Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Whip Cream Fight 2010

This is a day my kids look forward to the whole school year. The last day of school means a water park in our back yard/park and a whip cream fight! This year the kids LOVED their class mates so much, we invited them too, instead of those just in our neighborhood. It was a good crowd!
Before the fight starts everyone eats their sack lunch

The anticipation is killing McKay, here. This is his cute friend Mikelle from school.

The line up for the slip-n-slide tarp


Look at all those kids!


And the fight begins!

Whip cream everywhere!





Connor with a few good friends from his class after all the action, jumping on the tramp.


Kenna and Connor after it's all over! What a fun day and fun tradition!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Connor Reaches a DECADE!

Our big boy is 10! I can't believe my baby is 10!

All ready and spry to open presents!

I think Connor got 10 books for his birthday. This boy loves to read!! LOVES IT! So much so that he's getting in 'trouble' at school and home for too much reading. When the teacher starts the lecture on math, he pulls out a book, hides it on his lap and reads it while she's talking. And at night, he's resorted to using the soft glow of his nightlight for reading since we've already taken all his flashlights and nightlights away for staying up too late reading. This kids loves to read to a fault! I guess there are worse things, right?


One of Connor's favorite movies of all time: Harry Potter. You can tell how excited he was to get this!

Tiggs wanted in on the action, too!

Here are some pictures of Connor to remember the good-old-days:

Connor about 5 months old not looking super happy.......but look how cute Brett is!

Connor's first Christmas. Look at those eyes!

Connor at a friend's wedding downtown Temple Square

Connor about 18 months

Kindergarten graduation

About 4 1/2 here

6 here; the twins are 3

Yellowstone with cousin Midge and the twins 5 and 3 years old

4 years old here

After Connor's day at school, we went out to eat at his favorite restaurant, Tucci's. It's only location is in SLC so we made the drive up there. Brett and I actually decided on Connor's name at that restaurant 10 years ago. We went in and got seated, and who comes to serve us but the same waiter that has worked there for years! (We used to frequent this place quite often.) Anyway, Connor got a huge plate of Fettucini Alfredo and ate the whole thing! Afterwards we went to get yogurt at Luna Berry. It was a wonderful, special day to celebrate our first born! Connor is such a special boy and we are so blessed to have him in our family.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Race for the Cure!

Every year the Saturday before Mother's Day, my Grandma's family-- her sisters, their daughters and their daughters-- all get together for a big lunch. We do this in memory of my great-grandma, Madeline Anderson. She was an awesome woman! I don't remember much of her since she died when I was 7 and we lived in Nevada. I do have several cards she sent for my birthdays and other letters she wrote to me. Those are so special. I also remember she was always baking bread. Always! Her bread tasted so good! She was always taking it to her neighbors, too.

"Grandma-the-great", as we called her died 25 years ago of Breast Cancer. For a few years now, we've talked about doing Race for the Cure in her memory. Thanks to my Aunt Sue, we finally did it this year!

McKay and Makenna were very excited about doing the race. They wanted to walk the whole 3 miles. Makenna said, "If you can run 26 miles mom, me and Mickey can do 3." It was pretty cute. Here they are walking up to the race! They were so excited!

Kenna with her free visor and cheesy grin!

Aunt Raquel with McKay and little Ellie and Kiera off to the side

The whole gang ready to go in our cute, pink t-shirts with Grandma's picture on the back.

We met Ronald McDonald along the way. McKay was delighted!

Makenna and Sydney ran together practically the whole time! They were to good together and would run ahead and then come back-- always making sure that we could see them. It was great fun and so good to remember Grandma-the-Great!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

It's true......they're 7! Yes, SEVEN!!

Who can believe the twins are seven? SEVEN????????? Seriously, I cannot. Where has the time gone? Wow!!


One of Kenna's birthday outfits. She loved the foo-fy skirt.

McKay's birthday outfit with his new hat.

Kenna's other birthday outfit. She decided to wear this one to school. Yes, black boots and all. It was her birthday, I had to let her!


The kids wanted to spend their birthday afternoon at Kids Classics. They love this place! Personally, I think it's crawling with germs and places to waste all your money on dumb prizes, but I'm sure I would have loved it when I was a kid.

Connor loading up the ultimate blaster in the new Blast Zone!

Kenna taking her turn to blow out the candles!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

1st Grade Dress-up's

Insect day for 1st Grade.

McKay was a fly.

Isn't he cute? This was his own idea, too.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

He's Home!

After 2 long years in Chicago, he's home!!!! The last missionary in our family has gone, served faithfully, and come home. We are so happy to have Tyler home!

Mom gets the first hug!


Joyful moment for mother and son!

Tyler with our hooligans and my mom and dad

Tyler with the best grandparents in the world!!!

Ty with all the sibs sans Rob and Brett

Welcome home, Ty!!! We are so proud of you and your accomplishment to serve a full time mission! What an example you've been to us! We can't wait to spend time with you!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Spring Break 2010 Recap

These pictures are just too fun to not post! We had a very fun Spring Break just hanging around our place. With lots of friends and family, we had a blast! Here is a little sample of some of the fun things we did:

We invited our awesome friends and neighbors to go with us to the Old Folks home in Lehi. The kids put together about 1/2 hour piano recital for them. The old folks loved it and so did the kids. We plan on going back this summer.

Stopping at a random house in Lehi with a beautiful Magnolia Tree in bloom. I couldn't not stop! So pretty!

Jumping on the tramp with cousins, Aunt Alyssa and even Grandma Bell!!! I'm glad I got pictures of this because Grandpa Bell would never believe it!


Wheel-barrow rides down the hill in the back yard with Dad and friends. Let me tell you, Brett was the life of the party that night!!! Really, what night is he not the life of the party?


McKay is our little cook. Here we are making a dessert for "Super Stars". He wanted to help me with cooking a lot. Someday, McKay wants to be a chef/artist/astronaut. It could happen...........




Having dance competitions with cousins and friends on the tramp.


Even though it didn't feel like spring, having the break sure was a lot of fun!