of my two younger kids. They're all over the place and not too steady. They love it, I'm not sure if I do! That night we stayed at the Toolsons house and I had so much fun staying up chatting with them. We were all set to go to Tooele the next few days but my brothers kids got sick so we went home after church in Logan. The next few days we spent deep cleaning (my spring break wish) and playing wii, and outside. It was great, but we were so excited to have my very good friend from high school and her 3 girls come stay with us while her husband was out of town. She instantly showered me with gifts upon arrival.

 She and I laughed because at the checkout stand at Trader Joes she said this wasn't the nicest thing to do to a girlfriend. I was excited to try new goodies and some of my favorites. She also brought me flowers which were the first bouquet of flowers I've had in our new house. We spent that night catching up on the past 5 years. I am so impressed with her, she is so smart, beautiful, kind, and fun. That night her baby girl got sick and she had to cut her stay short to get her home. On a whim we decided to follow suit and went to Boise to get to play more. The kids played really well together.

 We did parks, her moms house, and played in the river. It was great.

Once I told Grace she could pick where we went and ate. She chose my friends mom's house. I have always loved being there too. I am upset I didn't get any pictures. I realize more and more life is crazy for me and many of my friends now with little ones running all over. Rarely do we get a chance to snap a picture.

We had a good time seeing my dad as well. He's in the middle of tax season, so he's busy busy, but at night we were able to hang out and talk. It had been 6 months since our last stay there, so the kids were very excited to be in his house. My cousin Jessica who lives there had a son getting baptized our last day there. I was so happy to get to see her and her family. I spent a few summers growing up with the Smith family, and feel like one of the kids when we are all together. I'm so happy we have that relationship.

 There was an Easter egg hunt, and a lot of chatting and great food. It was a wonderful afternoon.

 Five minutes into our drive home, Emma and James fell asleep. Made for the best drive home ever!

We were happy to be reunited with Nolan. Farming just starting picking up this month, so it's back to single mom club for me!  It was a perfect Break. I was reminded just how blessed I feel to have so many people in my life who I love. Friends and family. There isn't much else better!