Swimming Lessons Summer 2011

The kids did so well with swimming lessons this year. Addison was able to go into the 4 year old class even though she is only 3. She had a blast and learned how to swim so fast. She loved her teachers and they loved her, she was so tiny in her class. Her favorite teacher was Jessica Murray. Every time we would go to the pool Jessica would grab her and take her swimming. Brooklyn is like a little fish, she has always been a really good swimmer. Brenden hasn't had swimming lessons for a really long time but he caught on really fast and was diving and swimming the whole length of the pool. We had such a good time this summer going to the pool a couple of times a week. It was so worth getting a pass this year. Can't wait till next summer!

Much Needed Updates!

Here is some more catch up, the next few post are going to be trying to catch myself up to now so bare with me. This is Brenden's end of the school year play, he was the godfather of soul and he had a part in it. He had to say, "Uh I feel good, like three times and then he said New York City, Uh I feel good. It was pretty funny! I was really proud of him for doing it and not being shy. He has really grown up this year.

Brenden's class, he loved having Mrs. Tuttle she was a really good teacher and we will miss her.

Brenden with is black make up on and black suit and shirt.

Brooklyn had her end of the year play also and they did a circus theme. She was a dancing bear, she is still really shy. But she did her part and so that was good. Mrs. Dawes was her teacher and she loved her. Mrs. Dawes calls her shortcakes, because she was the shortest in her class until recently. We love Mrs. Dawes and are very sad that we have to move up.

Brooklyn the dancing bear.

Here is just a picture of Ashlyn, she is getting so big so fast and I thought I would throw one in of her.


Brooklyn's 7th birthday party she wanted to have it at the pool. So we invited all her friends and had a good time. This is her cake, usually I make it but we were really busy so I had to get it at costco.

Blowing out her candles. I didn't get a lot of pictures because I was dealing with a very ornery baby. So I feel bad.


A picture with most of her friends that were there. We had pizza, drinks, prizes and a fun time at the pool.


Brooklyn got her first American Girl doll from her grandma Johansens, she was so excited to finally get one.


I have been in scouts for a little over a year now, and this year I got to take the boys to day camp. We had so much fun, I have actually never been to day camp. They got to shoot bow and arrows, bebe guns, they made swords out of those water noodles, rowed boats, made boats that they raced, and a whole bunch of other stuff. I am just so glad that I was able to spend that time with just Brenden. I don't get to do that very often anymore.

Brenden shooting the bebe gun.

Rowing the boats and playing some game.

Brenden shooting with the bow and arrow.

Easter and California

So I have been really slacking lately. But I am going to post some of these just for my remembering. You will have to bare with me, this may take awhile.
Since this was Ashlyn's first Easter, we went to California to spend it with my family. We didn't go to Disneyland this time which usually we do. We decided to do something different and went to Sea World and San Diego Wild Animal Park. We had a wonderful time!

Addison watching the Shamu show, hoping to get soaked.

Ashlyn had a lot of fun, even though it was really hot for April. She always has a smile, she is such a happy baby.

Kendra and Brooklyn sitting on the front row in the Shamu show hoping that they will get soaked, the funny thing is that Shamu splashed every section but ours. Hahaha.

This is their piles from the Easter bunny before they got into them.
They got a lot of stuff, but I had to cut back this year for traveling. They got a lot of clothes for the summer, books, pillow pets, princess barbie stuff, shoes and a lot more that I can't remember. But they had a good Easter.

My three girls waiting for the boys and Kendra to get up to see what the Easter bunny left.

The three oldest kids right before they see their piles.

Brooklyn and Addison both got a princess play set.

Brenden is playing baseball and got 2 really nice expensive bats and baseball gear.

Addison and Brooklyn both got the little tiny pillow pets. Addie got the pig and Brooklyn got the panda bear, they are really cute!

Ashlyn's favorite thing to play with is the grass, also ripping everything out. She got some toys and books. Lots of clothes for summer because she seems to be growing really fast, well at least for my kids. She had a lot of fun with her first Easter, she is 7 months old.

Looking for hard boiled easter eggs outside, the only bad thing is that it was lightly raining. But they had so much fun finding them.

This year we decided to go to the wild animal park because we had never been there. There is a petting place in there with a few different animals. Addison loved this place, she wouldn't leave the poor animals alone. Here she is with Uncle Tom petting the deer, put the others she mauled.

There is another place in there that you hold this little cup and these birds just land on you and eat out of it.

My kids in a turtle shell.

I think we had to take a picture in everything that they could get into.

Look at all the frogs that we have. Playing leap frog, of course Brenden had to fall in.

