Summer Fun???

So I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it would be so fun for the kids to come home and see something like this...

I made the poster. Bill filled 100 water balloons. We set out water guns and water toys. Filled a bucket with Otter Pops and Kool Aid. When Stella, Kaden & Emma got home all the other kids were impatiently waiting for their attack. They chased each other around the front yard successfully trying to soak each other. So this is what it looked like:

They say it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Well, no one lost an eye, BUT:

Someone certainly got the worlds largest goose-egg just above their eye. OUCH!!!!!!! Poor Porter took quite the fall running down my stupid slanted driveway. Makes me sad every time I think about it.

Stella declared with fists in the air as we were cleaning up, "Best end of school day ever!!!" Let's hope we can all go the rest of the summer injury free!

Year End Activities

Stella has had a fun couple of weeks at school. They had their field trip to the Capitol Building & The Clarke Planetarium, the fun run, field day, and a beach party on the last day of school. Bill was the lucky one to go on the field trip. With his new job he's been missing seeing Stella as much as he use to. Now that school is out he will get plenty of time with the kids! He was excited to go because he's never gone on a field trip with her. Of course since I wasn't the one on the field trip there is a major lack of pictures! Disappointing I know.


The Field Trip:

The Fun Run:

Beach Party:

Camping Season?

Over Memorial weekend we ventured over to Strawberry for our first official camping trip for the year. As we were driving up there was fresh snow on the trees, it was pretty windy, and getting darker as we got up there. I looked at Bill and asked, "What are we thinking?!" Fortunately we never got rained on, the winds calmed down, and the weather got better and better with each day. That first night was very cold and uncomfortable. Not gonna lie! But come Monday it was warmer and beautiful! Jason, Koda and Gracie joined us for some fishing from the boat. We found an awesome little spot and caught at least 30-40 fish that day! Tristan was totally in his element and even learned how to cast an adult fishing rod that weekend! Stella got a little bored, but had her cousins to keep her company. Ron, Becky & Dawn came up to join us for lunch. I was glad they could come up. And not just to bring us fried chicken and a broom for our dirt-covered tent.

Bow's that the kids were thrilled to find when we got to our campsite.

Roasting hot dogs for dinner over the fire.

First attempt at boating. It was WAY too cold to boat. It was a very short ride!

Duke ended up in the water right from the dock so he was freezing. Here he is snuggled up in Stella's blanket.

Jason & Gracie. I love her expression!

Tristan helping Bill drive the boat.

Proof I was on the trip too.

A fairy princess & an athlete

Tristan and Stella have been very busy these past few months playing t-ball and dancing. Stella has been in 2 dance classes. One mine & Miss Natalie's. One with my good friend Jen, who she has been with for the past couple of years. It has been fun to see her progress the past 5 months even compared to last fall! She has improved and even Jennifer would notice and tell me almost every week. Stella has been really enjoying it and she is naturally so graceful so I adore watching her. She did so great with both dances! I'm not gonna lie, I was a little worried about my class because our dress rehearsal didn't go so great. But come time for our performance they did beautifully! I was pretty proud of my little class!

The mom's that created out background did a fantastic job! I thought it was pretty awesome!! They did a dance to a song from Sleeping beauty and were the fairies.

My class minus 2 girls.

Patiently waiting for the performance to start. How cute are these girls!!! Then we had her performance the next week in the canyon's where we usually do in the summer. I love it up there. It is beautiful. It was a little cold this time. Of course it didn't help that I left our jackets. Grrrrrrr. Or should I say Burrrrrr. They had 2 dances and each girl had a solo. Stella was beaming with pride as I yelled and cheered for her! She should be proud too because she freaking rocked!

Tristan played t-ball again this spring. He loves t-ball, but his first love is basketball. Every other day he asks me if it's fall yet because he can't wait to play Junior Jazz! Bill plays with him every week at the gym and he won't let anyone lower the baskets. He wants it as high as they will go. (Even though they lower it for the youngsters in Junior Jazz. He doesn't care.) He is very determined and extremely competitive. It is something I love about him and something that I worry about. He hates to lose. At anything! I hope being in sports will help him learn that sometimes everyone loses at one point. I love to watch him play t-ball. He loves to chase the ball and wants to hit last because then he gets a "homerun". Which just means he gets to run all the bases at once even if the ball only goes 5 ft. in front of him.

Graduation!

T-Boy is officially graduated from Pre-School! He is super excited to start Kindergarten in the fall. He had so much fun this year in Ms. Amy's class. I just love her! Both of my kids have had her and I am so glad Tristan was able to be in her class this year. I have seen a lot of progress and every day he was happy to go to class and more happy when I'd pick him up because he'd had so much fun! So great. They did so many fun art projects and learned so many new things. It was a lot of fun to hear him talk about things I had no idea he knew about and he could only learn from school. I enjoyed helping in his class once a month and seeing him in that environment. I think he'll do great in Kindergarten!

The graduation was at our library and I wish I knew how to load up video's on my blog because there was one song the kids sang and Tristan was so excited to shake his booty that it had me laughing and the look of anticipation cracks me up every time I watch it. Ah well. One more year down 13 to go!

Camp Party

This year it was Stella's turn for a friends party. We haven't had one since she turned 5! However, we have spent birthday's 6 & 7 in Disneyland so I'm excused right? I love to throw parties for my kids birthdays. It's a lot of money work so I have decided to do it only on the even years. Which works perfectly! One year will be Tristan and the next Stella.

We decided on a camping party. It was easy and so much fun! We invited her closest girlfriends (and Tristan of course). We pitched the tent in the backyard, borrowed a fire pit for S'mores, BBQ'd hot dogs, decorated visors, had a couple different races, and told camp stories that got Tristan laughing so hard he peed his pants. Only because it had the word "booty" in it. Funny kid.

With only a little drama and way too much time to do all of these things I would say it was pretty successful! Stella enjoyed it so that alone makes it a success. Now all the birthday festivities are finally over. Now what to do with all my down time?? Hmmmmmm.

Stella's Baptism

Unbelievable. My little Stella Bella is officially 8! When did that happen?! I think I complained about my kids getting older a few posts ago so I'll spare you my feelings of desperation to keep them little. Again. She got to be baptized and confirmed on her actual birthday! How cool is that? She thought it was pretty awesome.

I was pretty emotional the whole week before as I was going thru pictures and making a slideshow for her party. So luckily for me (and everyone around me) I had some control over my emotions at the actual baptism. However, as we were singing I Am A Child Of God in the chapel I almost lost it. She just looked so sweet and happy as she was concentrating on her hymn book, belting out each word. That song hit home on that day. She is a child of God and she as a small piece of heaven I get to have in my life/home. I love that. Bill did a fabulous job following thru with his priesthoodly duties. (He did get a little emotional too. Good.)

We had our family and closest friends there showing Stella their love and support on her very special day. We had a yummy lunch and got to spend a good portion of the day with our loved ones. (Good portion because she was one of 12 - yes 12 - kids getting baptized. And we were the last ward. Sheesh.) Thank you so much to my AMAZING BFF/neighbors who helped me stay sane, set-up, iron, take-down, watch kids, figure out the slideshow, etc., etc. Couldn't have done it without the Eichelbergers! And thanks to all else who helped with food, cleaning, gifts, traveled to get there, and just being there to share our love for Stella.

 We are so proud of Stella and her choice to be baptized. She was very excited and had been looking to this day for months! We can see her little testimony building and it's so fun to hear her pray and try to read her scriptures. She has such a love for the gospel and Jesus Christ that makes a Mama proud! We love you Stella! Happy 8th! Now stop growing up! Please.