Boating...

(Shandra posing with all the kids)

A fun filled day of boating deserves a tribute to Amanda...Let me introduce you to her. (Sorry I didn't take your picture!) She is my dear friend, who can drive a truck with a boat, back up a truck with a boat on it, she's totally cool...need I say more? Oh, and let's just say she has WILD and CRAZY ideas when it comes to FUN and being spontaneous. For all these reasons (and so many more) this is why she is my friend! So after a fun Saturday filled with SUN and BOATING with just women and no kids, we decided to go back out on Monday with all the kids. Three Moms and 10 kids set out for a day filled with fun and boating...even though it was windy, a dead battery, a broken air pump, etc. We did have success, no injuries and SO much fun. I loved it and so did my kiddos!!!

Alayna, even attempted to knee board. She did great. I would start out on the board to stabilize her but then I would let go and they would go around and around. I was so proud of her! At first she was afraid and she chickened-out and stayed on the boat after I had jumped in...I was NOT happy about this (did I mention this was in Utah Lake (yuck)...anyways, I yelled up to her that she will have to do the dishes for me because she didn't knee board. Finally, after she decided to hop in and try knee boarding after I had done it by myself she gave it a shot. She LOVED it! She was having so much fun. When her turn was over she looked straight at me with a BIG smile on her face and said, "Now, I don't have to do the dishes!"

Let's just say that the reaction from the kids was WAY BETTER than Christmas morning! Seriously, the older KIDS LOVED IT! The very next morning Jake and Alayna said, "Mom, I think I'm going to ask Santa for a boat." Then I said, "Well, Alayna you better ask Santa for a truck and trailer to pull the boat!" They smiled but didn't get my sarcasm.

Here's to show that Caleb smiled for a brief moment...Oh, how I will totally PAY REAL LIVE MONEY for a babysitter next time!

Oh, let me introduce you to Mr. Grumpy. When I got home and told Jared about our fun adventurous from boating that day, I said "Caleb cried the whole time." Jared said, "You mean some of the day." I responded, "Oh, no. I picked my words carefully...the WHOLE day!" Oh, this age did not enjoy the boat ride. Seriously, he needed his 12 hours of sleep and his crib. By the time we returned home for dinner, his eyes were bloodshot red and puffy. He was one tired kid. Sorry little buddy, next time you will stay home and sleep the day away! :)

Yes, we are alive!

Is summer at your house this crazy as ours? Seriously, where does the time go? Oh, let's see, playing outside, getting wet, swimming, eating picnic lunches, playing with cousins, mini-vacations to Cherry Hill, etc. Anyways, we are alive and we are living it up this summer.

This night the picture taken was a funny evening. We had Aunt Krista over and cousin Kennady over for dinner. We were doing our family questions around the table and it went like this.

Me: "When is it okay to watch bad movies?" (*The original question read, "At what age should chilren watch PG-13 movies?" Since my kids have no concept of movie ratings I changed it a bit.
Alayna: She was staring at me a little confused. She then replies, "When I'm a teenager because I will know what is right and wrong." (I laughed because I think of any age, this is when kids forget their morals!)
Jake: He was rambling off on his third question in a row having to do with Lightening McQueen or Buzz Lightyear. He began talking about the "mean or bad" part in Cars when Chick runs McQueen off the track. Once he was finishing answering, he looks at Kennady and asks in the sweetest voice and his head tilted...
"Kennady, what's your favorite BAD movie to watch?" he contined to ask her this question over and over again!

Krista and I look at each other and just start laughing. Apparently, the question was a little too deep for them. Either way, Jake gave us a good laugh all night long. When he went outside he decided that the bucket would become his helmet for his "super fast race car hot wheels bike!" Oh, and that would be little screamer or crazy man...aka Caleb! WOW, this kid has personality!!! (Yes, he loves my bathroom and yes, he is carrying my deodorant around!)

