Memorial Day weekend

We headed up just above Mendon Saturday morning to camp for the weekend. We planned to go up Friday night but it was pouring rain and so we didn't want to chance the dirt/mud road with the trailer. We spent Saturday and Sunday up in the mountains. It was beautiful!  So nice to get away, and even better that it was close to home. The kids loved it! We went on short hikes together, gathered bugs, played hide n seek, watched a movie, hung out in the shade, played board games, roasted marshmallows, played frisbee and catch and even found a cool little spot of shallow water to play in. Saturday we went to Dawnata Hot Springs in Downy Idaho, 1 hour drive, for their pizza and pool deal. Boy was that a blast! Dayton loved their big water slides, he even went down the steep black hole. He constantly amazes me how brave he is! Rachel swam and swam all by herself with her floaty. She also did the kiddie slide which was great! Carter did the kiddie slide too, one of the youngest I saw doing it, he couldn't stop. Toward the end he made Daddy move away from the bottom he wanted his head to go in the water. Then he popped up every time with a huge grin on his face. I did get him to at least close his mouth but I'm sure he swallowed plenty of water. Carter loved it! I can't believe my baby did a big slide, into a pool, with a drop with no help, except from his floaty. Wow!

Sunday night Clint and Kaitlin Allen came up with their two girls to stay the night. It's always good to have friends come. Clint's Dutch oven potatoes were yummy! 

I can't wait to go camping all summer together. We came home Monday morning to get other things done, house and yard duties. The kids each had to complete 5 jobs to earn our Icecream outing Monday night. I'm happy to say Carter totally impressed me and put away all the silverware on his own, correctly. Rachel was a big help and happily did her chores fast and efficiently with no complaint. Dayton wasn't happy about doing jobs but he stuck with it and completed all 5 so he could earn the Icecream outing too. Way to go bud! It's awesome when the kids help with the many tasks there always are piling up. We loved the Icecream too! Mmm!

Insert Icecream pic

Here are some more memories from the weekend. 

Happy Memorial Day! Of course the kids had to wear red, white, and blue for Mom to get a picture. They are my world. Can't believe we have one more coming! 

Dayton graduates from Kindergarten

Dayton has grown so much this year at kindergarten. He is reading very well. He scored 94% on his phonics assessment and 100% on his math assessments. He is very bright! We are proud parents. Dayton is a very happy, loving boy! He is so great with all the kids in his class and tries hard to make friends and be nice even when others aren't. I admire that about him. Some friends from his class this year are Logan, Tate, Lydia, MaryJane, and Parker. Although, he gets along with everyone. 

Dayton sang well at his program and I definatly noticed his personality coming through more, he didn't like the chicken song, so he didn't sing it. Ha! He is growing out of the happily sing everything phase and it kinda makes me sad. But, I knew it'd come some day. So on we go to first grade. After an awesome summer of course.  Dayton, we love you! 

Rachel Graduates Preschool

Rachel graduated tonight from abc preschool! She was a rock star and sang her heart out! I love her so much! She was the only girl in her class for the last two months cause our friend Claire moved. She stood her own with a class of boys. She is one tough cookie. She was so cute and bright and fun! Way to go Rachel! I loved having her in my class. 

Riding bikes is fun to do!

Carter has mastered the little pink trike. Rachel has mastered her bike this spring, she is much better on it than last year. Maybe by end of summer we can take her training wheels off. 

These kids love to ride bikes up and down the road our house is on. We have gravel driveway so it's the only spot they can really roll. They squeal going down this hill, it's fun to watch.

Dayton finished soccer!

D had a blast playing soccer this spring. His team was more aware as was he. They played well and won about half their games. Dayton is a very aggressive player and sure loves to get right in there. It's fun watching him play!

20 weeks with baby 4!

Today we had my much anticipated ultrasound. The baby looks great, healthy heart beat, lungs, kidneys, arms and legs all there. My placenta is attached to the front which just made it hard to get pictures but we did find out the gender, it's a girl! We couldn't be happier! 

We told the kids by having them open a gift. We told them if it was pink it meant girl and blue it meant boy. Here was their reaction....

We took a video not pictured here when they opened them. Dayton said he was "delighted!" Yes, those were his exact words! Rach was happy and said we needed a baby sister since we have a baby brother already. Carter just loved the drink that was as big as his head and kept saying, "baby growing mommies tummy." Yup buddy!

After dinner rach and I made a pink frosted cake. 

Stratego

Dayton loves this game! Oldie but a goodie! He is really good at it! He beats mom every time. He seriously is talented. He thinks of strategies and they work. When did he grow up? He takes forever to set up his men, he thinks very hard about it.  I love him! 

End of speech

This girl has loved speech, again this year. Mrs. Price is awesome and rach had learned tons. She has passed off many benchmarks since turning 4 and is excelling. Today she gave a thank you gift to her teacher. She was thrilled! She even wrote her own name perfectly and drew a picture on the card. Of course it was topped with sparkly pink ribbon too, Rachel's pick. She excitedly put it in her bacpack to give Mrs. Price. Happy summer!

Learning a lesson

Carter is just at that age where you have to watch him, all the time!

He runs out the front door, down the street, with no regard to "I'm too far from mommy." He gets into cupboards, Vaseline, wet wipes, and often unrolls the whole roll of toilet paper and puts it in the potty, up his nose or down the heat vent. This kid is giving me a run for my money! It's tough being pregnant and chasing him. None the less I try to give him relevant consequences for his mischief like today; he drew with a magic marker all over my white chair. So, he got to wipe it all up. I hope I can raise this boy right. He is very obedient when I say "no" he cries and stops. He also listens when I ask him to do something, he helps. Carter is just so curious! 

Nate and Alex get married

My baby brother got married today and boy it was special! I love Nate! He is such a cool kid and sure adores his wife. It was there best sibling wedding to date. Likely because our kids are the oldest they've ever been but also because Sue is awesome and just took them home after the wedding and pictures. Weddings are not for kids. Congrats Nate and Alex!