Several weeks of fun

 

Froggy! The kids continue their never-ending pursuit of amphibians!

 

Although the cousins aren't in the same class they get to play together at recess. Mike brought home this sweet note that Dallin gave him. And the other day when we were Skyping with Mom and Dad in the Philippines Mike talked over everyone and asked Dallin about how he was doing. They have this sweet and total friendship that is a blessing to them both. It is so fun for me to have Marian's kids at the same school. At curriculum night this week I walked to the classroom next door to Nicole's and there was Marian. At playgroups and date nights we also see each other. It's just so surreal and fun!

Mike's soccer season continues to be a blast for us to watch! Nicole is working very hard at soccer too and we love the exercise it is for them. Watching Mike, I would classify him as your ultimate offense player, he goes nuts just standing there on defense but LOVES to try and score. The best part is he always has this huge smile on his face like he is having the time of his life (because he is). I love that smile.

 

Everyone sitting on one camp chair together watching Mike.

 

Mike also rotates to goalie and I was so happy that he stopped a bunch of goals. I thought for sure that some of the kicks would go in but he stopped them! They did make one corner kick goal on him, but all in all he did a great job.

 

Little updates on the house. These vinyls are not expensive, come off easily (unlike paint) and were quick to put up.

 

We did vinyl and 3d butterflies in the girls room. The vinyls ones are glow in the dark it is very pretty and I love the light colors matched with the green of their names.

 

Other wall.

 

And another.

 

We had some great rain the other day, one of those all day soakers. The kids were stir crazy so I said they could go outside. The dirt that has been coming down a ton from up the hill has make this clay pit and they were digging and making clay pies and other fun stuff.

 

Jake loves preschool. Every year I am surprised at how happy the kids are when they come home, and how I can tell they have been nurtured and encouraged. It is so sweet! We know four of the other kids in the class from church so it's nice to have some friends he already knows in there.

 

His teachers took these pictures, my boy Jake really loves these trains!

 

We continue to add homemade fun to the backyard. This is a balance beam that leads to a slide. At the base there is a board suspended on four ropes that is great for balance too.

 

The hardest part was doing some concrete so it would be secure, but it all worked out.

 

Another fun way for them to explore and develop coordination with. It has been really fun to play around with the backyard and have the kids spend time outdoors where I don't have to worry about them leaving the yard.

School, Tendonitis and Katy's first beach trip!

 

 

Michael at is desk for Kindergarten. He loved his first day. I asked him who he made friends with and he said (kind of exasperated like it should be obvious) "Everyone!" No surprise there, Michael makes life a party wherever he goes. His teacher is a newbie, this is her first year teaching. She seems really nice and had a bunch of cute things from pinterest that she made for the kids. Crossing my fingers for a great year with a sweet teacher to nurture Michael.

 

Blasted tendonitis. I was reading on my side, supporting my head with my hand and apparently doing that for 2+ hours is not a good idea. It got really stiff and then with all of the lifting and twisting my wrist does it just got worse and worse until turning the steering wheel while driving was hurting. So now I am wearing a brace and it really helps me not torque my wrist all the time and give it a rest. It's not a big deal, just annoying.

 

We took a beach trip yesterday! Katy and I haven't been yet this summer and it was a wonderful day. We had some great friends join us- Katrina, Bob, Riley and Kiersten(4 months old like Katy) and Robin, Mike, Weston, Dallin and Levi. The kids were all SO excited!

 

Mike and Nicole boogie boarding while Jim is holding Diana. I'm with Katy and watching Jake. Jim and I were trading off constantly so we could have time with the different kids. A favorite part of the day for me was when I got to boogie board with Michael. I'd ask him which waves we should take, give him tips and cheer him on as we rode waves together. He is really a tough kid. A few waves totally got him, but he kept going. He is getting pretty good, and we caught some fun waves together, a couple really good ones.

 

On the drive home the kids made up some games and played. This towel was given to us by their Uncle Brandon on a visit from England of the transportation system there. The kids had so much fun with destinations and making up stuff about London.

 

Katy is four months old now. She weighs 12lbs4oz (13th%), and is 25in tall (67th%). She flips over, grabs for stuff and gives lots of love and snuggles to her family. She sleeps and eats like a champ and is doing everything in her power to be chasing after her big sister soon. The dr commented on how strong she is. It won't be long :)

Mike got Kid Knex for his birthday and this will go down in history as one of the best presents we've given a kid.

 

A little video on the blog of the kiddos.

End of Summer

 

Mike and Nicole's soccer season has begun. We did a Chikfila run after since their games were at the same time and Mike was all about refueling after a hot sweaty game. He is absolutely fun to watch he is totally into the game and wants to play offense the whole time. Watching him play defense is agonizing you can tell he is just itching to run after the ball.

 

The kids and I were making an alligator attack Lego scene it was pretty funny to see their creativity. We hide the Legos in my closet to keep them safe from D. We like to joke that she is from the planet Duplon come to destroy their legos.

 

We went to Marbles with Marian&co last week. This is the older girls on tv!

 

Diana gave Katy all of the stuffed fish. Diana carried those fish around for a long time!

 

Taking the fish to the farm area.

 

Jake riding a cow

 

Putting on a play that had butterflies and cats. It was a very short play.

 

Swamp monster Nicole

 

Pirate Kaitlin making Marian walk the plank!

 

Dallin made a Lego tower with the big legos and Jake stayed inside. Everyone walking by would peek in at Jacob.

 



 

The tower got really high Dallin was very dedicated to the construction!

 

We also went together to the pool for a few hours later in the week. The kids swam until they were super wrinkly it was a lot of fun! We love having Marian here. At the pool it was prettymuch empty except for the two lifeguards, us two moms and our 10 kids. We are quite the group wherever we go and we realized we can get group discounts pretty easily :)

 

Mike's second soccer game was yesterday. He played goalie first quarter and was bored out of his mind. When he rotated to offense it was like the sun was shining again he was so happy.

 

 

We had a birthday party for Mike (he is 6 now!) and the kids also got to meet their cousins' dogs! Mike had a soccer cake and they had a great time playing together. Jake played fetch with Dreamer for the whole time, taking a break for cake then back out to throw the ball.

 

I found these pics on my camera. Nicole confessed to taking the camera last night. They went to bed so easily and now I know why.

 

Does NOT look like a sleepy child to me!

 

Then Nicole was up at 6am making her lunch and getting Mike's lunch ready even though he doesn't start until Wednesday which he was a little bummed to discover. Nicole really liked meeting her teacher last Friday and she also has two other ward members in her class as well as some kids she knows from last year and swim team. I feel like it will be a great year of 2nd Grade for her!

 

It seems like when Katy is awake my life is a hurricane so I usually only think to take a picture when she is sleeping. Katy is a doll, she sleeps 8pm-6am without a fuss and adores Diana even though D tends to be kind of loud. Katy is growing and getting stronger I look forward to her joining her active siblings in their adventures!