First Day of Kindergarten

First Day of Kindergarten

Is it really true? Have 5 years come and gone? Is my first born leaving me EVERYDAY now? Oh, how I can't believe this is the case. But time passes, children grow older and they too have to move on. Today (July 26th) was the first day that Alayna met her teacher. It was the "testing" day for Kindergarten. Her teacher is Mrs. Knudsen. So here is the story of Alayna's experience leading up to her "testing" day.
Story: Sunday night Jared and I were doing our nightly ritual, tucking the kids in, talking, singing, etc. I was taking my turn at Alayna's bedside after family prayers, when she started to cry. Now, this wasn't your average 5 year old crying, this was real emotion. I knew it was real when her two little hands covered her eyes, and continued to wipe down her face over and over again drying her tears. I immediately hugged her and encouraged her to tell me what the matter was. She replied, "I don't want to go to school the day after tomorrow!" I asked her, "Why?" She then said, "Because I don't want to be tested...(a small shudder and sniffle) I don't know everything!" (with a big sigh of relief once it was said). My first reaction was to laugh, sadly I did, but I had her snuggled up next to me in my arms. I giggled and explained to her that is why she is going to school. She isn't required to know everything, that's why she is going to learn. I continued to talk with her about how, daddy went to college to learn to by a "doctor" (that's what the kids call him!), and he didn't know how to be one until after he was taught by his teachers. In the moment of explaining I thought to myself, I was doing a good job explaining, she was calming down and we were doing well. My thought was quickly proved wrong when she let out another big sigh and tears when she said, "But what if my teacher asks me to write my name in cursive!!! I don't know how to write in cursive!" (boo hoo hoo) I once again had a good little laugh and just hugged her and told her she knows everything she needs too for Kindergarten! We also discussed how when she comes home we will have after school snacks. She explained to me "Mom, the Madsen kids (her cousins) can open the fridge and get anything out of it they want! Even little pickles...Can I have a pickle if I want one?" I laughed again! "Yes, you can have a pickle if you want!" What a funny girl, worrying about every last detail.
We continued to talk through the entire process, day to day things and how she really is going to love it. Jared eventually joined in on the conversation and gave her some encouragement and that was that. I must admit that this memory will be a lasting memory for our little girl, having such high expectations of her self when entering Kindergarten!
Once the official "testing" day came, she entered with confidence and LOVED every minute of it. As soon as she left her teacher and classroom she exclaimed to me, "I got them all right! I did so well, mom...it was so easy!" I asked her the different "tests" she had to do and she said, "They weren't tests mom they were games!" I realized in that moment that when Jake enters Kindergarten we are going to tell him he gets to go play "games" with his teacher and not take a test! But then again I don't see Jake having any issue with anxiety like his sister. I did ask Alayna what the trickiest "game" she had to do and she said, "I read a book and I could do it, but when my teacher took the pictures away and only kept the words it was hard...it took me awhile but I still could read it." I couldn't agree more with her, that is the level she is on. Either way, this "game" day made her MORE excited to return back to school. She just had to wait a week before she could go!

Here is the REAL official Kindergarten day! August 3rd, 2010 (Tuesday) at 12:13pm...This is the day she was finally able to ride a school bus. I love how excited kids are when this happens. (Thanks Kari again for the cute sign idea!) Alayna was so thrilled to have her hair grow long. For those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile I have mentioned in the past that Alayna will not and has not allowed me to cut her hair. About two years ago she said, "Mom, you can't cut my hair because I want it to grow long enough to have two braids coming down when I go to Kindergarten!" So there you go! She did it. She got her wish of two years, her two darling braids. Personally, I think she is one darling girl. She has a smile and fun personality that just lights up a room. We love you!

Really, do backpacks need to be this large? Or maybe she will grow into it? Either way I loved the view from the back.

She wanted to pose by something pretty...so here you go, her hiding in the trees in our front yard.

