Bird Watching

Bird watching is very enjoyable when you bring your camera along with you. I could have stayed out for hours, but with a bunch a little kids with me waiting to ride a train, I was lucky to get these.

Last Day of Preschool

Today was Ethan's last day of Preschool. All the families were invited to watch their end of the year program. Ethan was so darling during the whole thing (not that I'm biased or anything!).

The program started with Ethan leading everyone in his class in the Pledge of Allegiance:

Here's his cute class:

Two pictures of Ethan doing the actions to the songs they sang for us. He did the actions perfectly, and I could see him mouthing the words, but I don't think he was singing very loud:

He enjoyed his cookie at the end too, but only after serving cookies to Todd, Madeline, and me:

His teachers were great! They really supported his reading and sent books home with him everyday. He will miss them a lot!

And here are a few samples of his progress reports. It's fun to see improvement, especially when it occurs over such a short period of time:

Preschool was such a blessing for Ethan. I'm so grateful he had a chance to go this year. And I'm excited for his new preschool in the fall. I can't believe how fast he's growing up!

Visiting the Temple

My mom and I took the kids to visit the Draper Temple grounds today. We sat across the way to eat our lunches and then went on the grounds to take pictures and walk around. The kids were very cute as we walked. They all kept their arms folded and talked in mostly quiet voices. That's pretty good considering they are ages 2, 3, 4, and 5!

Miss Madeline

Ethan and his cousin Lucas

Darling Alex

Cute!

Look closely, and you'll see Lucas in the background

Pancake Celebration

Tonight we celebrated Ethan reading 100 books by going to IHOP for pancakes. Ethan couldn’t imagine a better reward! Not when you consider the gigantic stack of chocolate pancakes he got:
Madeline helped herself to a pretty huge chocolate pancake too

And to wash it down, nothing less than chocolate milk . . . feel that tummy ache coming on?

Mimi also gave him some balloons

Good Job Ethan! You're one smart kiddo. And I love you!

100!

Tonight, I listened to Ethan read me his 100th book. I wish I could have taken a picture of his face as he finished the last words of that book and then shouted, “I’ve read 100 books!” I immediately jumped up and danced around the couch while singing, “Ethan’s read 100 books and he is only four. Ethan’s read 100 books and now he will read more!” My little song just came out, not planned or anything, but Ethan really liked it and said, “okay, lets read more!” So he did. He read two more and now his book list has 102 books on it.

I talked to him about how he’ll just keep reading and reading and we can keep the book list as long as he would like. He really liked that and said he was excited for when he got to 400. I just laugh to myself because at his rate, that will be before the summer even ends.

Reading books on and on must have got him thinking, because tonight, as I was getting him ready for bed, he asked, “Mom, do numbers never end?” “That’s right, you can just keep on counting and they never end.” He looked right up at me with huge eyes and replied, “Woah, that is serious!”

You’re telling me, kiddo.

And here is a copy of his book list. Started on April 14, 2010

More about Chocolate Delights

It's really fun to eat messy chocolate treats . . .

But it's not fun when they're gone.

GIANT Bubbles!

Of all the fun activities we did this past week with family, this one was my favorite by far. I have never seen such gigantic bubbles in all my life. And there was just something so fun about watching the kids. Their faces were all smiles. What an awesome activity. Thanks for bringing your magic bubble maker Raelynn!

Attack of the giant bubble:

Pop the bubble, but only with your eyes closed!

Half popped

Mostly popped

The longest and most strange!

Uncle Sam made all the giant bubbles for us:

Stretching for what seemed like miles!

POP! And then they were gone . . .

Chocolate Delights

We made some mini cupcakes today. Partially for the block party that we are going to tonight, and partially because it's just plain fun to do!

My Nephew, Ryder

My nephew, Ryder Trent, was born two days ago. He came 8 weeks early very unexpectedly while my brother and his family were in Utah visiting us on vacation. He is now spending time in the NICU here in Utah. We are all grateful he made it here safely and is getting very good care. If you would like to read to whole story, visit Ryder's mommy's blog here. Emmy told me I should post pictures of him since she is having a hard time uploading pictures in the hospital.

I had the beautiful opportunity to see him yesterday, and I took these pictures of him through his little isolette. He is small, but I can already tell he's a fighter and will grow up strong. Ryder, you are blessed to have been sent to such a wonderful family. We are all anxious for the day when you can go home with them!

please stop poking at me, I just want to sleep!

Sorry Bro!

I am feeling really bad about something . . . I somehow didn't take a picture of my brother's funny face pizza.

And to think, his WAS the best one after all. How could I have done that?

So sorry brother. And if Emmy took a picture of it and I eventually get my hands on it. I'm so going to post it on my blog larger than life. ;)

Funny Face Pizzas

This past Monday night, my sister taught us all how to really have fun with our food. For dinner, each person had the chance to make their own "funny face pizza". It was lots of fun and the kids really enjoyed it!

there's Emily, my sister-in-law, the day before going to the hospital

She's helping Alex, who ate her pizza toppings before cooking her pizza . . . I never got a picture of her funny face

Madeline just wanted to eat her toppings like Alex

Proud of his pizza!

And here are all of our masterpieces!

Madeline's

Ethan's

Lucas'

Kate's

Todd's

mine

Emily's

Mimi's

Bapa's

Raelynn's

Fun to make and fun to eat.