First Spelling Test

Ok, I'm a mom and since I'm using my blog as a family history of sorts, you'll have to pardon me if I brag just a little bit. Today Zach took his first spelling test - technically his first test ever and he did great!




That's right - that would be a 100% grade on the top of his paper! I know it sounds silly to be excited over something like a 1st grade spelling test on such easy words to the rest of us, but he's so proud and we're so proud of him. These are words he already knows how to read, but has never been tested on writing them. We worked on it all week last week and were so happy to see the effort pay off. When we picked him up, he ran to the car with a big smile on his face and couldn't wait to show us his paper. I know there will be times when he falls sort of perfect, but I'm so glad for him doing so well this first time, it's been such a confidence booster for him!

Way to go Zach - Daddy and I are so PROUD of you!

It's the Simple Things in Life ...

that are the most important.

I was reminded of this fact by my children this past week. Since school has started, I really haven't had a whole lot to blog about. Life is still settling into a routine and the unimportant things in life have been taking up more time in my life than I'd like.

Well, I thought I'd share an experience I had last week. For some reason, one day Hailey became fascinated with flip-flops. I'm not exactly sure where that came from, but for about a week she would sneak into the garage (which she's not allowed to do, by the way) and grab her dad's flip-flops to wear around the house. At first I got pretty mad at her, but after her doing it a few days in a row, it just became something I decided wasn't worth the fight. If you know our stubborn little girl, then you know it's virtually impossible to make her do anything different once she's made up her mind. Well, after a few days of tripping over very big flip flops and me worrying about it damaging her feet, I decided to just go buy her a pair of her own.

That was easier said than done since first of all, we had to track some down. Now that school has started, all of the summer clothes and shoes have been replaced by back to school items. After searching a few stores, we found a pair of little girls flip-flops at Old Navy (should have looked there first, don't know why I didn't). She of course chose herself a pair of pink ones and pair in blue for her brother - it's never a good idea to come home with something like that for one and not for the other.

Needless to say, they were both in heaven! The wore their flip-flops the rest of the day and I literally had to rip them off their feet when it was time to shower and go to bed. I figured the novelty of it would wear off after a couple of days. For Zach it did - he still likes to wear them, but isn't quite as attached to the like Hailey is. When Sunday rolled around, she was bound and determined to wear them to church. After a hour long heated battle, I had her finally convinced to wear her church shoes, but only becaue I promised she come right home and pur her flip-flops on. Even now, she still gets up in the morning, comes downstairs, and puts on her flip-flops which she wears all day long. She absolutely loves them!




I have chuckled quite a few times as I've seen both of their excitement during the past week. More than once I've marveled at how something so small and insignificant could cause such a tremendous amount of joy. Then I realized that these flip-flops are not insignificant, life is full of small things that make us smile, fill us with love, or make us feel important and it's those types of things we need to relish in. When life gets crazy and out of control, which it often does for me, I find that I'm not taking time to smell the roses or in this case enjoy the flip-flops and appreciate those little things that make life fun. Thank you to my two sweet children for reminding me to take time for the little things!

First Day of School - First Grade!

There are definitely times in your life when you realize your kids are growing up way too fast. Going back to school seems to be one of those times for me. I thought Zach was growing up way too fast when he went to preschool. Then it seemed even worse when he went to kindergarten. Well, he started first grade on Thursday and you can imagine how much it seemed he was growing up! All day at school - it can't be already! But it is and he was so excited!

Mrs. Winter is his teacher this year and after meeting her at back to school night, we were so happy with her and her classroom policies. She's very organized, ready to work, and always willing to make it fun.

Zach had trouble sleeping the night before the first day because he was just so excited. He's like me and craves a schedule and being challenged intellectually. Summer is so unscheduled and with the way work has just been so crazy and busy for me this summer, there definitely hasn't been much stimulation. So I think he was more than ready to head back to school to start learning again.

Hailey and I walked him onto the playground to make sure he knew where he was going - he easily found the line marked with his teacher's name and was so happy to be the first one in line.


After the bell rang and it was time to go in, he followed his teacher and had a smile on his face the whole way.


What a big boy!


Hailey and I followed with a few other mothers at the end of the line to make sure he made it and was settled into his classroom. He made it just fine and wasn't anxious for us to stay any longer, so we started to go. Well, needless to say, Hailey had a REALLY hard time leaving - I practically had to drag her out of the classroom. Then when I got her into the hall, she started crying - A LOT! I had to pick her up and carry her all the way to the car with her sobbing. Poor thing, she wanted to stay so badly! Notice I didn't say she wanted Zach to go home with us, she wanted to stay with Zach - I think she could have cared less where I was. I teared up just a little bit as we were walking out of the school, but having to concentrate on her kept me from thinking too much about leaving Zach there. So I guess maybe it was a good thing.

I had some shopping planned to keep both of our minds off of Zach being at school and it seemed to work. She and I had fun and by the time we got home, we were both just fine. We did have a little bit of a tantrum (Hailey, not me) in the afternoon when we didn't go and get Zach and bring him home before lunch, but I think in another week or so Hailey will be used to the time and be ok.

It's hard to think that Zach is now in school a full day instead of just half day like in kindergarten - that means he'll spend more time at school than at home and awake with me. It's so hard to let go, but he's having such a fun time and I wouldn't want him to not have all the fun he's having. His newfound joys are 3 recess times, eating lunch at school, and getting to play on the big kids playground (not the fenced in kindergarten playground). He's loved every minute of it and I love to have him come home and tell me all about his day at school.

You're getting so big Zach, Dad and I love you and are so proud of you!

Treehouse Museum

I'm a little late posting this, but our fun adventure last Wednesday was going to the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. We've been here before and the kids absolutely loved it, so you can imagine how excited they were to go again.