Now, tell me this isn't a girl ready to take on Kindergarten? I think so! I LOVE this picture for her smile. She was SO HAPPY! It was finally her turn to ride a school bus! Okay, so here is another little story about her the night before her first day. Monday night was family home evening, so we spent of coarse more time talking about school, making good choices, having good friends, doing the best you can, etc. We had a great time talking and as usual having fun. Anyways, bed time came once again (are you catching on Alayna LOVES to talk at bed time!) anyways, we knelt in family prayer once again and Alayna asked if she could say it. She said the MOST sincere prayer she has EVER said. She asked Heavenly Father for comfort and to bless her to have a good day at Kindergarten, to help her have fun, to be happy, to be safe on the school bus and to not miss her mommy too much, etc." Her prayer continued on in this fashion saying such sweet things that I did have to open my eyes to catch a glimpse of her. She was poised so reverently and really asking with such intent. You could tell she got it. She knew how to pray. As a mom, you just hope with all your heart they get this moment in their life. She did. I loved it! After her prayer she lunged into my arms and started to whimper, (yes, it's a girl thing...full of emotions!) I asked her what was wrong and she said she was "a little scared for tomorrow." I told her how proud I was of her and how if she is scared she can say another prayer just like the one she had said at anytime to help calm her fears. She said I know. I then said, "What is something else you can do to not be scared?" She said, "I can remember that Jesus is always in my heart with me!" Jared and I looked at each other and pretty much, "oohhed and gooed" over her! It was the most adorable moment ever. We just love this little girl.
So the next morning, I went running early in the morning. I love this time because it's SO peaceful, quiet and just me. (I can't even run with music anymore it's so peaceful!) I'm able to run with beautiful scenery all around me, and just think. It's simply the BEST suggestion I have for anyone out there needing some "alone" time. Anyways, as I was running just thinking to myself, I had this thought as I looked at the mountains with the sun just peaking up behind it, "Is she ready for this?" It was almost like a mini-mom moment, "Is she ready for this miniature mission in her life?" I felt like this is her mini-mission in life. Her next step, the next phase of growing and maturing, out on her own...with out me right by her side. As I pondered on the question that entered my mind, "Is she ready?" I reflected on the last night. As I ran, I had a quiet peace in my mind, I could answer the question.
Two things were proven to me, and confirmed by the Spirit that night before.
1. She knows how to pray to her loving Father in Heaven.
2. She knows that she is never alone. The Saviors Spirit can always be with her.
After that quiet spiritual moment, of answering the question in my mind. I knew that she was ready, because the Spirit had confirmed that in my heart. Now, that I look at the darling picture above of her getting on the school bus, it's like I can see her armed with her "spiritual armor"- she is ready to move forward, she's ready to start her journey. I couldn't be more pleased with our first child. We love her dearly! You will make the BEST kindergartner out there!!!

Bear Lake 2010

Seriously, what part of this picture isn't adorable? None. Well, other than the fact this is how much Caleb enjoyed his time spent at Bear Lake. Oh, how a one year old just doesn't appreciate a vacation.

Here is the Perry Family gang. I grew up coming to Bear Lake every year for the BEST reunions out there. As the families have all GROWN with MANY children, we haven't had the opportunity to return as "cousins" for a few years. Thankfully, we spontaneously planned this trip and several of us were able to attend. It recommitted all of us to attend each year here on out. We loved every minute of it!!! We tried new ice cream shakes at a local joint, they had ice cream with a real slice of pie in each shake. I tried the caramel pecan pie shake...and YUMMY! We also rented two wave runners for several hours. This was AWESOME! It brought back memories as a kid of how much fun we used to have out on the lake. I must admit that my daring adventurous side has increased. I wanted a thrill...could this be a result of being a mother of three and needing some extra FUN in my life? Probably, not. But either way, I had my crazy cousin AJ give me a run for my money and it was great. He couldn't match my thrill seeking adventure so his dad, my uncle Alan gave it a shot....let's just say that I found myself backwards on the wave runner holding on...that did it. A few minutes of that, crazy turns and high speeds...I was DONE! I fell off a few times and got wet. All in all I stayed healthy and had a GREAT time. I can't wait till we come up again!

Me and the little dude. Notice how his eyes are red and puffy. That would be the result of sadness and sand in the eyes. Poor guy.

Jacob doing what he does best. Being a happy kid. This little guy would fall asleep on his own out on boat rides, floating in tubes, on the beach, etc. It made for a very relaxing vacation with him around.

Before I headed back home to help with Youth Conference in my ward I had to have one family photo taken. Until next year Bear Lake, we love you!!

Deals to Meals Appreciation Dinner...

aka...an excuse to go somewhere fancy! Let's just say that Todd works the City Deals website for coupons. He found some coupons for La Caille. We have never been there and we will probably not go back, because of the $$$$$$$$$ (price tag). But with our cheap "dinner" at Italian Village, we went on over to La Caille for appetizers and dessert. I think this is the first time that the four girls and husbands have ever been out to eat to dinner. We had such a FUN time together. I must admit I have the most handsome husband and the most beautiful sisters. I love these gals. Thank you for being such amazing, talented, funny, uplifting and entertaining sisters! I can't just mention them and not my bro-in-law's because honestly, I love them so deeply too! To sum it all up I am one lucky girl to have 8 amazing people to hang out with and have such a fun time. Thanks for the memories!

