Back to School 2009!

Kyle-4th Grade and Mckinley-2nd Grade

This morning I was greeted by Kyle at my bed at 6:00 am. He was dressed, backpack on, hair combed. I was shocked...I had to remind him that school didn't start until 8:45 am. He has a lot of friends in his class, so I think he just can't wait to get to school. He is also excited to have Mrs. Hall for his teacher this year. We have heard that she is awesome at teaching boys.

We like to take the kids to school on their first day, but last year Kyle didn't want me to walk him to class. So, I was NOT that surprised when he didn't want me to this year either. Although after I took Mckinley to class and got her situated (I have to admit) I walked back to Kyle's room just to peek in. He didn't know I was there, but it was fun just to check out how he was doing. It is crazy to realize that Kyle is growing up so fast and getting so independent.

Mckinley was also excited to get back to school to see her friends!

I was glad that Mckinley still let me walk her to class. She even let me take some pictures of her with Mrs. Clark. Mckinley is really excited because she is starting gymnastics this year, and at back-to-school she found out that Mrs. Clark was an Olympic Gymnast.

Mrs. Clark also likes art, which is Mckinley's favorite subject. At back to school night, she had the kids make their own name tag for their desks and they got to pick where they wanted to sit. I thought this was a great idea! Mckinley chose to sit by two friends from our ward, which helped her first day go smoothly.

I am grateful my kids have great teachers and good friends in their classrooms this year. It makes a big difference!

Happy 4th Birthday Braxton!

We want to wish Braxton a Happy 4th Birthday!

We LOVE you buddy!!!

(This was taken two days ago at Bryce Canyon!)

Sleep Tight!

Tonight after I put Blake to bed I thought, "I really need to write down his bedtime routine before I forget." Lately our bedtime routine is: PJ's, prayers, brush teeth etc. Then depending on how much time I have we rock for a few minutes, read a book or sing together. I lay him down while he is still awake and he usually rolls over and goes to sleep!
The last couple of weeks when I lay him down, he has been doing the cutest thing. He rolls over and pops his head up and blows me a kiss and says "bye" or "night" or "wolov ou" (love you)! Sometimes he says all of the above! If he isn't ready to go to sleep it is a different story, he will yell "ROCK." If I have time I will rock him a little more and lay him down and he knows I am not coming back, so he will go to sleep. (I must admit that sometimes I am not very patient when he doesn't go to bed right away.)

Tonight as Blake went to bed and was so sweet and said "wolov ou" and blew me kisses, I wanted to freeze time. If he is my baby then I want to cherish these moments with him. Blake, you are a cutie! We love you!!!

9 years ago

Nine years ago today, my beautiful little sister passed away at the age of 15 from bone cancer. Even though my oldest child was only 4 months old when Kaylin passed away, all my kids love to see pictures and hear stories about her. They also love to listen to her books on CD. She recorded a few books and songs just before she passed away so we could always remember her voice. I am so grateful she did, they are so precious to us!
Last year we started a new tradition. We got 4 white balloons (1 for each of the kids) and we let them write her notes, trace their hand, or draw pictures on the balloons. Then they let them go up in the sky to their Aunt Kaylin! The kids love to watch them until they can't see them anymore.




After we let the balloons go, we came in and had ice cream, orange floats and SQUIRT!!! Kaylin loved Squirt so we had it in memory of her! We love and miss you Sis!

Fun weekend with Grandma & Kacie!

We are so glad that Grandma and Kacie could come down for Kyle's Disney Program!

Then the next day we went to the zoo for my birthday! We had beautiful weather, it was 75* that day! We have tons of pictures, but I just picked a few of my favorites with Grandma and Kacie! I will do another zoo post later!







Then on the Saturday, the 21st we sent the day shopping in Park City! Kacie and Mckinley got matching necklaces and flip-flops at Justice, matching shirts at Old Navy, and fingernails at Clairs to put on when we get home. Later that night we took Grandma out for her birthday and we ate at Ruby Tuesdays! They had really good steak and salad bar!
On Sunday, March 22nd it was storming outside so we stayed in and put fake fingernails on Mckinley and Kacie.

We have had a tradition of popping popcorn and playing games on Sunday as long as I can remember! We played "Whoonu" with Mike and Lori.
We ate tons of gummy worms and so we had to take a fun picture of them hanging out of our mouths!
Then on Monday the kids didn't have school so they played Mario Kart on the Wii!


Mckinley and Kacie wore their matching shirts and necklaces when we went to see "Bedtime Stories" at the movie theater! Everyone loved that movie! Thanks for coming to visit us! We had a blast with you here!

Kyle's Disney Program

Ever since Kyle was in Kindergarten he couldn't wait until he was in the 3rd grade to be in the Disney Program. Each year that the Disney Program was performed he would wonder about what character he was going to be. He is so glad that it is finally here! I hope they always have the Disney Program so all my kids can have this experience!Kyle was Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. He started the program with this speech, "To all who come to this happy place WELCOME, Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenging promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, dreams and the hard facts that have created America. Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, our 3rd grade proudly presents the DISNEY PROGRAM! And we scare because we care!"

He performed March 16th-19th! There were 7 performances total...two classes would perform while two classes sang. Then the next performance they switched . Kyle had a lot of costume changes all at the beginning of the show! Right after he gave his speech he had to run to his classroom and change into his pirate costume and be in "Yo Ho A Pirates Life For Me!" Kyle is in the front on his knees!
Arrrghh Mattie!
I was able to teach the pirate dance and it was an good/interesting experience. I have a lot more appreciation for the 3rd grade teachers who make this Disney Program happen ever year.
Then Kyle had a class dance "Supercalifragilistic-Expialidocious!" He had to run and change his hat really quick.



Right after that dance he ran on stage and said, "These Tiki-birds will never learn to fly!"
All of this happened the first 10-15 minutes of the program. He did a good job pulling it all off.

Then he ran and changed into his bee costume for the "Zippity Doo Da" dance. It was a fun upbeat version of the song. He thought it was cool he got to jam out on a guitar in this dance.

At the end of the program all the kids from all four 3rd grade classes came on stage and sang a song from High School Musical, "We're All In This Together!" The kids all did an excellent job. (Kyle is on the top in his bee costume.)
Kyle knew we were giving his teacher a candy bar card as a thank you, but what he didn't realize is that we made one for him also. He was so surprised!

Kyle really wanted his Grandparents to come and watch him. He was SO glad that Grandma and Kacie were able to come to his program!

Way to go Kyle!

Kyle's first time skiing!

Kyle went skiing for the first time and had a BLAST! EJ said, he was impressed how fast Kyle picked it up...he was going over small bumps in no time. Kyle said his favorite part was the obstacle course, bumps and when he turned around backwards. (I not sure if that was on purpose! LOL!!!) He also liked going on the ski lift and just hanging out with his Dad!
Thanks Mike for taking the photos!

Look at those smiles!