Memorial Day Weekend Fun

The kids had Friday and Monday off for the Memorial Day weekend so we decided to go camping with some friends. There were around ten families that went. We got a campsite right next to the park and the kids had a blast playing in the park after dark. We had a serious game of kickball going and some fun games of tag going everyday. We were right on the bay so there was also lots of fun water activities. There were a couple of different paddle boats and a couple of our friends brought their kayaks. The camp had a diving platform anchored out for everyone to jump off of. We brought our big raft that Abby had a great time jumping into the net bottom in the middle. We also scored a water trampoline from our sweet friends who kids had grown out of it. Todd

pushed the kids out in the bay in it. He definitely got his exercises. Thank goodness Scott had his truck to help haul them back up to the campsite. Our super good friends the Pinsons even came down to visit. They live so close so they just came down for the day and brought us a truck load of wood. Once Sara was there Blake and her were inseparable. They only see each other two or three times a year, but they are the best friends ever. They just hang out and talk forever. It is pretending amazing. If we only knew what they were talking about all the time. Sara is the only girl Blake will even talk to (except his sisters).

Abby was thrilled to find a crab with Noah and they watched it for ever. She thought it was so cute. The other night Todd and I overheard her in her bead telling her stuffed toys about the "crabby on the beach". She is so funny!

The campground we were out had lots of fun activities going on all weekend to. Some of the older kids went to a live band dance, campland idol and an organized game of flag football. The younger girls were so excited to be a part of the sand castle building contest. Hailey and her friend Karis thought it was so cool to be in a real contest. No one from our group actually won but they gave everyone who participated a thing of candy. They were perfectly happy with that.

Around camp the kids would ride their scooters around the loop and play at the park next to us.

We would all hang out around Julie's spot because it was the biggest and barbecue and just hangout and talk at night. Todd made us some amazing steak and ribs. He was definitely king of the barbecue that weekend.

After dark we had lots of smores, banana boats and watched the Sea World fireworks on the bay.

No one thought it would be possible to get a shot of all the kids but with Tim's help we got them all together without any tears, minus a few families who only stayed the first night. We had a fantastic time with everyone and can't wait until next year!

Madison's Preschool Campout Week

This was the last week of having Madison's preschool group at our house for the year. We decided to review the alphabet while doing some fun camping activities and then a pretend sleepover on Thursday. Madison was loves it at our house and can't wait to set everything up. Todd set up the tent the night before in the backyard and a fake fire pit to make it seem like a real camp out. The kids had a great time. They got camp journals, a flashlight and made a camp sign for art.

On Thursday everyone wore their pajamas to school and we made ABC pillowcases. We had such a big art project today so we took turns painting while everyone watched an alphabet show and ate popcorn. Then we played some games in centers just like kindergarten. They are getting very excited to be kindergarteners next year. There is something about wearing pajamas to school that kids love. Mom's also like not having to get everyone ready either.

Our Little Diva

Abby is such a girly girl. She is always getting all dressed up with dress up shoes and a purse. She has to pretend to put make up on every morning and also have her nails painted. When we were packing up to go camping the other day she came outside with high heels on and a glittery purse and strutted down the driveway saying she was ready to go in the moterhome. She is always keeping us laughing and on our toes. She loves to find my make up and put it on. If it is quiet for a minute the next thing I hear is "Look Mommy, I am soooo pretty!".

She also loves lotion and now that is it getting hotter she thinks everything is sunblock and she needs it all the time.

One day she got into nail polish and painted her whole face with it. That was lots of fun to clean!

Open House

 Tonight was open house at the kids school.  In Hailey's class we got to see all of the different animal regions they are studing.  She was very excited to share her penquen she made out of clay.

Blake has been learning about the history of Temecula and did a report on Warren Hall.  He made a pretty cute cowboy of butterfield stage.

Pinewood Derby

Blake's Pinewood Derby Car!Blake sketched out what kind of car he wanted to make on paper and luckily Todd was up for the challenge to make it happen out of a block of wood. They sanded it down to be like the shark Blake sketched out. It turned out pretty cool. Blake was pretty excited about his car and loved watching it race.
The boys were good sports and loved to watch the cars race.

This is Blake and a few of his friends from his Wolf Den.

His car came in 7th out of 14 but I think he was way too happy to have gotten the award for deadliest racer to even care if it was fastest or not.

What a cute group of boys!