Krista, Diana, Shandra and Angela

We all had a great night of laughter, tears (me choking on an oyster!), a very small amount of food, a little alcohol (ask Shandra & Riley), talk of going on a cruise together, and laughing some more! We had a great night. Thanks Shan and Todd for a fun (cheap) evening.

Oh, and a little romance! :)

Here's to my next hobby...

Digital Scrapbooking is a delight. Wow, who knew you could have so much fun scrapbooking again? I most certainly did not think I would ever say those words in my home again, "scrapbooking" I just shutter thinking about it! Until, it turned digital did I even have a desire to do it again. Anyways, with the help of friends and my sisters I have entered into the new age. Let's just say I'm hooked. I just ordered tons of pages from Costco, and I am officially caught up with my kids. Really, who can say that? Anyways, I'm excited to get started with some family journals again. Here's to yet another past time. Oh, my baby is getting so big! He is around 14 months now and I can't believe how cute he was so long ago!!

These pages are just the title pages to the kids "Birthday Letters" as we call them. Jared and I write a letter and keep notes on what the kids are up to for the year. It honestly is a darling idea and the kids just love their own personalized books.

Jacob's 3 year old birthday letter.

Alayna's 4 year old birthday letter.

Caleb's New Tricks

I think of all the toys that are age appropriate it would be this little tikes slide. It honestly has been LOVED by all three kids around the 1 year mark. It continues to be loved by all ages of kids but once Caleb learned how to climb up the ladder on it he was off. He loves it! My favorite part about it is he climbs up on top, stops and says, "Mum" in a very direct voice that says, "Look at me mom!" He waits till I acknowledge him and then I give my approval to go down and then he squils with delight as he slides down!

Caleb saying "Mum!!" aka "watch me!"

Here would be his smile of approval with this toy! I told you he loves it!!!

Or, here would be his other position. Him snuggling on my leg trying to get my attention while I am busy on my lap top. (I have recently fallin in LOVE with digital scrapbooking) So let's just say that any spare moment I get (with the three monkies generally not around!) I do it! The kids happened to be watching a show and Caleb was ready for bed so I pulled it out thinking I could squeeze in a few more digital pages before I was needed as a mom again...but until Caleb went to bed it was impossible to accomplish anything! I just had to take a picture of how this little guy is when the laptop is around! Good think I love you more Caleb than digital scrapbooking, that's why I wait for you to go to bed!!! :)

Family Field Trip

Kennecot Copper Mine - Free Day
Jake: "Mom, we are at a big whole in the errrf" aka earth

All 13 grandkids

Here would be the miniture scale of all the BIG tractors outside. All the boys "picked" which one they would like to have. Jake and Isaac picked the same one and let's just say that they both couldn't give in and pick another one. Isaac stood firm and Jake started to cry. He really didn't want to share it or give Isaac the chance to stand by it. We tried to explain they were just looking at them, and wouldn't take them home but sadly this ended in a huge tantrum and screaming crying on the floor.

Finally after several minutes Isaac lost interest in this "pretend" tractor and Jake stood firm. He wouldn't budge. We eventually had to peel him away from the glass. He WANTED that tractor! Sorry little guy there wasn't a gift shop or else I think we would have given in and got you one. But when we arrived home Jake found his cute chubby tractors that I think Brian & Ashley got him for Christmas. So he hasn't let them out of his sight since then. It was a fun little free outing!

Happy Anniversary

Here is to 9 years of marriage...yeah, you read that right! We must be getting old? Or maybe we just married young? Either way, it's been the best journey and adventure yet. To celebrate this adventure we have spaced all our celebrations over the next few weeks. But the first one was yesterday morning going mountain biking. (Thanks to those that watched the monkies!!)

Let's just say, that I was worked over harder than running my 13.2 mile half marathon. Well maybe not that hard but it was a close runner up! Either way it did make for a FUN morning. Jared, don't worry I will go again! I promise. The good news is yesterday I thought for certain I would be SUPER sore...but today has come and I'm great. So maybe running all the miles I do each week it counting for something?

Here's to another great year of spending time together doing FUN things! I love you more than I did the day I married you!!! :)

Wild 4th of July Weekend...

Here are the five little grandkids. We just can't get enough of this group of kiddos.
Logan, Jake, Kennady, Isaac and Sawyer

Here we are sitting enjoying the "candy parade" aka Riverton Parade.

We love the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Provo. For any of you that are reading this we would LOVE to have you join this HUGE crowd next year!

