Dressing up!

 

 

Sydney is in the stage of wanting to dress up like the older girls. This is how I found her the other day. She was wearing my shoes, and is holding my purse! As I walked into the room she said, "I'm ready to go Mom." I don't think I want her growing up faster than she already has!!

Lizard Hunting

 

 

The other day I went outside to call the boys in for dinner. When I walked outside I saw Cameron on top of our block wall. He was holding a bucket with one hand, and holding on for dear life to the roof of our house with the other! Apparently, he had seen a lizard on the wall of our house and had somehow captured it with a bucket. This is the second lizard he has caught in a week. Cameron has been bragging to his two older brothers that he is the best at catching lizards. Something tells me he is right about that!!!!

Baking Cookies

 

Alexa and Sydney wanted to help me make cookies. As you can see, Alexa was busy eating all the dough more than she was helping!

Sydney's Ballet Performance

 

 

Sydney had her final ballet recital. Her teacher is pregnant, and decided not to teach lessons anymore. Sydney has loved going to her ballet classes. She is good friends with two of the other kids in the class. The recital performance was so cute! I was amazed at how much she had learned! I am currently researching the options for dance classes next year. She can't wait to be back in dance. She reminds me at least once a week that she want to take dance classes again soon!

 

 

Conner's Country Report

 

 

 

All the 4th grade classes at Conner's school had Country week. The students all chose a country that they wanted to learn more about. Conner chose Portugal, since Steve went there on his mission. He researched during class time all about Portugal. He made a flag out of construction paper, and wrote a report about the information he discovered. He dressed up in a costume resembling what they would wear in Portugal. He also made a food item that is popular in Portugal. Last of all, they learned songs and dances from different countries. The parents were invited in for three days in a row to see the students present their country. Conner did a good job telling people about his country, and displaying different objects that are used in Portugal. Conner wore a soccer jersey that said Portugal, sports shorts, soccer socks, and cleats. Except for his height and blond hair, he looked just like a child from Portugal. For his food item he decided to make brigadeiro. It is a chocolate treat that is served at birthday parties. It was a lot of work, but the kids learned alot about other countries.

Taylor Swift

 

 

Last Saturday, Steve and I surprised Conner and Derek by taking them to the Taylor Swift concert. The boys are Taylor Swift fans(to say the least!) They know every word to everyone of her songs, and they aren't shy about letting others know it. Steve and I were laughing during the concert at how much they got into the music. They were singing along with Taylor Swift for almost the entire concert. The concert lasted 4 hours! It didn't get over until 11:30 P.M. About 15 minutes before the end of the concert, Conner and Derek fell asleep. Even through all the noise and excitement, they couldn't keep their eyes open. It was a very good concert, and all four of us were glad we attended!

Cameron's and Sydney's May Day Dance

 

 

Cam and Sydney performed their May Day Dance at their Elementary school! Cam was Chipper as can be to do his Kindergarten dance (can't you tell from his picture?)Ha! Ha!
Sydney was so excited to do her western Dance! They both did great!

First Day of Swimming

 

 

 

Today we swam in our pool for the first time this summer! It was still to cold for me, but the kids and Steve thought it felt great! The kids were also trying to catch lizards during this time. That is why they are on the block wall!

Alexa at Baseball

 

This is how we keep Alexa happy during the long, hot, baseball games!

Down Town Seattle

 

After Yakima, we drove back to Seattle. We spent all of Monday going to the music museum, Pike's Market, Space Needle, Aquarium, and a sightseeing cruise around the Harbor. That night we went to the Cheesecake Factory, and went shopping at the mall for presents to take home to the kids. Tuesday morning we went through a session at the Seattle temple, and then drove to the airport to fly home. It was a very fun trip. We had all five kids at different homes. Thanks to all of you that took care of our kids! It was a very relaxing vacation!

Yakima Days!

 

For Steve's 35th Birthday, I planned a surprise trip to Yakima Washington. Steve grew up there until age thirteen, when they moved to Las Vegas. He went back once when his sister got married, but that was a year after he moved. It had been nearly 22 years since he was back in his home town. He had told me every story that he could remember from his growing up years. With his memory that is a ton of stories! Anyway, he found out about the surprise, but none the less it was a fun and memorable trip. We flew into Seattle on Saturday and rented a car. We drove the two hours to Yakima! It was a beautiful drive! Unlike Nevada, Washington is so green and full of trees! The following day we drove around Yakima! It is around the same size as S.T. George, but feels a little smaller because it has a lot of open space. He showed me where he lived, the schools he attended, where he wrecked on his skateboard, the church he attended, the ice cream parlor his family bought half and half cones, the parks where he played, the trees he climbed, and the orchard's he would run through and eat apples. By the end of the day, I felt like I had grown up in Yakima! It was by far the best present I have ever given him! We even went to the same ward he attended in church. There were four families still there that he remembered, and who remembered him. Even his old scout leader was still there. They all came up to him and visited for a while! We had a great time!

Career Day at Perkins Elementary

 

 

 

Steve has been busy with Career Week! He went to Conner and Derek's school a few weeks ago and talked to the kids about his career! He does a good job! He jokes around a lot with the kids. They like it when he tells some of his wild stories of being a police officer(He likes to ham it up a little!) They also like to be handcuffed! Next, he went to his sister's school in Las Vegas and talked at her school's career day. Finally, he came to the school I teach at in Moapa. He talked to my class, and Cameron's Kindergarten class. The kids liked it when he handcuffed their teacher (which just happened to be me.)

It's a Boy!

 

It has taken us a few weeks to get this on the blog. Most people know that we are having a boy, but here are two of the ultrasound pictures. They didn't turn out very clear after scanning! Our next assignment is picking a name! It was easier choosing a name when Steve and I were deciding. Now we have a few opinionated children to add to the mix. I've noticed a trend with the boys. They all want to name the baby after their favorite sports players. (I don't think so!)

Valley of Fire

 

After baseball games on Saturday we took the kids to Valley of Fire for a picnic lunch. We went with my sister and her family. The kids had fun climbing rocks and chasing squirrels. They even allowed us to pose them for a few pictures.

Who has the secret admirer?

 

 

The other day there was a knock at the door. When the kids opened the door they found a package on the front step. It was a note with a flashlight toy. The note said, "From your secret admirer." The only problem is that the boys aren't sure who the package is for! There wasn't a name attached to the note. I guess all three of them can assume they have a secret admirer!

Conner's Minor's Baseball season

 

Conner is doing great this year in baseball. He has improved so much in the last year. This season he has been playing pitcher and 3rd base. He has done pretty well in both areas. He has a good eye for batting. He rarely swings at balls that aren't strikes, and swings when they are. He has made three home runs so far. When Conner pitches the ball he is fairly consistent, placing the ball where it should go. His goal now is to work on throwing the ball faster while pitching.

Derek's and Cam's Baseball days

 

 

 

Derek and Cam are half way through their coach pitch season. Steve and I are coaching their team, along with my sister Lisa. Cameron was signed up for T-ball, but after deciding to coach we moved him to Derek's team. It was a good move! He can hit, and catch about as good as half of our team. Derek is loving the fact that he is on his cousin Mason's team. They play so well together! It's like they can read each other's mind. They have been begging us to let them play 1st and 2Nd base at the same time, so they can get a double out. They have proven that they can make a double play! It is fun to watch the boys and their cousin play together.