Hailey's 1st Grade Field Trip

The first graders have been studying different animals and their habitats so they went on a field trip to the Wild Animal Park. I was able to be one of the chaperones and spend the day with them. There were so many chaperones so we were really in charge of our own kids. Hailey was so happy to hang out with her friends and all the Moms.

Hailey and her friend Georgie are wild about the lions.

Hailey thought the gorillas were hilarious, especially when it showed it's back side.

We went to feed the birds, which Hailey was so excited about in the beginning. By the end the girls went running and screaming out of the cage to get away from the extra hungry birds.

The kids did a read-a-thon a few weeks back so everyone earned enough to ride on the tram.

There were nine baby elephants while we were there.

We had a great time together and Hailey is very lucky to have a great class of kids to be with and an amazing teacher.

Father and Son Campout

It was the annual Father and Son Camp out at Hurkey Creek. Blake was so excited to go. He looks forward to it every year. The boys pitch the tent, get KFC, lots of junk food, and wear the same clothes for two days. They love it. Back at home me and the girls have our own little party and have some girls over to scrapbook and stay up as late as we want.They did some hiking with friends. Blake seems to really like going on hikes. Apparently on the way up to camp Todd decided they needed air soft guns and stopped and got them a gun for the air soft war games. Blake's strategy was to sneak up behind someone, shoot them, then run off shouting that he wasn't in the game. Nice! Blake was so excited to tell us all about it and I was impressed that Todd took some pictures on his own unprompted.

Jet Set

We had to take a last minute trip to Utah for Grandma Ruth's funeral. The kids were in testing all week so we flew out Friday night for just the weekend. It is a good thing we flew because when we got back Todd had to replace the water pump in my car, which means we probably would have been stranded. Thank goodness he is handy and fixed it himself saving us hundreds of dollars. It was Abby's first time flying and Madison first time that she was old enough to remember. The kids were very excited and great travelers. We had to fly into Phoenix on the way out and back, but the kids did great! They especially loved taking off. Abby didn't really like having to be buckled then but thank goodness my sweet friend brought over a bag a treats for the plane before we left to take her mind of of it. If only we could afford to fly all the time.

Happy Mother's Day

We were lucky enough to be in Utah still for Mother's Day so we were able to spend it with my mom. Blake and Todd made me breakfast in bed. Hailey wanted to decorate the house so she made wildflower bouquet for the dinner tables. It was a very relaxing day and that afternoon the family all came over to eat and play in Grandpa's backyard. There is a field behind Grandpa's house that the kids like to play in with big apple trees. Hailey calls it the secret garden behind the big fence. When we were there in the fall and the trees were full of apples Todd and Blake loved hitting the old apples with baseball bats. In the springs there are lots of blossoms and wildflowers to pick.

Todd is the crazy monkey on the very top of the tree!

Abby playing on Grandpa's old train he restored. Now that the sun was shining in Utah Grandpa was eager to put his flower in the train, but Abby kept taking them out and claimed it as hers.

The kids loved playing with their cousins and taking turns to bat at the ball. Grandma was the best hitter of the night. Not bad for a lefty.

Happy Mother's Day!

Remembering Grandma Ruth

Grandma Ruth peacefully passed from this life Tuesday, May 4, 2010 surrounded by her family. She was 96 years old. She returned to the loving arms and the embrace of her Heavenly Father, and those who were awaiting her return. She worked for 35 years at ZCMI and made many long lasting friends. She was an active member of the church and loved to attend the temple. She also served a full time mission in Charleston West Virgina in 1983. She was a very elegant lady and will be missed by all who knew her.


Grandma Ruth had five children, 14 grandchildren, 32 great grand children, and 4 great great grand children. We were all able to be there for her funeral. She was buried on her 73rd wedding anniversary to our Grandpa who had passed away 40 years ago. She will always be remembered for her love for butterflies and her endless candy and popcorn bowls. She was always very active and full of spirit. She used to say the best medicine was a Coke and chocolate. We found in her apartment a whole drawer of chocolate right next to her bed. We had a good laugh over it.

My mom and her brothers, Raymond, David and Dean.

We loved her very much and she will be missed. We are truly blessed to know that she is in a better place with the love of her life!

Sunday Best

Since Easter Sunday was conference we dressed the kids in their Easter dresses the next week. They all looked adorable in their bright new spring outfits so I had to beg them to take some pictures for me. We are so excited for the bright colors of spring and the beautiful weather!