The fire engine is one of the favorite things to see. Good thing it's at the entrance because we usually spend time on it when we first get there and then again right before we leave.


Who wouldn't be excited about dressing up in a fire fighting outfit complete with jacket and hat? Zach loved being a fire fighter!


This was one of the few pictures I got with all the kids together. This little bridge was so cute - they even had a little pond painted on the ground underneath it complete with little fish swimming in it.


I love the fun picture with the kids in this boat. The little wave is so cute. There's also a fishing net where they can pull in some fish.


The jungle area was fun with all the big stuffed animals. Zach loved the big gorilla and ...


Hailey loved the big giraffe.


One of the new areas since we had been there last was the barn/rodeo area. We spent so much time here riding the horses and bulls and dressing like cowboys and cowgirls. They had a cute rodeo background painted on the wall and it really looks realistic.


Zach was so cute dressed as a rodeo clown and when he rode the horse, he kept waving his hat in the air and yelling "YAHOO!"


Can you imagine what this country would be like if these little ones were president? The thought just makes me laugh. The oval office area of the museum was very realistic and the kids thought it was great to sit in the big chair behind the desk.


One of the funniest stories about our visit was this arch made of blocks. Kylie (bless her heart) decided to help the older boys put the arch together. Once they got it done, the two younger ones thought it would be hilarious to knock it over. And over. And over. And over. After about 5 or 6 times of this happening, the older boys got smart and corraled the younger ones so that they would leave it standing. It was quite funny to watch and poor Aunt Awa was really tired by the time she sat back down by us.


Another favorite area is the medieval section. They have clothes to dress up in and a throne area for them to pretend to be queen and king. Here's our little princess all dressed up in her princess outfit and crown. It was darling on her and she loved every second of wearing it.


They also had a little stage where the kids could "perform" in their costumes. Here's our princess surrounded by the knight and king. Aren't they cute?


Lastly was the doll house room. The boys weren't very excited about this room with a bunch of dolls and paperdolls. So while Nana and Aunt Michelle took the boys back to the fire engine, Aunt Awa stayed with Hailey to color some paperdolls to take home.



We've decided that the Treehouse Museum is definitely one of our favorite places to visit. We almost didn't make it this year and we're so glad we were able to fit it in. Thanks Nana, Aunt Awa, Aunt Shell, Ashy, and Brans for going with us - we had a blast!

Look Out For The Bees!

As if the Owlz Game didn't satisfy our hunger for watching baseball, we headed out to a Salt Lake Bees baseball game last Monday for family night. It was a beautiful night, much more warm than at the Owlz Game.

Here we are waiting for the game to get going.


Both kids just couldn't sit still and were back and forth from Afton and Bubby on one side to ...


Kylie and Jedd on the other ...


And even in front to Nana and Papa.


Although the Bees lost, we had a wonderful time. With the amount of licorice and gummy bears the kids ate (thanks Nana and Papa!), it's no wonder they didn't fall asleep on the way home. They were both wide awake and jabbered all the way.

It sure was a fun night and can't wait to go back to see them play again.

Hoot Hoot! Orem Owlz Baseball Game

Last Friday we decided to head out and go to an Orem Owlz Game. They are a local baseball team that plays not too far from us. Jeremiah got some free tickets from work, so we decided to go and have some fun. Taylor was down staying for the weekend, so we talked him into going with us.

Here's the Owlz warming up


Our tickets were free for the general admission section, which is sitting on the lawn. It's actually pretty comfortable.


This is a picture of the kids with Hootz and Holly, the Owlz team mascots. Hailey is fascinated with them and always wanted to know where they were through the entire game. Of course, she didn't want to get too close, so I had to hold her during the picture.


Zach had to dress up in all of his Owlz gear - shirt and hat so that he completely supported the team. He loves to yell "Let's go Owlz!" - it was so cute!


Hailey loves the games too, although I'm sure she has no idea what's going on. She also yells and cheers the players on, just like her brother and we just smile and laugh every time because she's so darling!


We sure love watching the Owlz, they've become a family favorite!

Swimming at Roy Aquatic Center

What's the best thing to do on a hot day? Why, go swimming of course! And that's just what we did last Wednesday. I'm a little behind on my posts, so I'm going to try and catch up the next few days.

My sister used to rent a house right down the road from this Aquatic Center and her boys (as well as my kids) have always wanted to go swimming there, so we were sure to make it this summer on one of our Wednesday play days.

Here's a picture of the kids chilling on their towels. They all love to be together!


Hailey and Nana


The best part about this swimming pool was that it was completely geared towards little kids. Branson and Hailey loved this little slide - they thought it was so neat to slide down the frog's tongue!


It feels so nice to relax in the water on a hot day!


Hailey and Branson played together all day long. In fact, most of the time they were holding hands as they would walk from the front of the slide to the back. It was so cute! I got a few pictures, but they were all blurry, so I didn't post them. They are such good friends, I love it!


Zach has been so anxious to use his pool noodle in a bigger pool than the blow-up one we have played in out back. This was perfect and he loved every second of it.


Zach and Ashton loved the fire hydrant water squirters and spent a ton of time trying to squirt each other and any one else that came by.


My kids have turned into little daredevils and both went down the waterslide with Jeremiah. I tried to get pictures, but in order to see them I had to stand so far back that you couldn't see anything in the picture. So I guess you'll have to use your imagination, but they had a blast! They both went down the curvy slide at least 3 or 4 times each! Zach even went down by himself twice! They would have gone more if we had let them, but we were tired and wanted them to play on the other water toys too!

We had a blast and can't wait to go back again next year. We've decided it's really the perfect pool for little kids!