Happy Helpers...

This week the kids have been such big helpers. They sure like to work right along side their Daddy. We got some dump-truck loads of gravel for the side of our house and for the back around our firepit. Brian was out there for several nights spreading it around. Working happily with him were our little sweeties. I caught them in action:

YEE HAAAW!!!

Last night we witnessed our little Rodeo Princess doing her "Thang." Brynlee saw the Muttin'Bustin' (sheep riding) in the brochure for our Lindon Days and just HAD to do it! She got her best friend from age 1, DarTanion Day, to participate also and they were SOO excited! She was so brave and did such a GREAT JOB!!! They called her name and she just walked right up to the gate. Her sheep TOOK OFF FAST and she was almost completely sideways from the very start! She hung on like the tough girl she is, she took quite a tumble at the end (so much that the kid after her didn't want to do it anymore). She was a little shocked after, but shook it off and has a BIG smile when she talks about it now. She says she wishes she could do it everyday, and is already plotting her ride next year when she wants to stay on "even longer!" We are so PROUD of her. Check out her video:

One Lucky Girl...

Yup, that's me...LUCKY. Not only was I raised in a Wonderful and Loving family, I was also able to MARRY INTO an incredible family! The kids and I were able to go spend time with family in Pine Valley for the past week. We kept busy with picnics, water fun at Bob and Janelle's house, 4wheelers, cousin-fun, Taylor's 8th B-Day party, and 2 Great Tuachan shows: Sound of Music and Les Miserables! Brian was with us for both weekends, but traveled home for the week in-between so that he could work. We really had a wonderful time. Our Pine Valley picnic...we hiked to this stream and had a great time eating our sandwiches and getting wet. Gavin loved throwing rocks into the stream, sometimes he would hit someone with a rock though, not everyone was happy about that.
Bob and Janelle's waterslide/pool. This was a Great way to get a break from the St. George heat!
Yah, Don...you are still scared...this waterfight is NOT over yet. :-) I'm not sure you know what I am capable of. hehehe...
Random pictures from the week. Thank you to Annalee for most of these pictures!

Hard to say Goodbye.

We have just spent the past week with my parents who showed up last Friday on my Birthday! (Great end to a Great day!...29 Forever, Baby! :) It was so nice to have them here. We did a whole lot of "not much" but just hung out and spent time together. We spent time in our backyard quite a bit: swinging, 4-wheelin', tin-foil dinners in our fire-pit. We also went and fed some ducks in a pond, the girls enjoyed a nice bike ride with GMa and GPa, and we had an afternoon at Cabelas. We'll have these great memories for a Long time, can't wait 'til the next trip!

Tooth Fairy...Already?!!

My sweet 5 year old just lost her first tooth! This evening Brynlee came up to me and said, "Mom, what's this?"...(she was pointing in her mouth). I couldn't believe when I saw her tooth barely hanging on. She then went and looked in the mirror where she said it just fell out into her hand. It wasn't even 5 minutes from the time we found out that she had a loose tooth, to when it was completely out. I thought kids were usually older, and I remember it being A LOT more DRAMATIC for me! She is soo excited. We'll see what the tooth fairy brings tonight...hmmm... (Not sure the tooth fairy is quite prepared for this one) ;-)

Friday Fun!

Every Friday I pack up the kiddos and head to the gym for an hour (where Bryn has attended Preschool and gymnastics for the past year). They have a Mom and Me play time on Fridays, which is one of the best kept secrets in town! There is hardly ever many people there, we almost had the whole place to ourselves today. The kids just play, play, PLAY! They love all of the trampolines, FOAM PITS, space for cartwheels, climbing ropes, bars, balance beams, and big slide! I am discovering what daredevils my little ones really are. Brynlee was doing flips from 5-6 feet high and loved every minute of it. Gavin had fun because he had so much room to practice his new walking skills, lots of padding when he would tumble over. Plus, he couldn't resist throwing the foam blocks into the pit after his sisters would retrieve them for him over and over again...throwing ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is his favorite thing to do! Kam loved running down the floor trampoline and jumping into the pit, although she doesn't quite have getting out of the pit mastered yet, Mom was happy to help! :-)

FOOTLOOSE!!!

Yup, he's officially walking now! Gavin has been taking 1-2 steps here and there for awhile now, but on July 2 when he was standing next to me at the computer I turned and looked and he took off!!!...14 steps to be precise. :) In the week since, there is just no stopping him, he is soo proud of himself. He sure has a lot of cheerleaders here, everytime he takes off the room is filled with clapping, smiling, and encouragement!!! Lots of love for this little guy.

BIG mess and Mom's not mad?!

I am always wary of what is going to happen when I take a minute to jump in the shower. Finding a free moment is the tricky part. Usually I have to get Gavin down for a nap, then I put on a show for the girls and make sure they have a snack so they will be occupied and not into other things for a few unsupervised minutes. The other day as I had finished up my shower, I heard some primary music going...As I observed the happenings of the last 10 minutes or so this is what I found...
Look familiar at all? I wish I would have taken a picture before it was halfway cleaned up. The girls had gotten their best sunday dresses on, found a cd player and a primary cd which they were playing and singing along with as they were chowing down on a loaf of bread which they had broken up and small measuring cups with water. It was one of the biggest messes they had ever made together, yet I just couldn't get mad about it. I thought it was hilarious. ...oh to see things through the eyes of a child...

Best Camping Trip Ever!...

We just spent a week at Pine Lake, UT with the Kenworthy Family! We had the best camping trip we've ever had with our family. The weather was perfect the whole time-- mid 70s --and NO BUGS! It was so much fun, especially for the kids. They LOVE spending time with their cousins! Brynlee was the first one up every morning and already dressed by the time we woke up as she was leaving to go find her cousins to play with! Kam had a fun time with everyone also, especially Grandma and Grandpa and Daddy...she was in heaven. Gavin spent most of his time wrestling with mom, trying to get VERY dirty...he won in most cases! That was ok though, as long as he enjoyed it. The sink in our trailer was his very favorite place be. He fit perfectly. Someday he will look in that tiny sink and not believe that he fit in there...but I have the pictures to prove it!!! It was so much fun to spend time with family. I could not have asked for better in-laws, they really are amazing! We thought we would be ready to come home after almost a week, but we could have stayed for another week easily! Oh well, until next year!

Preschool Graduation!

I can't believe how fast this little sweetheart is growing up! Preschool graduation was last week and it was so much fun to see her perform songs and a little play. She was so excited about it and wanted to get all dressed up. She let me curl her hair and she insisted on fingernail polish also. We got some cute pictures. She is so good in front of the camera (she should be with all of her experience...I don't know how many THOUSANDS of pictures we have of this girl)!

She graduated "first" in her class! :)