Lil' Chef

Lydia had her final dance performance for the year this week.  She did a great job and knew her steps better than anyone.  Plus I think she might have been one of the cutest girls up there. She is a natural performer and LOVES dressing up and being on stage. While I was doing her hair she sat looking in the mirror and starting acting and putting on a little show for herself.  I reminded me so much of Shirley Temple.

Never a dull moment

We spent a fabulous week at Bear Lake with our good friends the Perry's and Ray's.  The weather was cold so we didn't spend much time at the beach but kept busy doing lots of other things.  With 9 kids there was never a dull moment. 

We did field games on the lawn. Lots of running to wear them out.

Kate thought she was so big playing with the big kids.

WE spent lots of time at the park, especially on the Merry Go Round (or death trap).  As much as I hate the merry go round I loved watching Kate shriek with delight.

Kate has such a love for life and finds so much joy in simple things.

There was lots of playing in the sand and LOTS of castles.  We got a few pictures before Kate the monster crushed them.

My friends were nice enough to make me cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. It was a great surprise.  I had no idea what was going on when all the kids banned me from the kitchen.

After returning home we celebrated one more time with the Fam.

LAGOON!

First of all I have to complain about the Lagoon commercials this year, "Come spend a day and sail away."  As if Lagoon is so carefree and joyful.  Maybe if  you're five. Although I always have a great time Lagoon=STRESS.  I Stress because we only go once a year and I want it to be perfect.  I need to calm down, it's something I am working on.

 

Kate LOVED everything.  It was fun to see her excitement and surprise with everything.  She doesn't remember how great Lagoon is like the other two.

Lydia LOVED the bat, she is showing you that she got to ride it five times. She was so cute to keep track all day and kept asking to go back. This is the first year she has been old enough to ride. While waiting for the ride to start she was a little scared and said to me, "I'm going to scream like a little girl," and she did.

Grayson would yell after every big ride, "This is the best day of my life."  He really enjoyed being big enough to ride almost all the rides.  His favorite was the spider and wicked.

The three of us rode wicked just before closing so that I could show Grayson that I wasn't too scared.

I can't believe it,

I'm Really going to miss soccer.

Yesterday was the last game of the season. Let's just say I wasn't a big soccer fan at the beginning of the season.  It was a big time commitment, that ate our Saturdays, with little pay off. Lydia didn't really like it and spent her time on the field dancing instead of playing.  She never wanted to in.  I left all her games mad and frustrated.  Then something happened and few weeks ago she got it.  She's turned out to be a great little ball handler. No goals, but lots of close calls. When I told her I was proud of her, she asked if she was better than Grayson. Maybe seeing Grayson do well inspired her.

Lydia wouldn't have stuck to it if one of her best friends Lizzy wasn't on the team.

Grayson has always loved soccer. This year has really been good for him he scored several goals and was a great team player.  At his teams awards BBQ last night his coach praised him for his good intuition.  He had a good sense in what was going to happen next and how to play it.   

Good bye West High, see ya again in ten years!

Lydia has loved her last two years at West Preschool.  She loved going to the same school as her dad especially when they saw each other in the halls. 

She loved all her friends. She'll see most of them again since they live around the corner and hopefully we'll see the others every now and then.

She especially loves her teacher Mrs.Linda.  Lydia considered her one of her best friends, and had her at the top of her list of people to invite to her birthday party.

Random pictures

Grayson showing us his artwork at school

These are from a ward primary activity at temple square.

Grayson and his buddy at a class field trip to the zoo.

My new hobby

So, I've started making these Nursery paintings for fun.  I've sold a couple. I'm not painting to make money, I just really enjoy doing it.  If I have an empty canvas all I can think about is what I want to paint.  I don't really know what I'm doing, something that probably makes my mom, who is a real artist, laugh.  I don't know what I'll do with them, but I better think of something or Jared might make me stop.