SCHOOL ENDS SUMMER BEGINS...

Ava graduated Canyon Preschool with the best teacher EVER, Ms. Kari. She is already learning to read!!! The whole year was filled with fun and learning. She had a blast!!!

Mac finished his first semester of preschool at Washington Elementary. He learned and progressed so much! His ability to follow directions and engage in group activities had improved the most. He loved every second of school and can't wait to go back :) I'm so proud of both of these kiddos and feel so blessed to be their mom!!!

The party has begun... I just love summer... Everything about it... Endless hours at the pool, long nights, fresh fruits, garden veggies, playing with my kids non-stop, BBQ, ice cream, etc...

We started the season right...
For Memorial day we went down in sunny St. George and enjoyed lots family time :)

LP 2012

What can I say... It's Lake Powell... We had a total blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A little poo face!

Only Jesse can pull this off!!!  She is so freakin' hillarious!

Both Ava and Mac kneeboarded

It was great and so much fun to have Jesse and her sister, Jen, come with us.
It helped us all NOT miss Little B as much...

INDEPENDENCE WEEKEND

Such a fun time of the year, right?!!!  I love any excuse to play, be outside, and spend time with friends & family.  Our weekend consisted of all of those things... so I was one happy mama.  

West Bountiful Parade with the Mikesell's.
Thanks for letting us join your cute family KJ!!!

 Ava loved the princess float and the penguins.
Both floats were LDS stakes... I was very impressed!

   Bouncin' around at the Eaglewood Fireworks!

 My kids are always so willing to take family pictures ;-)

 Oma, Papa, & Breckieeee

 Ty, Shauntell, Courtney, & Max

 It was so fun to go with everyone this year... I hope we make it a tradition.

 Like I said, one happy mama... sandwiched between my two favorite men...

(Notice spiderman in the background.  Both my kids are such climbers!!!)

It seems like we always do so much leading up to the holiday that the actual day is left with little excitement.  We made the most of it though and on Monday, the actual holiday, we spent the morning at our ward breakfast, biking, running, and hanging out at home.  That evening we went up to Sugarhouse with our little family.  We just went to dinner and to the dollar theatre...
saw "Rango" worst kid movie EVER!!!! Please don't let your kids watch it!!!!

  After our terrible cinematic experience we attempted to stay to watch the fireworks, but we were all pretty partied out that we just headed home and watched the fireworks across the valley from car. 

I really can't think of a better way to celebrate this great country 

and the brave people who fight for such freedoms.  God bless America!!!!

BACKYARD CAMPOUT

Jake was fulfilling his childhood dream when he set up his new tent and the fire-pit in the backyard!!!  The only thing missing was the "Goonies," but he settled for "Tangled," with all the girls.  Jake loves his movies, but projecting them outside is his favorite.  

It just so happened that one of my best friend's, Kalie, and her family were visiting from Bosie, so we decided to make it a camp-out party... Which it totally was!  We all had so much fun!  KJ, John, & Jakie came, but we missed Nicole and her family. 

This smokin' campout was filled with hot dog roasting, smore's, a fabulous firework display (presented by yours truly... Ok it was pretty lame, but the kids loved it), sparklers, movies, stories, and whole lot of laughing.  I have the coolest friends in the world!!!!!  

I don't think I'd be opposed to doing this again.  It was just as fun as camping, but it was so nice to be at the comfort of your own home.  I just wish I was better at taking photos... I'm working on it.  

Smore blogging later....Cheers!!!

NEMO!

My little fishy, Ava (aka... Nemo), just finished her second year of swimming lessons.  She really is becoming quite the swimmer.  She had fun learning from her teacher, Mike, whom I think she had a slight crush on.  He was actually really good with this all-girl class.  These girls giggled so much!!!  Especially when they went on floating plane rides with their teacher... Definitely Ava's favorite part!!!  She also loved being there with her friend, Rachel Fergurson.

Mac and I loved cheering her on from the sidelines and I also had fun catching up with my old friend, Nilly, who also had kids swimming at the same time.  

Lessons are over now, but we love to go swimming as much as possible.  

Being a mom in the summer is the best!