Posing on the rhino when you first come into the park.

Here are my kids in their Easter dresses and suit. This picture isn't great but at least I got one that is ok.

Ashlyn posing in her pretty dress for me. She turned 8 months this very day.

Ashlyn gets her first tooth!

I have been really bad at updating what Ashlyn has been up to. So I have made a new goal and I am going to post at least something monthly about her.

Ashlyn has been very fussy the last few days. She is usually a really happy, smiley baby so I couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. So last night she was really bad, wouldn't go to sleep. But this morning when she got up, she had a little fever, was drooling all over the place and her nose was running. When I looked in her mouth her tooth had popped through, the bottom left one. She is only 6 months old, it isn't fair. My other kids didn't get their first tooth until they were 8 months. She is growing up way to fast. This month has been a big one for her, she started sitting and she got a tooth. She is a very weird child and only likes to eat rice cereal with water. I have tried other things and she doesn't like them. So hopefully soon she will start liking other types of food, I just keep trying them.

Weekend!

Over the weekend we went up to Provo to spend sometime with my family. On Saturday we went to the Living Aquarium in Sandy, I can only say that it was better than I thought it would be. But it was no Sea World! We had to wait a little while for all of my family to get there so the kids played with this thing that you put money in and it goes around in circles. They could have done that for hours.

Some of the first things that we saw were frogs. They were hiding in this green moss stuff, so they were really hard to see.

My cute kids on the frog.

Octopus

Jelly fish, these were really cool.

Sea Horses, these are they biggest ones I have ever seen. I think they are so cute!

Love the Sting Rays! Brenden was able to touch them, but Brooklyn's arm was too short. She was really bummed that she didn't get to touch them. I tried to help her but she freaked out because she thought I was going to push her in. But I was holding her the whole time.

They had penguins and this one just stood there they whole time. I am the king of the world!

My sister Kate and her boyfriend Art with my kids watching the penguins.

They had one turtle in with the sharks. But it kept hiding, this is the best picture I could get of it.

Addison was very scared of the Anaconda, I told her it could eat her. She didn't like that, what a mean mom I am.
It was a really fun day, I loved spending it with most of my family.

St.. Patty's Day!

The day before St. Patty's day, I mixed up some homemade pancake mix and put it in the fridge for the next day. When the kids came home from school I made the point to show them the pancake mix so they knew it was white. Then the next day I got up before them and put a couple of drops of green food coloring in the pancake mix but I didn't stir it, I just put it back in the fridge. Then I got some clear cups out of the cupboard and put a drop of food coloring in each one and put them back in the cupboard. I went and go the kids up and while they sat down I got the pancake mix out and started to stir it in front of them and they were like "It is turning green!" I was like oh my gosh the leprechauns must have gotten to it. So I put those on the griddle and got out their cups, I started pouring milk into them and they turned green right away. They were in awe because the gallon of milk was still white but when I poured it in the glasses they turned green. They totally couldn't figure out how the leprechauns did it. So they ate their green breakfast and wore all their cute clothes. I also made mint chocolate chip cookies that day and they also turned green.

Yummy green pancakes and milk.

Mint Chocolate Chip cookies.

Brenden and Brooklyn ready for school in their St. Patrick's Day clothes. You can see how excited Brenden was about it. I told him he didn't have to wear it but he said he wanted to.

I didn't get a picture of them all together because Addison and Ashlyn didn't wake up until after they other 2 went to school, so here are Addison and Ashlyn in their cute clothes.

When they got home from school I had hidden some gold chocolate coins around the house and then I wrote a note and put it on the front porch. When I was feeding the baby, the other 3 were playing outside. I called them in and said that the doorbell just rang and they went running. They grabbed the note and read it and started hunting for the treasure. They found them and were so excited that the leprechauns had brought them treasure.

Ashlyn rolling all over the place. She has been rolling since she was 4 months but I thought I would put that on here also since it has been a while.

So this day has always been special to me. One it is my anniversary and we have been married for 11 years. Merrial gets me flowers every year and we went out to lunch because this day was really crazy. We had pack meeting, where Brenden got his wolf, 1 gold arrow point and 2 silver arrow points. Plus it was the space derby that was a joke, they totally didn't work very well. Merrial had a meeting at 7 and wasn't home until 10pm. So we will have to celebrate another day.

I just wanted to post a picture of my grandpa, he died on this day last year and he was all Irish! It was very fitting. I have been a little emotional today, I didn't think that I would be. But I miss him. Just wanted to say I love you grandpa and hope you are doing really well.