Here's to our attempt of getting all 13 grandkids on one tree branch. All in order of age...Kierra, Conner, Olivia, Alayna, Logan, Sawyer, Isaac, Jake, Kennady, Everett, Caleb, Rigdon and new baby Blake. (Yes, there are a few dad's hiding in the background to hold up the little ones!)

The weekend was fast, long, and really FUN weekend. Let's just say that I am glad to have a clean house and things back in order again. I do love the fireworks and I am sad that we have to wait another year for them again! Oh, I love the summer traditions!

Dinner Questions...

Thanks to my good friend Emily, who really has the BEST parenting, family and fun kid ideas ever. She introduced me to Table Topics. She gave me some for my birthday and my kids LOVED them. So we purchased more when they were on sale at Amazon. Anyways, my kids love this ritual at dinner around the table. I must admit it has developed a sense of "family" and discussion. Our kids have named our dinner table as the "family table" they love asking, "Are we eating at the family table today?" I really hadn't used our "family table" because Jared works most nights until about 6:30-7pm. Which I tend to have dinner done and over with by 6pm. So I used to just throw the food at the kids at the counter and sit there. Until Em, gave me the encouragement to at least do it the two nights Jared was home. So we started there and we now eat dinner at the family table anytime I cook dinner...which changes from week to week. Oh, the other reason I love these questions is because we tell the kids they have to take a bite before we ask another one. And for those of you who know my kids you know that they need all the encouragement they can get to eat ANY food! (Why don't I have this problem??)
Alayna's Question:

Me: "What's the first thing you'd do if you were President of the United States of America?"
Alayna: Deep sigh..."Wow, that's a big job."Me: Yes, it is.
Alayna: But that's for only boys mom not girls.
Me: Well, actually a woman ran for President during the last election.
Alayna: Wow! Really?Me: Yup.
Alayna: another deep sigh, "The first thing I would do if I were the President is I would pray to Heavenly Father and ask Him what I should do first! That's the only way I would know what to do!"
Me: Well, that's an adorable answer. Big sigh and hug from me!
What an adorable answer. Moments and conversations like this honestly just give you that little "pay day" or "pat on the back" as a mom. Here is Jake's answer.

Me: What's the first thing you'd do if you were President of the United States of America?
Jake: Um...long distracted pause, then finally..."I would find Wyatt?
Me: a little confused I asked, "Who's Wyatt, Jake?"
Jake: he laughs and rolls his eyes in that silly Jakey way, like come on mom...then he says, "On, Super Why Mom, he's a Super Hero"
Me: What would he do to help you as President, Jake?
Jake: "He'd look in a book!"
Me: So cute!
For those of you who don't have Super Why playing at your house on a regular basis you learn that the Super Hero's (Wyatt, Princess P, Alpha Pig, and Red) are faced with problems and then they try and solve it by looking in a book! This is a typical Jake answer, something to do with Super Why, Lighting McQueen or BYU Football. I should have guessed he would have tied in the answer to one of his three favorite things in life!

I think that both of my kids would do a good job as president what do you think? First pray, then look in a book! Adorable.

Reading to a 1 yr old...

As each of my children have grown out of the newborn stage I think I have forgotten what to do. Seriously, reading books with Alayna and Jake is a daily event at their ages of 5 and 3. But then there is little Caleb who I would have "thought" would just squirm off my lap and wiggle down. But then one quiet afternoon I picked him up to snuggle and I grabbed a book...Yes, I'm a horrible parent. It was my first book I "read" to just him. Yes, on Sunday he looks at books that I prop up at him during Sacrament meeting to keep him quiet, but to actually read to just him it hasn't happened. So to my surprise he sat so cute and excited on my lap. He LOVED it! I was having such a great time with his excitement that I had to have Jared do the same thing with him today. So as usual I had to snap a photo to document his love and excitement for books! I hope it continues because his other two siblings LOVE books, so I will need his love to continue!

Seriously, here is a cute kid. Well, now that I have crossed this milestone of opening up books and reading to him. I guess it's time to put books in his bedroom now to read to him more at nap and night time.

Here is his other trick. He pushes the stool over to the counter to attempt to climb up. I watch him carefully as he was plotting to make steps out of my kitchen drawers. Jared and I were thinking he was a little out of control, more than the other kids until we found a picture of Jake standing on laundry baskets, his high chair and doing the same things as Caleb. So we were quickly reminded that they ALL do the same things! I guess he's not as aggressive and wild as we thought! That's just ALL of our kids in general. Good thing we LOVE them! :)