End of the school year...

This morning was the Awards Assembly for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at our elementary school. We were given a note last week letting us know that our 3rd grader was going to be given an award. Way to go, kiddo!

He came home with four awards ~

We are so proud of all the amazing things he has accomplished this year!

After lunch the third graders celebrated the end of the year with a delicious looking dessert buffet. We made two large trays of his favorite chocolate mint brownies and they were gone when we left! Yummy ~

Later, the Kindergartners celebrated the end of the year with an Ice cream social. We love, love, love our Kindergartner teacher. She is such a special lady and does such a great job with the little kids.

We couldn't leave without watching her do all of the fun tricks that she has learned this year on the playground.

I am worn out... Is it summer yet?

School Fun Day ~

I spent the morning watching these cute Kindergartners playing outside. It is actually the first time I have been to the school for Fun Day/Field Day and I am so glad I made it. The kids had so much fun with their friends and it was a beautiful day to just sit and watch. Go Blue!!

After driving home for a quick bite for lunch, I headed back to the school to spend a little of my afternoon watching the Third Graders... they are old pro's at Field Day and know how to play the games, so there was much less explaining and much more playing. Way to go, Red!

The little guy was so good, I had to reward him with time on the playground! What a beautiful day - Rain is expected the rest of the week!

Anniversary Gift ~

Although my previous post would indicate that our Anniversary was lame, we did do something special for each other and bought a new piece of art for our home ((which is something we rarely do)! We've seen this picture a lot recently in our monthly Deseret Book brochures, but it wasn't until Costco in Utah was having huge sale (with personalization & shipping) from www.culturalhall.com that we decided to go out on a limb and get it! Thanks Carrie and Mike for helping us get it ordered. (Either the picture is crooked on our wall, or I wasn't holding the camera straight...)

Our Anniversary

Our 12th Anniversary was last Saturday.

We really wanted to do something special, just the two of us...

We also wanted to spend Memorial weekend in Vermont with my in-laws,

and wanted to do something fun for the kids while we were there...

so we took them to Billings Farm and Museum.

The horses were huge... and incredibly stinky!

(we are making our best "eew, it's stinky faces")

The cows were just as stinky as the horses...

Apparently my kids don't really care to see a cow being milked.

Once the cows started pooping ~ the laughter didn't stop!

No wonder it stinks in there...

The baby cow was pretty cute... and not nearly as stinky as the others!

It was sheep shearing weekend and we saw the whole process,

which is actually quite disgusting...

I guess we will have to wait for some other time

to go out just the two of us!

~

Happy Stinkin' Anniversary to us!

Disneyworld 2009

Our family spent a week in Orlando with this good looking group!

There was twenty three of us...

3 grandparents, 8 adults, 2 teenagers, 8 kids and 2 babies ~

We spent our first day at the Magic Kingdom.

It was hot and humid... we were so glad we brought our spray fans!

My kids loved having breakfast with the characters. They had so much fun with Winnie the Pooh and friends... although I think Piglet was a bit offended when Uncle Brandon started taunting him with the bacon.

The younger kids enjoyed all the stars from their favorite Disney movies and cartoons at Hollywood Studios. The older kids loved the HSM 3 party!

Can you guess how excited he was to see this fella? My favorite park was Epcot - I loved wandering around the different countries in the World Showcase. France has the most delicious Napolean & Mexico has yummy Nachos!

The splash park was a great place to cool off... after all, it was super HOT!

Now what do I have to look forward to??

Another Artist

She was one of twelve kids chosen from her school to have their art work displayed at the School District Administration building. An Art Exhibition was held last night and we were able to view all of the artwork.

I love her clown!

Remember this?

Kindergarten Concert

She loves to sing and did a great job during her first concert.

(they were supposed to dress up as peasants with aprons...

this hot pink number was all I had!)

She is keeping us very busy this week... more posts to come!

Her first Fall ~

This little lady has learned to ride her bike without training wheels.

She said to me, "I never knew it was so easy!"

That is... until your little brother tries to ram you with his own little bike!

Another weekend surprise...

My mom turned 60 last week. My dad wanted to surprise her with a party,

and the party just wouldn't have been complete if we weren't there!

So, off we went to Utah! It was so much fun to surprise my mom and sisters. We loved spending a few days with everyone and feel so blessed to have such a great family! We only wish the weekend was longer so we could visit with long lost friends... the time goes by so quickly!

(Grandma and Grandpa with the grand kids)

It has been more than a decade since we have spent a holiday with my entire family, so Easter was extra special this year. The kids loved the big Easter Egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa's house and our own little lady won the Easter Egg Crack ~ What a great holiday!

We made time to attend the Temple with my sister and her husband.

It was so nice ~ Thanks to the Tidwell family for making it possible...

my kids LOVE your house, especially the playroom with the "holes!"

A trip to Utah wouldn't be complete without watching a youth soccer game (Go #10 - the best player on the team!), and a visit to Chuck E. Cheese.... the moms skipped Chuck E. Cheese and went for matching pedicures!

Who is ready for the Smith Family reunion in Florida?

Don't you just LOVE the family reunion shirts?

New York State Maple Weekend

Last weekend we were able to tour a local Maple sugar shack,

watch the sap boil, and taste some warm maple syrup.

I don't think I'll be able to look at Aunt Jemima the same way...

The kids on the hay ride - making the trip to the sugar shack.

(Notice that NONE of them are actually looking at me)

The boiling process - even though there was still a bit of snow on the ground, it was smoking hot inside the little sugar shack!

My favorite part... the Maple flavored cotton candy!